ORIGINAL: LittleChief
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.
or 6.5 or 7.5 and so forth........you want to hunt mature animals or you want big antlers? If you want big antlers go to a game farm, if you want true mature animals, preach to those who shoot 4.5-5.5y/os and tell them to let them wait til they get to be 6.5y/o+
He's only going to get smart. Its just a matter of where to draw the line. I like big deer just as much as anybody, but theyre a bi-product in my hunting, and Im trying in the past year or two, to hunt in ways condusive to have my cake (venison) and my big deer....and it doesnt always work out in the best way to grow a big buck, which is fine by me.Nobody else manages for big deer around me (60ac)...I try to do my part. Those who stick around and dont wander off property and get shot, well thats great, likelyhood, none. I witnessed first hand this year how small of a range a deer can have...A spike I watched all year pretty much was there to be seen on property whenever I hunted...I got in a hurry one day while hewas hurridly making his way across the field and thought he was bigger than what he was and well, that jerky and back straps and burger is might good.....I still want one to eat.