Had a BEAUTIFUL 2 1/2 year old 10-point typicalbuck, that would go in the 120s, nudgeing a doe come right to my stand this morning. He was broadside at about 15 yards, but I decided to pass on him. He was just a bit too small in my book. Hopefully he lives and no one else shoots him, cause he'll be a dandy next year. Hopefully I can get a crack at him next year. Lots of people on here will probably think I'm crazy, but if let those kind of bucks go, you get those bigger bucks. I really hope nothing happens to him cause he's got alot of potiental to be a giant one day. I'd reallylike to get a chance at him in 2 years, so then he'd probably be in the 160s or bigger. Hopefully I will be rewarded and a bigger buck will come right by me, and I'll get him. I know they're out there. It's just a matter of are they going to come past me. So far, the pre-rut is awesome here in Ohio, and here in a couple days, we'll be in SWEET November! And we all know what that means. Who out there would have taken this buck? Be honest. Nothing wrong in taking a buck like this buck was.

no picture but I would have. I decided this year anything 8 point or bigger I would take. Or if it was an unusuall big 6 point or an unusually small 8 I would change that rule. But Im pretty sure I would have taken the 10.
-Jake

I passed on a 10 point in Ohio, too. Maybe that's because of a few things. 1.) Don't have a license. 2.) It was 12:30 AM. 3.) I was in my car. 4.) It was in Columbus right next to the highway. 5.) I couldn't have taken him with my bare hands I don't think, anyway. I didn't have any weapons and I'm just fairly sure that if I can't cover 3.6 miles in under 25 minutes I'm not going to catch a deer. It just wasn't in the cards. It's nice to know he's out there though, flirting with the 2 does on the other side of the fence. Sooo... maybe that doesn't count as PASSING per se, but what the hell?

Depends on details. In your position I might have taken him at 2 1/2. Other variables, is there a lot of hunting traffic around that part? If so, I would have taken him. If there is very little I'd let him go, too. He'd be a beast someday. I applaud you, though, for having the chutzpah to let him go. Highly commendable. If we could have everyone be that honest there would be a seemingly endless supply of amazing deer.

I think the fact that you can't hunt them makes a lot of the bucks here in Columbus beautiful. They're safer in the city. Too bad for us!

Let me hunt just down the hill from you and I'll let you know.

Just think in a year that deer will bea stud, and if you give him two a monster.
I passed on a 120' 8 pointer wednesday night, then a 140+ or even better came in, Couldnt get a shot, but the young ones always seem to come first. then the big ones come.

I prolly would not have passed, but i know there are some bruisers around so it would have to be a in the moment decision.

Years ago I would have shot, but since I've taken two similar to that, I would have passed. Good for you, they can't grow bigger if they are dead.

I passed on a few 100-120 class 8 pts and bigger so far I have told myself the past couple years that in order to get the 150's or bigger you need to do that, knowing you could plug them is as good as doing it and it makes it worth it when you see and harvest a giant.

I would have taken him. 10 pointers are rare here.

in my neck of the woods the larger bucks are few and far in between. here in the ozarks there isn't alot of food sources that promote huge antler growth... in other words i'd take a deer like that in a heart beat. my biggest buck in 13 years of hunting is a 120's 8 point and i took him last year.