Mule Deer over Money

[Billy Goat]

My early years, I was hunting what was legal, a kill was a success. Making a trip of over 30 hrs, hiking my ass off, ******* up a few stalks, I'll take what I can get, especially since I only travel with a bow.


Taking bucks rarely has much of an effect on herd health, so if someone wants to shoot what's legal, good for them. If someone can prove me wrong, I'm all ears.


Anymore, it takes a lot to trip my trigger. I'm not out for the kill to make it successful, yet I'm looking for the biggest, and that still isnt what makes it successful.



Just the title makes this thread seem off to me.

 

[Bugger]

Hard to say without knowing the variables of unit potential and scouting results. Either way, I think most of us are a different hunter on the drive West vs day 3 in the mountains. My family and I like venison too much for me to ever purposely pass a legal buck on the last day, but that hasn’t stopped me from rolling the dice early and getting skunked lol

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Meh, I chase the experience.

If I can step onto a property for the first time. Figure things out, and make it happen. Then I'm all in.

I find the whole experience enjoyable. Especially a fun blood trail.

With 2 kids under 3. Time is short and I'm better off coming home a day early than a day late chasing another 10 inches of antler.
That way I can go on another adventure without the wife thinking I'm just out there avoiding coming home.

Proud member of the spoon and crockpot club. Eat some sort of wild game everyday of the year.

 

[eaglemountainman]

Not a mule deer, but I just came home from Alberta with an uncut moose tag in my pocket. I had opportunities at smaller meat bulls, and while I do love moose meat, I held out for at least a 40" bull or nothing. But rhe weather was warm and the bulls weren't responding, so it didn't happen.

I'm not a trophy hunter either, and 40" bulls are far from monsters, but I wanted at least a decent representative of the species.

Had a great hunt in some beautiful country. I saw loads of critters, including elk, mulies, whitetails and bears, and had a blast with my Cree guide. I more than got my money's worth.