Trophy hunting or deer hunting

Published 7:54 am Monday, December 29, 2025

The brisk northeast wind meant I would need to pick another location if I wanted to hunt Sunday afternoon.  A south to southeasterly wind allowed me to hunt a couple of hotspots at the farm the prior two days, and the buck activity had been brisk.

However, I had made the decision to pass on all those bucks as each one had been just a bit too young.  Unfortunately, “He needs another year or two,” had been the running theme all weekend, and with the freezer looking a mite peckish, I was eager to get a shot at a mature buck.

This was the first buck that I shot at the farm after the farm became our home back in 2020. I have no doubt that many hunters would not see this as a “trophy buck,” however, he will always hold that distinction for me. Photo by Gena Dye

“Unfortunately” is actually a poor choice of words now that I think about it, especially when it comes to the future of deer hunting at the farm.  I’ve seen more young bucks this year than I’ve ever seen here before, which means we’ve got a lot to look forward to over the next several seasons.

To be clear, I do not, nor have I ever considered myself a trophy hunter.  I’ve never been one to hunt for “inches.”  I couldn’t begin to accurately score a deer using the Boone & Crockett, Safari Club International, or Buckmaster’s Full-Credit scoring systems.

I understand how each works in theory, and I’ve even had my biggest bucks scored, but it’s not a consideration when I’m hunting.  I use a very simple system called “Brad’s Eye Test.”

When a buck steps out, I check his body size and antlers (either with my binoculars or, preferably, my rifle scope) and quickly come up with one of two answers: “Good buck!” or “He needs a year or two.”

The first answer results in a carefully taken and well-placed shot.  The second results in a shift to observation mode, waiting for a bigger buck to appear.  Either response still makes my heart race.  Honestly, I still get excited when a doe walks out.

Do I love to shoot big bucks?  Without a doubt I do.  However, I also love cooking and eating fresh “farm-raised” and “open-range” venison, and, typically, our family will eat two to three deer per year.

That “family” number also includes Moose, Murphy, Birdie, and Poppy, our quartet of dogs.  Am I saying that I feed venison to my dogs?  Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying, and when I do, I typically sprinkle a little cooked ground venison on top of their normal rations.

Venison is a lean, nutrient-dense protein that’s packed with B vitamins, iron, zinc, and omega-3s, all of which promote immune health, muscle growth and brain function.  Also, dogs (even picky dogs) love the taste of venison.  I dare you to tell our foursome that they can’t have it.

All these benefits apply to humans as well.  Add in the facts that the organic meat is free from hormones, antibiotics, additives, and preservatives, and that it’s loaded with antioxidants from the deer’s plant-based diet, and you have some truly outstanding table fare.

Now, back to the spot I picked to hunt Sunday afternoon based on the prevailing wind, but first, a bit of full disclosure.  After much deliberation last season, I decided to make the move to cellular game cameras.

I was reluctant to make the move.  Although I had used game cameras with SD cards for years, I didn’t want cell cams with their real-time photo technology impacting the way that I hunted.

What exactly does that mean?  Well, for instance, let’s say that you’re not getting pictures of any “big bucks” frequenting a certain spot.  I didn’t want that perceived lack of opportunity to take away from the excitement that comes with the unknowns of hunting, the opportunities that only come with being in the right place at the right time.

Fortunately, I’ve seen firsthand that mature bucks seem to have a knack for avoiding game cameras.  I’ve had close encounters with trophy whitetails, on two separate occasions this season, that have somehow managed to avoid my seemingly well-placed cameras.

I had that reality in mind Sunday as I headed to the woods for an afternoon hunt on the winter solstice.  According to the activity on my cameras, there were no “trophy” bucks frequenting the spot I would be hunting, however, over the years several of my best bucks had come from this very spot.

As I settled in that afternoon, I thought about the words of legendary bowhunter Fred Bear: “A hunt based on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.”

What is our “goal” as hunters?  Ultimately, why do I go to the woods to hunt?  These are questions I think we need to grapple with from time to time.

Bear did a good job providing an answer when he asserted, “Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience.  It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person.”

I ended up seeing 11 deer that afternoon, a mix of does and young bucks.  In the waning last light of the solstice, I heard a buck grunt in the thicket below my stand.  My heart raced as I reached for the grunt call hanging from the lanyard around my neck.

During the ensuing minutes, my anticipation peaking as the grunts grew closer, I never thought about how big the buck might be.  I didn’t think of game camera pictures or antlers measured in inches.  I was lost in the moment.  I was, to use Bear’s words, “immersed in the outdoor experience.”  I was hunting.

Until next time, here’s to hunting, here’s to less focus on trophies and technology and more focus on being fully present in the moment, lost in the experience, and here’s to seeing you out there in our great outdoors.