ORIGINAL: Lanse couche couche
I for one will only shoot a buck that is so old that it literally has a biggrey beard.I'll bet many of you didn't even know that a buck can actually grow a beard, but it happens if you can show enough self-control to let them live to be 10 years or older.So,every one ofthose 4-7 year old babiesthat you shot could have been a nice grey beard hanging on your wall if you were smart enough to wait another 5 years.
That's true if you want the rack. I don't. I don't care one bit about a big rack. I'm going to take whatever I want and whatever I feel proud to take.
That being said I DO strive to take mature animals.
Also you need to be aware that if your area isn't going to produce a 150" buck, don't be looking for one. If your area can produce larger racks and 150" deer etc, then you have to make a choice to either take this 4pt, 6pt, whatever now, or take the chance and let him go to grow for you to harvest in the future. Also in my area you won't find many (if any) bucks over 5 1/2 years old due to the hunters and their ethics (which = a 120# 4 pointer is better than a 160# 6 1/2 year old doe.)[:'(]
I took a 4 pointer last year with a 17" spread. He was 4 1/2 years old. Perhaps he could have been a monster 8 pointer this year, but he was legal and his body showed that he was somewhat mature so I took him. I passed on a 5pt (looked like a yearling) and an 8pt (maybe 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years old) and held out for a more mature deer. For me, it could have been a mature doe or that 4pt to come in next, either way they would have ended up going home with me.
If you are proud of what you take I'm happy for you. But dont' take any animal you may regret in the future.
Good luck to all!