Is a 4 point a trophy?

[Nevertoomanyguns]

Of course it is.

Of course it is a trophy. A trophy is what ever you make it. I shot a 105 pound (field dressed) doe this year with my bow and I got more excited and view her as more of a trophy then my last two bucks a 213 pound (field dressed) 10-pt and 201 pound (field dressed) 11-pt. I'm going to say this and I don't mean to make anyone mad and I know a lot of it has to do with where you live but by Maine standards a True trophy is not just a big rack but it is any buck that field dresses over 200 pounds. What good is a big rack (you can't eat story) if it is attached to a buck that weighs less then some of our mature does. I have a friend who's 10 year old son shot a doe on youth day that field dressed at 165 pounds. That's a huge doe but you get the point. Now I'm not putting down southern deer at all and in fact I would like to try hunting down south to say that I did it. I just get a kick out of watching the outdoor channel and you see these so called professional hunters talking about there huge buck that has this awesome rack but they never mention the weight of the deer and they are sitting there holding the head up with one hand and when they move the head around the whole body almost moves and they hven't even gut it out yet and they grab the buck with one hand and drag it 10 ft like it was nothing. So back to the top a trophy is what ever you make of it. The hunt, experience, and who was with you also adds into the factor. I do not pass up on deer either here in Maine you do that you will be eating tag soup a lot. I hunt for meat and there is nothing wrong with that, that is what hunting is all about not antlers. Years ago hunters didn't even keep the antlers at least around here. There have been many a huge racks that have been thrown outside to feed the mice and porcupines. So here are my trophies and I have only shot 3 deer in my life, I'm 26, I've been hunting since I was 10 so I hope I will add a few more. Hunting here is tough. These are my 3 deer and my friend's and father's. I hope I didn't offend anyone with my comments If I did I'm sorry. Oh and by the way all the pics on this thread are all very nice trophies congrats to all and who cares what others think. Just another funny fact around here I have heard comments made about the deer my family and friends have shot as I would never shoot a huge deer like that they must be tough as hell and they claim they will only shoot young bucks. Well let me tell you they must not know how to butcher a deer, we butcher our own and not one of them has been tough and they are so tasty. I also reply to them that they have obviously never seen a big buck because I know for a fact that they wouldn't pass on one.

We both rattled out two nice Maine bucks on Public land and I also shot my first deer with a bow this year. Oh, and congrats to everyone on this thread. A lot of beautiful critters posted.

My first bow kill 105 pond doe small but good eating. I got more excited shooting her then my 2 last bucks a 213 pound 10-pt last year and my 201 11-pt this year.

This is my best friends 259 pound (field dressed) 8-pt. That I was so nice to put him on. he rattled it out though.

This is my 201 pound (field dressed) 11-pt buck that I rattled out third week of the season. He would have gone more than that but he had been runing does hard.

I know this is not 07-08 season but I don't think I have posted them here yet.

My 213 pound (field dressed) 10-pt buck from last season:

My Dad's 260 pound (field dressed) 11-pt he shot last year. It was the 5th largest buck (weight wise) shot in Maine last year. The weight is a big factor in Maine. Antlers are nice but if you tell someone you shot a nice buck the first question they will ask is how much did it weigh and then they might ask about the rack.

 

[Poper]

I do not hunt for trophy, but I doubt I will pass up Mambo Buck if he appears in my sights if I have an Antlered Deer tag. My reason for hunting is for the camaraderie; and I do like the flavor of venison, too.

That said, I do not belittle those that do hunt for trophy. In my opinion, if you hunt for trophy, you either take the animal as a trophy and hang him on the wall or you take your tag home in your pocket. A trophy, strictly defined, would make the Pope & Young or Boone & Crocket books. In reality, a trophy for an individual is what one takes after a long, difficult hunt and makes the shot on the animal he intends to take. If he wants to call that yearling doe a trophy, so be it. (I'll bet she's good eating!) It's his trophy, after all!

Just my 2 cents.... That and your $5 will get you a Starbucks!

Poper

 

[DZL HOG]

There have a been a lot of good post and views on this thread about a "trophy".
Nevertoomanyguns,
Those are some big deer. Deers dont get that big around here any more. Ive only heard stories from dad of 200+ deers being killed. No one really weighs them any more either. The nine pointer he killed last year was probly close to 200lbs. The biggest deer hes killed.

He also has a decent 8ptr that he killed 15yrs ago mounted. Its a nice uniform rack but nothing extreme. He did spend alot of time tracking him down then waiting for the does to leave the bed before he could a get a shot thru the brush with the 30-06. He killed a couple 8 pointers the other year that were about he size as the one has mounted. One of which I would probly had mounted if I had killed myself. But I was about 20yds from him, so he got the shot. Im still young tho(23) Ill eventually get one thats "wall worthy"(maybe)lol.
I killed a 5pt about 5years ago that was probly around 180 or so. He was the biggest deer I have killed to date(weight and rack mass), he just didnt have the points for a pretty mount. I do have just the antlers plague mounted as it was my first buck.
I agree that the big "trophy" bucks are alot harder to take. They stay hidden very well and takes a good hunter a long time to get on him and be able to get a good shot. It seems most all bucks take more to make em go down. Ive shot a couple does and it seems they drop b4 the gun goes off. Its also very many more does around here, during normal gun season theres only 5 days where you can take an antlerless deer.
I havent done much hunting this year b/c I have to work on Saturdays as well as M-F. A couple weeks ago Saturday was a doe day. I had gotten home from work, around 4pm I looked out and there were 4 does standing in the field next to the house in shotgun range. I didnt even bother, had a nice buck been out there I would have probly changed my mind. But the does are basically pets, in the yard every nite during the summer. You can walk within 10yds of them before they will move. So its not much fun in that.

Happy hunting folks. If you feel like draggin, skinnin, cleanin, and cooking it...fire away.

Matt