My standard is whether I will mount him (No jokes necessary. I mean pay a taxidermist to create a wall mount). I have two on the wall and a pile of racks in a box in the basement. The pile of racks are useless for the most part. The two on the wall provide more enjoyment by reliving the hunt and telling others "got him right back there one rainy evening".

I live and hunt in west central Illinois and most any buck allowed to grow will get bigger - generally. Therefore, if I have no intention of mounting a buck, I let him walk in order to grow and get bigger. I have video of one hell of a seven point buck. I imagine in Texas he would have been culled in his youth for bad genetics. He had two points on one side and three on the other with two brow tines - won't score worth a sh1t. But, I guarantee any deer hunter would be extremely proud to have this one. If you could see the video - wow!

An injured buck is a different story. I try to put him down.

Bob R.

State antler restrictions,club rules, and what I'm after on any given day,... in that order. I have three leases:

Arkansas: State antler restrictions - 3 points on one side or better.
Tennessee 1: Club rules - 4 points or better on one side
Tennssee 2: Club rules - 8 pointer or better.

On public land in Missouri - anything goes, and normally I'm taking venison home from there. Since I have four does in the freezer already, I'll be more selective on bucks than I normally would.

a buck that I decide to shoot! I do not get paid the big dollars to be on film! So if I want it I take it!

A buck that gets my ticker going and my legs a shaking!! 130" and up will do that to me easily. Heck a doe will do that to me If I know I'm going to shoot her!

I wont shoot a less than 140 4 year old buck. Howeve, I live in east central Illinois and have good private ground to hunt and that makes all the difference in the world. It would be different if I lived in Georgia or South carolina. You have to have the deer of that size before you can be picky. If I lived in Kansas or Iowa my standards would be higher. It also depends on the ground you hunt alot or little private or public. There are alot of factors.

I voted height & tine length, just to play along with the poll. Like everyone else, there are multiple factors. But personally, I like to have tall brow tines and tall G2s and G3s.... first thing I tend to notice about a deer. I have about a 120ish cut-off. And I have let more of those tweeners go than I have shot... several dozen more actually. I'm extremely picky. If I don't say from the very first glimpse, "No doubt about that one..." then I probably won't even strongly consider it.

everything but just having antlers.