The nature of antlers

[longbow51]

So not trying to throw a match into a dumpster filled with flammables, but for those who don't care or don't really care about antlers, why hunt antlered animals at all?

This is a legitimate question and not an attack in any way. Is it because there are no anterless tags available in your desired hunting area or because horned animals yield more meat?

We keep all our antlers, heck, have most of them done into Euros on a barter deal, but definitely more meat on a 3-4 point buck than a doe.

 

[Northwoods Labs]

So not trying to throw a match into a dumpster filled with flammables, but for those who don't care or don't really care about antlers, why hunt antlered animals at all?

This is a legitimate question and not an attack in any way. Is it because there are no anterless tags available in your desired hunting area or because horned animals yield more meat?

I'm not a huge antler guy, but I do keep all of them. Not sure why, quite a few are just out in the garage. For me it is mostly a tag issue. I am guaranteed a buck tag in northern Wisconsin good for public or private. Doe tags in areas can be harder to come by where deer densities are low and they may be good for only certain counties and either public or private land

 

[DFS]

And then there's this guy:
View attachment 231490
https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/201...an-phillips-man-collected-16000-shed-antlers/

I like that guy. I like antlers and won’t apologize for it. I would rather see them on hoof through a spotting scope, but if you want to show me a set of antlers I’m going to look at them.

 

[Redman]

They are the last thing I pack out. I could could envision a scenario where I'm just to warn down to make another trip and I leave them, but I wouldn't say it's likely to happen.

Yep the last thing I pack out as well. Except the last mule deer and elk. I packed them out with the first load only because I was required to bring the heads to be checked for CWD. I didn't want something tearing them apart and then be in violation when I took them to the DOW.

 

[mtmuley]

Some of my antlers are gonna rebarrel my RUM. Poetic justice. mtmuley

 

[antlerradar]

Nine out of ten hunters that claim to be meat hunters are shooting the buck in the back right in the ham.

 

[rogerthat]

Not sure about doing this with antlered animals but horned animals for sure. A big horn sheep for sure…you can’t eat the horns and they are heavy on a b&c ram. Save your back not the horns

 

[CowboyLeroy]

I'm not sure when antlers became so important.

It seems to be about ten thousand years ago

 

[2rocky]

We as a species always keep score...it is in our nature. We have plenty to eat and a safe warm place to live.

I think antlers fit in the model below as a belonging or esteem need.