A great hunt!
 

After getting a stand put up yesterday I was excited as heck to hunt this area. This evening was my 2nd hunt of the year. At 6:15 this evening I spotted a nice buck coming from the cat tails/swamp on the trail that I was set up on. I just put this stand up yesterday. I got up from my seat and grabbed my recurve and got Into position so I was ready. The closer he got the more I knew this was going to be a real tough decision on whether I should take him or not. After getting within 20 yards my mind was finally made up. He came by me at 15 yards and never knew I was there. I'm pretty sure he's a 3.5 year old buck. He's all of 17" wide with ok tine length. His G1's were In that 4" range and his G2's were In that 8.5" range. His G3's were about 5". I figure he'll score In that 127" range or maybe a tad less. Hopefully next year I can see this guy again as I let him go this evening In hopes of a better buck. I know we've got some bigger and It's still plenty early yet. If I go without a buck this year, It won't be the 1st time and It won't be the last time.;) It was a great hunt and still very rewarding for myself even though I didn't shoot this guy.

RE: A great hunt!
 

Sounds like u had fun...U should bring a camera

RE: A great hunt!
 

Wow...127 would get my arrow anyday!! :Despecially with traditional equipment!!! Takes alot not to shoot a buck thats borderline!!

Congrats man!!

good luck the rest of this season!!!

RE: A great hunt!
 

It takes Great will power to let a buck of that cailber walk...Congrats Schultzy..U the Man

RE: A great hunt!
 

You're nuts for not flinging an arrow at that thing ;) I hope you see nothing but fawns from here on out.

Seriously though - you got to love hunts like that. I've passed on 2 different bucks so far, still waiting on something decent (like a 127" 3.5 yr old [:@]).

RE: A great hunt!
 

I had It with. That buck was a little to close to be taking pictures and by the time I decided to pass on him It was to late to be grabbing a camera. It was the last thing on my mind. I was afraid the flash would go off and also my camera Is a tad noisy when taking pics. It's not a good stand camera.[>:] The last thing I want to do Is spook this buck and get him looking up Into tree's. Chances are my brother would shoot this buck and I know his wife would be ecstatic If she would take this buck with her bow.

RE: A great hunt!
 

I'm heading north to Effie this weekend!! Were going to hopefully get some grouse and possibly get a management deer. I only get one tag where I hunt around home.

RE: A great hunt!
 

You should post some pictures of him. Sounds like a nice buck though. Congrats! ;)

RE: A great hunt!
 

Pictures from where??? Lmao!

RE: A great hunt!
 

Shultze,

You showed some willpower letting him walk. Nicely done.

Where in Central MN do they only allow 1 tag? I have hunted Central MN (Staples-Motley) for 25 years and we always had multiple deer opps.

Maybe you are a little SW of there? The legacy zone 4 has changed a bit from what I have seen.

RE: A great hunt!
 

Thanks Johnny!! I'm about 2 hours south of Motley. 45 minutes south of St.Cloud. If I drive an hour north I can shoot many more deer. Pretty screwed up system, that's the Mn DNR for ya!

RE: A great hunt!
 

Thanks for the points Steve ;)

Im glad you enjoyed your hunt!

RE: A great hunt!
 

Good job, man. That's what you have to do if you want something bigger. It's tough to do, but once you are rewarded for your patience, it's all down hill from there!

RE: A great hunt!
 

Sounds exciting, good luck this weekend

RE: A great hunt!
 

Nice Schultzy! You still got all season ahead of you!

RE: A great hunt!
 

Wow! Sounds like a great hunt, and bud, you get major respect for having the patience and will power to pass on a deer like that. I hope you score a slammer this year to reward your efforts.

RE: A great hunt!
 

Tough decision on that one Steve [8D]Im not sure i could have done that. Hang in there bud. the biguns are gonna show ;)

RE: A great hunt!
 

Thanks for all the replys everyone! It's not the 1st time I've let a possible P&Y buck by and It won't be the last. I don't have a big group of hunting buddy's around home here besides my family. There's some good people on this forum so I thought I'd share my little encounter with you all. I thought It was an exciting hunt last night! It feels good talking about a successful hunt, specially when It's yourself Involved. Like Greg said, how are you going to shoot anything bigger If you don't pass on the lesser bucks?? It doesn't bother me the least on letting that buck go. Many other people on here do It every year.

For all the trail cam folks, I have never seen this buck on camera before. Once again It goes to show these trail cams will never tell the whole story of a woods. That's fact!!

RE: A great hunt!
 

Good story Schultzy. Sounds like an exciting hunt! If you estimated him at 127, he could easily go 140's next year. What kind of recurve do you shoot?

Shane

RE: A great hunt!
 

Oh yeah, he should easily go 140" next year, probably more! My recurve Is Nothing to fancy. It's called a Wind Walker. It's a 3 piece take down recurve. I've been hunting with It for 14 years and have had great success with It. As of late I've got some problems with It though. It might be getting a tad weak being I've lost 12lbs In draw weight In one year. Is was at 73lbs at 28", It's now at 61lbs at 28". The brace height hasn't changed hardly any. I'm pretty bummed out!

RE: A great hunt!
 

x2 You have far better self control than I do!

RE: A great hunt!
 

Great job....its always nice to pass bucks that don't meet your standards.

A127" for me....he ain't getting a pass! I could only wish for a 127" buck to walk by....we just don't get bucks that big around here much. Great job! Lets see the slammer when you get him...:D

RE: A great hunt!
 

Ya nailed that spot! Good deal!