till next season, and you really don't have that many 3 to 3 1/2 year olds in your area, would you just totally pass them until next season? Or would you only consider taking one in late season to keep from eating a tag? Just curious. Myself, I have not even killed an archery buck yet, but I know this scenario is pretty close to what I have in my hunting area.
Thanks, LT
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"The Whitetail Deer". Call them dumb, call them curious, call them whatever you want, but one day, the biggest one you ever saw will turn you into a babbling fool.
I let em go, the more you let go the more will make it, even if your neighbor is goign to shoot that buck, he can't shoot em all, that's my philosophy, and I'd take a doe before an immature buck, wish others would too. To me I'm only shooting a buck to mount or as a management buck. So shooting a 2.5yo to me is not worth it, rather harvest a doe. I think i want to hunt elsewhere though, seems no one is willing to pass up a 2.5yo in my area. Even my cousin, who talks a big game on management etc......and shoots 3-2.5yo's a season! Also how many 130-140 class deer do you need on your wall? I can understand taking a immature buck as your first buck, or something decent to mount, after that, I want bigger, and he'll only get bigger if you pass on him. I could have shot a 135" just about every year I've ever hunted, so that means I could have had now maybe 15- 135" bucks on my wall? for what? no thanks. My dad however, with the same philosophy and same years hunting has been luckier, 1st bow buck, 151", 2nd buck that same season, gun 184", first gun buck years earlier, 155" and he has seen other big boys, hopefully this trend/luck will change/pass on a generation....
I agree too, I target 3.5 year olds and up but towards the end of my season I'll take a 2.5 year old depending on what he looks like and how the hunt goes. Me passing any buck, especially 2.5 year old and up is a death wish for them come rifle season more times than not. I've been passing bucks for 10 plus years and I cannot say for certain that I've taken any of them older after that. I'm passing them in hopes but I believe it's futile. The only thing for certain is that if I don't pass them, I'm tagged out in my single tag state!
I say no to my self now, but when it is the last day and a buck like that comes in I make up my mind at the moment, and I have regreted it after, and I have been happy also. That is hunting and ground shrinkage sucks.
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