Showing some restraint can lead to bigger rewards on the hunt.

The sun was still high in the sky, but the air was slowly cooling as a yearling female popped out of the hole under my tree and began collecting acorns from the forest floor. It was very early in my hunting career, and just a year earlier I would not have hesitated to shoot an arrow in her direction. This year I vowed to be more patient and watched her feed until she moved either out of range or out of range. This was the first time I’ve ever turned down a shot at a legal deer.

She returned an hour later, and I wondered if this was a sign of a second chance, but I still fought the temptation. My determination was rewarded some time later when an eight-pointed male ran up to the doe, took a casual glance at her and began to feed. This time my arrow flew and deer hunting changed inexorably for me.

People hunt for many reasons, not the least of which is success. How you define this may vary from one hunter to another and from one hunter to another over time. If your goal is to fill the tag and put the venison in the freezer, be sure to take the first opportunity to shoot. If your goal is to grow as a hunter, at some point you will have to adopt a policy of voluntary containment. You can’t shoot the big ones unless you’re willing to give up the small ones.

This doesn’t just apply to deer hunting. When duck hunting, you may want to avoid chickens out of respect for the drakes. Mountain hunters can only shoot a bird on the wing or one that the dog has pointed at and scared away. Jakes are allowed during the spring turkey season, but a long beard is a more significant goal.

While the term may have a negative connotation to some, I consider myself a trophy hunter. I am no longer eager to take the first legitimate dollar that offers a chance. Instead, I will strive for something that meets my personal standards. In doing so, I miss countless opportunities by leaving the locals to replenish the deer population and train the fawns or young bucks to become accustomed to the area or offer success to another hunter.

Of course, standards vary depending on time and place. I’ve learned to temper my expectations based on probabilities. After 35 years of hunting the same area, I have learned what is possible and what is likely. Others who hunt more productive areas may have higher standards, expecting a deer that weighs over 200 pounds or makes it into the record books. Where I hunt, deer are rare, so I set myself more realistic goals.

What any hunter ultimately harvests is a personal choice. In a state like Maine, any deer is a trophy, but if you want to grow as a hunter, consider setting higher standards for yourself. When the season opens, there are two types of people living in the woods: deer hunting people and deer hunters.

Bob Humphrey is a freelance writer and registered Maine guide based in Pownal. He can be reached at [email protected].