ORIGINAL: TEmbry
I dont get the philosophy if I dont someone else will, or it isnt working if all I have seen is a spike on the last day.
I don't understand your philosophy either. Not saying there's anything wrong with it - I just don't understand it. It doesn't fit me or the way I hunt.
By adding to the "problem" (if you see it that way) by killing bucks younger than what you are looking for, you aren't helping.
The thing that exempts me from this statement is that I usually set out to kill "deer", not a buck, and certainly not a buck of a certain caliber.
Passing that spike gives you a chance at a 2.5 yo the next year, shooting him certainly doesn't.
If you aren't looking for a certain quality buck and only want venison from your deer, I agree shoot the spiker.
Passing this particular spike inthis hypothetical scenario will result in my (a) not having any venison this year and (b) having an (my opinion only) unsuccesful season. Also, I don't hunt for antlers. They're nice, but I don't hunt for them. Why should I care if this particular deer lives until next year?
A thread just a day or two ago discussed when a doe was killed in relation to whether or not she produces fawns the next year. Either way you sliced it, the end result is the same. To
me, and me only, the QDM issue is a direct parallel. It doesn't matter if I kill this 1 1/2 year old spike today, wait until he's 2 1/2 like you said above, or wait until he's a 3 1/2 year old wall-hanger - he will still never makeit to a 4 1/2 year old to 5 1/2 year old mature monster. Where should we draw the line? I dunno. Since I hunt for deer instead of trophies, it really doesn't matter to me. I just know that when I drop this deer, I had a successful hunt and I'm putting meat in the freezer.