ORIGINAL: IL-Cornfed
ORIGINAL: Jimmy S
You are in the woods and suddenly you become quite aware there is a deer moving through the area and will be within range soon.
The moment of truth comes and you must make the decision to take this deer's life or not.
Have you made up your mind well before or do you make that all important decision as it presents itself?
You haven't even identified the target animal yet so I certainly would NOT be preparing to shoot.
Is it a Buck or a Doe?
What is the animals AGE?
What are the QDM practices for this property?
If I have learned but one thing over many years of hunting, it is to NEVER rush the shot. I would evaluate the individual animal and then deceide if a shot should be taken. Honestly though, unless it was a specific Doe hunt, I wouldn't even be raising the gun unless he was a 4 1/2+ year old 150" or better buck.
Maybe I did not make myself clear...In my post, when I said:
"themoment of truth comes and you must make the decision to take this deer's life or not" .....
you have identified the target.
That's what this post is all about. Evaluating the individual animal. I never meant to suggest making a decision before that happened..
Based on your final comment about it being a 4 1/2 yr old 150" before you even raised you gun...well, if I were you, I would consider myself very fortunate that you hunt in areas where you have the luxury to make that decision.
I'm not so fortunate...I can hunt an entire week in northern New England and only see a handful a deer. I make my decision before I go into the woods. If I can legally take a doe, I will decide before then if I will. If it's early in the season or if the doe is with a fawn, I will probably let her walk. If it's a small buck, I will probably do the same.
If it's a 3 1/2 yr old 140" I will definitely raise my gun!