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You want him to grow, let him walk. Risky business but you may not see him again anyway.
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Deer hunting Dilemma(Not really, I kilt him)
- Thread starter DynamicDennis
- Start date
Big7
The Oracle
I ain't figured out how to cook a horn yet, just like Jed Clampet never figured out how to cook a "billy- yard" to serve on the pool table.
Seriously though. It depends on a LOT of things and a few of the many, many things for me would be like what @Toliver said in post #5 about the "bro code". I was on a lease where that would work and one that wouldn't. On the one that wouldn't, that would be a dead deer.
Also depends on how big your lease is and how many neighbors you have and how far in deep you are- if it's not a loooong way, miles, no sense in trying to "manage" him. They range 25 miles, depending on a few things. Somebody on a different property could kill him easily.
Also depends on how many "trophy" opportunities" you get. A lot, go ahead and pop him. Not many, let him go and "hope and pray" somebody else don't get him. That's about all you can do.
In the end, you really have VERY LITTLE control over the situation. It's a crap shoot. Don't let anybody tell you any different if you are hunting in traffic.
Seriously though. It depends on a LOT of things and a few of the many, many things for me would be like what @Toliver said in post #5 about the "bro code". I was on a lease where that would work and one that wouldn't. On the one that wouldn't, that would be a dead deer.
Also depends on how big your lease is and how many neighbors you have and how far in deep you are- if it's not a loooong way, miles, no sense in trying to "manage" him. They range 25 miles, depending on a few things. Somebody on a different property could kill him easily.
Also depends on how many "trophy" opportunities" you get. A lot, go ahead and pop him. Not many, let him go and "hope and pray" somebody else don't get him. That's about all you can do.
In the end, you really have VERY LITTLE control over the situation. It's a crap shoot. Don't let anybody tell you any different if you are hunting in traffic.
Kev
Senior Member
let him walk. You wouldn’t have posted this if you didn’t want to.
DynamicDennis
Senior Member
I’m confused, if your hunting or fishing for sustenance wouldn’t you take what you can get? I mean I know I get a lot more meat off of a 225pd buck than a 150pd buck. This thread has went the wrong decision since I posted it………
Blackston
Senior Member
Every time
And this is one reason that I don't run cameras. I prefer to be surprised by what I see and I get to avoid needless Dilemmas like this one. LOL
coastalredneck
Senior Member
the mindset of us hunters has been brainwashed by TV and social media. Last year i forgave myself for having this same mindset. Ive got (3) kids that hunt now and i its just not fair to them to not shoot a deer that they want to pull the trigger on. Its more about the friends and whole atmosphere at camp to me now. Just like my dad taught me growing up. If you get a really big one then its a bonus. So.. to this dilemma.. dont let him walk.. hes actually a pretty good buck. good luck to you!
transfixer
Senior Member
What you described is the way I've always hunted, my dad taught me as well, I've always hunted in a deer camp situation, even before we formed a club, pulling a trigger on one was just a part of it,
DynamicDennis
Senior Member
Only others I took a shot ofDo you have a good broadside picture ? And no I wouldn’t shoot his rack offI have let a few walk over the years and wished they’d break their rack off ha ha .
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I have 3 8 pointers on camera. One is a youngster. I'm guessing he's a yearling because he barely makes 8 points. The next one up I call "Junior". He's a 2 year old sporting a handsome rack but he needs another year at least to get those tall tines and fill his body out. The third one is the mack daddy. I want to hold out for him.
I saw all 3 of them together Friday evening in the rain but it was late, the overcast and rain made it hard to see them clearly, I passed on a shot at "Junior" and the mack daddy didn't give me a shot at all.
I'm almost out of venison. I'd like to hold out for the big one but if either of the other two step out once gun season opens I'm putting meat in the freezer.
I get it. You're a bone hunter. I am too. Sometimes you can over think that.
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Railroader
Billy’s Security Guard.
That deer is gonna get shot.
Might as well be you...
Might as well be you...
krizia829
Senior Member
People are getting too caught up with this whole aging and scoring thing. If he makes you happy, shoot him.
There's plenty of other bucks roaming around. They just haven't found your trail camera yet.
I would definitely shoot him and be pretty darn proud! Imagine passing him up and someone else shoots him.. I'm sure you'd feel pretty sick about it.. I know I would! Good luck!
There's plenty of other bucks roaming around. They just haven't found your trail camera yet.
I would definitely shoot him and be pretty darn proud! Imagine passing him up and someone else shoots him.. I'm sure you'd feel pretty sick about it.. I know I would! Good luck!
DynamicDennis
Senior Member
Thank you, I knew I was not the only person that was trying to shoot a big buck. I'm just honest I guess, but I wanna kill a mature buck that is at, or close to, its potential.I have 3 8 pointers on camera. One is a youngster. I'm guessing he's a yearling because he barely makes 8 points. The next one up I call "Junior". He's a 2 year old sporting a handsome rack but he needs another year at least to get those tall tines ad fill his body out. The third one is the mack daddy. I want to hold out for him.
I saw all 3 of them together Friday evening in the rain but it was late, the overcast and rain made it hard to see them clearly, I passed on a shot at "Junior" and the mack daddy didn't give me a shot at all.
I'm almost our of venison. I'd like to hold out for the big one but if either of the other two step out once gun season opens I'm putting meat in the freezer.
I get it. You're a bone hunter. I am too. Sometimes you can over think that.
Me too but I have put that particular priority into it's proper perspective. It's definitely not #1 anymore.
DynamicDennis
Senior Member
I have 2 8pts I have had on cam for 4 and 5 years. Those are my "targets". And maybe I'll just shoot 2 does this year, If I don't get a crack at one of these.
marshallknight
Senior Member
I'm all about shooting what makes you happy, so if my buddy or neighbor kills a buck that I wanted to let grow then I don't get mad at all. And my mind set used to be if I don't kill him then the neighbors will, but I finally figured out if he's in the back of my truck he has zero chance of getting older. I hunt in an area that's not known for letting them grow, but I had a chance at a 3.5 year old 8 and a 3.5 yr old 10 that I decided not to shoot 2 seasons ago. I killed the 10 last year and had a chance at the 8, but I dropped the ball. If you would have told me 6 or 7 years ago that letting a 3.5 yr old walk would work in my neck of the woods, I would have thought you were crazy.
DynamicDennis
Senior Member
DynamicDennis
Senior Member
Core Lokt
Senior Member
Pass on him, I'll shoot him
Let him go if you want just know that you may not get another chance at him. Your call... Good luck.
Let him go if you want just know that you may not get another chance at him. Your call... Good luck.
bfriendly
Bigfoot friendly
Pretty sure we all want to kill a big buck, but letting them walk really depends on several factors. Of course where you hunt, but maybe how good you are too. I’m not that good and on public land I’ll take pretty much the first opportunity given. But someone like @Jonboater who may hunt the same piece of public land may not. He has killed a lot more deer than me and I’ll bet he’d let a deer walk that I’d shoot without hesitation!
I’ll be after my second buck in Kentucky and the “rule” is, that the “next” buck is bigger…..my first was a 2.5 so sb no problem to improve on that. We face the same scenario with neighbors shooting young bucks. I won’t kill anymore young ones up err.
