Okay Mature Buck Hunters, what do you do with this one?

[jackflap]

The question has come up before. Do you shoot what you believe to be a 4.5+ deer with a small rack or a younger one with a more desirable rack.

This deer looks like to me it is definitely 4.5+ with emphasis on the plus. I can't tell whether his horns or deformed or broken or some of both. If they are broken, I'd sure like to find the buck that broke them.

This deer appears to be the biggest bodied deer I've ever seen on this farm. I have one buck tag for the county. I have seen this deer once in daylight but about 100 yards away. He is big.

Not counting him, I have seen three shooters in the low 130 range and a few more on the trail cam. The next two weeks should be the peak of the seeking and chasing phase of the rut. I have more doe tag than I can fill and still have over 40 days of the season left and am not worried whether I fill a buck tag or not.

But this deer has me intrigued.

#1. Do you agree he is a 4.5+ and if so, do you take him if given the opportunity. While I don't have another tag for this farm, I do have another buck tag for another county which is only 20 miles away.


#2. Regardless of #1, do you think his horns were broken or deformed?

I added a pic ofa 2.5yo for comparison purposes. Our 2.5 yo will typically field dress in the 140-150# range.





The 2.5 yo

[GMMAT]

I'd shoot that buck in a snap and be extremely proud of him.

Is he more of a trophy than a 125" / 2.5yr old?

To me he is.

[virginiashadow]

Shoot whatever makes you happy.

[Dopler]

I'd say it's3.5to 4.5 years, I'd say he wasmuch older and wasgoing down hill but he does not have a lot of lose skin around his neck nor is his back line sagging yet--his back line is very straight. I'd say he may have gotten sick when he was growing his horns this year or just had a bad winterdietand is a prime candidate to be a monster next year.

Since you don't have a tag, let him walk, hunt the county 20 miles from here, not worth getting fined and/or losing your hunting privilidges over any buck imo.

[Germ]

Iwant to see the buck that busted him up

[jackflap]

Shoot whatever makes you happy.

I understand that VS.

I just threw it out there for a friendly discussion. I am not fretting over it nor is there a right or wrong answer.

[virginiashadow]

I personally would love a crack at an older buck, regardless of antler size.

[BigJ71]

ORIGINAL: Germ

Iwant to see the buck that busted him up

You got that right!!!

[jackflap]

Since you don't have a tag, let him walk, hunt the county 20 miles from here, not worth getting fined and/or losing your hunting privilidges over any buck imo.

I do have a tag. I was just mentioning that I would still have one more,just in a different county.

[MichaelHunsucker]

I would definately say that he is 4.5+

It looks to me that he is broken, and somewhat deformed on his G2. Because he is broken, i would let him go another year if you think that he will make it and you will be able to hunt him next year just because he is SO busted up.