Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

Shoot or dont shoot

SWBUCKHNTR

SWBUCKHNTR

Member
I am having a hard time with this deer. Need your advice. This is a new farm that I have no history with. I want to shoot this deer for his charachter but I dont know if I should give him a free pass and see what he is next year. I got him on trailcam for the first time a couple weeks ago I just had to get back out and see if he was still around and I had 67 pictures of him in 4 days. Is he old enough to shoot or should I hold off?
trail_camera_410.JPG

trail_camera_450.JPG
 
Sheesh....that's a tough one. Definately could be still heading for his best yrs but that unicorn point.........unique. Tough decision, good luck!
 
How large is the chunck of land you have permission to hunt, which he is currently on? How much do you plan on hunting that land? How much pressure comes from surrounding lands?

I know these might be tough questions for a new property, but they'd factor in heavy with my decision. I agree that this guy could be something a lot better in another year, but what are the realistic chances of him making it through this season (given the answers to the above questions). If the land you can hunt is 100 acres or less and you plan on hunting it a bunch and there is average pressure from surrounding lands, then you had better let one fly if he offers up an opportunity.

I'd say, get him into bow range and get to fulldraw...then make your decision. If you don't mind waiting for three years or so, I'm sure you could see his genetics again if you let him walk.
 
It is a low pressure area and it is on a 1400 acre chunk of ground so I think I could keep him a live because I am really the only guy hunting it besides my filming buddy.
 
If he's MATURE & he's peaked, shoot him. If not, let him go, no question, especially with your situation!
BASICALLY, if you think he's PEAKED (5 or older) why wouldn't you shoot him- get that mature buck out AND another will take his place, especially with how many bucks are able to get to maturatity and probably leave the land since you have such a great set-up. 1,400 acres!??!?! 1 guy?!?! Man, you should be able to get 20-30 bucks to maturity with that kind of land, some will leave of course BUT dang, that's AMAZING!!!!

*I really don't have a good guess on age, probably easier IF I see him with velvet OFF and can really look closely at body.
 
Well...good things come to those who wait...except in whitetail hunting when you never see them again and spend years wondering what ever happened to that buck.

Whack him.
 
Ok how's your buddy feel? How many deer does he have on the wall? Who has been hunting longer you or him, and who decides who shoots what, or do you go by let the arrow fly it's the hunters choice? I know this is asking alot because an older hunter like my father thinks my buddy and I are cockey or out of our minds for passing on deer that would look great on the wall, but plain and simple we do have more deer these days and now each resident deer on our property has a NAME! Who ever would of thought, but at least its a choice you have to make that no matter what you decide to do the outcome will be great.
 
I would take him. Looks at least 4 1/2 but then again "freaky" things can happen to their rack in the next year and he could blow up. He is def. mature and given his unique rack I would take him but again depends on your goals and what you will be happy with which is said alot but is the absolute truth. Good luck!
 
All I can think about is picking up that shed next February! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
It's all up to the guy flinging the arrow. I'd probably shoot him, but with most of the bucks I shoot, its a game time decision, so I'm guessing you'll decide when and if he walks by within range.
 
The grass will ALWAYS be greener on the other side...

I would undoubtedly shoot this deer, no questions asked...

It all depends on what your goals are...if you wouldn't be happy with this deer, then you may want to think twice about it.

very nice buck, thanks for sharing /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
Well thanks for the advice guys. Now for one more last question, score, I know it is hard with velvet and all but any guesses would be appreciated. I have my thoughts but I always seem to be baised with my own bucks compared to other bucks. He would make me happy for sure and would be a great trophy I just started telling myself this year though nothing under 4 1/2 and to me he looks like he is right on the line of a 3 1/2 or 4 1/2.
 
I guess for me it would depend on what other bucks you have to go after. For me I wouldnt shoot this deer. Even with that extra spike but I have alot better deer to go after. On 1400 arces there should be some better bucks on there unless its been hunted hard the last few years. I would guess it would gross close to 150. Good luck in what ever you decide.
 
I think he's a 4 year old deer for sure, and his score might surprise you. With that extra tine, I bet he'll break 150.

Who knows if he'll keep that spike through the season, but if he did, I think I'd have a hard time passing him. Hopefully you just have a 180 walk by early in the year and you won't have to think about it /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
Well, I guess I'm on the oppisite side of the coin. I think the buck still could put some real inches on in a few years.

I bet he only goes gross in low 140s. He doesnt seem to carry alot of mass to me. Maybe Im off but mass to mean starts to mean age. Granted I have seen some 2.5MASSIVE racked deer, but that really seems to come 4.5 to 5.5 and beyond. I bet that deer is 4.5 at the oldest.

Would I kill it? Here in MN, I would chase him till I killed him, or the neighbor did, or till I ran him out of the county. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif In IA on a 1400acre farm that I could hunt as I pleased, I would TRY to let him walk.

Dean
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom