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RE: At what age do you take a chance?
ORIGINAL: GMMAT EI...I'm not a mature buck hunter (I've never claimed otherwise). I'm an opportunist. In my area....it's likely going to take a buck of 3.5yrs or older to top what I've already taken (inches of antler). Thats why I state I'm "likely" holding out for that age class deer. But rest assured.....if a 110" (or greater)2.5 yr old comes by my stand....I'm gonna try to kill him. When you hunt the woods I do....and have over 600 deer sightings in 2.5yrs........seeing only TWO animals from stand that were 3.5yrs (or older).....you see why I take this approach. I've been fortunate enough to kill every one I've ever seen. |
RE: At what age do you take a chance?
ORIGINAL: GMMAT The Hanson buck (if I'm not mistaken) was 3.5 yrs old. If you'd pass him.....I'd say stick to your guns. I'll shoot ANY 3.5yr old or older buck. I "might" shoot a younger buck if he gets my attention. Good luck with your choice. In general.... hunt for you.... if you are happy of the buck you take.... then shoot that joker! From a biology standpoint, yes I think a 3.5 year old deer has a better chance of surviving a rut/winter than a 4.5 year old.... but from a hunting standpoint you stand a better chance harvesting a 3.5 year old deer than a 4.5 year old.... they don't get old by being dumb, and they don't get any dumber as they get older. I haven't shot a buck in over a decade now because I'm just too damn picky, and thats fine, but I've never shot anything that I've had to make an excuse for either. |
RE: At what age do you take a chance?
ORIGINAL: SwampCollie ORIGINAL: GMMAT The Hanson buck (if I'm not mistaken) was 3.5 yrs old. If you'd pass him.....I'd say stick to your guns. I'll shoot ANY 3.5yr old or older buck. I "might" shoot a younger buck if he gets my attention. Good luck with your choice. In general.... hunt for you.... if you are happy of the buck you take.... then shoot that joker! From a biology standpoint, yes I think a 3.5 year old deer has a better chance of surviving a rut/winter than a 4.5 year old.... but from a hunting standpoint you stand a better chance harvesting a 3.5 year old deer than a 4.5 year old.... they don't get old by being dumb, and they don't get any dumber as they get older. I haven't shot a buck in over a decade now because I'm just too damn picky, and thats fine, but I've never shot anything that I've had to make an excuse for either. Does that mean you shoot a 4.5 even if he's a Dink? That's where I might differ but then I do have trouble reading the Birth certificate;)I rarely see Bucks aged anything but 1.5, 2.5, & 3.5 at the Slug check in station. I couldn't agree with all the ages even though some are pretty evident.;) Dan |
RE: At what age do you take a chance?
If it taste like deer meat, its not safe around me until the freezer is full (even a yearling). After that, I'm looking for a buck that is larger than my last and won't shoot otherwise. Age doesn't matter to me, I'm just looking to beat my previous best.
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RE: At what age do you take a chance?
ORIGINAL: MeanV2 I guess that's pretty much the same way I think. If he's big enough you would shoot him even if the Birth Certificate said 3.5 Does that mean you shoot a 4.5 even if he's a Dink? That's where I might differ but then I do have trouble reading the Birth certificate;)I rarely see Bucks aged anything but 1.5, 2.5, & 3.5 at the Slug check in station. I couldn't agree with all the ages even though some are pretty evident.;) Dan Now all this ofcoursedepends on what your definition of a dink is. I've seen some of those TV boys let "dink" 150" deer go because they are holding out for something over 170". Good for them.... but you'd have to help me drag out my "dink". ;) Here is a 3.5 year old I'd shoot.  |
RE: At what age do you take a chance?
ORIGINAL: fletch920 ORIGINAL: davidmil ORIGINAL: fletch920 In response to davidmil, I quite often know exactly how old the deer I see are. I have trail cam pics from year to year, shed antlers, etc. Also, in the midwest (and probably most places)it is pretty easy to tell a deers age by his body and antler mass up until about 4. We routinely send in a tooth for cross section and are seldom wrong.Also, I have several mature bucks that will share the same thousand to twelve hundred acre area. I will agree that the younger animals move off, but that is more for genetic purposes than rutting territory. And they move off long before they start to become mature with trophy potential. The 3 1/2 yr and older deeryou pass now are very likely to stay put. My young bucks (1 1/2 yr olds) move off and I get others moving in. Mature bucks will roam outside their main territory during peak rut, but that is for such a short time that it is worth the risk of letting them walk to me. It sounds like ICALL2MUCH will be in a very similar situation. I would agree that if you are hunting public ground with lots of pressure or a new piece of property it would be a much more difficult task. What a strange response. How does someone being right or posessing certain skills make them dillusional? That would suggest that you dont believe me? Does the LOL at the endnegate the backhanded insult?? |
RE: At what age do you take a chance?
You called me dillusional because I know how old many of my deer are. I just dont see that as any type of compliment. Nor do I see the relevance to this post. It was in poor taste and judgement. You do know what dillusional means?
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RE: At what age do you take a chance?
ORIGINAL: SwampCollie ORIGINAL: MeanV2 I guess that's pretty much the same way I think. If he's big enough you would shoot him even if the Birth Certificate said 3.5 Does that mean you shoot a 4.5 even if he's a Dink? That's where I might differ but then I do have trouble reading the Birth certificate;)I rarely see Bucks aged anything but 1.5, 2.5, & 3.5 at the Slug check in station. I couldn't agree with all the ages even though some are pretty evident.;) Dan Now all this ofcoursedepends on what your definition of a dink is. I've seen some of those TV boys let "dink" 150" deer go because they are holding out for something over 170". Good for them.... but you'd have to help me drag out my "dink". ;) Here is a 3.5 year old I'd shoot.
I have a freezer full of Does, well it was a few short months ago.;) Dan |
RE: At what age do you take a chance?
ORIGINAL: fletch920 You called me dillusional because I know how old many of my deer are. I just dont see that as any type of compliment. Nor do I see the relevance to this post. It was in poor taste and judgement. You do know what dillusional means? |
RE: At what age do you take a chance?
Ha. You state that 90% are always wrong and the other 10% are dillusional, then tell me I am probably in the 10%. Then respond again by telling me maybe I am dillusional again. Wow, man up when you get caught. I'm simply telling you I didnt appreciate the remark and youcant seem to step up.
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