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RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

No question in my mind at all. I'm not hunting his rack, I'm hunting him. I take the shot. Horn porn won't keep me from shooting.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

For me it would depend on which farm I'm hunting. On one I'd be fairly certain that if I let him walk, he'd make it through the year and I'd have a good chance at him the next season. If it were on the other, that confidence factor would go way down due to other local pressure and gun season being open. I'd have to think on it more at the time, but like to think I would have the discipline to let it walk.

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RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Its a lesson learned for me really. This year the buck I shot was a good one and I knew it from the moment I saw it. Once I knew he was a "shooter" I quit paying attention to the rack and focused on taking him. Well, if I would have paid more attention I would have noticed that he had a broken brow tine and a couple of small stickers thatMAY have produced a drop tine next year. If I had noticed those things...I might of let him walk. Can't be sure.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

For me, this would only happen on public land. I say this because, I would be taking a big risk of never seeing him again.

I'm into the horns but, would tell a good story even with a broken tine. I would take the shot unless he was really busted. Ex. if he only had half a rack, I would likely pass.

Also depend on the season for me. Is it late in the season and I don't think other hunters will put him down?.. if so, I would be more likely pass on him till next season.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I don't see how you can pass up a deer that would meet your "criteria", just because he broke off a g2. Aren't you "supposed" to hold off for 4.5 year olds?

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I'm with Greg 100%.

He could have dropped a SIDE and I'd shoot him. When you get a relationship with a deer.....and kill him....you'll realize how special that is. Then maybe you'll change your mind.

For the record....I was prepared to take an 80-90" 6 pointer that I'd watched this summer. It worked out I didn't.....but I'd have been maybe MORE proud of him. Last time I saw him he had ALL his tines busted off.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

He would be in the freezer. Both bucks I shot this year had all kind of broken tines. I shot a 9 point that would have been an 11 point except he broke off the end of his righto main beamas well as having a nice kicker broke off. I also shot a 8 point this year that had the tops of both G 2s broke off and the brow tines broke off a pit.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Tough call, I passed a buck during the rut this year that I saw on opening day. He was a real nice 9, 145" or so, definitely a shooter in my book. Well, he came by on Nov. 14, well within range, but had broken off EVERYTHING, all he was were main beams and 1 g2. So, he got the pass. My goal this year was a buck for the wall, bigger than my others, which he certainly was, but not as a 3-point. So, for me, its about the rack I guess. I'm hopeful he survived the orange army, and will be a giant next year.

Had he only had 1 tine broken...he's a dead deer.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I would let him walk. You know alot about that deer because of all the time a trail cam pics. I would pass him and hunt him next year as a 5 year old he will be a better and smarter deer and more of a trophy in my opinion. You have already accomplished what you set out to do you got him within range. You outsmarted a mature buck

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

The deer has already had a pretty rough season...I would let him pass in hopes of seeing him next year with a full head gear.

I have actually passed on a number of deer that have had one side busted off that were shooters.

For me it is about the combination of the deer and the rack. Now if that same deer came in and he was hurt from whatever claimed his antler, I would take the shot.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

im having trouble picturing that

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Well foralot of us down here you really would have to change that deer's specs because a 4.5 yr old 4x4 with any kickers or not, broken or not, you better shoot him because you probably will never see him again. Now, change that to a 2.5 or 3.5 yr old 6 or 8 pt and I guess it would depend on the number of tags or what kind of season I was having:D

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I don't understand the thought process of an otherwise shooter losing that status due to being busted off, but it seems rather common, so this is back to one of those "to each his own" deals. My own, is that I am shooting.

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RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I am at a point where I don't shoot any bucks that wouldn't have a place on my wall. So a badly busted up rack would likely cause me to give a deer a pass. I can fill my freezer with doe meat.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Bit of both for me, everyone wants the big bone but I also look for good mature animals, outsmarting them is the ticket

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Here's an option: You have trail cam pics of him, shoot him and take him to a taxi. who can reconstruct the tine for you.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I've never shot a clean 5x5, a 10 pointer. I passed on one this year because he had a snapped off g-2. He would have grossed about 133". In my mind he wasn't "clean" anymore. He wasn't what I had in mind. It is my choice isn't it? I decided to wait for something else. No problem with that is there?

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Nah, he gets mounted just like I shot him. Some year I'm going to hopefully get a crack at a busted up goofy looking rack and I'll put him on the wall for that reason alone, not because he's an older deer. After that most busted up racks would get a pass from me being I do like Inches as well.

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RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Greg, would you have shot him, if he had that g2?

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Yes. I've stated it many times in the "goal" threads. I want a clean 5x5 or something bigger than X.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I see your point...but to play Devil's Advocate...He doesnt have that g2. Would you have shot that 80" 2.5 if he was a 125" instead? Well of course, but it doesn't.

Some guys are on the age trip, some on the antlers trip, and some are both. They recognize and respect how older bucks are smarter and wiser, yet they want to take them out on top...to them, it would be kind of a shame to Kill the buck when he wasn't on his prime (antler speaking) But Im like you, barely busted up, Im droppin the hammer.....It may come with success, ifI killed a mature deer year in and year out, I too would start looking to fill some other criteria...just the nature of things.





To take it to the extreme though for those stating age is the only thing that matters. Say you have seen an absolute monarch of a buck with a noticeable scar one time feeding over the summer...The next time you see him is November 23. He is missing his complete left side, and the right side busted off only 3 inches from the bottom...not even the brow tine remains...you recognize him from the scar...would you shoot this buck based on body size alone, or would you let him pass a year finding ita shame to kill a 160 class deer when he only had 3" of horn on his head? Again, no right or wrong...this just highlights how there is another side to it.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

There is only one reason to hold off for a 4.5 yr old buck. That reason is that the age will produce and exceptional set of antlers (kind of why nobody ever talks about shooting a doe of X yrs, just weight). If you are able to hold out for a mature deer and he presents himself with damaged goods you should be able to hold out a little longer.

I have shot enough bucks with broken tines and beams in my past that I would like to say I would pass, but I obviously haven't done that yet.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I'd drop the hammer on him......and he's going on my wall.....with the trail cam photos, below. This isn't the popular stance. It's mine. If I could find the dropped antlers or a shed....I'd incorporate them into the mount....but not on his head. I'd have him (a true "monarch") mounted as I shot him. What a story that head would tell.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I see your side of the argument, but really, id want the whole bone up there. Just cant see myself pulling the trigger on that animal. Call me superficial, but i want the whole package.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

To each his own, I guess. I'm on neither the age or the antler trip, I'm on the deer one. If it gets my knees shaking, and it's legal, it's gonna get lead or carbon flung at it.
And honestly, I love busted up racks. Here's a prime example. My dad killed this buck about 5 years ago in Illinois, the thing took up the whole bed of the truck. He was aged at 6.5-7.5 years old. You know how many scoreable points he has? If you counted 5, you're right:D. He'd be an 8, if he had all of his points. And I'm gonna guess that IF this buck had all of his points still in tact, he'd only gross 120" TOPS. Once again, to each his own.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I would shoot him. I am happy killing any deer. As long as I do it in a respectable, ethical, lawful way.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

I'm in a different place now than I was a few years ago. I have antler points up to 14 and age class up to possibly 8 1/2. I go by what ever makes me happy. It could change from year to year. If I see a really nice 10 pointer that is 3 1/2, I'm shooting it, I don't have one of those. Who knows, next year I may decide to try for a 5 1/2 yo 7 pointer, if he survives until then. I don't have one of those either and I know he's there.

One thing I do know is that I want something at least 3 1/2 or older. Points are whatever makes me happy.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

he is riding in the back of my truck!!!!!!!!! All the time and effort that i have been after this one or two bucks, it doesn't matter if he is broke off a few inches, he is riding in the back of Chris' truck period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its the Effort

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Well, to be honest the only reason I would have taken the time to pattern the buck is because his antlers seemed good to me. IF I had the time to notice busted antlers, and the damage was significant, I'd probably pass. But I usually just get a glimpse of the antlers and the go light either goes off or not and then I'm getting into position and getting ready. I don't do mental tabulations in my head to figure if I shoot or not. I do like the beauty of a whole rack but a busted tine or two isn't going to stop me from shooting. I have a nice buck I shot with muzzleloader that I didn't know had a busted mainbeam, maybe 3-5" missing and busted browtines worn smooth and another tip missing. I didn't have time to notice all that. Now I will say I did a euro mount of him because I couldn't bring myself to spend $350 for a mount of a broken buck, maybe I should have, but hope springs eternal and I was sure I'd get a better one later that year. Didn't happen. I don't hunt for the record book. I do hunt for a beautiful set of antlers, and beauty has many meanings. I also don't shoot bucks unless they will go on my wall. That's just my personal standard. If I want meat I shoot a doe.

RE: Is it about the DEER, the RACK, or BOTH ?
 

Neither...I just like to watch the squirrels and sitting up in the tree 18' off the ground for 4-5 hours at a time.

I just like being outdoors, and hunting whitetails is just a bigggggg bonus!

I get amped up over does!