7NOV10 Bow Hunt

[airborneFSO]

So I've been hunting this area for over a month now. I've seen many good deer. I was on the stand the other morning when a deer bigger than this one came out, fed facing me for over 20 minutes without giving me a shot. This morning I sat and this guy came out. Long story short, he spooked and had me holding my 72 pound bow at full draw for over 2 minutes......hence the shot just a little far forward. When I let the arrow fly, it hit solid, broke his shoulder, went through one lung and into his heart. He was laying 30 yards from where he stood!

[Buffalobob]

That's very nice.

The largest buck I ever pulled a string back on managed to stare me down while I was at full draw.

[Penn]

What is ecological impact on the species if hunting season occurs during the rut, and all the trophy bucks are continually targeted?
Would a schedule after the rut, rather than during, be better so that the best of the gene pool was transfered
I guess, I have never understood the logic of a season scheduled during the rut.

[Rumblyguts]

Originally Posted by Penn

What is ecological impact on the species if hunting season occurs during the rut, and all the trophy bucks are continually targeted?
Would a schedule after the rut, rather than during, be better so that the best of the gene pool was transfered
I guess, I have never understood the logic of a season scheduled during the rut.

I think it's a throwback to trophy hunting of earlier times like you infer. However, there are areas wthat have "earn a buck" rules where a doe tags need to be filled before a buck is taken. Also, I don't kow if there'd be as many hunters if there wasn't the appeal of the trophy...which translates into herd health and DNR revenue.

I also wonder if timing other than taking advantage of hormone driven males has anything to do with it. Have arguments been made regarding the ammounts of visitors in the woods in summer vs. fall? Also, with less snow on the ground, does easier access allow for a greater culling? And spring...well that's maple tapping time

[airborneFSO]

As for Trophy hunting, I will offer that big bucks are just like all other animals. Even during the rut, though they lose their minds, they are not easy to bag. I can only speak for Texas when saying we have PLENTY of deer so that all the trophies will not be taken.

I hear your logic, why not hunt after the rut. While we do hunt after the rut, and clear into January, hunting exclusively after the rut means that when you kill a doe she might be pregnant.

While Trophy hunting is something that many want to do, reality is there are less "trophy" bucks taken than many think. A quick survey on here might show those results. We'd have to define Trophy....is it points, score, size?

I don't eat the horns but they sure look nice on my wall.

Best of luck to all hunters out there.

[Habu-MFFI 175]

Great looking buck..

Congrats on a great harvest.

<*)))))>{