Stop apologizing

[Gutshotem]

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 can only speak for myself but I don't need to kill something for my hunt to be successful. I ate a Montana tag last year and Colorado in 21 when I had multiple opportunities to fill either. An Eastern deer is always an easier pack out and I don't have to haul it 2k miles home. Prime steaks at Costco are cheaper if money was a concern.

 

[hunterjmj]

If I only killed cows and no bulls the rest of my life I'd be perfectly happy. Maybe it's because I have kids and knowing we have plenty of food for a while makes me feel good. Just hunt and be happy.

 

[roadrunner]

I always go into a hunt with the thought "my tag, my hunt, my choice". Really not interested in what other people think on the decisions I make as to what animal I shoot.

I do think it's hilarious(maybe?) at how some people get worked up about how "small" an animal someone shoots.

 

[Maverick1]

People should not apologize for the size of the animal they shoot. They should apologize for calling them “horns” when they are “antlers”.

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Take a chance at what ever makes you happy and satisfies the primal drive.

Cause honestly nobody gives a shit what you kill. Guessing the wife only fakes interest most of time to get on with life. Ha

 

[jpmulk]

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?

A good reminder. It’s easy to get caught up in chasing horns and forget the real reasons to be out. Horns are a bonus.

 

[summs]

A good reminder. It’s easy to get caught up in chasing horns and forget the real reasons to be out. Horns are a bonus.

It's all going back to hunters ed and the 5 stages of a hunter, from beginner to butcher to sportsman. I always tell people if it makes me shake, it's big enough. And for reference, my heart was beating 160 last time I drew on a 90lb doe. The day I stop getting that feeling is the day I'll quit hunting.

 

[roadrunner]

People should not apologize for the size of the animal they shoot. They should apologize for calling them “horns” when they are “antlers”.

Unless it's a sheep, goat, pronghorn, or oryx.

 

[KenLee]

I don't apologize for pulling the trigger, and dang sure didn't apologize for serving up deer loins, deer burger, and deer hash on the 4th.
Thanksgiving and Christmas meals are also mostly deer, as far as meat goes.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

As the thread title says: Stop Apologizing
OR
Stop Posting photos of your harvest.

 

[diamond10x]

Agree fully. I love hunting and everything to do with it.

I will never apologize for posting a picture of a kill to anyone ever, let alone taking an animal to feed myself and my family.

 

[venado mula]

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.

 

[WMag338]

Agree with everything being said here. A trophy to me might not be a trophy to the next guy.

 

[Rob5589]

Just don't call a spike elk a bull, according to some on here...

 

[mi650]

Yes, yes, and yes!

Granted, I'm generally more particular now that I've gotten older and have killed many more deer. Not always, though. Sometimes the mood just strikes me to shoot an animal, and I do.

Kind of along those lines, I had a guy give me grief for shooting an injured doe 4 or 5 years ago. I don't speak with him anymore.

Not sure if she snagged her neck on a fence or if a coyote got hold of her, but I had pics of her for a few days with a big flap of hide hanging off. My 1st time out after seeing those pics was 3 or 4 days later, I put her down with my muzzleloader. I don't think she would have survived the winter.

Twice I've killed deer with a broken leg, a doe many years ago and a spike last year. Obviously not gong to make anyone's bragging board, but I'd do it again this year if need be.

 

[mi650]

It's all going back to hunters ed and the 5 stages of a hunter, from beginner to butcher to sportsman. I always tell people if it makes me shake, it's big enough. And for reference, my heart was beating 160 last time I drew on a 90lb doe. The day I stop getting that feeling is the day I'll quit hunting.

This!

I start getting excited once I decide I'm going to take a shot, even if it's a doe.

 

[mi650]

I don't apologize for pulling the trigger, and dang sure didn't apologize for serving up deer loins, deer burger, and deer hash on the 4th.
Thanksgiving and Christmas meals are also mostly deer, as far as meat goes.

More info needed.

 

[ElGuapo]

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.

I despise this….

 

[mi650]

Oh, and I've never 'harvested' an animal. I harvest tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers...

I've never felt the need to try and appease antis by using words that sound more palatable to them. I shoot and kill deer.

 

[Q child]

Cheers brother. Wise words.