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Pass or Shoot ?

blake

blake

Life Member
Many of us are fortunate to be able to hunt the same ground year after year. When hunting the same ground a person can pick and choose the deer that you want to harvest, and the deer you want to leave for another year.
 
I've passed on lots of deer to let them grow. Problem is I don't control enough ground to keep them safe from year to year. I'm not saying they all get shot, either. They just might not come back the next year for one reason or another.
 
It is impossible where im from to pass on a deer and so him the next year. Because they get shot down so bad during our gun season kinda sucks but i guess i do my part in passing them up!!
 
you cant shoot giants if you are shooting smaller bucks

but you cant get experience by never shooting anything

so if its 130ish or better it gets an arrow, maybe one day when i can control lots of land, ill be more selective, but for now, i like shooitng deer..... :grin:
 
I think it is a real longshot to pass a buck and then shoot him a couple years later. Still gotta do it though if you want to have the chance.
 
I agree with the statements above on passing, this was my 1st year of hunting Bow and Shotgun, and I passed many bucks with the bow hoping to get a chance at them next year. Tough to do here as well (due to hunting pressure) but I try to get my practice with harvesting does and keeping the herd in check.
 
Eventually you have to get past defining a successful season by harvesting a buck. I have eaten more tags than I have put on deer since I started bow hunting in 1995. Since 2000 ( the first year I shot a P&Y class buck), I am about at 50-50 but I expect that percentage to gradually decline in the coming years. I know I passed on the largest buck I ever passed on this season (Nov. 7th) only to see two of the largest bucks I have ever seen while hunting later in the season (shooting one of the bucks on the 18th). It is a very personal decision. My only comment is I agree that if you continue to shoot bucks of a certain size, the larger ones may never have a chance to walk into your shooting lanes.
 
"Eventually you have to get past defining a successful season by harvesting a buck."

I agree with that statement. I have gained 70 pounds over the years eating tag soup! :)
 
I agree 100% with BWJ! This was the first year that I ate a tag and passed 2-3 130 class deer. It didn't bother me because I REALLY want to shoot a 160 class animal one day and won't if I always shoot a 130. We got photos of a 150 class animal but found him dead yesterday (cause unknown). We also passed a 120 class last year only to get pics this year at 150+!!! BUT...to each his own and if you are miserable about not shooting a deer then you are not being honest with yourself. Do what makes you happy as that what this great sport is all about. I manage my farm but if I am lucky enough to have kids one day THE LAST thing I am going to do is make my son or daughter pass a young buck or doe. The cycle must go in order and starting as a trophy hunter is not usually what a young hunter wants to do. Just my opinion.
 
it is a personal decision and i dont think the hunter that elects to pass the 130 class is necessarily a better hunter than the guy who is pinched for time and smacks 130's - 140's every year.

to me the size of the horns is secondary to the hunt itself!
 
If I have to ask myself "is he big enough" while he's coming in then I do not shoot. I try to hold out for 150+ each year sometimes eating tag sandwiches, but when a buck walks in and theres no question in my mind he's a shooter, thats when the arrow gets flung.
 
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