Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

There is a buck I' ve been watching and he is nice......but he could be nicer next year........if he makes it. He is an 8 pointer with a tall rack and nice tine length and is SOOOOO symetrical that when he looks at you all you see is two long tines coming up. His width is only out to his ears so I' m guessing 14" spread.

Now I' ve only taken one buck with my bow and he' s a nice deer around here (I' d say 7 or 8 on a 10 scale). He' s the biggest buck I' ve seen this year on the farm that I hunt. The thing is he' s got great genetics and could be huge next year but I' m not sure if he' ll be there. There is a lot of pressure in the surrounding woods during gun season and the lot is right on a main highway where I had " the big one" get hit last August. I' m torn right down the middle on this one 50/50.

So what do you guys think????????????????????

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

If you would be proud of him, take him. They would all be bigger the next year if we let them go.... Bowhunting is supposed to be about fun, about you vs nature. Get out there and enjoy it. He' s better than anything else you' ve killed and one of the best bucks on the farm, you better take him. Odds are he wan' t be around next year.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

Whats the main Hwy Rt 5 ? Are Amish around ?. If you think he has a good chance to make it through another year let him grow. But you know if he steps onto another farm he is a goner. They get much much bigger than that in St. Mary' s.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

The way you described the situation, I' d shoot him in a heartbeat. He' d also be my biggest with a bow and get put on the wall. My goal this season is to try and hold out for a buck with a 14" or better spread, or one that has lots of mass etc. Good luck getting a shot at him, and if you do, then be proud cause that' s a nice buck.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

I can' t answer a question that only you hold the answer to:)

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

I would take him with the bow if I had the chance given the circumstances you describe. If he is smart enough to stay out of bow range then maybe he will make it through to the next year anyway. A 7 or 8 out of 10 would have to go down in my book. There are not many deer that make it to that magical 10 level.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

Rack, you' re right, I alone know the answer, I guess I just wanted someone to tell me it' s cool.

SW Iowa, I meant a 7 or 8 for around here, we don' t get a lot of 180 class deer where I live. Maybe a few, but not a lot. I' m not good at guessing class but I' m gonna guess maybe 100-115. I know he' s only got a 14" spread but he' s real tall.

mdbohuntr, yes, the farm I hunt is on an inside corner right on Rt. 5 and there is another big farm across one way and a field and hardwoods across the other way. When the deer start moving they don' t hesitate to go back and forth.

You are all right, he would be my biggest buck so far and I would be DARN proud to take him. I would just like to see bigger deer in my area and know that a lot of guys take smaller bucks, thought maybe I could set an example. This piece of property is probably not the place to do it though. He' s got a gorgeous rack and I keep dreaming of taking him in velvet. Plus I have him pretty well patterened so as long as I don' t screw up (which will likely happen) I' m pretty confident I can get close to him.

Done, I' ll go for him. Thanks guys!

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

COOL:D:D

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

Solax, sounds to me like you made a good decision. Next year is just a hope and this is reality. It would be nice for him to gain more mass and make an even bigger trophy for you next year but as you well know chances are slim he' ll be around next year. Good luck and great shooting:D

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

Just remember, no matter how many different ways you prepare it, bone is not that tasty. As " The Rack" said, make your call when/if the time comes.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

c903, I have a crop damage permit to take lots of does on this farm and I have. I have plenty of meat in the freezer so now I can concentrate on this guy.

Thanks for all of your help.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

I' m sure you' ll make the right decision when he' s in range and your at full draw....;)....make it count.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

look at it this way if you doop him you will still have a nice buck if you screw up you may get a shot at him next year if he makes it. but he may have a buddy tagging along with him that is even bigger i would go for him by what you have said good luck.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

How many does are you allowed to kill with the " crop damage" permit? Does the permit allow year-around killing and with firearms?

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

Good luck, keep us posted with a pic when you get him.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

That decision would be real easy for me, I haven' t killed a buck with a bow yet! I say go for it! I know you have decided to go for it any how, but here is more support in your decision. Good luck.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

It hard to put a management plan into place without all property owners going it together. You let all the nice ones walk and the neighbor shoots him the next day. I think I would stick em and drag em....;)

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

c903, the owner got the permit two weeks ago and the deal is he has until Feb 14, 04 and he has 20 tags. He has to turn in all 20 tags then filled or unfilled. You can use firearms from now up until the bow season starts, then you can only use bow, or whatever season it is. Once hunting season is over Jan. 31 you can use firearms again until Feb 14th.

Anthony hunter, good point about everybody having to be on the same page. It' s kinda hard where I live because most farm/property sizes are around 100 acres. So it' s not likely the deer are going to stay on one persons property.

I' ll definitely post a picture when/if I get him!!!! Man I am pumped!!!!!

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

Take him, if he is big enough by your standards.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

If he is good for you....then it should' nt matter what everyone else thinks.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

I finally figured this picture thing out. Here' s a pic of my only buck if any one is interested. This one I' m looking at is not as wide and A LOT taller. I think he' ll lot great on the wall next to this guy. [8D]

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

I say take him if you get the chance. If there is a lot of pressure around you, then chances are he could get shot, I' d take him.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

i hardly pass on any legal deer because if i don' t shoot him some one else will def shot him here in pa.....especially rifle season...so i say take him and hope there is a bigger one next year

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

What' s funny is now that you have " decided" to take him he will probably give you the slip.
Two years ago I set up a certain standard for myself. I let some bucks pass that I would have normally shot and wound up shooting nothing. I figured out that year I enjoy bow hunting a lot more when I actually shoot something. So last year I dropped my standard and got no shots at my lowered standard on bucks. I did release 8 arrows though ( 3 pigs a doe a coyote and a couple misses just to keep me humble). Much funner when shooting than sitting there waiting on the near impossible.
In my case the size of the trophy is determined by the carrying capacity of the land.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

If you would be proud to shoot the Buck then go fer it. If you do not think you would feel good about shooting him then dont. There is a real good chance you will never see him again if you pass him up this year......good luck on which ever way you decide to go.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

So you' ve only shot one deer with the bow.... and now you may have a chance to shoot the biggest deer you' ve ever seen..... and you want to know if it' s OK. Duhhhhhhh.... It' s up to you. It doesn' t matter what I think. Me..I' m shooting him.

P.S. Odds are in favor of the deer or in favor of you NEVER getting a shot by the way. The biggest deer in the woods doesn' t show himself very often.

RE: Question: Should I or shouldn' t I take him?
 

davidmil, I have shot 3 deer with my bow, one buck. Thing is I don' t want to shoot a buck if I' m not going to mount him. I have already taken two does this year so I have plenty of meat.

I realize that since he' s the biggest buck it will be hard to take him. Him (and 6 other bucks) have been coming out of the same spot in the woods for a few weeks now so I have him patterned. I never meant to say that I was gonna stroll into the woods on opening day and arrow this guy, I was just asking if I should take him given the chance. As a matter of fact another guy that' s hunting the same farm on the crop damage permit had these bucks walk right under his stand, couldn' t take em cause it' s does only. Gee, wonder why I told him not to hunt that part of the farm!!!!!