Would you shoot
01-01-2002, 08:04 PM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 2,413
RE: Would you shoot
I always try to limit myself to bucks that are at least 2.5 years old. Although, I will admit to taking a couple 1.5 year bucks when I get down to the last couple days of bowseason, if I haven't had any sucess up til that point. On the one lease that I get to occasionally hunt, it's 3.5 or better - always.
01-01-2002, 08:15 PM
#14
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Jackson, Missouri
Posts: 7,051
RE: Would you shoot
I let one guy walk a month ago which was a perfect eight-pointer, probably three inches past his ears on both sides, but had small mass. Probably -- for Illinois -- a year and a half deer. Still, he would have scored 115 or so easily, I figured. He was on public land, if it matters, though it didn't to me at the time. I just want to start seeing some three-year-olds, so I'm letting the younger ones go.
01-02-2002, 06:11 AM
#15
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Blossvale, New York
Posts: 21,199
RE: Would you shoot
I've never scored one so I can't give you a figure. It depends. How much time do I have? Will I be back? What state am I in? How many deer have I already shot this year? Does anyone else in my party need some meat? etc etc etc Those questions do really figure into it for me. So, the answer is.... whatever I feel like at the time given the circumstances. It can be a spike or a nice 8 point. I love to hunt and I hunt to hear <font size=4><font color=red>TWACK</font id=red></font id=size4>. If you're a legal deer and step in front of me at anytime you're subject to my whims. Look out<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
01-02-2002, 07:11 AM
#16
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: QDM Heaven
Posts: 847
RE: Would you shoot
I have absolutely no clue why it would matter to anyone whether or not it was on public or private ground! That is the problem with everyone and why every state doesn't have quality herds, because people don't let them go and let them grow. I think there should be size restrictions on public land especially. PY or better for me no matter where I'm at! Let 'em go and let 'em grow!!!
01-02-2002, 07:16 AM
#17
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 7,571
RE: Would you shoot
It all depends on the area that I am hunting. This past year, I took a three point 160 pound deer, and it made my hunting season. I was hunting in NY and it was a slow seasonn for us. Antler growth was not good because of an early harsh winter the year before. I took 2 1/2 year old buck two daysa before shotgun season. I was extremely happy with the buck - not the biggest antlers of my life, but one that I will always remember.
01-02-2002, 07:16 AM
#18
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 7,571
RE: Would you shoot
It all depends on the area that I am hunting. This past year, I took a three point 160 pound deer, and it made my hunting season. I was hunting in NY and it was a slow seasonn for us. Antler growth was not good because of an early harsh winter the year before. I took 2 1/2 year old buck two daysa before shotgun season. I was extremely happy with the buck - not the biggest antlers of my life, but one that I will always remember.
01-02-2002, 08:54 AM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: East Texas
Posts: 1,382
RE: Would you shoot
I'm looking for a 125-130 class buck or better now that I have killed some nice bucks, and I'm passing young ones wating on the big boys.(I haven't shot a buck in 3 yrs because I just keep passing the young ones and haven't had a clean shot at a big one)
My standards don't drop any just because I'm hunting public land. Sure the odds of killing a big one just dropped dramatically but why should my standards? That is one reason there are so few mature deer on public land; there seems to be a common idea that there is no need for conservation or managment on public land. I'm not blasting people who shoot small or young bucks, I'm just stating the way I see it.
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Hunting the Piney Woods of Deep East Texas.
My standards don't drop any just because I'm hunting public land. Sure the odds of killing a big one just dropped dramatically but why should my standards? That is one reason there are so few mature deer on public land; there seems to be a common idea that there is no need for conservation or managment on public land. I'm not blasting people who shoot small or young bucks, I'm just stating the way I see it.
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Hunting the Piney Woods of Deep East Texas.
01-02-2002, 09:09 AM
#20
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Blossvale, New York
Posts: 21,199
RE: Would you shoot
Wolfen: I've seen 130 class bucks that only weighed 120 pounds. I've also seen spikes and crotch horns that weighed 160 pounds. Nothing wrong with taking one out. You want to shoot your 140 class or else... that's fine. In reality there are places where deer just aren't allowed to grow to the perfect age. There are lots of hunters that have very short seasons, very limited hunting time and are looking for the meat. Too me that's a far better reason to shoot a deer than because his horns are big. I like shooting a big deer as much as the nice guy, but I like eating them more. There are many places where doe permits are very limited or non existant so that's not an option. To me a year and a half old deer is better eating any day than a 5 year old rutted out monster. If everyone waited for THE MONSTER the populations would be in worse shape than they are now in a lot of places. Until such time as horn restrictions are made law the idea of letting them grow is pretty much a pipe dream on most public lands. Maybe where you are it will work but not in such places as PA or NY on public ground where the seasons are short and doe permits restricted. I let a lot of bucks walk every year.... but I also usually shoot several.