so theres 2 weeks left of archery. i have only shot 1 doe and have passed on many small bucks.also i am having knee surgery in a couple of day which will only allow me to hunt 4 more days. Although i can hunt rifle season but i never see too many bucks.I have one small buck behind my house he looks like a small 6or 7 point basket rack,which i would have passed on earlier in the year.should i shoot it or see if it will make it another year or two.(i live in PA)

shoot it you dont want more big bucks in PA do ya?

That's totally your call. I'd rather shoot a small basket rack or nothing at all than to shoot anything with a rifle but that's me...others love rifle season. Oh, and there's more than 2 weeks left. We're only a couple days into week 3, there is 2 weeks, and 3 days left.

Sutton, I would say that depends on your motives and preferences. If you are looking for quailty deer, eat your tag or shoot a mature buck in rifle season. Personally, I would much rather shoot a 100 class deer with my bow than a 140 with my rifle. I am really trying to be patient as I am in the transition yearson my property so I am trying to let anything younger than 2.5 walk.

What's the point of shooting a buck, just for the sake of doing so?

He's probably a nice 1.5 y/o that that will grow up into a beaut... SundayI saw a film on PA's management of the deer herd. It looks as though you all are at a crossroads: Either let your deer grow up or you'll never, ever hang anything bigger than a4pointer over the door of your barn. The average age of bucks killed in your state was something like 1.75 y/o.I'd let him go and kinda (respectfully) think you should too. If you let him walk, and convey that thought to your buddies, that deer like that are unacceptable because they'll be big deer someday - that's how PA's bucks are gonna get bigger. Someone's gotta start changing the mindset, otherwise things will never change. I've shot two - (count em, TWO) deer like that and I regret it. I think I got it out of my system and have changed my focus. What would they have grown up into?

Whatever your decision: Good luck, have fun, and be safe.

You cant hunt with your bow during rifle season there? We can here in Tx and thats all I do. If your looking for meat then stick him. You will feel pretty bad if you shoot then see a nice deer during rifle season.

Unfortunatly, I think that's the justification for many hunters (certainly not all), especially as the season winds down. Now, me personally, I'm not going to shoot any buck for the sake of doing so, but I'm not ready in my stage of my bowhunting career to simply hold out for a 140+ class deer. I'm not shooting a scrub buck, but a decent 6 point is my minimum.

To the OP, I agree with what's been said here. If you're just going to shoot any buck for the sake of saying you did so, then I wouldn't, however, if that basket rack is truly something you see as a trophy to you than go ahea. Only you can determine your goals and set your expecations/limits.