Would you shoot
 

OK. I put a post on here about a month ago about shooting 125 class bucks or better. Now here is the thing. What is the smallest size buck you would shoot on public land. Score wise.

RE: Would you shoot
 

I dont antler hunt ,the only thing I dont shoot is button bucks and fawns

RE: Would you shoot
 

my uncle and i video tape our hunts. we don't shoot anything that isn't outside its ears

RE: Would you shoot
 

On public land blacktails three points or better would do for me. We don't count but one side and no eye guards so that would be a eight point back east .

RE: Would you shoot
 

Don't hunt public but my standards would still remain above that 125 mark.

RE: Would you shoot
 

I hunt both private and public land. On public land I will shoot any legal animal. On the privite land around home I try to leave the smaller bucks alone.

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

RE: Would you shoot
 

I'll take any legal deer, but I won't shoot button bucks anymore. Once I get a few more years under my belt, I'll be a little more choosy.

PBB

Pick a hair.....or a caruncle!!

RE: Would you shoot
 

not picky...a deer is a deer and they are all good eating!!! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>!

RE: Would you shoot
 

legal game,in my club it is at least one fork.
a 125 buck comes along once in a life in my part of the co.
I have taken one buck that went above 100 it was 119 after deduct.


I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.

RE: Would you shoot
 

Where im at a 125 buck is a trophy. The biggest I have killed I scored myself around 117.

RE: Would you shoot
 

Any legal blacktail deer. I am not much into scoring, just eating.

The Mouse

RE: Would you shoot
 

Any legal buck, fork or better, is food. The best buck I've taken was a 24 3/4&quot; 3X4 Muley, but never had him scored. Just not into trophy hunting.

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.

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.

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>

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

--------------------------------------------
Hunting the Piney Woods of Deep East Texas.

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.

RE: Would you shoot
 

I'm with Dave on this one, although I don't shoot spikes or buttons. In my part of the country if I only took 125's or better I'd still be scoreless after 20+ years in the woods.

Turc

RE: Would you shoot
 

THE SMALLEST I'D SHOOT WOULD BE A 4 POINT BUCK

RE: Would you shoot
 

THE SMALLEST I'D SHOOT WOULD BE A 4 POINT BUCK

RE: Would you shoot
 

For several years now, I've held out for MATURE deer. For bucks, they must be 8 points or better with plenty of mass, width, tine length. Does must be over 100 lbs. dressed weight (est.). I've seen lots of deer this season, but most didn't make my self-imposed minimums.

RE: Would you shoot
 

davidmil has two good posts, couldnt have said it better.

RE: Would you shoot
 

Freedom to choose. It doesn't get any better.

If I am new to the sport, I can shoot one with antlers. Period. After having done that a few times I can hold out if I choose, for a bigger body, or more points, etc.

I love to hear about guys that shoot nothing unless they get a clean shot at an animal that is of certain specifications. That is a sign of a guy that is challenging himself. Hunting bucks has moved to a whole new level for him.

I also appreciate how someone can say &quot;I love the smell of venison on the grill.&quot; That's equally as rewarding for that person.
I shoot does to fit that bill.

It's also a regional thing. Pass on a buck in Pennsylvania, and he won't go too far before the next guy makes a different decision. That's their choice.

I am at the &quot;outside the ears&quot; stage, I guess. I've been letting quite a few walk.

No matter what happens, I just love being in the stand.

:)

RE: Would you shoot
 

Same as 5 shot! I hunt on our lease where we have the 3 point rule. wouldn't shoot anything smaller even if they were legal. down in the NWR i hunt, anything
with spikes over 2&quot; long is legal, and would take a spike for the meat.

RE: Would you shoot
 

Fork or bigger for a buck.
Will shoot a big doe in a heart beat.
I love meat.

Hunting is nature.
It is our nature to hunt.
I'm not a hunting fanatic just a hunting addict.

RE: Would you shoot
 

ANY LEGAL MATURE DEER ? MAYBE AFTER I GET MY FIRST WHITETAIL WITH A BOWI WILL BECOME SELECTIVE.

RE: Would you shoot
 

first off living in new jersey the regulations go by zone doesnt matter if your on public or private property. the rule and legal antler sizes vary within zones. the zones i hunt are QDM and &quot;earn a buck&quot; zones. what the basicly means is you have to take a doe before shooting a buck, and if you do see a buck he has to have atleast 3 points on one side of his antlers. iv'e passed on 5 or 6 shots on legal little bucks this year, ive seen what else is out there and i dont want to waste my one buck a season on a 5 point.

RE: Would you shoot
 

w/ a bow nothing under a 2 point with a rifle nothing under a 4 point!

RE: Would you shoot
 

My personal goal is a 16&quot;spread 8pt.I will not shoot anything smaller.
Although I did see a great big 6pt this year that I had to talk myself out of shooting,hoping he made it through the season.

RE: Would you shoot
 

Antler size has nothing to do with it for me. I don't need the ego fix. I hope my state never manages to pass an antler restriction rule. Venison is some of the best tasting meat there is and the younger ones are the best tasting.

RE: Would you shoot
 

8pt

I wanted to say something about your comment, &quot;I don't need the ego fix&quot;.

For most of us, going for big bucks, has nothing to do with our ego. We like the challenge shooting a big buck offers. The sense of accomplishment on doing something difficult is very rewarding, and without any doubt, shooting older bucks is a more difficult thing to do. First, there are fewer of them and second, they are much smarter.

I have nothing against a meat hunter, but would not want people to get the impression that trophy hunters are egotistical, because they trophy hunt.

RE: Would you shoot
 

First off, I haven't found a way to cook them horns so they are edible. So on that note, anything that is legal with a bow. After meat is in the freezer at an acceptable manner, then I will become selective. To each his/her own.

RE: Would you shoot
 

Wolfen, here's my reason for makin a difference in private and public land.
on our lease,(private) where i do most of my huntin, the law is three points
on one side. this is what we need to grow bigger bucks, and since we're paying
$160 a member per year, we DO want bigger bucks. besides, it's the law!
down in the NWR(puplic) i hunt, there's a different law. the three point rule is not in affect. any deer is legal, even spikes. now, I get no kick out of
shootin spikes, I'd just as soon shoot a doe. but, if I ain't seen a doe, and
aspike walks by, seein as how I ai'nt payin to hunt in the NWR, I may shoot
one for the meat. if this don't make since just disregard this post<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Would you shoot
 

Minimum on any land I hunt(public or private) would be 125-130 and that would only be late in the season. We let a lot of decent bucks walk...and let 'em grow :) If we need meat we shoot a doe.

TB

RE: Would you shoot
 

I hunt public land only and choose to harvest &quot;mature&quot; bucks and bulls or I will purposely harvest a doe and cow for the meat. My motivation for letting immature bucks/bulls walk is two-fold. I am not gonna b.s. anyone,I love matching wits with big mature bucks or bulls and I do like quailty racks in relation to my area. Second and not least important by any means, I care about the over all health of the herd. Killing the young bucks/bulls and not harvesting does/cows accomplishes nothing. Infact, it weakens the quality of the herd in many ways and decreases opportunities for future good hunting.

As far as putting a 125 inch minimum on what you shoot and what you let pass... I believe that &quot;size standard&quot; are relative to the area your hunting. For example, a 125 buck in Florida would most likely be a mature deer and a quality one at that. (Heck a 125 buck with bow is good anywhere! :) But in other regions a 125 inch buck could possibly be a young buck....say 21/2 or 31/2 years old. Depending on what you consider mature. For me I try to hunt 41/2 year old bucks, but often have harvested 31/2 year old bucks. My reasoning for setting a standard at 4 1/2 is that most bucks skull plates reach full growth in their 4th year. I am fortunate to hunt public ground that offers a good age structure, not high in deer density but good over all age distrubution.

IHW,
Shed

RE: Would you shoot
 

The situation usually dictates it for me.

This past season, I was watching a large 8 point out in the field when a smaller 4 point buck appeared under my stand outta nowhere. At that moment, I became selective and chose to wait for the larger deer. He unfortunately never came in. On another day, that 4 point might have walked under my stand and I would have taken him without hesitation.

My plan just about every year is to wait for larger deer for the first few weeks so that I can enjoy being out there. From there on, my standards progressivly go down as the season wears on! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I apply for antlerless permits each year so I try and fill those tags too. I let all yearling deer walk without exception.

-Mike

RE: Would you shoot
 

I'm not a antler hunter. I will shoot any deer that gets in range. Some may frown on this but I think we put to much into the size of the deer after all it's deer hunting not antler hunting. Don't get me wrong if you like to wait on that moster that is fine but I know people that look down on a person that takes a yearling deer. If just comes down to what you prefer. This is how I look at it, &quot;if it's brown it's down&quot;.