Thank you for writing this article. I will be moving to an area were I can easily hunt in New Mexico. Your article has opened up many possibilities to me. I was getting discouraged when looking at the process for applying for bull elk tags.

I like hunting more that I do the trophy, and have always found a freezer with meat in it, more fulfilling than a wall with a trophy on it. Don't get me wrong, if old "mossy horns" steps in front of me he will be down, and the trophy will be on my wall. The idea of hunting on a doe only permit as a means of scouting an area before investing in the trophy tag is really a great idea.

My father owns a couple of hundered acres in prime whitetail deer habitat and we have always havested does along with the bucks. The last several years have proven the payoff to this. Last year alone, 3 out of 7 hunters bagged trophy bucks. All scoring better than 135, and they were massive animals. We will let a small buck pass faster that we will let a mature doe pass.

I apologize if this is long, but you made so many great points.

Thanks again, and "Good Hunting."

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Greg Walters

[ This Message was edited by: gwalters on 2003-05-08 08:30 ]

Flint Stephens has a great approach to hunting with a unique out look on what he considers a successful hunt. This is an individual that sees wild game meat as prize worthy of his time, money, and health.

Comparing this to my own life and the attitude surrounding my friends, this article has an exact opposite view of what we consider successful. I mean, lets face it, "the ladies are great", but the Big Bucks and Bulls are even better!!

The time and money invested in search of the perfect area, which is going to yield the Pointing Busting, Antler Tackling, Monster of all Monster Animals, is worth every dime and minute spent once that Mossy Oak Broad Shoulder buck steps into your path. It's truly a Buck or Bull of the life time.

My own impression, don't sell out for the ladies (unless your freezer is reaching max lows for wild game), but instead, strive for the Perfect Hunt that only happens once in a life time.

Some things are worth waiting for....

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Never take life to seriously... You'll never get out alive!!

[ This Message was edited by: Quicksilver on 2003-05-08 12:11 ]

[ This Message was edited by: Quicksilver on 2003-05-08 13:27 ]

I think Quicksliver hit the nail on the head.

There is nothing like having that chance to harvest a once in a lifetime type trophy. Female tags are a great opportunity for young hunters to gain experience or for experienced hunters to fill the freezer, but I don't think I could ever forgive myself if I was holding a cow or doe tag, when the monster of my dreams finally showed his face.

Patience is a virtue. I say wait for that dream hunt and hold nothing back when you get it.

his outlook is not unique,it is very common where I come from and i believe it is a very common sense aproach.i buy several surplus doe tags every year so i can fill the freezer early in the season and then spend some serious time looking for a wallhanger,If for some reason we could no longer hunt the bucks and bulls i wouldnt stop hunting but it would take away one aspect of the hunting exsperience,the competative,difficult aspect that makes it even better!

Nevadahuntr
Where in Nevada is it possible, for a hunter, to buy up several surplus doe tags every year? And then have a trophy buck tag.
I know some guys that would like to have that knowledge.

I like hunting does as much as bucks.

did I say I bought my surplus doe tags in NV?there are several states that always have surplus doe tags after the draw CO,WY,MT,SD,ND im sure there are plenty of hunters that already knew this.

I didn't know it.

those are just the ones i have hunted in Im sure there are many more states that allow you to take a few does to keep numbers down.

You said previously that you had recieved surplus tags in addition to antlered deer tags. That is not the same as a state simply allowing the harvest of does/antlerless deer in general.