Yesterday was opening day here in Indiana. My father and I hunt on 40 acres of swamp, corn, and clover. It has healthy deer population but the bucks usually don't get larger than 115-120". Usually we or the neighbors that hunt the adjoining property will shoot them. Over the past 3 years I have started to pass on the smaller bucks and wait for something around 100" or better but my dad would still shoot anything (except fawns) within range. This year I decided to shoot for a true P&Y buck. I begged my dad all summer to let the bucks walk. His philosophy is that if we don't shoot them our neighbors will so we won't get any big bucks anyway. Just before we went out last night I asked him again to let the young bucks walk and just wait for a doe. The evening ended with me only spotting a few young does 100 yds off. As I stopped by my dads stand to get him I see he is gutting a deer. To my horror is was a beautiful 1.5 yr old 7 pt. This deer already had a nice antlers for a young deer. Would have beautiful in 2 years. I was speechless and just kept on walking. I am never going to find a P&Y with him hunting around me.

Here is my question? I know that young bucks are driven off by the dominant does at some point in their life. Could this hopefully be one of those bucks that would have been driven off to find his own land in a few weeks? How old are the bucks when this usually happens?

Edited by - barile on 10/02/2002 11:37:46

Edited by - barile on 10/02/2002 12:30:21