turtlshell
PMA Member
there's not a chance in hell that buck is mature. He's 3.5 tops. When he walks under your tree next year, you'll be rewarded with making the right decision:way::way::way:
Someone tell me Im not crazy
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longtail55
Member
If I were you I prob would of shot him by now, but im not you. Depends on if he's the biggest buck you have on cam and if you think he will make it another year. Most deer like that will get shot by a gun hunter in SD where Im from so the chances he makes it another year are slim. I think a lot of us get too caught up in how big a deer needs to be.
Look at that spindly butt, no way he's carrying the heavy body of an older deer. I'm not one to tell other people when to shoot or not to, it's a personal decision, and I don't know your situation. If he lives he'll have more mass, tine length and bigger body. Plus, if I'm you I'm hoping he's getting it on with every doe in the woods in the next month or so.
letemgrow
PMA Member
Same here, I think he is a smaller bodied 4.5 and he is stretched out to make him look smaller than he really is. Have any other broadside pics of him? When in doubt, pass em every time IMO.
If he is 3.5, the yeah, pass him if you want to shoot a real jaw dropper in a couple years.
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letemgrow
PMA Member
I took this deer for a 3.5 from the one pic I had of him...and passed him at 25 yards....turns out he was 6.5 when the neighbor shot him that December and his trail cam pics made the buck look much larger body wise. That is why I learned one pic is not a good aging tool. Need multiple pics really to be certain.
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KnuckleDragr
Active Member
Good job passing him up! If you have enough ground to give him good refuge from other hunters, I wouldn't even shoot him next year. It would be really hard to pass him again next year, but I think he has 180" written all over him. Just takes time.
Crockett
PMA Member
It's a chance you hafta take! He's young, he will be a gagger in a couple years! But then he may be gone! About 80% of the hunters in Iowa will put him down! He will be a giant if he lives! I passed a 12, 2 years ago! If he still lives....... he would be a whopper! I may never know!! Thats OK!! I kinda get a good feeling knowing I did'nt do what 80/90% of the deer hunters woulda done!! Maybe I'll see him again! Maybe not! And thats OK Too!!:way::way:
Death by Arrow
Member
Well update on this buck. He got shot during the first shotgun season. 18 year old kid got him. I saw it coming I had seen him a lot leading up to the first season. Never got the age but he was disappointed to see he only scored mid 140's. Kinda saw that coming. I appreciate all the feed back though guys, tough to get a good read on a bucks age sometime. I will admit I had a much bigger shooter that I had might sights set on so passing him was a little easier. Never got a shot tho...70 yards is the closest I got to him. And yes he made it through the shotgun season. I saw him last day last night. on to next year!
jesserichard
New Member
Thats sucks! he could have been a giant. But look at it this way, you know hes dead. Theres nothing worse then hunting a deer that isint there anymore.
Limb Chicken
Active Member
It does suck but you made the right decision in my opinion. He at least got a chance to make it. Just didn't. You controlled the things you were able to control. Get the bigger one this fall! :way:
turtlshell
PMA Member
Limb said it, you controlled what you could. It's part of hunting free-ranging animals. When they have that kind of potential you always have HIGH HOPES that they'll survive.
Three out of the four deer I passed this season, hoping they'd live, got shot...so I know what you're feeling. Don't second guess yourself, because you'd be more disappointed in shooting a 3.5yr old 12pt that scored mid 40's then letting him walking and getting shot by someone else.
Let the search for your next trophy or future trophy begin:way:
Death by Arrow
Member
Ya that's kinda how I feel Ollie, at least he made it through the breeding season to keep those good genes going, I shot one like him 2 years ago probably his daddy.