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bucksnducks

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I have a father that was brought up in a time and place when shooting a 1.5 year old buck on public land meant you were going to be in the hometown paper the next day. Times have changed. He is now retired and owns three different properties, all of which have decent potential for shooting wall mounts every year. To get this out of the way, he has every right to harvest whatever makes him happy - I fully understand that and can be argued that is enough said. I just want him to think twice on what he squeezes the trigger on. My brother and I have had a few healthy conversations with him on trying to figure out why he still consistently harvests young bucks with small antlers that end up in the trash after processing. His mindset is "because I want to shoot a buck and the small bucks taste better". We've picked apart his statements with poise, but he has not taken our thoughts to heart. The thing is, the rest of the family and most of our neighbors are all on the mature buck bandwagon, so my father gives us the label of "that neighbor" in the property neighborhoods. I'm curious if any of you folks have been in a similar scenario and came out of it smelling like roses with a constructive conversation.
 
Well... its his properties and if he is only shooting 1 or 2 a yr off of those 3 properties i say no biggie! Definitely does not change the herd structure on the 3 properties or the neighborhood! I would rather see him wack 1.5 yr olds vrs 3 yr olds any day!! Just enjoy your time hunting with your dad!!

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I would say if he is only shooting 1 deer a year then I wouldnt let it bother me to much. Just enjoy hunting with dad. I tell my dad even on my farm if a buck comes in I dont care what it is, if it gets him excited and he wants to shoot then shoot. I know I wont be able to hunt with him forever.
 
bucksnducks said:
I have a father that was brought up in a time and place when shooting a 1.5 year old buck on public land meant you were going to be in the hometown paper the next day. Times have changed. He is now retired and owns three different properties, all of which have decent potential for shooting wall mounts every year. To get this out of the way, he has every right to harvest whatever makes him happy - I fully understand that and can be argued that is enough said. I just want him to think twice on what he squeezes the trigger on. My brother and I have had a few healthy conversations with him on trying to figure out why he still consistently harvests young bucks with small antlers that end up in the trash after processing. His mindset is "because I want to shoot a buck and the small bucks taste better". We've picked apart his statements with poise, but he has not taken our thoughts to heart. The thing is, the rest of the family and most of our neighbors are all on the mature buck bandwagon, so my father gives us the label of "that neighbor" in the property neighborhoods. I'm curious if any of you folks have been in a similar scenario and came out of it smelling like roses with a constructive conversation.
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Unless he’s shooting the best genetic buck on the farm …I do not see a big issue .
 
I was that dude when I was a kid. 14-16 years old. Only saw about 5 bucks a year & was a big deal if got one. All were 1.5’s. Once I shot a handful & realized places existed with older bucks…. Quickly changed. The guys back home in those areas- seems like the older crowd still does it to this day. One change…. There’s a lot more deer now back home so if u want a “good tasting deer” - shoot a doe. Obviously. The other thing I’d just add where no audience would probably believe or agree….. I eat all our old bucks & no one can tell a lick of difference. They are delicious!!! & more meat. Guys always say old bucks taste bad & I’ll cook up some 7.5 year old buck backstrap & just as good IMO.

I agree with others above. I’d accommodate a family member that wanted to shoot “whatever”. A 1.5 ain’t end of the world & if I’m totally honest- I’d pry have someone shoot it off a different farm but that’s me. choose ur dad first …. But Have the conversations like u are, see if there’s any other options or solutions (does, older bucks, other farms) but it’s not an end of world dilemma thankfully. I’ve been there & we have solved it by: 1) trying a year for older buck. 2) getting another farm to hunt. 3) trying year where shoot doe vs lil buck, etc. I do think there’s very viable options here with some effort.

Now- take the mindset of your dad & put that in every hunters brain in the state of MI….. that’s what I grew up with. It RUINED that state. Be a miracle if the exception was the one or 2 guys that shot the young ones. :).
 
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I agree with the others. Unless he is shooting multiple bucks a year, it probably isn't hurting much. If he's just looking for meat I'm not sure why he doesn't just shoot a doe, but he can do what he wants . . .
 
Inches fade, memories don't. Ask your dad why he does it. Too many these days chase the inches instead of the story. Only for the inches to be forgotten about in 3-5 yrs unless it's on your wall and have continuous people coming over

If I'm funneling the money for the property, no one should be telling me what to shoot. I wouldn't care on my properties as long as you were happy..but as soon as you say..I wish he was bigger... you will get a vacation. Hunting for wrong reasons..

You should be happy to be able hunt with your dad, there are some of us that can't anymore.

As for neighbors..too many people give a sheet about what others think. Go about your day and make it better than it was yesterday.
 
Removing the emotion and your "wants" from the equation is often difficult but I echo everyone else. We don't know how big these properties are but removing one 1.5-2.5 year old buck each year isn't going to hurt a thing age class and genetics wise. In my opinion, let him shoot whatever makes him happy. He can take away your permission with the snap of a finger.

Sort of besides the point but not really. I've been fortunate to shoot some nice bucks and some of my absolute best hunting memories are late muzzleloader doe hunting with my grandpa, Dad, and brother when I was 10-16. I'd give up anything on my wall to do that again.
 
I used to hunt with my dad when he was still alive. Precious times that can't b replaced.
I remember a couple of times in his last years of hunting together dad walking up to me on opening morning, keith have you seen anything yet?
I said dad no I haven't.
1 time as he was walking toward me a buck came out in between him and me. Dad asked did you see that buck?
Yes dad I did.
Memories
Going to b very hard to change the ways of a older hunter.
Enjoy your dad
 
Sorry if I came across the wrong way here. Let me be clear that I fully appreciate every day that goes by that I am able to enjoy my Dad's company, especially in the outdoors. Our conversations on this topic have always been rated PG and I know enough not to make a mountain out of an ant hill on this subject. The number of young bucks harvested between him and my mom, since she always follows suit with what Dad does, is about 4 per year (in different states). I don't loose any sleep over this but I'm always looking for pointers on how to give them a nudge once and a while. Thanks everyone.
 
That's a tough one, most people just despise change, it's extremely difficult for some. I've heard all the old boys tell their stories of when they only got buck tags etc, I always ask if they still drive the same automobile they did in the 70s 80s , is their pay the same as in 1985 was, even though the world around them is changing, some refuse.
 
Hell of a topic though. I think we all have been there one way or another.. Whether with a family member, a landowner, or neighbors.

Could try this: Land owner I've hunted on required you to mount a buck if you shot one or pay the penalty to the farm fund. Which paid for food plots, box blind up keep, fuel etc. Makes you think twice about punching that trigger that's for sure because you know there was always a price to be paid.

In the end.. what do those inches do for us? May get you a magazine cover..a financial windfall. In the end we end this life with nothing, just enjoy the time you have and be thankful you have a place to enjoy the outdoors.
 
My (late) father hated deer with a BURNING passion & did everything possible to eliminate them and keep them off the farm. We were pretty opposite to be honest. I would give up managing the farm to have a single day with him again. Don’t sweat the small things, someday all you will have is memories…
 
Stoney said:
My (late) father hated deer with a BURNING passion & did everything possible to eliminate them and keep them off the farm. We were pretty opposite to be honest. I would give up managing the farm to have a single day with him again. Don’t sweat the small things, someday all you will have is memories…
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Must have been a farmer that always lost the outside 4-5 rows and he had mouths to feed at home and they were eating into an already tight profit
 
Miss my dad like crazy…even tho Im 59 and he’s been gone two decades. If I could just have one or two more hunts with him he could shoot every 3yo potential stud on my farm that work my arse off on to grow…

I’d even gut & drag them all out.

I’ve got piles and piles of “trophies” and has been stated here before, I’d give em all away for just one more hunt with him.

Excellent topic. Gets me thinking about priorities and what we can convince ourselves is important.
 
bwhnter4life said:
Must have been a farmer that always lost the outside 4-5 rows and he had mouths to feed at home and they were eating into an already tight profit
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The MIL's father/farmer (RIP) raised a big family during the depression. One of his favorite stories was when he killed three geese in one shot as they sat on the pond, maximized the return on the cost of the shell. Had a family to feed. He didn't care for my wide ranging GSP, his was trained to hunt close so he could kill pheasants that didn't sit for the point. I guess he liked to clean pheasants more than I did, he was all about "efficiency". He punched his deer tag on the first antlered buck that presented itself when Iowa started to allow deer hunting again in the '50's.

Dad (RIP) never deer hunted, but did hunt pheasants. Probably should have invited him on a deer hunt, but we weren't on the best of terms. Even if we had been, I'd have let him shoot what tripped his trigger on my ground, he never owned land. Might have helped our relationship if I'd invited him down, will never know now.

Just attended the funeral of my BIL last Saturday. He was an avid hunter/fisherman. His last buck was mounted in one of those "backpack" rolled up hide mounts. It was on display at his services. He was really proud of it. I heard rumor that someone made the comment "I wouldn't have shot that buck" at the services. To each his own.
 
JNRBRONC said:
The MIL's father/farmer (RIP) raised a big family during the depression. One of his favorite stories was when he killed three geese in one shot as they sat on the pond, maximized the return on the cost of the shell. Had a family to feed. He didn't care for my wide ranging GSP, his was trained to hunt close so he could kill pheasants that didn't sit for the point. I guess he liked to clean pheasants more than I did, he was all about "efficiency". He punched his deer tag on the first antlered buck that presented itself when Iowa started to allow deer hunting again in the '50's.

Dad (RIP) never deer hunted, but did hunt pheasants. Probably should have invited him on a deer hunt, but we weren't on the best of terms. Even if we had been, I'd have let him shoot what tripped his trigger on my ground, he never owned land. Might have helped our relationship if I'd invited him down, will never know now.

Just attended the funeral of my BIL last Saturday. He was an avid hunter/fisherman. His last buck was mounted in one of those "backpack" rolled up hide mounts. It was on display at his services. He was really proud of it. I heard rumor that someone made the comment "I wouldn't have shot that buck" at the services. To each his own.
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Whole different perspective when doing it to survive rather than doing it for fun.

We can always second guess our decisions when we don't have that person to ask. I have done the same. But we often are tired of get our foot slammed in the door as someone keeps closing it on us.

Sounds like an amazing mount and as I'm trying to teach my nephew--inches aren't everything. It's all about perspective for sure.
Thanks for sharing your stories
 
Only thing I can recommend is just talk to him about what his goals are with hunting.

If he says he just wants to shoot a buck no matter the size, probably not going to change his mind.

Had the same talk with family on our farm and now my son. I just want to help them achieve those goals and hopefully be there when it happens to share the memory. If they say shoot a giant I will help them maximize there chance at an opportunity, if they say shoot any deer, I am probably putting a whole different plan together (mainly to see deer and minimize my drag )
 
I'll use my Dad's words, "He who has the gold makes the rules" In this case your Dad owns the land so let him do as he pleases. There will be a time in your life when you look back and would give anything to go on another hunt with your Dad.
My Dad is the complete opposite if it doesn't put the G in Giant. He doesn't even pick up his gun because he d have to gut it. Lol. As he s gotten a little older he loves to watch the deer.

As much as I like big bucks, hunting is about the memories made. I'm trying to get my 85 year old grandfather to go on a spring Turkey hunt with me, as I sense time is running out. I have a great farm. Always alot of Tom's. But getting him motivated up to go with me is going to be hard. I'm just hoping I can put a smile on his face, as much as he put a smile on mine when he took me as a young man. Personally could care aless if I shoot a bird on the farm, they can live there rent free. As far as I'm concerned.
 
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