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Post by Clifford Neames on Dec 19, 2008 8:18:43 GMT -5
I do... But, I also have hundreds of opportunities to take does every year, and can fill my freezer at any time. I just left Illilnois, where I killed three, and am just getting started here in Mississippi. I should kill three or four deer in the next week, one of which I hope is a large antlered mature buck...
I understand that some areas do not offer this type of hunting, and I also understand filling the freezer. I just enjoy hunting mature bucks...
What anyone chooses to do on their own ground is fine with me. Just leave the young bucks alone when you hunt at my place!
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Post by CJ on Dec 19, 2008 9:12:40 GMT -5
I am definatly in the meat hunter group.... family of five including 3 boys + 31 cubic foot freezer, + 7 deer = One happy family
I make sausage (breakfast and italian), jerky and summer sausage as well as burger, steak, roasts and stew meat.
I like big bucks, but I like a full freezer better.
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Post by Burt on Dec 19, 2008 9:44:29 GMT -5
Good to hear that Cliff, kind of shoots my theory to hell! Cliff Maybe one day I can hunt your property and the deer I shoot will be sent over to CJ for some great sausage, that covers all the bases ;D!
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Post by CJ on Dec 19, 2008 10:19:26 GMT -5
LOL @ Burt!
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Post by Fletch on Dec 19, 2008 11:37:36 GMT -5
Wow, I really should of spell checked that last post!! lol All fixed.
I would have a management plan in action as well if I had a decent sized property but I have 12 acres and hunt mostly public spots.
How much money could the state bring in if they timber managed the Adirondacks and Catskills?? Instead of keeping a firetrap old growth forest rot. And provided the wildlife some diversity and food.
On a side note if anybody wants to let me shoot 3 does a year on their property> I promise not to shoot another non mature buck!! Takers??
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Post by Burt on Dec 19, 2008 16:37:50 GMT -5
Cliff,
Most of us as hunters think that our "dream job" would be to run an outfit like yours. We all watch the shows (which might not characterize your camp)and you really only see the good side of the operation. Would you be willing
to talk about the day to day operation of trophy camp? I have often thought about joining my brother-in-law on such hunts. I find it noteworthy that you respond to some of the threads and have the time to continue this website and your hunting business. It could be as simple as a question and answer thread.
Thanks for the website,
Burt
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Post by zemmer18 on Dec 20, 2008 10:24:43 GMT -5
I usually don't debate these topics but I do like to stay active with everything going on. Everyone has brought up some good points. I just want to clear up that I am in agreeance of shooting does and letting smaller bucks walk. Have I dedicided after being on stand and not seeing anything, to shoot a smaller buck at times, yes I have. I'm sure most of us have in our hunting career at some point.
I do agree with the statement that antlers are for egos but you have to ask yourself this, If that dream buck walked by and you had the oppourtunity, would you shoot it for the meat or the trophy aspect. Either way it doesn't matter what reason as long as you are satisfied.
Cliff - Thank you for a great site and thanks for stopping in to contribute. I think in a way, we all like mature bucks and want to have our egos stroked when and if we do harvest one, but filling the freezer is a great idea as well.
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Post by Burt on Dec 20, 2008 15:34:10 GMT -5
Freezer is full and the 160 class buck walks by?  ?? I bet you 99% of the hunters out there shoot! I love all the opinions on this site, we seem to have a great swath of knowledge out there! |
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Post by fasteddie on Dec 20, 2008 17:07:49 GMT -5
Down in Italy Valley , south of Potter , the guys started a QDM group . We let the small bucks and fawns walk . It irked me that the guys on the adjacent properties had the mentality that "if it's brown , it's down" . "the little ones are real tender" , blah blah blah . They didn't want to know about Quality Deer Management .
This was the 2nd year and they should start seeing better bucks next year .
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Post by Burt on Dec 21, 2008 15:30:01 GMT -5
I guess my property, now that i have talked to all the neighbors, sits right between two opposing sides of the issue. My 56 acres is bordered by a hunting club owning 350 acres practicing QDM, this is to our north. To the south east we have 200 acres bordering us not practicing QDM. We are right between these properties. There are also two other big pieces of property that practice QDM in the area. There are not many smaller parcels to break up the area. So with that said my neighbor who doesn't practice QDM always has the meat pole filled the opening week with with all kinds of deer. In the last two years we have seen some really big deer, the one at bow season was a giant and the one my brother killed close to a 140 class buck. This year we saw three deer that each would gross over 140. I shot that 4pt because it was later in the season and I wanted meat. I will always do this if I haven't scored. If I look at all these pieces combined I would have to say that QDM does help producing bigger bucks. The property that does not practice QDM only has pressure first week, most are from out-of-state and don't come back. The fella that owns the gun club invited me over to discuss QDM and what they have put into practice. I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say.
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Post by kpkot on Dec 21, 2008 17:18:23 GMT -5
Yea burt it sounds like you may be onto something. QDM is tough to do without your neighbors. Take our property this last year the one neighbor who has a house in a tree shot and poached deer all year. Apparently he will sit up there hes got a stove and heat. He will cook and overlook a field and shoot whatever he sees. The one gentleman that shares the property we hunt told me he shot around 27 deer and was bragging about it. DEC officials said that they would have to catch him in the act to convict him. Regardless without neighbors who practice QDM its tough.
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Post by Burt on Dec 21, 2008 19:09:13 GMT -5
I think in areas like ours if you can't get the majority of neighbors to join in it could get frustrating.
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Post by alabamaslammer on Dec 22, 2008 15:15:03 GMT -5
To each his own... but you know as well as I do that the neighbors who are pushing non-stop and shooting anything they see are going to kick every single deer out to you on the safe property, or so they think. GL in the off season all got the camera's out for the yote's already
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Post by Clifford Neames on Dec 24, 2008 9:07:19 GMT -5
Burt, I enjoy my job. But, make no mistake about it, it is not all fun if you really like to hunt!
I have to spend almost the whole season in Illinois making sure everything is working like it is supposed to, so that our hunters are having a great hunt.
Then, when they are all gone, I get a very small amount of time in the woods...
I could tell lots of stories, but I am not so sure that anyone would find them that interesting...
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Post by huntingfreak on Dec 24, 2008 18:39:27 GMT -5
I FIND ANY HUNTING STORY INTERESTING!!!!!!I have a couple spots that I'd like to manage but there is way too much traffic and they don't care what it is if it moves its got lead flying.I do know that the one property got over hunted but the good thing was that there was 300 acres of standing corn that was up till after season.The other night my boss drove by and saw a monster that made it so I'll be looking for him next year and sheds soon.
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?? I bet you 99% of the hunters out there shoot! I love all the opinions on this site,
