What would you do?
 

I have tags for both antlered and antlerless and have not filled any yet this season.:( Passed up small/young bucks and small/young does so far, although I know at least 2 big boys are in the area of the main property I hunt . I can bowhunt until mid-January except for 4 days of the 2nd firearms season. So.................would you fill the tags or antlerless tag only and keep on waiting for a shot at a big buck? Mind you the weather will get nastier, rut is winding down, and deer changing their patterns due to pressure and food.

I already know what I am doing, just curious as to other's responses.

RE: What would you do?
 

I'd be shooting does for sure. and then wait on a buck of your choosing, and personal standards.

RE: What would you do?
 

I'll second that. I have a self-imposed earn a buck program, so i'm always taking out a doe first.

RE: What would you do?
 

Get some doe burger ,before it is to late

RE: What would you do?
 

Lucky for me I can take a doe with my regular combo licences too. Here in Michigan you can shoot an antlerless with the bow, during archery season. You can only take a doe with an antlerless permit during the gun season. Works out great for me so I can get a couple of deer reguardless of the sex.

I will be shooting a doe with my antlerless permit during the gun season here and probably another with my regular licence during the second bow season unless the big guy walks by!!!

RE: What would you do?
 

Hey Cougar,

You can legally bowhunt conservtion areas that are closed to gun hunting.. (IL)My bro and i are from IL and bowhunt during gun season at a conservation area..Between the two of us we have 6 deer out of there..But we also are pretty much just meat hunters..But like i say if you want to still bowhunt you can..

RE: What would you do?
 

I know this is a little late for this thread but...... I have been bowhunting for 4 seasons now, so I feel pretty confident (most of the time) about what and where I am hunting. I usually try to go out on a sunday where it is illegal to hunt in North Carolina, and scout and actually try to get a picture of the deer I want to kill, if I cant get a picture then an imprinted picture in my mind works fine. I am not a professional bowhunter by any means, but I have had several deer standing right underneath me every time I hunt. So what I am saying is I like to go after big racks for the first part of season, then fill tags after gun season has started and the deer are spooked more.

RE: What would you do?
 

Shoot a doe first so you don't ensd theseason empty handed and it helps your deer herd. You can always hold out for the big buck until the last minute. If you do your homework through the season, you should be able to change your hunting strategy right along with the deer's changing patterns.

RE: What would you do?
 

I'd be putting a bit of meat in my freezer with the doe tag. IMO if you've got it, use it. As for the buck tag, I personally am commited to taking mature animals. I've passed a few smaller bucks this season and have seen two nice IMO shooters that just haven't given me an opportunity at a shot. This works for me but may not be what you have in mind. If you're content shooting any buck or your standards say 6 point or 8 point or better then tag the buck you're happy with.

If I were on your property and new of two monsters roaming the area I'd be looking forward to some late season hunting. IMO late season is a great time to score. Hunt the food scorces and get the deer as they settle down from rifle or shotgun season. Bucks this time of year will have two things on their minds. Food and second esterous does with a emphasis on food.

RE: What would you do?
 

I would also if the freezer was running low on deer meat, then I would take a doe and help to balance your buck to doe ratio , if it is outta balance.
But I am holding out for any one of the 3 great shooter bucks that I have seen on the property I am hunting, I had a shot at a massive buck , shot him for 40 yards..... . turns out he was 47 yards and I watched my arrow whiz by just under his belly hairs:( So much for my yardage estimation judgeing[:@]

RE: What would you do?
 

Well Mag you asked us what we would do in your circumstances.

Since you have so much time to hunt, I would definately fill your doe tag for the freezer and if that meat is gonna be enough then hunt for the buck you want 'till the last week, then harvest for the freezer again if needed.

Good luck my friend, I hope it all works out for you.

Troy

RE: What would you do?
 

Well coug, you didn't provide a big piece of information for an Illinois boy. Do you slug or smokepole hunt? Have you already tagged a buck in one of those seasons, or are you on just your archery tag.

My situation is close to yours. I am sitting on one either sex tag right now. I am tentativly waiting on a shooter buck. But come early december I will shoot another doe and then go buy another tag at the store and keep on gunning for the big ones. I find it hard this part of the season to shoot a doe when I only have an either sex tag and you never know what could be following her or be by a little later.

But if I was sitting on a doe tag along with my either sex, I would be wacking the first doe by, as long as I could tell nothing was trailing her..wouldn't want to blow an opportunity at mr big following her in.

RE: What would you do?
 

i would drink a beer and think about it[X(]

RE: What would you do?
 

I also hunt IL and have an anterless and buck tag left. My personal strategy is to strictly trophy hunt for a buck until the last two weeks of the season, then fill my tags with a doe or mature buck, whichever I get a crack at first.

I really like late season hunting around here, there's less food so the deer are more congregated, most people have tagged out or quit hunting so it's like I have the world to myself. I've got access to two acres of standing corn in a woodlot food plot that I can't wait to get into. Late season afternoon hunts on a hot food source are a blast...