Yesterday morning I had the awesome pleasure of observing 10 deer all within 0-40 yards for nearly an hour! At one point I had a doe and fawn about 10 yards away, a young 100 inch 8-point 12 yards away, a forkie about 35 yards away making a rub, a 6-pointer right under me, and a another little 6-pointer standing off about 25 yards. Evidently the doe was coming into esterus...believe it or not...and all the junior high boys were out in force strutting their stuff. I could have plugged any of these young bucks several times but let them all walk and what a show did they put on for me. I watched a forkie pin back his ears at a 6-point and then commence to strut right up to him, and then began trying to tear up some vines that were about as big around as his neck. His little headgear got wedged between the vines and for a moment his head was stuck...it was pretty cute. I heard more grunts from these boys than I've probably heard in my entire hunting career! What was interesting is their grunts were VERY different than those of the mature bucks I've heard. Much less gutteral and not as deep. I got to watch as two of the 6-pointers squared off and sparred for a few minutes. It was an awesome and very beneficial hunt.

Now if I would have plugged the first buck I could, it would have been the biggest of all of them...a 2.5 year old 8-pointer, but I didn't...he'll grow and possibly be a shooter for next year...but if I would have, I would have missed out on all of the very cool things I was blessed to observe and to me, that is what it is all about. How can you argue against QDM?

Great story and good for you wolfen68, a little C.P.R. is great for the soul

Sounds like you really got quite a show!

The only deer I've seen so far this year were two does playing about 40 yards off. Very cute. But I'd really like to see something with horns this year, even if he's not a shooter.

Sounds like bowhunting to me. We certainly can learn a lot more by not shooting than we ever will by shooting. Great hunt and a great story.

Cool story ,
but other than passing on a shot , something that I've done all my life when they didn't suit me , what does the story have to do with QDM ? Was the land you watched them on a QDM type property ?

kevin...the main gist of my post is to point out to folks who stick the first thing they see that they probably are missing out on incredible hunts like the one I experienced yesterday. Someone not cognizant of QDM and it's principles and practices who cares less about the size or sex of a deer they remove from the herd and the ramifications of such removal on the health of the herd would likely have arrowed an immature deer and called it a good year and be done. How many guys do you hear say they have never heard a buck grunt, or heard a buck snort-wheeze, or seen a buck make a scrape, or seen a buck make a rub, or heard a doe bleat, or seen bucks fight, or seen deer mate. If you shoot the first thing you see which is likely an unsuspecting young buck, then it's likely you'll never experience those things.

In summary, if you practice QDM and harvest does and mature bucks, it is quite likely you are going to have to invest some serious time in the woods and it is then that you will have the opportunity to observe all of the intricacies of deer behavior.

The land I hunt is not officially mandated a QDM property but I've hunted it for 13 years now and from day one I've passed up young deer and taken out a doe or two. This year I'm actually seeing a few more bucks than does from the stand. I did pass on the shot at the doe at that time only because she was the bait that brought all the bucks in and I kept hoping daddy rabbit would come in but he never did.[&:]

Great post Wolfen! I wish I could have been on stand with you. I also have many hunts where I have had deer in close and decide to pass on. I agree 100% you'll learn more from a deer you don't shoot then the deer you shoot. IMO there is much more to deer hunting then just killing an animal. I strive to learn as much about my quarry and it's lifestyle and behaviors as possible.

I hope you are rewarded with the buck of you dream this fall. Shoot a doe and keep letting the little boys pass and the herd and their habitat will vastly improve.

Congrats on a great hunt you luck dog.

Thanks adams...good luck to you this year!

Would love to have been in that situation. I would definatly have been eating fresh tenderloin and backstrap tonight and gone back for more as soon as possible.

It's amazing what happens when you don't shoot everything that walks by. It's also amazing to compare the difference after of QDM after it has been in effect for a couple years.