Although I may reference different examples, and you may think of others of your own, I’m talking about antler size. I believe the answer to this question depends on each hunter’s reason for hunting. People hunt deer for different reasons. Some consider antlers firstly, while others categorize them as nothing more than an afterthought.
Although I may reference different examples, and you may think of others of your own, I’m talking about antler size. I believe the answer to this question depends on each hunter’s reason for hunting. People hunt deer for different reasons. Some consider antlers firstly, while others categorize them as nothing more than an afterthought.
The beginning of a beautiful European mount...
Let us examine those who chase deer and don’t care about antler size. The only reason they would look at the top of the deer’s head is to properly assess the availability to shoot, based on the tags on their hunting license. For example, you may be hunting in a 2 buck county, and if you’ve already taken two, and this one in your sights has hardened antler protruding through the skin, shooting that deer is not an option. These people may want meat on the table, and might as well leave the antlers to sit on the ground to be gnawed away by squirrels over time. They may focus all their attention on proper care and preparation of the venison, so that they can serve up a fancy wild game supper for the in-laws.
The acquisition of the pair of antlers, regardless of their size, could be an addition to the hunter’s tool bag. They have the scent, the decoy, the grunt and bleat calls, but now, the antlers have become another way to bring deer closer in. Now the hunter has a pair of genuine rattling antlers to use for season after season, most effectively during pre-rut and rut times. A hole drilled through the base of each antler with a strap tied through each hole keeps them together and easily accessible. Just make sure when you’re banging them together, don’t poke yourself with the tines. You might want to cut off the brow tines. Yes, it’s stinky when antler is cut, sanded, grinded and shaped, but it’s worth the stink, ’cause it really hurts when you’re staging a mock fight, and accidentally impale one of your hands in the middle of the show.
There’s the meat lovers, there’s the tool collectors and then there’s the point counters. By point counters, I’m not talking about how much you’re allowed to eat every day in order to stay on your diet. No, the point counters are in the “bigger IS better” category. Antler size is why they hunt. I like these people, ’cause they’re usually going to give away their meat to the closest person with an empty cooler! I remind these “can’t get enough of that big antler stuff” folks that, although record book, trophy sized wall hangers are awesome, don’t forget about the rest of the deer, shoulder mount down. There’s a lot of work to be done with the “leftovers”. The responsibility of taking care of the meat should always be first on every hunter’s mind. Donate to Hunters for the Hungry or some other organization that accepts wild game if you don’t have someone to give it to.
This was just a cull deer.
The ability of growing bigger antlers has become easier with advancements in science, breeding technology, genetic manipulation, and diet supplements. It’s a really big industry. Businesses have been built on it. Hunting magazines are loaded with photos in advertisements of the result of this process. Antler size has increased dramatically. In some cases, dare I say, TOO dramatically. Some of the photos of these deer look like they have been altered by computer, where an artist adds points, spread and mass to the antlers. Unfortunately, these “Frankendeer” exist. I have seen deer that look so unnatural, I wonder how they could carry the antlers around without breaking their neck from the weight. If I was one of those bucks, I would seriously want to consult with a deer plastic surgeon to get an antler reduction. Seriously, doesn’t that hurt their backs, carrying those things around all day? Too many of these have proportions that are way off. Sounds kinda familiar, doesn’t it? When is it going to be enough?
I hope that we don’t lose sight of the natural beauty of what was initially created. A healthy, natural buck with antlers. Beautiful. I really hope that I don’t shoot a deer some day with a brand name attached to it somewhere. “These antlers grown by…” or “Insist on the best. Insist on ____ Brand Deer”.
