the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

I did a search but didn't find anything like this...and i have this question after seeing two really NICE deer today while working at the lease...

Bowseason..the question is null and void because I have yet to make my first bow kill....

gun season...if one is confronted with a nice deer they think will grow and be better next season..do you wait? The variables being a non-high fenced, what I consider fair chase area. I think everywhere in the county is hunted. I am on a small piece, 160 acres, but have the place ALL to myself with my fee. the owner and his family only dove hunt in September. 18 acres of wheat on the extreme north, and I've watched them feed on the wheat. Bedding in the south, and I KNOW they are bedding there today. alot of activity on my south feeder matter of fact. one tx hwy on the far west side, after that..nothing. the other three sides border other undeveloped land that is hunted, but i'm not sure how frequently

so...long story short, what do the more experienced hunters do? do you give up a shot (if i judge right and think the deer is 1.5 to 2.5 years old) and wait till next year, all while anything might happen to them (hunters next door, vehicle, predators...whatever)...or do you take the shot depending on if he is big enough..etc...

don't mean to ramble, just wasn't sure how to word what I was thinking.

I've only been hunting a few years, and last year I culled a buck that had a 4x2, that the landowner was really glad to see gone. He said he'd seen him 2 years in a row with similar racks. so at least that was an ethical choice and I didn't waste a buck.

I'd like to do the right thing. Not only do I have one buck tag, but I want to do the right thing for the long term and for the animal. thanks for any opinions

Ken B

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

If your a trophy (antler) hunter, ya gotta judge him accurately and if deemed a bit young, let him go til next year. Of course, as you posted, there are many, many more variables which you have absolutely no control over, so once you decide you live with it, possibly forever. The deer may go off and wind up dead many years later from no teeth and starvation (old age) with you never seeing him again. So ya never know if it's the right decision UNLESS you see him again., positively ID him and take him with more antler.

If your not a trophy (antler) hunter - he'll probobly taste just about the same next year, but too old and they can get a bit toughter.

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

if u want meat kill him if u want a rack wait a year or two.

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

Hey Ken, My answer to your question would be to judge the deer to your past kills. If you have a buck come by that is bigger than your last I would take that buck. You really can't manage a plot of land well until you have at least 1500-2000 acres. I have never put restrictions on myself as far as how big a deer must be to shoot, however I try not to kill any smaller than what I have already killed. If a young deer has a cool rack (drop tines, odd shape, different characteristics than normal) I will take him so I can mount him and keep him that way. You never know if you will see a deer like that again.

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

It’s a chance you take as you mentioned. More then likely I would take him depending if I had a good opportunity that would present it self but that’s me and I usually go for the meat. Good luck...

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

Ken, Deer tend to stay in the same area year after year unless something dramatic happens to their food source. Since you are the only one hunting the area there is a good chance you and the buck will run into each other down the road. The only problem is that the older a buck gets the smarter and luckier he gets. But then, you will be older next year and maybe smarter. Good luck.

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

If ya want meat take a doe....if possible.:)

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

Well you know the old saying ..." a hand in the bush is better then2 birdsin the hand" ....or something like that ....;>))

Doc

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

If your hunting season falls in the rut then the bucks will probably range far off the property and there will be a possibility that they will get shot or hit by a car. Everyone has their own idea of what a shooter is and you do too. Follow your own standards and you will be happy.

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

To some people a rack isnt important. I have shot my share of 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old bucks. Usually I try and hold out for a nice buck but when it gets down to crunch timeI take what I can get. Its tough to practice QDM on public land. Regardless.. the first yearlingdoe to walk by gets whacked. Thats meat in the freezer!

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

On our property we don't have the deer numbered or have tracking devices on them. That said - I have no way to know where a buck will be 365 days later. It seems like every year we have different bucks that come around but I never seem to see the same one year after year. If guys can let a buck walk and easily find him again next year, I'd like to know how. If I like a buck, I'll take him. You can discard and draw another card, but you could be playing with multiple decks that keep getting shuffled. You might discard a King and pull a 2 instead of an Ace.

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

Yup

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

On the property I hunt on we can usually tell who is who from year to year.. Just look at characteristics ofthe deer. Last year threw me fora loop though. We had 2 deer I had never seen before. They were brothers. Each had 5 on one side and then a long thick spike shooting straight up about 10-12" with a little point sticking out the front. My buddy nailed one of them.. I tried for the other but he never made it into range.. Wanted to get them out of the gene pool.

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

The choice is yours to make. Set your own standards and make sure your happy with what you harvest.

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

Agree 100%:D

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

In the areas that I hunt if you don't take him a road hunter probably will. It is a shame that it is like that but I find there are a lot of hunters out there that don't really care if they are shooting legal or not. Does anyone else have that problem??

RE: the question-do I take the shot or wait a year?
 

If you think that counting 26 gunshots on opening morning is a problem, opener for bowseason that is, then yeah, I guess I do!