What is a trophy?

[Sailfish_WC]

Here’s one

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[Cvanheel]

The way i see it is every deer I have ever shot is a trophy. The way I see it is every animal should be treated the same. 100 lb doe or 200 lb buck both animals lost there life at my hands, and its only fair.

[raisins]

What about an ancient doe that has seen it all (the type likely to bust you)? Seems that she'd be harder to take than a 3.5 year old buck that happened to have a nice rack for it's age.

[Dewey]

What about an ancient doe that has seen it all (the type likely to bust you)? Seems that she'd be harder to take than a 3.5 year old buck that happened to have a nice rack for it's age.

I don’t kill does anymore but over the years I encountered plenty that were much smarter than any buck I ever hunted. They not only need to worry about their survival but also their offspring. I believe there is nothing more in tune with her surroundings than a old mature doe. They have schooled me more times than I can count.

[raisins]

What about an ancient doe that has seen it all (the type likely to bust you)? Seems that she'd be harder to take than a 3.5 year old buck that happened to have a nice rack for it's age.

I don’t kill does anymore but over the years I encountered plenty that were much smarter than any buck I ever hunted. They not only need to worry about their survival but also their offspring. I believe there is nothing more in tune with her surroundings than a old mature doe. They have schooled me more times than I can count.

Yep, plus they are often in groups, so even more eyes, ears, and noses to fool. I only consider shooting a doe after my two archery tags are full. But I've been busted by them plenty.

[Boogieman1]

What about an ancient doe that has seen it all (the type likely to bust you)? Seems that she'd be harder to take than a 3.5 year old buck that happened to have a nice rack for it's age.

I’ve told many folks something similar! And I wouldn’t restrict myself to a 3.5 year old buck. In fact for me a old doe is way harder to arrow than the oldest buck in the woods. Granted there are way less old bucks which makes it seem harder. But to me if things were even I would like the odds of pulling the wool over the old bucks eyes vs a doe that has survived ample seasons where slickheads are fair game.

I’m sure some are thinking Boogie u r crazy! Just hear me out.... Mature bucks have tendencies, and ingrained behavior that is often easily identified and all a hunter needs is him to move in daylight. They usually travel alone through predictable travel routes making a hunter only deal with one set of eyes and nose.

Now let’s take a doe veteran! They don’t play by the rules.... They will cut through open woods, fanned out utilizing survival by numbers. You must defeat many eyes, noses, and nothing really to force them to stay honest. If u ever watch an old doe for any amount of time u will realize how they act very similar to a old buck. They know how to use air to there advantage and other deer to protect them. If a guy can consistently arrow an older doe he is dang sure a trophy hunter in my book.

[Dewey]

What about an ancient doe that has seen it all (the type likely to bust you)? Seems that she'd be harder to take than a 3.5 year old buck that happened to have a nice rack for it's age.

I’ve told many folks something similar! And I wouldn’t restrict myself to a 3.5 year old buck. In fact for me a old doe is way harder to arrow than the oldest buck in the woods. Granted there are way less old bucks which makes it seem harder. But to me if things were even I would like the odds of pulling the wool over the old bucks eyes vs a doe that has survived ample seasons where slickheads are fair game.

I’m sure some are thinking Boogie u r crazy! Just hear me out.... Mature bucks have tendencies, and ingrained behavior that is often easily identified and all a hunter needs is him to move in daylight. They usually travel alone through predictable travel routes making a hunter only deal with one set of eyes and nose.

Now let’s take a doe veteran! They don’t play by the rules.... They will cut through open woods, fanned out utilizing survival by numbers. You must defeat many eyes, noses, and nothing really to force them to stay honest. If u ever watch an old doe for any amount of time u will realize how they act very similar to a old buck. They know how to use air to there advantage and other deer to protect them. If a guy can consistently arrow an older doe he is dang sure a trophy hunter in my book.

I always thought it would be neat to get a shoulder mount of an old mature doe. Something you don’t see very often but I think it would be pretty cool addition to any trophy room.

[jkelley1487]

What about an ancient doe that has seen it all (the type likely to bust you)? Seems that she'd be harder to take than a 3.5 year old buck that happened to have a nice rack for it's age.

I’ve told many folks something similar! And I wouldn’t restrict myself to a 3.5 year old buck. In fact for me a old doe is way harder to arrow than the oldest buck in the woods. Granted there are way less old bucks which makes it seem harder. But to me if things were even I would like the odds of pulling the wool over the old bucks eyes vs a doe that has survived ample seasons where slickheads are fair game.

I’m sure some are thinking Boogie u r crazy! Just hear me out.... Mature bucks have tendencies, and ingrained behavior that is often easily identified and all a hunter needs is him to move in daylight. They usually travel alone through predictable travel routes making a hunter only deal with one set of eyes and nose.

Now let’s take a doe veteran! They don’t play by the rules.... They will cut through open woods, fanned out utilizing survival by numbers. You must defeat many eyes, noses, and nothing really to force them to stay honest. If u ever watch an old doe for any amount of time u will realize how they act very similar to a old buck. They know how to use air to there advantage and other deer to protect them. If a guy can consistently arrow an older doe he is dang sure a trophy hunter in my book.

I agree. Anytime I see a big, old doe coming (outside the rut), I almost hate it because they are so cautious and will bust you if they hang around. They seem to always be looking up in trees. I even had an old doe bust me in early November that had a shooter buck trailing behind her. They are tough!

[raisins]

What about an ancient doe that has seen it all (the type likely to bust you)? Seems that she'd be harder to take than a 3.5 year old buck that happened to have a nice rack for it's age.

I’ve told many folks something similar! And I wouldn’t restrict myself to a 3.5 year old buck. In fact for me a old doe is way harder to arrow than the oldest buck in the woods. Granted there are way less old bucks which makes it seem harder. But to me if things were even I would like the odds of pulling the wool over the old bucks eyes vs a doe that has survived ample seasons where slickheads are fair game.

I’m sure some are thinking Boogie u r crazy! Just hear me out.... Mature bucks have tendencies, and ingrained behavior that is often easily identified and all a hunter needs is him to move in daylight. They usually travel alone through predictable travel routes making a hunter only deal with one set of eyes and nose.

Now let’s take a doe veteran! They don’t play by the rules.... They will cut through open woods, fanned out utilizing survival by numbers. You must defeat many eyes, noses, and nothing really to force them to stay honest. If u ever watch an old doe for any amount of time u will realize how they act very similar to a old buck. They know how to use air to there advantage and other deer to protect them. If a guy can consistently arrow an older doe he is dang sure a trophy hunter in my book.

Agreed.....AND......old does do not go into the rut and start cruising around and acting kinda reckless. They stick to their patterns and prioritize survival more than stud buck access at all times.

I've had bucks on super hot does see me and not seem to care too much, like their eyes were glazed over, and I killed them. That isn't the norm but I've never had a doe so in estrous that she was willing to risk her life knowing a human was there in order to get to a stud buck.

[raisins]

What about an ancient doe that has seen it all (the type likely to bust you)? Seems that she'd be harder to take than a 3.5 year old buck that happened to have a nice rack for it's age.

I’ve told many folks something similar! And I wouldn’t restrict myself to a 3.5 year old buck. In fact for me a old doe is way harder to arrow than the oldest buck in the woods. Granted there are way less old bucks which makes it seem harder. But to me if things were even I would like the odds of pulling the wool over the old bucks eyes vs a doe that has survived ample seasons where slickheads are fair game.

I’m sure some are thinking Boogie u r crazy! Just hear me out.... Mature bucks have tendencies, and ingrained behavior that is often easily identified and all a hunter needs is him to move in daylight. They usually travel alone through predictable travel routes making a hunter only deal with one set of eyes and nose.

Now let’s take a doe veteran! They don’t play by the rules.... They will cut through open woods, fanned out utilizing survival by numbers. You must defeat many eyes, noses, and nothing really to force them to stay honest. If u ever watch an old doe for any amount of time u will realize how they act very similar to a old buck. They know how to use air to there advantage and other deer to protect them. If a guy can consistently arrow an older doe he is dang sure a trophy hunter in my book.

I agree. Anytime I see a big, old doe coming (outside the rut), I almost hate it because they are so cautious and will bust you if they hang around. They seem to always be looking up in trees. I even had an old doe bust me in early November that had a shooter buck trailing behind her. They are tough!

Was in the higher elevations of WV gun hunting this year (almost no hunters but the environment is very rugged and the weak tend to die off), and saw some old does up there as big as mules! I always thought only a mature buck could take me out (like kill me physically if they wanted and I didn't have a knife or gun)....but these does were big, mature and stared right through me. Imagine old mama doe that weighs 200 lbs and is pure muscle walking mountains all day coming at you with her hooves flailing! (weird thought, sorry to derail etc)

[raisins]

What about an ancient doe that has seen it all (the type likely to bust you)? Seems that she'd be harder to take than a 3.5 year old buck that happened to have a nice rack for it's age.

I’ve told many folks something similar! And I wouldn’t restrict myself to a 3.5 year old buck. In fact for me a old doe is way harder to arrow than the oldest buck in the woods. Granted there are way less old bucks which makes it seem harder. But to me if things were even I would like the odds of pulling the wool over the old bucks eyes vs a doe that has survived ample seasons where slickheads are fair game.

I’m sure some are thinking Boogie u r crazy! Just hear me out.... Mature bucks have tendencies, and ingrained behavior that is often easily identified and all a hunter needs is him to move in daylight. They usually travel alone through predictable travel routes making a hunter only deal with one set of eyes and nose.

Now let’s take a doe veteran! They don’t play by the rules.... They will cut through open woods, fanned out utilizing survival by numbers. You must defeat many eyes, noses, and nothing really to force them to stay honest. If u ever watch an old doe for any amount of time u will realize how they act very similar to a old buck. They know how to use air to there advantage and other deer to protect them. If a guy can consistently arrow an older doe he is dang sure a trophy hunter in my book.

I always thought it would be neat to get a shoulder mount of an old mature doe. Something you don’t see very often but I think it would be pretty cool addition to any trophy room.

Do it!