I will say, sometimes I’m a butt head, I like shooting button bucks to make the antler hunters mad.

Not often, but sometimes.

meat for me.

I think hunting for antlers is something most mature hunters grow out of. As a kid and teenager, hunting for antlers was important, once you reach adulthood, it isn't.

If you are going to quote me, at least quote me correctly. Otherwise you just look like Richard Cranium.

Became a meat hunter about 18-20 years ago after my house was broken into.
They stole 20 years of antlers,tree stands, a couple old bows and empty gun boxes among a lot of other stuff.
I quit hunting antlers after that. Now my trophy deer are does. Much better table fare IMHO.

Best to shoot basket rack bucks, cause it irritates the trophy hunters. You get a good amount of jerky and less trimming than does.

have not shot one of either in several years. I just enjoy hunting with the kids. They shoot several doe a year and also like antlers. wanting something as big or bigger than the last one.

They also let a lot of each pass each year.

When I start shooting them again if I do it will likely be for meat. I don't shoot small bucks they get a pass and heck 2 years back so did a buck as big or a little bigger than my largest got to walk. He didn't excight me and I had 2 bucks in the barn to get processed the boys shot the day before and didn't want a 3rd. but when time location and conditions right doe will be shot when I decide to start taking them again.

Moose….meat.
Deer……..antlers.

You proved my point, 160. Youll knock another hunter for something that they like to do (keep track of the number of deer they have harvested over the years), but openly admit that your just in it for the antlers. To each their own, but if either one of those activities is immature, its not tracking numbers....carry on.

Wow ,,,, chill pill double uped,,,,

This is about what you hunt,,,,,, We all know 160 is after the big ones with fur……

That daggum 160 Looser always blowin some skirts up every time I see him on here!

Antlers first. Meat is a bonus.

The village called and they want their idiot back. I only hunt my own property. I actively manage my deer here and by opening day I know the one deer I am hunting. I am targeting one specific animal, very similar to management practices in Europe. This is my chunk of dirt, I pay a butt load in taxes each year to have it and the state of MN says I can take one deer a year off it. I get to choose which one. I farm deer. I admit that. I get no pride from bragging about what an accomplished killer of fawns and yearlings I am. If others find joy in that, more power to them.

Both, fortunately we have the opportunity to hunt for mature bucks or bulls and then cow elk for meat.
Although even animals with big antlers can be good eating.
For pronghorn, our numbers are down so if we draw tags bucks it is and why shoot an immature one?

And, usually aren't the more mature animals with large antlers bigger body size with more meat for consumption?


160, sounds like a great set up.

I take whatever comes first.

I take the biggest bucks/does I can. If I'm dragging something out of the woods, I want it to be worth the effort via how full the freezer is. Do all my own processing for myself and family deer. Got a 1 HP grinder so when i pull that thing out, I dont want a 10 minute job.

Antlers. The challenge of targeting a specific mature buck.

The meat is secondary.

I used to be about the antler's but not for many years, now its about the meat,

First 2 days, small ones get a pass.
From then on i'm hunting to fill the freezer.