Antler Envy

[Belo]

Is an incredible thing. Pat Durkin has a famous saying that "big antlers make reasonable men do stupid things". I don't know what it is with some people. I think social media has compounded this issue, but the negativity within hunter groups if someone else is successful is fascinating to me. I guess it's no different than the neighbor with the nicer house or car. 

I will admit I went through my phase in my late 20's and early 30's. Maybe it's age that has worked itself out of me, or maybe it's that i've been fortunate enough to take big deer. But I've never once recently seen a pic of a dude with a nice grip and grin and thought to myself "that asshole". 

Now I understand that we all hunt for different reasons. I'm sure many a meat hunter on here will reply that they don't care, but I'd argue that none of us would shoot the small buck next to the big one standing in the field. I love big antlers. I strive and seek them out, not going to lie. But why is there a need to be jealous or envious of someone who does connect? Sometimes I see the video of the 8 year old kid in texas drop some booner over a feeder out of a blind and I roll my eyes, but I'm not upset at that kid or his dad. It doesn't make me feel bad about myself because I didn't get a booner.

Maybe it's not just deer, maybe it's society in general. But just go and do you out there. Put a good image out there for our community and be happy for those that put one on the wall, not jealous of him/her and don't be the guy out there looking to tear someone down just because it wasn't you.

[2BuckBizCT]

I love seeing pics of giant bucks. Whether it's Kansas, Illinois or WNY I enjoy seeing them each fall. One of my favorite threads on bowsite is the meatpole ones for Deer, Elk, Bear, Antelope. Just scrolling through all the hero pics. I hate long arm pics though. 

[mowin]

Never cared myself if someone on the neighboring land shot the biggest buck in the area. I'd be the first to shake there hand.

It does seem that too many big bucks that are takin turn out to be illegal.  Hard to believe someone would ruin their reputation and possibly their career by shooting something illegal and trying to pass it off as legal.  

[Robhuntandfish]

I made a mistake years ago because of a buck.  Was driving back from hunting and saw a nice buck. There were no posted signs and jumped out after him. Got out there in the woods and a guy comes out said this is private property.  He was nice about it but I'm glad I didn't catch up to that deer. Now this was 30 + years ago and near a lot of state land. But I was glad and still am I didn't catch right up to it. I felt bad.  

Nowadays my goal is to get as big a buck as I can off my own property.  If I had the opportunity to go on an outfitter hunt for a 180"+ it wouldn't mean as much to me as say a 130" on our own property.  Doing all the work we do there makes the buck mean something more than antlers.  I wouldn't enjoy a guided hunt over a feeder no matter how big the antlers are as I feel I hadn't earned it.   

As Steve Rinella says - trophy hunting gets a bad rap cause it often gives you more hunting time which is a great thing.   

I can't say I've ever been jealous of anyone getting a big buck, even someone on a neighboring property.  I've only been a little miffed when I've seen one hit by a car I didn't get a chance at.  I've done far more fishing than hunting and have never been jealous of others that caught a giant fish in a lake/stream I was on but it would make me maybe work a little harder knowing ones like that are around.  

Edited October 10, 2024 by Robhuntandfish

[2BuckBizCT]

9 minutes ago, mowin said:

Hard to believe someone would ruin their reputation and possibly their career by shooting something illegal and trying to pass it off as legal.  

Agree. One of the things I enjoy most about deer hunting is that it's really the only time I can relax/decompress and not be stressed. I enjoy the fresh air, seeing animals in their natural state, etc. The last thing I want to worry about is sneaking around or doing something illegal. I even stopped hunting a legal spot once because someone called the cops. I was perfectly legal, but just not worth the headache to me even though it had nice bucks. I like my hunting to be drama-free.

[mowin]

Just now, 2BuckBizCT said:

Agree. One of the things I enjoy most about deer hunting is that it's really the only time I can relax/decompress and not be stressed. I enjoy the fresh air, seeing animals in their natural state, etc. The last thing I want to worry about is sneaking around or doing something illegal. I even stopped hunting a legal spot once because someone called the cops. I was perfectly legal, but just not worth the headache to me even though it had nice bucks. I like my hunting to be drama-free.

Well said. 

[Rob-c]

Im going to take this it a bit further, what  i cant stand  is when a fellow hunter is showing pictures of their biggest buck to date and they are very happy with it  . And then you always have that  one guy, thats - oh he's not bad. Or just wait till you shoot a really big buck ,or heres my bigger buck i shot .  Why cant people  just be happy for the guy . 

Edited October 10, 2024 by Rob-c

[Moho81]

I'm stoked for anyone that gets a deer Buck or Doe. I love seeing pictures of the monsters taken in NY. Heck I love seeing other peoples trail cam pictures of monster bucks in NY. 

[Doebuck1234]

2 minutes ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

Agree. One of the things I enjoy most about deer hunting is that it's really the only time I can relax/decompress and not be stressed. I enjoy the fresh air, seeing animals in their natural state, etc. The last thing I want to worry about is sneaking around or doing something illegal. I even stopped hunting a legal spot once because someone called the cops. I was perfectly legal, but just not worth the headache to me even though it had nice bucks. I like my hunting to be drama-free.

100% agree.i call the woods "my peaceful place".My first hunt of the season was this past friday,I got in stand and within 15 mins I was almost taking a stand nap because i was so relaxed

[Moho81]

3 minutes ago, Rob-c said:

Im going to take this it a bit further, what  i cant stand  is when a fellow hunter is showing pictures of their biggest buck to date and they are very happy with it  . And then you always have that  one guy, thats oh he's not bad  . Just wait till you shoot a really big buck ,or heres my bigger buck i shot .  Why cant people  just be happy for the guy . 

Happened to catch this one yesterday by The Hunting Public. very fitting to your comment. 

 

 

[2BuckBizCT]

5 minutes ago, Moho81 said:

I'm stoked for anyone that gets a deer Buck or Doe. I love seeing pictures of the monsters taken in NY. Heck I love seeing other peoples trail cam pictures of monster bucks in NY. 

I thoroughly enjoyed both of your 10pts. Some day when I grow up, I hope to shoot one too!

[ShootEm]

Agreeing with the general consensus on this one. My dad always says "any deer you went out yourself in the wild and got the best of, is a trophy"

Edited October 10, 2024 by ShootEm

[Moho81]

1 minute ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

I thoroughly enjoyed both of your 10pts. Some day when I grow up, I hope to shoot one too!

I hope your 10 makes it until you can get back in the woods and get after him! 

[mowin]

2 minutes ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

I thoroughly enjoyed both of your 10pts. Some day when I grow up, I hope to shoot one too!

I got a 9 pt once...

[Robhuntandfish]

28 minutes ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

I thoroughly enjoyed both of your 10pts. Some day when I grow up, I hope to shoot one too!

someones gotta push your ass out there in a wheelchair so you can shoot that big 11!