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Passing on deer

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swampwright

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New timber in a great location, having a hard time passing on some really good deer. Theyre in a place where they can grow old. I've past on more "big" deer this year than any other. I'm just wondering how do you guys pass on a 150 inch and not go crazy after lol
 
It all depends on your goals. When you set a certain standard or hunt a specific deer, nothing else will do. It's just a matter of personal commitment to the goal. It also matters what you have harvested in the past. If you have 10 150's on the wall, then why shoot another one? That number might be 110 for some and 160 for others.
 
I have passed a few 150- 155's, but i figured them to be young deer. I ended up shooting one this year that was just over 150, but a mature 5.5+ year old and was more then happy to wrap my tag around that one!
 
I can't either. I do pass a lot of 120-130 bucks and try to let them all get mature, but after many hours on stand shot a 130 last weekend and am perfectly happy with it. I had a great season. Shoot what you are happy with and don't worry about anyone else.
 
If they are young with great potential... Sure makes sense. Especially if they have a reasonable or decent chance of making it. Better for everyone in the area if those dudes are passed and allowed to get "ripe" & mature. Personally, I do it and I know tons of guys that pass really great younger deer (even on small tracts) & a large number of them live to another year and often someone gets a crack at them the next year.
 
I passed what I think to be about a mid 140's 9 point this year due to having another buck as the target (thinking 160's). It helped that he stayed about 100 yds from me! But I didn't even try calling him in closer due to not being the buck I was after. I just watched him in the binos and convinced myself that he was only about 4.5 at the oldest. I have also passed on calling to smaller 3.5 yr olds because I know I won't shoot them anyway. Last year I had what I thought was a mid 150's 12 point under me, and he got an arrow chucked at him, even tho I had the same buck as a target as I do this year. Over the back, so he lived on another day. Ended up taking a high 130's 10 point a few days later due to having my wife with me and it being a good story! Passing a 150" would definitely be hard for this boy, since there is no guarantee of getting the bigger ones. But, as said before, it all depends on the hunter's goals and what makes him/her happy.
 
In order to let a 150" walk I would have to have direct knowledge of multiple bucks that are bigger in the area that I felt confident that I could kill if I put my time in. I would also have to have an impressive resume of multiple booners under my belt as well.
 
Basically do what makes you happy! My thoughts basically reflect what Sligh1 said.
I even pass some older deer in that category hoping to give others the chance at them being our neighbors, family, etc. if they trip my trigger I'm putting a hit on them.
 
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Team pewp said:
In order to let a 150" walk I would have to have direct knowledge of multiple bucks that are bigger in the area that I felt confident that I could kill if I put my time in.
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Same here. Before trail cams came out, never would a 150 get the pass. Now that a guy can see what's "on the roster" every year; makes it easier to let em go if bigger, older ones are in the area.
 
Depends on the state of course, but I have passed young deer but never a 150, could not do that as of yet I don't think (on my own farm).

This year I was in the mood to shoot my bow again after two years of passing a lot of deer, filled two tags with bucks (nothing huge) but I feel good about it, and now I want to try for bigger next year. I've got some good young deer on my farms that should be nice next year if they survive the late season.
 
As stated above, it's all about what makes the hunter happy. If you would be proud of the animal then by all means take him and worry not what others would have done.

For me personally I am looking to pass all known 3.5 year old bucks. I guess I have just been incredibly lucky that last two bucks that fit that description, and were in bow range with clear shots, were last years 169" and Saturdays 170".

I will also agree with what others have said about the ability of these deer to survive even with pressure on smaller tracts of land. There isn't an animal that amazes me more than the elusive whitetail.

I really don't agree with the idea that, "if I pass him, then the neighbor will shoot him anyway". The only thing guaranteed if you shoot him is that he has a 0% chance of survival. I bring this up because this is my uncles mentality on our family farm in MN and it eats at me...but again, if the animal makes him happy than I will be happy. If it's just to kill so the neighbors don't kill, I hold my disappointment internally.
 
Like I tell everyone who I hunt with- a trophy can be different to each hunter- for me- you cant shoot monster deer by killing the big ones constantly. I meat hunt and I trophy hunt and for meat- I shoot the ones that cant seem to grow antlers:) for trophies- I only shoot mature deer and also will use a tag for management if I want to get his blood line off my property
 
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