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Besting you personal best

bjkpharmd

bjkpharmd

New Member
I think most people are trying to harvest a personal best each year. I'm just wondering how many people pass or their philosophy on passing a mature buck that wouldn't top their best. So you have your trophy buck first buck, then the 120", 130", 140"- do you keep shooting 140s or pass & take the doe if a 150 or better doesn't come by?
 
150's are in trouble if they walk in front of me. I will take'em all day... If I know of a bigger one in the area I may wait however if it is a cool rack or the hunt was great (unique) I'm throw'n a stick.
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I go for 150 or better....if no opportunities present themselves by the last day or two of the season, I'll compromise for something smaller or meat.
 
my long time goal was harvesting a P&Y buck. i came damn close last year (within 2 inches) and that is still my goal this year...of course i've instated a new rule...must be outside the ears and hopefully 135 or better. if a busted up buck that only has a little bit of main beam and a 10 inch drop comes by like Bowman did, i'm shooting.

muzzleloader i'm hoping for 140 or better. that was my goal last year but we had to put that wounded buck down as he was about to die anyway from his shotgun wounds.
 
Well, I haven't had as many chances as most of the rest of you, but for a couple of seasons my limit has basically been mature deer. If I've got a 130 inch buck under me that looks like he's got some growing left to do, he can walk. Besides, when they get 4 1/2+ you can pretty much count on them have a good looking rack. Personally, at this point, I'd be just as thrilled with a big old doe as with a P&Y buck (well, maybe not, but you guys get the point
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I try not to look at their horns too much and concentrate on the shot.If he looks like a decent rack i will know it,it may end up being a 130 or 150.
Some years i may have been able to get a bigger one but who knows,i might have got skunked.
If it looks right,and feels right im gonna sling that arrow.
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It's all about the hunt.

Scores are scores, go for the total hunting experience.

If I had to wait for a buck that would beat my personal best it would be a long wait.

Each hunter must take a long look at exactly why your out there. Make sure its for the right reasons and you will have a much more enjoyable experience.
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Ditto Ghost Walker, my best has nothing to do with what I harvest. There is too much else out there to enjoy besides killing a particular animal.
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I do always keep an eye
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out for bucks that go 300#+ on the hoof.
 
I think most choose a personal best until they harvest a 145 or 150 plus. Then it's hard to hold out for more unless you've got some prime property and know what is there. 145" minimum for me this year. I only hope that that 140" eight dosent tempt me early on!
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Bowman
 
my first deer with the bow was the best, for over 5 years anyway. I always WANT bigger, but it our area, if you pass a decent buck you will be taking a doe most years. If a good buck presents a good shot opportunity I am tagging him.

Good luck to everybody getting a personal best this year, but face it not everybody or even the majority will. Hope it is a GREAT year.
 
I think Ghost Walker makes some great points. Give some serious thought to why you are really out there. If it is just to kill a big buck you are probably missing out on much of the potential enjoyment.

Also like Ghost Walker said it can get to a point where it is very difficult to top your best. Each person needs to set their own goals and those goals will evolve as a hunter matures. Personally I find that the longer I bowhunt the more important it becomes to just be out there and experience each new day.

But to answer the question, I'm basically looking for a mature buck at least 4 1/2 that has a nice rack, preferably with character. It is even better if it is a buck I have been watching for some time. The more previous interaction the more meaningful it is if I finally take him.

We're not all going to kill mature bucks this fall but here is wishing everyone an enjoyable and rewarding season.

Old Buck
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Ghost Walkers points are well taken, but that's not what the original posters question was.

I don't believe it's an "either-or" situation....it's possible to do both, enjoy the experience and trophy hunt the big boys.
 
I will answer the question:

Would I pass on every buck that I felt would not top my personal best?

NO
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I hear what everyone is saying. I've never taken a big buck, didn't really start thinking about deer until a couple years ago & have been unlucky or unable to really get out a couple times the last couple years. Just was wondering as I know someone with 11 deer in the 140s, talking to him it seems like it is just a duty to shoot a buck each year- he would sure take a larger one but I don't think he is on the same page as far as "the hunt & enjoyment of the hunt" anymore.
 
I would like to take a buck every year that would surpass previous deer I have taken but that just is not possible. Deer 150 plus are in real big trouble if they come past and 8pters 140 and bigger are toast.

In the last few years, I have past some awesome bucks based on what I thought they might grow into the next few seasons. To me, i concur with ghost about the experience and not the kill. I carry a video camera nearly every hunt and videotape what I don't shoot, that way I have the trophy to view like a mount, even though he was not harvested
 
This year like every year I have big plans on harvesting my best buck, but in reality 150" mature deer will make me very happy.
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Good luck to all this year - 26 days and counting!
 
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