So be warned if you read this its a rant as well as a little writing about one of my proudest deer harvests ever.
So there are 3 things above all else that I can not stand in the hunting community.
Number 1 and definitely the biggest by a mile, you know what make that 5 miles, is people that put down or talk down about kids harvests. I dont care if its a yearling, a button head, a grown doe or an absolute wall hanger any and all harvests my by kids should be celebrated. Probably deserves to be more celebrated than we actually do especially in todays world.
Number 2 is anyone that uses the word "cull" when talking about a wild deer population. You are talking about something that can not physically exist, its a literally impossibility. Just shoot what makes you happy dont use the word "cull" to justify it, seriously stop it.
Number 3 and today's topic "its just a doe."
Now a few people here know me in real life and know im as real a person as you will meet. I dont pull punches and im honest, even if you dont like what I have to say. Skipping to the back story of this. I have stopped at the same little store near my property for 21 years now after every harvest. I get ice and I get 1 bud light to drink while cleaning the animal. (Im not a big drinker but this is something ive done as long as I can remember, also no road beer for those wondering.)
I pulled in this moring and the morning shift guy (im not putting his name out there) shouts at me from the back " how big is he today Justin?" I reply "man I finally killed the queen." He yells back, " oh sucks, its just a doe."
Now ive know this guy for 17 years or so so he didn't take offense to the next 2-3 minutes of we will call conversation but I explained to him, this deer is the oldest animal we know of on the property she is at least 11 and possibly 12, she had fawns for 9 years of her life, none the last 2, in those 9 years she birthed 19 fawns 12 of which were bucks 2 sets of triplets and never lost a single one. We had a debate this year when she didnt fawn weather or not to just let her live out her days but ultimately decided to stick to the plan on this property. Ive hunted her all season and she bested me on many occasions even Saturday morning she got me. Today I knew what had to be done. I was in the stand at 450, she walked out around 515 and stayed in the field until sunrise. At 6:41 bang flop fast and painless what she deserved. Now as im explaining this to my friend he looks at me and says "I get it, sometimes its not just a doe, congratulations."
Just remember its not just a doe, deer are amazing animals and all the deer harvested deserve respect.
One more thing her ears look so tiny on that big ole head.
So there are 3 things above all else that I can not stand in the hunting community.
Number 1 and definitely the biggest by a mile, you know what make that 5 miles, is people that put down or talk down about kids harvests. I dont care if its a yearling, a button head, a grown doe or an absolute wall hanger any and all harvests my by kids should be celebrated. Probably deserves to be more celebrated than we actually do especially in todays world.
Number 2 is anyone that uses the word "cull" when talking about a wild deer population. You are talking about something that can not physically exist, its a literally impossibility. Just shoot what makes you happy dont use the word "cull" to justify it, seriously stop it.
Number 3 and today's topic "its just a doe."
Now a few people here know me in real life and know im as real a person as you will meet. I dont pull punches and im honest, even if you dont like what I have to say. Skipping to the back story of this. I have stopped at the same little store near my property for 21 years now after every harvest. I get ice and I get 1 bud light to drink while cleaning the animal. (Im not a big drinker but this is something ive done as long as I can remember, also no road beer for those wondering.)
I pulled in this moring and the morning shift guy (im not putting his name out there) shouts at me from the back " how big is he today Justin?" I reply "man I finally killed the queen." He yells back, " oh sucks, its just a doe."
Now ive know this guy for 17 years or so so he didn't take offense to the next 2-3 minutes of we will call conversation but I explained to him, this deer is the oldest animal we know of on the property she is at least 11 and possibly 12, she had fawns for 9 years of her life, none the last 2, in those 9 years she birthed 19 fawns 12 of which were bucks 2 sets of triplets and never lost a single one. We had a debate this year when she didnt fawn weather or not to just let her live out her days but ultimately decided to stick to the plan on this property. Ive hunted her all season and she bested me on many occasions even Saturday morning she got me. Today I knew what had to be done. I was in the stand at 450, she walked out around 515 and stayed in the field until sunrise. At 6:41 bang flop fast and painless what she deserved. Now as im explaining this to my friend he looks at me and says "I get it, sometimes its not just a doe, congratulations."
Just remember its not just a doe, deer are amazing animals and all the deer harvested deserve respect.
One more thing her ears look so tiny on that big ole head.
