Passed Shots...
 

OK here's a good question... How many shots at Bucks (not does) do you pass on an average year... Guesstimate... AND... Have you ever regretted one later...

This will be hard to guess, but I would have to say at least 10-15 small bucks pass by within range in a given year... And I may semi-regret only 1, a 9 pointer I passed on opening day of gun season... But as long as he made it through that season I have no regrets...

RE: Passed Shots...
 

I pass on everything under huge until the end of the season. Tons of bucks usually where I hunt except for last year. Didn't see many and never saw a huge one which was frustrating. Do to the contest if I see anything decent this year early I may drop one to relieve some preasure.

For the one I now regret a little, was a 14 point. He had a huge right beam and his left beam was only 2/3 rds the size. I had 3 other big 8 points all around me but the one I wanted was a huge 10 point up near the golf course. That darn deer just keep running up and down the course about25 yrds in the woods. I was about 150 yrds down in the bottom known to a few of us as Buck Hollow. I look back and think about how nice the mount might have been.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

My guess would be close to at least 10 small buck's ,I'm holding out for the big guy like i do every year.I'm just pl;ain stuborn when it come's to taking a small buck. I've regreted not shooting at least 1 or 2 buck's a season .

nubo

RE: Passed Shots...
 

I passed on 2 nice 9 pointers in velvet last year on openning day because It was getting dark and I couldnt tell if they were 2.5 or 3.5 years old. The matched pretty closely and were high 110-low 120 class deer. I regretted passing them for 2 months until I killed a big 3.5 year old 10 point in Nov.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

I passed 17 bucks last year, thought I regretted one until I finally connected with the "big one". I pass on all does on our farms because I am trying to get the population up while still making sure the land can more than support it. I have been using "management" techniques for about 5-6 years now and it is finally starting to pay big dividends for the health of the herd as well as my personal enjoyment. We used to see deer about every 3 times out, but now it is about every time out and that sure makes the hunting more enjoyable. I don't have to get one, but I do love watching them.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

I saw probably 15-18 bucks in all of my hunting, last year.

I took no shots at bucks.

Did I "pass" on them? (I hunted only with the bow) ??? Let's just say this......just because I didn't take a shot at them......that doesn't mean I "passed" on them. Seeing a buck and being able to draw down on that same buck.....is two different things.

This is MY opinion.

Jeff

RE: Passed Shots...
 

the past 3 years I've passed on 8-9 bucks each year.I think one thing that helps understand "passing" is people's criteria for counting a pass. I know guys who if they saw the buck and didn't shoot they "passed" on it. Even though they were never presented with a shot. To me, passing means you have a stopped, open shot at a deer within your max shooting distance.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

Yes I agree Rybo... We are not counting Bucks you "Saw" cruising by at 100+ Yards...

RE: Passed Shots...
 

i hunt big woods literaly 10000 acers with probley 5 other guys from our camp ratio is about .5deer per sq mile if that so you see a buck your lucks past 2 yrs havent seen a deer in 2 full weeks of hunting each year but for the 2 yrs befor that ive seen 2 bucks that were 10pnts and 14pnts one woudl score probley 170 and the other was pushing 200 i aint lying lol big boys the 10pnter was probley 200lbs the 14 was abotut he same big ol boys in woods that big they can grow big but if you see a buck your shooting lol

RE: Passed Shots...
 

ummmm zero.

Here in NH, we can take 1 deer with a bow and seeing a deer in bow range for many makes it a good year. I have started passign on small doe/buttons, and did twice last year, only to end up with an unfilled tag.

I'd love to hunt where you actually can expect to SEE deer every time in the woods!

RE: Passed Shots...
 

I would say on an average I pass on 30 to 50 smaller bucks and 200 does/fawns per season. I try not take bucks smaller than 130"s now but it all depends on the year Im having. I'll take a few does for meat in Oct - Dec. I am just happy to get out there and hunt let alone be fortunate enough to see lots of deer.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

Like most on here about 10 and as far regreating any of them i figure if i have to think about it its not big enough... Walt

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Had to look in my journal for this answer. I had full draw on 28 bucks that I did not release. 1 Buck I did release and unfortantly missed (monster 150+) and 2 bucks I released and dropped within 100 yrds (1 in PA 1 in Ohio) Of all the yrs of hunting there is only 1 buck I regret passing up. It wasearly January in 03here in Ohio and he walked perfectly broadside at 20 yrds presenting me with a perfect shot. He had lost 1 side of his rack already and he was a perfect 6 pts on the right side with what had to of been a 22" spread. I had seen this buck 2 times earlier in the season but never within range and he had both sides of his rack. He also had a small white patch on his right rump about 4" in dia. About the end of Feb that same yr I was driving past the area and saw a deer laying down in the bottom of the hollow so I got the spotting scope out to get a good look and the deer never moved soI walked down and it was the same buck. I was heart broken. I let him walk becuase I didn't want to shot him with only 1 side of his rack he was just to perfect with both sides and I was hoping to play the big game with him again the following yr. I have no idea what cuased his death I looked over the body pretty well and it had no noticeable wounds so all I can figure was he couldn't make it through the harshnesh of winter from age.

Trytan

RE: Passed Shots...
 

Probably about 6 a year, but some of them get passed several times. Last year I had a small 6 point that I passed at least 5 times. I'm hoping he is sporting better headgear this year.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

Yes, my passes are all with in 30 yrds or less broadside.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

I pass on small bucks all the time. The closest I came to regretting one of my passes was when I passed on a 5 1/2 yr old buck. It was wide, I guessed 21", but it had a lot of broken points and stickers. I guessed it would dress at 210 lbs. I was holding off for something that would make P&Y. Three days later, my buddy shot it. The deer weighed 226 dressed, was 21 1/2" wide, had 13 points, grossed 135" and netted about 116. I stared at this deer long and hard before passing, but ten days later I shot a 10 point that grossed 141" and netted 135". That one weighed 205. So it was worth it for me that I passed on that first buck. No regretts.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

I pass on probably 3-8 bucks a year. A couple years far more and many a few less. As for regretting. Usually not. As I see it, If I choose to pass. it was for a reason, and if half those bucks make it to the next yearthen the reason waswell worth it.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

i passed on 3 bucks last year... mostly because i didnt think the shot was ethical... and two were because i expected the deer to give me a better shot so i hesitated, and as a result i didnt kill a buck last year.

The smallest was a 20" wide 8. Needless to say i wont be making that mistake again this year... Ive been kicking myself for the last 8 months.

RE: Passed Shots...
 

It all depends for me. Is it the begining of the season, the end... do I already have one in the freezer... how much time I have to hunt and what does the population look like. Right now the pop is way down so I'm not taking any doe. I prefer to take a large buck but if the season is getting close to the end I have no qualms at all about taking a small buck or 2 for the freezer. It's pretty important for me to have at least 1 preferably 2 aswe truly enjoy the meat. Some years I pass on quite a few small buck and wind up with a good one. Some years I pass on quite a few small buck and wind up with a small one. Like I said, it just depends...

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Passed up one monster fork on opening day and another smaller buck so far this year. We'll see what the total looks like by the end of December but I've never really kept track.

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Isn't it nice to hunt in such over run areas? We get spoiled hunting in Md.