re: Paid white tail hunts VS really earning a trophy

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What if I purchase 2000 acres of MS river bottom hardwoods, put up a fence around it, survay my herd, find terrible genetics, introduce a strict 5-10 year management program, then start killing 140-180" deer with some regularity?

Is that not hunting?

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It may be hunting. And it definitely is good work, but I don't think you can put up a picture of a deer that you killed there and say that it took the same level of skill/luck as if you killed the same size animal in an area where the general rule is "if it's brown it's down".

You have to admit the scenario you describe starts to turn from hunting to herding. The only difference between those deer and regular livestock is the amount of domestication.

I had a guy in my office a few months ago that showed me a picture of a deer that he was going to go kill. He had already paid the place for the right to go shoot him. He then showed me a picture of a deer he had killed there last time but he thought they might have fooled him because it looked a little different from the picture where he "bought" it. That is not hunting.

Not saying I am the end all be all of hunting. I only rifle and "primitive" firearm hunt for deer. I think guys that get a big deer within bow range are showing more skill/determination than I am.