HuntingNet.com Forums - Would you shoot a half rack?

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RE: Would you shoot a half rack?

I answered no. Last year I passed a buck that if both sides would have been equal would have grossed around 130, but of course his left side was just a big fork.

Though if he was excpetionally big i might be tempted. 160+

RE: Would you shoot a half rack?

i would not do it intentionally, but i chose my username because the first buck i shot was a half rack eight point that i shot during a drive, didn't even know till i walked up to it.

RE: Would you shoot a half rack?

I can't say yes or no b/c it would depend on the situation or the deer. Say he is a 5.5 yr old buck that I have been after and have several trail cam pics of then probably but if he is a 3.5 yr old I am going to let him walk.

RE: Would you shoot a half rack?

i would take it... i dont get many chances to go out in the woods, so when i do i make it count.. everyone would love a big rack.. but its really not reality either.. especially here in NY, you dont see many big bucks at all.. just alot of small basket racks.. this past year.. i had a half rack.. and it was worth it.. i didnt know it was a half rack when i shot it.. but it was..

RE: Would you shoot a half rack?

nope i wouldnt shoot....i had that happen during the rut, i rattled in a buck that would have been a whopper of a ten point but it only had one side, the other side had gotten snapped off at the browtine[:@]

RE: Would you shoot a half rack?

This post STILL makes me scratch my head:

Let's say you've patterned this buck.....and you know his home territory.....you've even narrowed down his core area. He's a 4x4 (good buck for your area)....and he's proven to be a worthy adversary over the last 2 seasons. You'd be tickled to death to be able to add this 4.5yr old to your list of "accomplishments" in bow hunting. He'd be another (or your first) mature buck for your memory bank.....and/or your wall.

You finally have your chance....Nov. 12th....a cool morning....as he's walking towards your tree you've chosen. That's when you notice it. He's broken his left side off.

Is this deer ANY less a trophy or an accomplishment than he was with both sides?

I say no. I'd shoot him and be proud of the accomplishment. I'm really scratching my head at some of these answers by some of these hunters. I realize there's no wrong answer. I'm just surprised.

RE: Would you shoot a half rack?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: GMMAT

This post STILL makes me scratch my head:

Let's say you've patterned this buck.....and you know his home territory.....you've even narrowed down his core area. He's a 4x4 (good buck for your area)....and he's proven to be a worthy adversary over the last 2 seasons. You'd be tickled to death to be able to add this 4.5yr old to your list of "accomplishments" in bow hunting. He'd be another (or your first) mature buck for your memory bank.....and/or your wall.

You finally have your chance....Nov. 12th....a cool morning....as he's walking towards your tree you've chosen. That's when you notice it. He's broken his left side off.

Is this deer ANY less a trophy or an accomplishment than he was with both sides?

I say no. I'd shoot him and be proud of the accomplishment. I'm really scratching my head at some of these answers by some of these hunters. I realize there's no wrong answer. I'm just surprised.

Judging by the description of this scenario, I can only think this is private land/no pressure, because of your ability to pattern the buck, and establish his core area. This being said, I'd let him walk in hopes of getting a shot at him the following year when he would hopefully have both sides of his rack. If not, no big deal. It's only a deer!;):D

RE: Would you shoot a half rack?

I guess it's safe to assume that the guys who wouldn't shoot the half-rack value the inches of antler (when determining the "trophy" status of a whitetail buck) over the age of said animal?

That's the part that's interesting/surprising, to me.....given all the "mature" buck/QDM hunters we have in the forum.;)