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Loading...Published by poorman on 11 Apr 2008 at 06:53 pm
Are Big Buck$ Hurting Our Sport?
Over the years I have watched our beloved bowhunting turn into something other than what I believe it should be. It seems to me that for many it has become work rather than recreation. I personally believe that any deer with a bow is an accomplishment, but for many if it isnt a 160″+ buck then you haven’t done anything. Ninety five percent of the hunting shows on TV will only show the host harvesting large deer. I have actually had people tell me in a forum that I should not have shot that six point because he wasnt mature. It seems that the only acceptable deer to shoot anymore are the “Giants”.
Well, I for one disagree. I am not saying that if you want to practivce QDM on your own land that you shouldn’t. However do not think that because you do, every one else should. If a big buck walks in front of me then I will be more than happy to send an arrow through him. However if 1.5 year old six point makes the same mistake then he is in just as much danger as the big boy.
I love hunting “deer” It doesnt matter what size or sex. They all taste good! But it just seems that the hunting community as a whole is leaning toward “I have to shoot a big boy” in order to prove my hunting ability, no matter what the cost. It is getting to where the average guy “me” cant’ find a place to hunt because the properties are all leased out to Paying Customers. The sport as a whole has become more expensive. And the average guy has a hard time getting into the sport because of cost.
Maybe its just me but it seems to have gone this way since television started airing hunting programs. All the hosts are shooting giant bucks so that must be the norm… right? Maybe I am way off base but I just think that all the emphasis that is being put on taking large bucks is hurting our sport.
What do you think??
3 Responses to “Are Big Buck$ Hurting Our Sport?”
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6X5 on 12 Apr 2008 at 9:09 am #
I think I Kill deer to eat. I love the challenge of killing one of these really smart critters in his own back yard but in the end its about food, the same as its been for thousands of years.As a general rule young deer are more tender than the old bucks I actually had an old blacktail with his teeth worn down to damn near the gums break a brand new electric meat grinder. Even ground he was kinda tough. I have some damn big antlers but they only got shot because they happened to be where I was hunting. I think that if you have to prove your manhood by killing only a huge hat rack buck you don’t have much manhood anyhow.
csinclair on 12 Apr 2008 at 12:14 pm #
I’m not yet a hunter but I would tend to agree, the initial set up fees of a newbie trying to become a hunter seem really high, not to mention how much it will cost me to go on any guided hunts which I’d like to eventually do. How does one learn about hunting these days without spending huge coin on guided trips with experts, I can’t just walk into my local bush and learn by myself, (I’m a big DIY, read about it and do it, guy in all other aspects), but without paying for safety training, (I’ve been shooting guns and bows safely since I was 7 or 8 yrs old), MNR tickets which cost money not to mention the gear that is really expensive in most cases, (thank you Gail Martin for keeping the sport affordable for quality rigs), not to mention that I’d have to travel hours outside of where I live to hunt because of the sheer number of hunters in populated areas. Things are seemingly not as simple as they used to be for the average joe who wants to get into the sport, (my wife is getting fed up with all the expenses already and I’ve never bagged a thing yet).
Gear Junky on 14 May 2008 at 7:24 pm #
I disagree with some of your points but I appreciate your perspective. I’m hooked on trophy hunting and I spend way too much money on it, so my views are kind of skewed. But I wish I could get back to the basics of the sport…maybe I can go out of my way to instill a healthier and simpler perspective in my kids so they won’t waste their money on “bigger and better” (I’m afraid it’s too late for me though!). Thanks for the insight,
Marcus