Stop apologizing

[Eastonsgrandpa]

Seems lately I’ve seen (not necessarily here on Rokslide) lots of folks showing successful harvests but always making the standard “not a giant, but…” qualifier.

Kind of bums me out that anyone feels the need to point out antler size as almost an apology.

I’m ready to celebrate any successful, legal take. I’d rather hear how the kids liked the meal it provided and the adventure that lead to the success.

Yep, 200” bucks and 400 inch bulls are incredible. But so is a forky, a spike, or a doe or cow at the end of a day in the wilderness that feeds a family.

Am I just an outlier or do more folks truly love the adventure and peace of the woods even more than the harvest?

 

[Sled]

I'm unapologetically happy about my cow harvests. I'll even take a late season calf. Bulls are great to look at but it's more meat than I want to haul solo most of the time. I've passed up nice bulls in favor of a cow... Not all the time but when it suits me.

 

[Jkr61]

Big or small it’s still great to put something in the freezer!

 

[Westernduck]

I’m with you. Celebrate any legal and successful hunt!

 

[TandKHunting]

People are insecure due to unrealistic expectations set by "influencers". People need to focus more on enjoying the outdoors than seeking acceptance from strangers on the internet.

 

[Lou (Louis)]

Seems lately I’ve seen (not necessarily here on Rokslide) lots of folks showing successful harvests but always making the standard “not a giant, but…” qualifier.

Kind of bums me out that anyone feels the need to point out antler size as almost an apology.

I’m ready to celebrate any successful, legal take. I’d rather hear how the kids liked the meal it provided and the adventure that lead to the success.

Yep, 200” bucks and 400 inch bulls are incredible. But so is a forky, a spike, or a doe or cow at the end of a day in the wilderness that feeds a family.

Am I just an outlier or do more folks truly love the adventure and peace of the woods even more than the harvest?

You can’t eat the horns.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

I'm unapologetically happy about my cow harvests. I'll even take a late season calf. Bulls are great to look at but it's more meat than I want to haul solo most of the time. I've passed up nice bulls in favor of a cow... Not all the time but when it suits me.

Cows are tasty. And spikes are even better.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

People are insecure due to unrealistic expectations set by "influencers". People need to focus more on enjoying the outdoors than seeking acceptance from strangers on the internet.

Amen to this. I can’t imagine being out in the place that takes me away from the pressure of life and thinking about an instagram post.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Sorry

 

[Htm84]

I never apologize. I’m sorry that’s just the way I am.

 

[Rob5589]

@robby denning said the same thing on a recent Rokcast; you killed it so own it. As low as most success averages are, any success should be looked at as a positive. Really though, it's a way for people to receive validation.

 

[49ereric]

You can’t eat the horns.

Horn soup is mighty thin

 

[Jameshunts]

People are insecure due to unrealistic expectations set by "influencers". People need to focus more on enjoying the outdoors than seeking acceptance from strangers on the internet.

I think the actual problem is “influencers” killing small, immature animals (I’m mainly referring to mule deer because the populations are already in bad enough shape) when they’ve already killed 3 deer and 2 elk in the same season. It’s clearly for views, not for the freezer.

 

[Yoder]

It's not just this. People need to stop apologizing for everything they believe in, even if it's unpopular. If you believe it's right, stop worrying about offending people. Some things are important and are worth it.

 

[Billy Goat]

It's a sorry thing to grind up perfectly good turkey breast.

Yeahup, I'm sorry, but I said it.
That's like grinding up tenderloin.

 

[summs]

I've had this feeling for years. 'Not a giant' or 'it's not big but it's my first'
I bet that spike horn made you shake more than some guy paying 20k for a caged 200+ incher

Same reason I also don't like trail cameras, I know people who haven't shot an 85" deer yet holding out for 120". 'because I know "tank" is around' … I also hate naming deer.

 

[bowkill]

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!

 

[bowhiker88]

I'm unapologetically happy about my cow harvests. I'll even take a late season calf. Bulls are great to look at but it's more meat than I want to haul solo most of the time. I've passed up nice bulls in favor of a cow... Not all the time but when it suits me.

How do they differ in taste? Would you prefer certain cuts from a bull and others from a cow or does the meat from one taste better than the other in general?

 

[hh76]

I don't always see those comments as apologies, sometimes they are just there to set expectations.

I often compare trail cam pictures with a few friends at work, it we do it all the time. "Not a big one, but I really like the..." I sometimes do the same with a kill, especially when I can't send a picture right away.

 

[bigsky2]

Agreed. Or if you're going to have to say something like that after killing the animal, maybe just don't kill it in the first place.