Mike, why would you want to take a strong sire from the herd if you can just as easily take a decent doe and put meat on your table?
Because my remaining tags is for a buck, with 4 or more points on one side or a doe.
No other reason really other than a big buck provides more meat then a doe and they are more of a challenge. But your point is not lost on me. My dad drilled it into my head that we do not shoot does, partly because the property I hunted growing up did not allow it, and still does not allow it even during the archery season. (My dad still won't shoot a doe regardless of where he hunts and gives us grief whenever we do shoot one.)
The question of QDM comes up a lot and MI has been toying with forced antler restrictions and some other ways to create a better herd. I've never really been a rack hunter nor have I ever really had to follow much restrictions in the places I hunt. When I hunt properties that have them I comply with the landowners wishes. It' is something I have been doing some research on and am still on the fence as to where I fall on this debate. I am for maintaining a healthy herd but I am not for supporting restrictions only put in place so some some guy can hang a bigger rack on his wall. The true path probably lies somewhere in the middle and is a debate for another thread as the opinions tend to vary greatly and get quite heated whenever the topic comes up.
Well I got out an hour before shooting hour yesterday to allow everything to quiet down, also I like to get out before everyone else, when the rest of the world hits the woods en mass it often gets the deer moving.
I saw a total of 24 deer and 7 bucks, some were more likely repeats but I kept a running count. I know there were at least three unique bucks. I had a small spike walk past just after light. I had a larger spike (way past the ears but still a spike, come by mid afternoon and then I saw a larger racked deer on the other side of the field. Actually I can add one more to the list. On the way home I had a large 8+ point limp across the road in front of me. I did not see blood but he had obviously injured his leg, not sure if he had been hit or not.
The only buck might have been big enough for my tag hung out at the far side of the field and never came my way. I did get to watch him chase a few does and spar with another smaller buck, that in itself made my day.
I has a doe and a small deer come out right near me, about 50 yards out and eat some of the remnants of the cut bean field. I think I have them on my action cam. I forgot to pull the card when I got home, I'll post it up when I can process it.
I could have easily taken a doe but passed. I already have one in the freezer and I was holding out for a larger buck. In addition, it was pouring rain which turned the clay field into a spongy sticky mess.
For anyone that does not hunt due to rain, you are missing out. It was POURING all day and I saw ton of deer on the move.
I may not see a lot of deer within shooting range but sitting on this huge open field allows me to see a lot of deer I would not see sitting in the woods. Personally I enjoy seeing them and watching them as much as I do tagging them.
I sat the entire day. Despite not getting my big buck, I had a blast watching them play in the field. I counted about 85 shots fired during the day which seems low but the rain and a weekday opener probably had some impact.
I tried to do some in the field updates but my signal out there is minimal....which I kind of like.
After the shot all the hard labor begins in earnest. And the wallet comes out.
Process your own and it cost very little ;-D It's time consuming, esp the first few times you do it and if you want clean burger with no fat or silver skin, but really not that hard as long as you have a place to hang it up and a grinder. I paid to have the last one done because I didn't have room in my garage and it was too warm to let it hang until I could make room.