Stop apologizing

[DanimalW]

I’ll start having my wife post for me. She never apologizes.

 

[HuntHarder]

I try and harvest as large of a horned animal as I can with my buck or bull tag. In the end, I settle for steaks, burger and sausage and usually smaller horns than I wanted.
Goals:
1st- Harvest the largest horned animal I can
2nd- fill the freezer up
3rd- Don't let goal #1 prevent goal #2...

Not sure I have ever apologized for harvest an animal with smaller horns than my goal. I will apologize for using "harvest" and "horns" when talking about hunting Antlered animals.

 

[KenLee]

More info needed.

PM sent

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

For myself, I'm spending hundreds of dollars on a nr tag and plenty of money on fuel for at least one trip out west. So if I am fortunate enough to get an opportunity at a legal animal I'm going to take it and not apologize for not coming home empty handed. Why it is preferred to have an unused tag rather than shoot something that doesn't make the cover of a magazine is beyond me!

I’m the same. Though I have no problem with those who truly prefer to hunt big or old animals. I say do what gets your heart racing. If a forky makes your heart get going, take it and be proud. If you truly want only a big animal and are willing to eat a tag to do so, definitely do that. I’m not sure I could ever pass a spike in the freezer over a maybe over the next ridge, but my friend could and that’s great.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

I gave up hunting everything long ago and only hunt booner mule deer bucks. My entire yearly process/focus is on one or two animals only and I usually don't fill the tag, I will eventually. I'm a trophy hunter, the juice is finding them and that's the game I like to play. It just depends on what you value most out of hunting. Nothing is wrong for how different people interpret their time. I eat what gets harvested and if we need more clean meat there are too many elk on the landscape so the grocery store isle (cow elk OTC tag) is always full.

Absolutely respect that. You go in with YOUR goal in mind having weighed it all out. Whatever fills that adventure for you is exactly how you should pursue it. I’ve never had a true “trophy” animal in my sights but though I am not a trophy hunter, we all know if a big 5x5 was standing with a forky which one it would be. But I’ll still take that forky if his daddy isn’t around.

 

[actionshooter]

When I see people that are apologetic for shooting a doe/spike/cow like they aren't living up to some perceived expectations... it really doesn't bother me, that is their deal.

BUT what get me pissed is when someone posts their hunt success and there is always one or two jackasses that have to comment "why didn't you let them grow", "it should be illegal to shoot spikes", blah blah blah... if the hunter is happy and everything was legal..... it's no elses business

 

[Boarmaster]

Season cant start too soon.

 

[*zap*]

The social media & pro hunting cultures have jacked hunting up plus there are many people who just do not hunt for meat....then there are folks that just shoot the first thing available so they do not 'fail'. It is a complicated...yet simple situation.

 

[ELKhunter60]

I used to have this buddy who was an absolute killer. He could shag up a light post in the Walmart parking lot and kill a big buck I swear - he harvested some very nice animals. Without fail he would show me his kill antlers and sort of hang his head and tell me how it wasn't that big. I finally told him to stop doing that. I was like "dude, you kill some great animals - be happy."

Thank you for your post. I agree with the spirit of it. If you are going to harvest an animal, give it the respect it deserves and don't aplogize.

 

[KenLee]

When I see people that are apologetic for shooting a doe/spike/cow like they aren't living up to some perceived expectations... it really doesn't bother me, that is their deal.

BUT what get me pissed is when someone posts their hunt success and there is always one or two jackasses that have to comment "why didn't you let them grow", "it should be illegal to shoot spikes", blah blah blah... if the hunter is happy and everything was legal..... it's no elses business

I agree this heckling response to a legal kill is awful. Even worse to me is those who tirelessly preach "let em grow" and run down others, then always have an excuse why the "rule" doesn't apply to their small kills.

 

[Dr.Spaniel]

It’s all about the hunt. My momma always told me I was a failure, so I really enjoy the hunt.

 

[Trimbandit]

I have only ever passed on one buck and it was 2 years ago. Small spike a mile off the road. I cant tell you how happy I was to fill my tag later on a spike as well. I would have kicked my self all year if I had an opportunity to put meat on the table, passed and ended up with tag soup. My 5 kids are going to eat if I fill my tag or not. Why would I pass. I have the same approach for fishing. I am not a "catch and release" kind of guy. But I respect other peoples opinions.

 

[KenLee]

It’s all about the hunt. My momma always told me I was a failure, so I really enjoy the hunt.

My Mama always told me that I never did anything wrong. Good thing I've had plenty of wives to tell me otherwise.

 

[bowkill]

If you are going to harvest an animal, give it the respect it deserves and don't aplogize.

^^^THIS!

 

[elkyinzer]

Clout chasing sucks the soul dead and is an ongoing negative feedback loop screwing with the sacred act of killing and eating animals. Don't post at all, problem solved.

 

[Dr.Spaniel]

My Mama always told me that I never did anything wrong. Good thing I've had plenty of wives to tell me otherwise.

My wife always threatens to move to Utah and get me two more wives…

 

[KenLee]

My wife always threatens to move to Utah and get me two more wives…

I'd still be one up on you

 

[Damdamdon]

My wife always threatens to move to Utah and get me two more wives…

Whether its women or wild animals "LOWER YOUR STANDARDS = RAISE YOUR AVERAGE"

 

[Rob5589]

I gave up hunting everything long ago and only hunt booner mule deer bucks. My entire yearly process/focus is on one or two animals only and I usually don't fill the tag, I will eventually. I'm a trophy hunter, the juice is finding them and that's the game I like to play. It just depends on what you value most out of hunting. Nothing is wrong for how different people interpret their time. I eat what gets harvested and if we need more clean meat there are too many elk on the landscape so the grocery store isle (cow elk OTC tag) is always full.

In your case one could easily replace "trophy" with "mature." Been said over and over that big mule deer are the hardest animal to kill and that it takes serious dedication to do it with any regularity.