I really don't see anything wrong with shooting any deer that your proud off, with the only exception of shooting yearling deer. Leave them alone at least for 1 yr. In the province I hunt we have doe tags to help manage the herd. Most people that get drawn for the doe tag usually shoot the first decent doe they see and they are done for the season.
Our deer population is not high like in some places but we do have a good size herd for the size of our province. It is growing rapidly in the past few seasons. approx 3-4 yrs ago it was below 60,000 now it has climbed to over 100,000 animals approximately.
If you want to shoot a smaller buck go ahead as long as it is kone legally. I personally will pass on a immature buck unless the season is getting late. specailly if I have a doe tag to fall back on for meat.

Sure we would all like to get a "BIG" buck, but 80%-90% of the time, its just not going to happen. I have been hunting for over 17 years and have taken 2 wall hangers. Early season its ok to let some of the little guys go and hope they wont get killed off during the gun season, but remember what you dont shoot, someone else more than likely will. Its all part of the game. Mid October-early Nov the bigger bucks tend to move more. If your gun season follows your archery season like it does in Wi, then dont be so picky later during the bow season. Get some meat in the freezer.You cant eat the antlers anyway. I love hunting the rut during bow season, I see a bigger variety of bucks during the rut that I can shoot, and its a great time to harvest a doe. It shouldnt matter how big or small the antlers are, just enjoy the experience of it all. Its more rewarding in the long run.

Here in southern Michigan, the deer are overpopulated. Therefore, the only way I shoot a buck is if it: is mature (4.5yrs +), I am going to mount him on the wall or bad genetics thatneed to be removed from the herd. Any other time, I am shooting does.
Yes, I do get frustrated with people shooting young bucks, butonly if they have the opportunity to hunt a great deal and can wait for the monsters. Hunters who get to hunt every other day and still shoot1.5 year old 4 - 8 points bug me. That being said,a hunter who only has a day or two to hunt a yearand wants to put some meat on the table or afirst time hunter looking to take his first deer...blast it!
I promised myself that I would never degrade anotherhunters kill, because that may turn them off to our sport. Who am I to judge what a trophy is to another person. I personally wait because there is to many deer and I get to hunt a lot.

My wife will only let me hang one rack above the fireplace, so my rule is I only take a buck if it is bigger than the one hanging. Otherwise a doe is going in the freezer. But here in central Iowa, an extra doe tag is easy to come by. The first tag purchased must be an any-deer tag, then we can buy bonus antlerless tags, but they don't need to be used in that order. Typically I'll take a doe first and I'll hold the any-deer tag until later in the season. When it gets to the end, if I haven't taken a bigger buck, I'll take a doe. If I don't need the meat, I'll drop the deer off at a locker for the HUSH (Help us Stampout Hunger) program.

Everyone (mostly) would like to kill a big antlered mature deer and if that's all that you will shoot more power to ya. I too like to kill big bucks and when I'm set to do that I will not kill anything smaller. Butit's calledDEER hunting for a reason guys, because some folks just want to go out, experience the hunt and kill a deer.....any deer. Afterall isn't that what it's all about???

If it's legal in your state to shoot a spike then I see absolutely no problem with anyone including myself shooting one. Please hunt the way you want to hunt and let others do the same. Do it legally and ethically and have fun.

It's a sport guys, nobody posting on this site NEEDS to hunt. If things were that bad that you NEEDED to kill deer to survive you have no business paying for Internet.

QDM works! I would not argue that, and I would rather have a nice doe than a small buck. I am a strong proponent of " if it is legal, do as you wish!"
One thing is not all places allow taking does, or have a very short "doe season." Another thing is, I have hunted in places with low deer populations and no doe season! Places like that you shoot whats in front of you, because that may be all you see for the year!
Now that I hunt in better places, seeing deer is not a problem! The main thing is many places in this region over protect does. If this is the case, I don't think that the deer will ever reach their potential! When you are allowed 2 bucks and one doe, or no does, QDM just isn't going to happen!

I'm glad we have differing opinions. Just to kind of correct myself, i will def. shoot a 6 point buck but only if the antlers are thicker than pencils. I've seen pictures of deer that were taken that were 6 pointers but the antlers were as thick as pencils. To me that just doesn't seem right. I know that that the chances of me letting that deer pass and it not being shot by someone else are low, but i'll take low chances over me shooting that deer, because then it has NO chance of surviving and getting bigger. I by no means plan on being a trophy hunter, i will take a buck and hope to take several but not at the expense of a small young buck who could one day grow up and become bigger. But i like to see the differing opinions

I completely agree with your opinion. this is my second year and I wouldn't think of taking anything that wouldn't make my ol' man's mouth water (no rude comments please)....

He lets what I would consider big ,walk, so I have a chance at them; that is , if they stay on our property.

You certainly have the right to be irritated by it, but no right to tell someone else what to shoot if what they're shooting is legal and satisfactory to them. BTW, QDM only works if everybody in a given area is doing it, and they aren't and never will be. Get over it.

I certainly will not tell anyone how to hunt and what they can and should hunt, thats their personal decision. If they get satisfaction from killing a tiny buck, then thats cool.