RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

It's pretty easy to see the argument that having more mature bucks makes them more easy to kill...unless you have never hunted a trophy animal.:eek:

RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

One word. THERAPY:)

RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

Atlasman

Personally I dont worry about the "challenge" to much. The main reason why people manage deer, especially in south Texas, is to improve the size of bucks, plain and simple. In south Texas if your not killing big bucks year after year then your doing something wrong and you need to take a long look at your managment program. When I go hunting, killing A mature buck is nota hard thing to do, killing an immature buck is a gimmie and my hunt would be over the first 30 minutes in the stand. But the "challenge" comes and the excitement comes when you try to find that ONE special buck. He might be the highest scoring buck on the ranch, he might have a drop tine, he might have alot of trash, he might be a huge 8 pointer, or any number of things that interest you and makes you want to hunt that deer. Even on the best managed ranches in south Texas finding and killing a true trophy buck (170"+) is still not a common thing. I remember back in college we would go out on some of the biggest and best known ranches in the region doing deer captures. We would have helicopters out there, the gunner would net the deer and the students would take information and data from them etc. Each year we caught several hundred bucks. I think we caught about 2000 bucks by the time I got out of college andI bet we didnt catch more then 50 bucks that would break the 160" mark, and keep in mind we where on the best ranches in the state I mean these places where getting $10-$20,000 for a 5 day deer hunt. Just these deer captures alone prove how hard and rare a true trophy buck is,.......

RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

Button Buck -Can't shoot too young (Could grow to be a bruiser)
Young doe- Can't shoot too young
Doe- Can't shoot could possibly produce a bruiser some day
Spike - 6 point- Can't shoot could be better next year
150 class whitetail- Can't shoot could be a 180 next year.

Basically I sit in the stand all day and wonder what the hell I am doing up there. [8D]

RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

if i shot the first buck i saw, i would have been done bowhunting after two hours this year... instead i let those small bucks live and try to find the more elusive and mature bucks. it becomes a great challenge trying to get that one buck that i have been scouting all summer and have caught a glimpse of in the distance while bowhunting.

mature does also present a similar challenge because of their increased awareness. however, unlike that one big buck, there are numerous mature does around every year and that increases the opportunity to harvest one.

RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

Read closer...........no one said they were "easy" to kill.


I agree........which leads to my confusion when I hear so many guys talk about wanting more of a "challenge" and that is why they hunt for "mature" bucks........then in the same sentence they ask for everyone to help them put more big bucks out there to make things easier. Which is it??


I think that is a VERY subjective statement. So many things go into a bucks awareness I don't think a blanket statement like this one can be applied. Hunting pressure, number of does, how it was raised, amount and terrain of land are just a few of the many things that go into a deer's awareness. Deer of the same age can be vastly different depending what has happened to them in those few short years. Their innate instincts for danger are undeniable..........I just think that experience is a big part of the equation as well.

If you are truely out for the "challenge" then that would be correct I guess..........wouldn't it?? Where is it easier to kill a deer??.........where there are 2.......or where there are 2 dozen?? (same land makeup)

RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

The proof is right here in this thread.

2 seperate guys hunting land that produced a couple "trophy" bucks (seen or killed)in over 35 years combined.........now they kill multiple "trophy" bucks every year and seeing them is a "given" during hunting season.


Did they suddenly become great "trophy" buck hunters??........or did they just increase their odds of killing one by increasing their numbers??

RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

At least you are honest.


Wow........there are a lot of people here that disagree with that. Once again..........thanks for being honest.



I understand what you're saying but I hope you are not offended when I say that sounds a lot more like "farming" then "hunting".........sort of like picking out the nicest pumpkin or christmas tree in the lot.

I am NOT knocking it........it's just worlds different then anything I have come to love about hunting. If I grew up in your area I would be embracing your style as well I am sure........I doubt I would ever try and pressure others to follow my lead but that is a different story ;)



That was then............I don't know your age but I would guess that today's world of "growing" deer via nutritional supplements would have those figures skewed differently.

RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

So if things were to change and there were numerous mature bucks just like the does then you would have increased opportunity to kill one also right??

There goes the "challenge" you like so much. I guess you are against QDM then correct??

RE: Let 'em go and let 'em grow
 

What you are missing here is the definition of "challenge"

Of course more mature bucks in the woodsincreases ones probability of seeing them. That is a good thing, isn't it??? You can't say most hunters don't dream of killing a slammer buck. If one wants to see and have the oppertunity to harvest mature bucks it goes without saying, let the little bucks grow...

The "challenge" isn't finding and hunting a one in a million mature buck in any given area. This seems to be where you keep getting stuckin these conversations.

The "challenge"is outsmarting and out maneuvering a mature buck, who has been around a few years and who is in most cases wise of the hunters. "Challenge" one's selfto hunting mature bucks instead ofannihilating young naive yearlings whoare most likelylost, vulnerable andsearching outa new core area after yearling displacement without the protection and guidance of their mothers for the first time.

I have said it before and will say it again. IMO the yearling buck is the most naive and most susceptible to fall to a hunter of any age class or sex in the herd. Now once again I am not talking about sheer numbers in comparisonof yearlings to does and fawns,but the vulnerability of a yearling buck.

I believe one should shoot what makes them happy. I choose to hunt mature bucks, others don't. That's fine with me. I choose to air my thoughts and feelings when these conversations come up. If someone reads it and says, hey I am going to pass the yearlings this year and set my goals for a mature buck that's great. If one reads my post and says that is the dumbest thing I have ever read that's OK too. To each their own.