I agree with Tim. Those close-cropped goatees look about as rugged as a crepe and satin ballet tutu. The current pirate look doesn't appeal to me at all (goatees, van dykes, shaved head, earrings, tatoos, and shaved chests ... what the hell is up with that!!??). I think anyone who succumbs to this silly fashion trend will look at photos of themselves in ten years and blush. Those who have tatoos will look at themselves and curse. "What the ($#%k was that shapeless blob of colored flesh supposed to be?" You can grow your hair back or shave it off and throw the other goofy ornaments away, but those damned tatoos are stuck forever. And they DO NOT age graciously. I just do not understand all these kids making a permanent eyesore out of their bodies. Arggh. Where did I put my Geritol?

I choose to go full beard or none. The only time I cut mine off is when I'm working on an oil refinery or chemical plant and have to wear a gas mask. Also, as far as beards go, if you grow one like Waddell's, it has to somehow say "Bone Collector Edition" on it and cost you $20-$45 dollars more than a standard beard for no reason..............

I'm probably going to get slammed for saying this, so keep in mind that it's mostly a joke.
In order to be a BADH you apparently need to kill a lot of deer while being from the Midwest or the south. Gee, you mean where there deer are EVERYWHERE? You mean where the success rate is usually above 50%? That does not seem particularly badass to me, more like typical. You want to be a real BADH? Hunt in the upper reaches of the Northeast. I’m talking the Adirondacks or New England. Low success rates, cold as can be, and hills…hills everywhere. I’m talking every 20 yards there is another freaking hill! Kind of like a miniature version of the Rockies, but with no elk. Hunting here can really test your will, mainly because most of the time you see nothing. I don’t mean no “shooter” bucks, I mean NTOHING. Zero deer. It separates the men from the boys, and I’ve seen a lot of young men and a lot of old boys. Guys like the Benoits or my dad and uncle; those are the true BADHs in my book. My dad stepped out into this deer hunting hell we call NH and bagged an 8 pointer (which is a trophy in these parts) on the first day of his first hunt. The TV guys can bite me; my dad is my true deer hunting hero. And yes, he does in fact have a goatee. He’s had it in most of his years of deer hunting, and he’s got the most deer out of any of us (10 I think.)

Maybe I shouldn't bring this up but you can be from the Midwest (Iowa), wear a goatee (mine dates to 1989) and not be a BADH or even deer hunt very much at all.

Bestul should not grow a goatee. With the mustache he looks like Deacon Ed from my church. I always figured one reason he kills so many deer is because he looks harmless.

I am afraid that somebody missed the memo. Goatees are a must if you want to shoot the big bucks. hogpredators.com

Wisenbach, you're about the last guy in the world I would want to hunt with. You wouldn't know a good time if one hit you on the head. Methinks you're just another typical antler/technocrap junkie. Me? I prefer to be non-typical. They're usually the older and smarter bucks anyway. Except in the Midwest and South where they are the bucks who get fed the most suppliments from mail order automatic feeders. :-)

Anyway, lighten up. There's no rule about not being able to have a good time while you're learning something. Perhaps you may learn what having a good time is all about.

I've never had a deer mounted and I've never killed a buck worth mounting down here in SC, but I've slayed a many a doe sporting my Amish Beard. I don't wear matching camo, and I do all the processing myself, not sure if that makes me a BADH or not but Goatees are weak excuses for beards in my opinion. Bestul, stop shaving today and don't trim that thing 'til the spring turkey season.

The only reason I say He shouldn't go with the goatee is that there are not enough people out there who currently rock the 'stache. Keep it up good man, keep it up.

I'm from Missouri, and would have a full beard if I had a job that allowed it. I personally don't think it's the act of a sane man to scrape a sharp piece if metal across his face. Unfortunately, as a police officer, they don't allow beards or goatees. I never shave on my days off, unless it's required, and I don't even take a razor to deer camp with me. That being said, I'm just a normal, run of the mill, deer hunter.

Being in uniform all of my life and having to shave every morning I cannot stand to have a beard or a mustache even after being retired for 6 years. I don't think it makes any difference in what kind of deer hunter I am whether I have whiskers or not. Besides that my wife likes me clean shaven and that is what counts.

Once again, five tries before able to get a post. Anybody else having this problem?

As to the beard issue, to each his own. IMHO, the best beard ever belongs to Santa Claus.

Above a beard grows a man, You can use a goatee in the south and midwest but its to damn cold here in the Northeast for that, Beard it up!

I wouldn't recommend a goatee because, well...it sounds French, and I don't think red blooded American hunters should be bringing out their inner Frenchmen during hunting season:). I make an effort to grow a full beard during the season -- it helps to hide my pasty white skin, gives me a false sense of warmth on a cold morning, and signals to my co-workers that Fall has officially begun.

2lb,
Does sporting your Amish beard?
Hmm. I suppose I'd want to shoot a doe if it stole my beard, too.

I put the razor away on Labor Day and break it out 2 weeks after Easter!

I don't like your "poll"! I'm a "bad" deer hunter, not "bad-a$$"!
I have two mounted heads. Neither exceeds probably 140 gross, but they're the biggest I've killed.

Beards are a personal choice, matching camo or not. (I wouldn't know how to act with matching camo!)

Kinda like a cowboy hat, some folks can, some can't!

First Bubba,
Around here, 140 is a world beater.
Wisenbach,
Don't worry. We'll give you some red meat soon.

Sorry, but I have to agree with wisenbach. Hunting seasons are starting up all over. There have been several huge bucks killed all ready in Wisconsin and Sask. Canada. You would think Dave would have alot more to cover than all the off season type crap that has been the norm lately. Caption Contests,polls,and blogs that every comment turns into slamming the tv hunters or bitching about well managed midwest farms with food plots. It sounds like a bunch of women all the time. And Dave you stir the pot and get them started.

A beard had nothing to do with filling my trophy room. Besides, my wife doesn't want me to grow any facial hair, and her reason is the best yet ;-)

To bad Ontario Honker. Filling my trophy room is one of the ways I spend my fortune. If you had what I have, you just might too.

Dave

The taxidermist I use raises deer.
When I went to pick up the first head, it was hanging beside a "shed" mount that scored 256! I was on the way home with my "cull" when it dawned on me, "I shot THIS deer, that one is still in a pen!"

Great post! Very, very few men can really wear a good goatee. Sorry Drurry Bothers, your fuzz has got to go!

i thought these posts were about deer and deer hunting... tips, tricks, news, equipment, everything whitetail, not about slamming TV hosts, and talking about goatees

I started reading these posts about 2 years ago and loved it but it seems in the last 6 months that they have really digressed into nothing related to being a whitetail nut.

just my personal opinion, lets get back to the show at hand and talk about WHITETAILS 365