What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Mine is a 4.5 year old ( my best guesstamation ), regardless of antler size, but preferably with a 140 or better rack.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

100" or 3.5 years of age.........

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Breathing and within bow range.:D

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

The youngest possible deer that weighs at least 140lbs.

Tom

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Having antlers is all that is required for me to call it a buck. If i'ts in range and I have a good shot, it's a shooter

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

The first one that walks within bowrange

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Any buck that I'll take a shot at this seasonwould have to be 3 to 5 years in age and have at least 8 points or more.
When comes to doe's , as long its a mature and its not nursing young ones but I'll wait later in the season before I take one.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

at least 4 1/2 years old and preferably over 150"

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

any buck with antlers

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Any buck that would make me happy and any adult doe.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Ditto on that!

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Any buck that would score maby 100 or above[&:]

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

It is so situational.
For example, in the last two weeks I have gotten pictures or seen 6 different bucks on the land that I can hunt.
Two spikes, which I wont shoot, obviously.
There is one 5 point. One side is smaller than the other.
There are three different 6 points, all with great growth potential.

For me, I am going to try to take the 5 point. My reason for this is:
A) There are obviously alot of 1.5 and 2.5 year old bucks that have potential to be real monsters, especially the 3X3's.
B) There are obviously less hunters in my area than in the past. I get this info from the large amount of 1.5 and 2.5 year old bucks I have been seeing. Those 6 points will have the chance to become real monsters as well.
C) I want to get the 3X2 genetics out of the population ASAP. Especially with the quality of the racks on those 6 points.

So for me, the 3x2 is a real shooter. Again, it is very situational. I put alot of thought into the bucks I take.:eek:

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Only an 8 point or greater buck for me.

I will not hesitate to take a doe though.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

For me at this point in life he has to be better then 120" .By next year I hope it's 130 or better.If you will be proud of him take him and smile thats my advice to all hunters.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

If it has bone on top of his head. I'm not too pickey

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

If I have a tag for it...........it's getting shot.


I'm not out in the woods for an ego trip. Letting deer walk by unless they are big enough to brag about seems more like selective killing (farming) then hunting IMO............The two biggest things that I find odd are how someone can look at a deer and think he is not "worth" shooting........and then 9-10 months later he is..........or why when a small racked buck walks right in front of someone he is called young and stupid..........but when a big racked buck does it people say he made a "mistake" and thankfully they were skilled enough to capitalize on it..........I guess you find what you're looking for.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

The use of the word "shooter" rubs me the wrong way. There are too many circumstances tosaythat any onedeeris one that I would shoot or one that I would not shoot.

It depends on the day, weather, amount of activity, how many are in the freezer and my mood just to name a few of the circumstances that I consider.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

This seems like an appropriate time to initiate a QDM conversation!:DRun for your lives!Only kidding!
I don't like the term shooter either.My "personal" criteria is a 3 1/2 year old buck or older.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

3 1/2 130 and up onlyalthough when season comes closer to an end, I will loosen that up a little... given the circumstances.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

It really depends on where I'm hunting, how much time I've got and time of the year. It can be anything from more than spikes to a heavy boned 8 point or above. For example, I usually bow hunt public land a couple days before the NY Southern Tier shotgun comes in. A little 4 pointer better watch out as it's the last opportunity to fill the tag and my buddy that doesn't bow huntwants the meat. And on the other hand, I'm going to Ohio and Indiana just before that to hunt some private farm land. It'll have to be a big heavy horned rascal or I'm not filling the tag. Last time there I passed up 3 bucks, including anice 8 point(but not enough mass)the last afternoon just before dark at 12 yards. They're all shooters to me in the right place.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

3.5 years or older and any adult doe.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

I don't understand the idea that several of your standards to shoot are any buck and an adult doe. Why shoot an immature buck, but the doe has to be an adult? How about changing it to any doe and an adult buck?
I know that in my area the bowhunter mentality is that anydeer with a bow is a trophy. That mentality is hurting a lot of people's chances to hunt on very good private land as some landowners (farmers) often only gun hunt and would like to keep the young bucks alive, yet here comes the bowhunter to show off his "trophy" 6 point rather than taking a "trophy" doe.
It reminds me of a Drury outdoors show I saw recently. The hunters were welcomed onto a ranch that was trying tocreate a qualtity deer herd and only harvest mature deer. Day one a couple of small bucks were taken. That evening the owner reminded everyone of their standardsand clarified by saying the bucks should be in the 130 range. A couple of hunters in essence said "F-that any buck is a trophy for me and no one can tell me not to harvest a small buck" and harvested small 6 and 8's. The whole crew was told to pack up and get off of the ranch. Those hunters ruined it for everyone else.
I guess what I'm saying is that unless it is your first buck or two, why not just shoot a wiley doe? Shouldn't she be just as much if not MORE of a trophy than that dumb young buck that follows in your drag scent or comes running to your rattles? AND you may be making the landowner happy.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

For me it's any legal buck (4pt on one side), or any doe. It's all about meat in the freezer for me. After the first one I can wait around for a more "mature" deer. If I was hunting on a managed ranch, my expectations would be different.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Well I have passed on more than a few "decent" bucks over the last 4 seasons, and lots of smallish ones,waiting for a wall hanger quality buck. Ive taken my share of does in that time, but this season, I will take a shot any nice animal I see. Now if I get that tag filled, and get another buck tag, I will wait for a wall hanger quality deer. A decent size doe in range gets shot at though.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Why not?


Why is it OK to shoot an "immature" doe but not OK to shoot an "immature" buck?



So these farmers would be happy if you shot a monster instead?

Either way you took a buck from them..........what's the difference? You can't shoot them all with a bow so I would think they would be happy to see you shoot a smaller buck.........saves the big boys for them.


That is a matter of not following land owners rules........no different if they would have drove their truck where they weren't supposed to or entered an off limits piece of property. Ability to follow rules was the issue there.


Why is the deer considered dumb when he makes a fatal mistake and gets killed young.............but when the thousands of big bucks that make the same stupid mistakes and get killed every year............all you hear is what a wise old monarch he was and how skilled/fortunate the hunter was to pounce on his chance to kill the elusive ghost of the woods.


:eek:

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Atlas, I agree with most of the stuff you said there.

For me its any buck this year.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

I guess it all depends what farm you are on. 2 guys I know were part of a group that got tossed off a local farm because they were just sitting around waiting on a big buck to walk by.........instead of killing DEER.......which is what the farmer wanted. He gave them all fair warning that they better start shooting some deer or he would find some guys who would. I guess they didn't listen because they got the boot.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Fillae, if it is all about meat in the freezer then again why shoot a buck? As it has been said "you can't eat the horns". Granted if you are in an area where there are few deer, and herd growth is the main goal, then shooting a buck is the best decision. Your state or area has a 4pt rule, so you follow that. What if there was no restriction on antler size from the government or it was dropped, would you stay with the 4pt per side, or something more or less than that? Does the government control all of your decisions?

Atlas. I already asked the why question, if your best reply is "Why not?" and picking apart my original question/examples you must not be able to do much thinking on your own.

As for the farmers, I can't read their minds, but of the ones I've known and stories from bowhunters who aren't allowed to hunt somewhere, Yes it matters if it is a mature buck or a young one. Perhaps these hunters keep thinking about the future rather than the present.Just as they may be more inclined to take a mature hog or steer to market rather than one only half grown. Perhaps it is because their livelyhood depends on letting crops and animals reach their full potential before harvest. Maybe they have the correct view?

As for the Drury issue it wasn't that the hunters weren't able to follow the rules, it as that they chose not to. Big difference! They had a similar mentality tosome people on this forum that no one (except maybe the government) is going to tell them what to shoot. Thus back to my original question and overall concern/advise/warning to some bowhunters who are having trouble accessing high quality hunting. Perhaps a change of mindset, or asking the landowners what they expect BEFORE shooting would aid themselves and a number of other hunters. I understand that we all pay for a license and that gives us the legal right to shoot an animal, however I don't think that is the question that the original poster asked otherwise he/she would have asked "what can you legally shoot in your state?" I believe the poster was looking to see if anyone has any self imposed standards above that of the law. If you only shoot what is legal then you probably do not need to be involved in the discussion.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

my threshold goes down after the gun season. but generally i look for about 100" 8 point. i actually think of myself as raising the bar a bit each year; but actually, each of the last 3 years i've gotten 8 pointers but the score went down each time. oh well, i'm happy with how i've done.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Anything 125 and above here in MI for me.

This year I would like to take a 150, but hard not to pull the trigger on those small 140's

Here is my question for the guys who are (I hate this term) meat hunters.
If you have 140-150 class buck coming towards you, and it looks like you are going toget a shot. Are you thinking look at those back straps?

For the (hate this term also) trophy hunterwhen you shoot a doe are you thinking, boy she will look pretty on the wall?

I can tell you I shoot 1 1/2 doe because they are tasty!!!
When I see a big boy I am not thinking about his back straps, LOL

I only know one hunter who does not fits this mold, Grandpa would come look a big boy I shot and say, "Looks at those Back Straps", lolthen say "Nice Rack"

Shooting a mature whitetail comes down to 2 points, 1 you have to have them where you hunt and 2 the patience to wait for one. This is doe or buck, I have taken more mature bucks they I have doe's. Those old doe's seem a bit wiser during the rut.:)

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Why not??.......bucks don't have meat on them??




So you have no answer for Why not??



It matters how?.........Why would a farmer be mad if you shot 1 small-medium size buck or 1 big one. Either way his chance at THAT buck is gone. Saying that a farmer who is after big bucks would be happy to see you shoot one of them doesn't make sense.


You can't read a farmers mind but you can read a hunters mind?

Interesting.




What does that even mean??.........you're not killing a deer and giving it to the farmer.......or taking it to any market. Following that logic.........if the farmer had a hog or steer TAKEN off his farm by coyotes for example............would he be more upset if it was a mature steer or hog or if it was only half grown??




Are you talking about farming or hunting?? Unless this "farm" is a deer ranch then I don't see how his livelihood depends on how big the racks are on the deer that get killed in his woods.

Full potential of what??........The best venison you will EVER eat comes off the little buggers.......and guess what???..........farmers know that too.......that's why veal is so expensive ;)





Maybe not.





Well.....Duh!! Everybody CAN follow rules.


What is "high quality" hunting???



I would hope that EVERY hunter only shoots what is legal.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

I mistakenly put "hunters" in for "farmers in the statement Perhaps these farmers keep thinking of the future instead of the present.
I never said I could read anyone's mind, just going off my interpretation of what I've seen or heard inmy area and trying to be helpful to others who may be openminded enough to think of others rather than themselves.

I do have an answer for"why not" atlasman, and if you had any comprehension skills you would be able tounderstandit. You however do not havean answer for my "Why" yet you try to argue just to argue, totally ignoring the real reason for my post, and more importantly the original post. It's kind of sad.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

one made of meat

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

I consider myself neither a "meat" hunter or a "trophy" hunter I'm just a hunter. Last year I let 3 yearlings walk because the bucks were on the move and I ended up killing the biggest buck of my life that evening. But beleive me ifI hadn't known that the bucks were moving good that day one of those yearlings would've paid the price. It seems to me that hunters get way to caught up in defining what's the right size or age structure of the deer that you should kill. Let's just hunt and kill what we want at let the next guy do the same.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

Gutshot Thats about the best anwser I herd yet!
All this argue about whats a shooter or not a shooter is getting old guys.
Shoot it if you want to?
And if you don`t let it walk.
It`s a simple matter of "freedom and choice".
Each hunter has to decide for himself if its a shooter or not?
We don`t decide for each other!

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

How does you shooting a monster instead of a spike improve the farmers future?


I know.......you said you couldn't read the farmer's mind............but then went on to tell us what the hunter's were thinking..........which lead to my comment.


Please explain how shooting a big buck is thinking of others but shooting a small buck is not..........either way 1 buck is gone that no one else will get a chance at.




You haven't answered that...........or ANY of the questions I have asked you.



Don't have an answer for Why???

I'll give you a couple ;)

How about because...........

I can.
It's legal.
I want to.
Meat.
No reason not to.
I feel like it.
I enjoy it.
It's hunting.
I have a broadhead that is too clean.
There is room in my truck for him.
I am hungry.
My family loves venison.
My dehydrator is empty.
My grinder is bored.
He won't hold still for a picture unless I shoot him.
It's fun.
Dragging is good excercise.
I bought a license......why not use it?
Because he is there.
I like the color red on my arrows.


Just a few off the top of my head ;)

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

AMEN!!!!!!

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

same here. except for fawns.

RE: What is your idea of a good solid shooter buck?
 

I agree...as long as it isn't a little fawn.