Passing up small bucks
 

Just wondering how many of you guys have seen good results, after setting rules with your hunting partners to only shoot mature bucks. My family has done it where we hunt for the past couple fo years and have had seen alot more big bucks in the area. I passed on many smaller bucks this year during both bow and gun season which left me eating my buck tag but its all good since I had a few close encounters with some nice bucks. My dad ended up getting a 12 pointer on opening morning of gun season that scored 175 and 3/8th's. We also try to fill as many doe tags as possible since we have quit a few in the area to keep the doe buck ratio as close as possible.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

It's only common sense. If you pass young bucks, they have a chance to grow and with a couple years, you have a dandy animal. If you tag out on the first small buck that comes along, you'll never have the opportunity for a larger animal. If your happy with the small ones, then good for you.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

We haven't seen much in results yet but the neighbors sure have. They kill every buck we pass up.:(

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

Where in OTC you at. We do it over here and everybody is getting to see the results

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

yeah the other landowners have seen a few nice ones too since no one has a huge amount of land. we have about 200 acres which obviously doesnt keep the bucks on our land only but we seem to be the only ones who benefit cus we scout alot and plan our routes to our stand so we dont affect the deer etc. which makes them mad since we get all the nice ones but they don't put in the time but expect to get nice ones too. we hunt somewhat close to the border of ottertail and becker county how bout you TeeJay

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

QDM, that's what it's all about. The sad thing is that it IS catching on, it's just some folks seem a little slow! I have no doubt that it will eventually become as accepted as Catch & Release bassin' is now, just give it time and keep trying to get more landowners and leasers involved! It really is the only thing to do for all serious sportsman, shoot the Does, and let the little ones grow! THANKS for everyone out there that does their part!

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

Did it on my fathers old farm for 2 years before AR's (he's in PA). The last season he was there in 03 after several years, we were seeing many good sized bucks. Much more than the years before. Our rule was 8 points or wider than it's ears to shoot. You had to use common sense to judge whether it was at least a 2 1/2 year old or better basically.....most of the ones we actually shot were 3 1/2 though.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

i do it everwhere i hunt i just can't stand to take an immature buck i'd rather take a doe.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I have 9 Pope and Young bow kills, 2 that are over 120, and 2 gun kills that score 145 3/8 and 168 4/8. The majority of these deer were killed after I had passed up smaller bucks on that particular hunt. I'm also sure that several of these deer are deer that I had passed up as 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 year olds. Sure your neigbors may kill deer that you pass up, not much you can do about that, but if you let him go there is no doubt that he still has a chance. I've made a big committment in my area to talk to my hunting neighbors, show them some of my pictures of the quality of deer that can be taken if your selective. The neighbors have definitely bought in on the idea, so I have a very good situation. The QDMA saying "LET THEM GO SO THEY CAN GROW" thats what it's all about for me. If my neighbors would have not liked the philosophy then so be it, I'll tell them good luck, and just make sure the food plots and sanctuaries I work on are away from their property, and try to keep the deer happy on mine.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I beleave the deer where allways there. People just in last few years started passing up the little ones so they would be in the woods long enough to even see the nice bucks.

I hunt a heavy hunted spot they kill every buck they see. I take my time pass on the little ones and allways kill a nice buck. This is in a public hunting spot and you know NO one pass there :}

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

OTC i am over here on the Wadena/OTC side

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

TeeJay,
So do you hunt in area 243?

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I know of few bowhunters that have a problem with passing up a small buck,but the QDM idea that a doe is the one that sells meth to your kids runs up your credit cards & cheats on your wife. Give it a break ,Take up golf if you hate deer that bad .If you feel the need to shoot a doe go for it ,but don't bitch about posted land when you & your friends fill your tags on does.Not all of us fear the female deer that keeps her fawns alive and well for me to hunt next year.Take some time while your shed hunting this winter and cut some browse trim some apple trees a make the woods a little better for the deer .Then next year instead of telling your kid that some where on the hill some one might see a big buck,You and your kid might see a live deer too.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

What does that all mean wow.


Elkriver i rifle hunt in 245 bow hunt around town here

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

iv shot one small buck it was my first deer and i didnt see the buttons until after my 20 gauge slug had a fight with his lungs and heart and won!

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I think that if the hunter is in his first year or it will be his first buck, there is nothing wrong with taking a small buck but from there on out its mature bucks.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I shoot everything that moves just to pi$$ you guys off!

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I Bowhunt a public spot (private too) & let little ones walk knowing some will be taken by someone. I ate my buck tag also but did come close to a couple very good Bucks that I know also made it thru gun season. I think we (Most bowhunters) go through stages as a hunter. When we 1st start we want (need) that kill, then as we are fortunate to take animals we get into the more selective, conservation mode, but still want to be successful & then maybe a few go for the Trophy hunting only part. I wish there was not so much hype & emphasis on TROPHY HUNTING as I think it makes it tougher on the new hunter. Hunting is a sport to be enjoyed & a way for some of us to relax-we have enough things going on to worry about what someone will say about the size of our Deer. Good luck to all this season.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I hunt primarily heavily pressured public land, but I try to hold out for a mature buck. I have taken 2 bucks in the last 5 years(131 and a 1twenty something-not scored yet). I agree about letting the little ones go. He just might learn from his mistakes and make it through to next season. Sure, the neighbors will get a few, but if you don't make the effort then you may never see mature bucks on your hunting area.

TBO

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I passed up many small bucks this year. I have a 8pt or better rule for myself. I too have a buck tag unfilled this year, but there is meat in the frezzer 2 doe with the bow.

Hatchet Jack

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I hold out for a 8 point or bigger with the bow. Come gun season first legal buck I take. Where I live all my neighbors hunt not very much makes it thrue there properties. I can't remember last time I ate a buck tag. Been hunting 36 years. Bucks are good eating too.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I don't pass deer up..........don't have that luxury. Doubt I would even if I did.

I have killed four 1 1/2 yr old bucks in the last 3 years..........and one 3 1/2 yr old.........between my brothers, my dad and I over the years I couldn't even count.

My harvest this year was a 4 pt....a 6 pt......a mature doe and a 6 month old doe.

I am an equal opportunity hunter :D


I never really understood this logic. What makes a big buck special??.........because he is DIFFERENT then the usual tailgate decoration right?? That is why a 120 class buck is a jaw dropper someplaces and in other places you might get asked why you didn't let him walk.

If you let all the younger bucks walk then the woods will be plentiful with bigger, mature bucks........just like they are now with smaller bucks. So shooting a larger buck in that area will no longer be as special as before when they were only seen once in a blue moon.

Don't you all think to yourself when you watch hunting shows that have BIG bucks walking by one after one all day that it wouldn't be as special to take one of those bucks?? Why would it??........if you miss him another one will be by in an hour.........What a challenge :eek:


I enjoy deer hunting for what it is. It is VERY tough to even get a deer in most places I hunt.
If I sat around and waited for a bruiser every year it's possibe I may never pull a trigger again. No thanks. The year I killed the 3 1/2 yr old 13 pointer SUCKED!!!! He was practically the only deer I saw all year and I hunted my nads off. I would take a year like this year over that one ANY day of the week.


I took my two bucks to a guy for european mounts this year and he has TONS of private land his family owns and hunts for ever and ever. They have stands set up all over their food plots and he has MONSTER bucks all over his walls. He hunted for 2 days this archery season and killed a 160" brute. Last time I saw him he showed me pics of his brothers and dad's bucks.......ALL HUGE deer. So they basically grow big bucks and shoot them whenever they feel like they are "Big Enough" for the wall.........WOW, what an exciting challenge

Killing a BIG buck is a lot more special IMO when he was probably the ONLY one on the hill............not the closest one in the food plot [:'(]

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I coudn't agree with you more atlasman. I have been hunting deer with gun and bow for a little over 40 years now and I love it as much today as I did when I was 13. During that time I have killed my share of 120 and up class bucks. I have 5 on the wall. I can't tell you how many 4 and 6 pointers I've taken. Now if I had aways waited for the big rack I'm sure I would have killed a few more large racks, maybe even a true monster but looking back I'm absolutely certain that it wouldn't have enhanced my hunting experience. There's nothing wrong with wanting to take a trophy, lord knows I dream of the big buck, but if a trophy were behind every stump and brush pile the mystique would be gone for me.

I don't think this obsession with large bucks is healthy for the sport of hunting. There is a lot of pleasure to be derived from developing ones competence in every aspect of the sport from shooting and maintaining equipment to skinning, butchering and prepairing the meat for the table. This last season I taught a young nephew of mine how to put a razor edge on his jack knife. I explained to him how important it would be to be able to keep his knives sharp for hunting when he is older. He was tickled to death and proud of his new skill. For Christmas I got him a set of good sharpening stones and when he opened the package his eyes lit up as if he'd just killed a 12 point. Now this is a small thing but it is an example of what I mean. This 10 year old is already enjoying hunting and it has nothing to do with a big rack. When he takes his first deer he'll be using a sharp knife to dress it and he'll get a lot of satisfaction out of the process whether its a 4 point or a 12.

In other words, we shouldn't teach our younin's that big racks is all that matters. Focus them on developing their skills and taking satisfaction and pride in that. The big racks will come and they won't be missing out on all the other things. Their hunting experience will be better for it.

RE: Passing up small bucks
 

I prefer to let the little bucks walk and come home empty. If I want meat, I will take a doe.

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I have to say atlasman you are right. I do hunt for big deer but I will shoot a littler one any day.I have some very big deer and a ton of little ones :} If you eat them the BC makes no difrants .

good post
charles