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Post by jstalljon on Oct 9, 2006 20:30:41 GMT -5
I pulled my game camera tonight and got this picture..... 
At first my initial feeling was, "He's a great young deer with potential....he'll be a dandy in a year or two." Stopped by the farmers house on the way home, just to shoot the breeze for a bit, and drop of some more venison. Thank him again for letting me bowhunt HIS property which butts right into ours. Here's where the interesting part comes in. I'm the only one who bowhunts back there, but come to find out there will be 3 guys gun hunting, and 2 other guys back there during muzzle loader!!!  So wanted to get some input from you guys??? Would this change your strategy? If it were just me, (and the immediate family that hunts our place) back there, I'd let this deer get a bit older, but with a little over a month to go before everybody and their brother is back there, I'm afraid he'll catch a slug at the drop of a hat! All of a sudden I catch myself wondering if I shouldn't take him if given the opportunity. But then think, well then he DEFINITELY won't mature. I guess I'm leaning toward letting him walk and keeping my fingers crossed for him through gun season. It's not like we are sitting on hundreds of acres either to where the odds are stacked in his favor. We have 48, and the farmer next to us has 80+. What would you guys do? |
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 9, 2006 20:39:56 GMT -5
I would not let any other hunters influence what I will and will not take.
If I would not take him if I had sole hunting rights I would not take him if there were others hunting too.
As you said, if you kill him he has no chance of getting any bigger. Passing him gives him a chance to elude the other hunters.
I'd pass and cross my fingers.
Good luck on whatever your decision is..
.
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Post by semisneak on Oct 9, 2006 20:44:01 GMT -5
I would not shoot this deer to keep someone else from shooting it. It sounds to me like you want a bigger buck. Thats what I would hold out for and hope he makes it until next season. If I decided I wanted this buck and finally got him I would get great satisfaction from that regardless of the rack size. Good luck in whatever you decide.
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Post by indianagooseman on Oct 9, 2006 20:45:25 GMT -5
No, I would stick to my original goals. If you let him go he may make it to next season and be exactly what your looking for but if you shoot he he will sure as shi# not get any bigger.
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Post by eelriver on Oct 9, 2006 20:49:28 GMT -5
I would go with your first thought. He will be a nice deer in two years....just hope the gun hunters are thinking the same thing. Odds are slim, but still better than if you take him in early archery.
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Post by dbd870 on Oct 10, 2006 3:58:34 GMT -5
I'll go along with "to thyne own self be true".
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Oct 10, 2006 6:07:31 GMT -5
It depends on what other bucks are in the area & the mindset of the gun hunters. The buck may not get a chance to get bigger.
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 10, 2006 7:42:55 GMT -5
jstalljon,
I think you pretty well knew what your answer to your own question was.
Your friends on here just re-enforced it for you.
Good luck..
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Post by jstalljon on Oct 10, 2006 8:08:22 GMT -5
jstalljon,
I think you pretty well knew what your answer to your own question was.
Your friends on here just re-enforced it for you.
Good luck..
I know Woody...I almost deleted this after posting it. I just get frustrated when I see a good calibur young deer like this, and know that as soon as he crosses my property line, his chances of survival diminish rapidly. I'm not saying all the hunters in my area should adopt "MY" management theories, but I put a LOT of time in throughout the season, and it's sad when those efforts are spoiled by a few "hourly" hunters who have no concern for the quality of deer in the area. I'm not a "trophy" hunter, but I do like to see deer mature and reach their true growing potential. I do hope to see this deer in person this season. I may fire an arrow about 6' in front him to keep him on his toes!!!  ;D Thanks for the responses. |
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Post by steiny on Oct 10, 2006 19:51:32 GMT -5
Don't assume those other guys will be able to kill that buck.
Those dudes wise up a bunch following a little hunting pressure.
Stick to your guns, and let him grow up.
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Post by hoyt1166 on Oct 10, 2006 20:06:06 GMT -5
I agree with the rest....he survived long enough to get that old, what's to say he won't survive longer? Since this is the OBR period, you stand a better chance of him growing up. Not trying to start an OBR thread here so no flaming....just saying it might work into your favor.
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Post by mbogo on Oct 11, 2006 7:28:47 GMT -5
Woody is absolutely correct, do not let other people influence what you do or do not want to take. That buck is a shooter for the majority of hunters and a deer that very few firearms only hunters will pass up, but the question is whether or not he is a shooter for you. It sounds like you have already answered that question for yourself and I don't know where you hunt but I would be willing to bet there are several larger bucks in your area.
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Post by greenhunter5364 on Oct 11, 2006 21:44:06 GMT -5
If you shoot him now he will have no chance of growing bigger. I'd pass on him this year and hopefully get a chance to look him over next year.
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Post by jstalljon on Oct 20, 2006 15:20:43 GMT -5
Well....just a quick follow up on this thread.
Had this deer in front of me this morning for probably close to 1/2 an hour. He was easy to identify from the trail cam pic. He walked in at first light, and was content just milling around the whole time. He offered me several opportunities to shoot, but I just couldn't quite do it!
He's a beautiful young deer with GREAT genetics in his favor, and amazing potential down the road. I hope he makes it through gun season!
But I fealt 100% content with my decision to let him walk....thanks for the input guys!
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Post by solohunter on Oct 20, 2006 19:30:20 GMT -5
Cannot see the pic jon........
Solohunter
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Post by solohunter on Oct 20, 2006 19:30:39 GMT -5
Cannot see the pic jon........just let a nice buck walk at 710 pm at the middle stand. Just felt it would be good to let him grow another year or two...... ;D
Solohunter
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Post by solohunter on Oct 21, 2006 7:33:43 GMT -5
jstalljon,
I think you pretty well knew what your answer to your own question was.
Your friends on here just re-enforced it for you.
Good luck..
I know Woody...I almost deleted this after posting it. I just get frustrated when I see a good calibur young deer like this, and know that as soon as he crosses my property line, his chances of survival diminish rapidly. I'm not saying all the hunters in my area should adopt "MY" management theories, but I put a LOT of time in throughout the season, and it's sad when those efforts are spoiled by a few "hourly" hunters who have no concern for the quality of deer in the area. I'm not a "trophy" hunter, but I do like to see deer mature and reach their true growing potential. I do hope to see this deer in person this season. I may fire an arrow about 6' in front him to keep him on his toes!!! ;D Thanks for the responses. |Good post Jon....I agree and have felt that for many years. Solohunter |
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Post by buddylee on Oct 21, 2006 7:52:23 GMT -5
Never shoot a deer to keep someone else from getting him.
Hunt for yourself and yourself only.
You wont be disappointed then.
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;D
