Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

My hunting party of about 10 tries not to shoot any yearling bucks or bucks with less than a 17 inch spread. Why do so many hunters continue to shoot small bucks? Why not just shoot a doe? Do they brag about shooting little bucks? I just don' t get it. It is like catch and release in fishing. You see a little buck, you should enjoy watching him and let him go. I just do not understand why people need to shoot little bucks. Maybe I am being greedy or non-ethical, but I enjoy shooting mature bucks, and where I hunt they are so few and far between because so many people blast the first little guy they see.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Good post, i dont know i guess it comes with age. I am not old only 31 and I can say i used to shoot more small bucks than anyone, finally i realized i am not killing big bucks because i shoot all the small ones. Young kids and first time hunters should take a small buck if the shot presents itself. Now i let them grow and have a wall full of very nice deer. I guess some people dont grow out of it and some do. I did and it has payed off. Good Huntn

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

I think it is how you were raised and where you hunt. In my neck of the woods, where deer are almost as plentiful as rabbits, most people evolve to shooting mature bucks. The first few years you shoot any deer but after awhile you start to enjoy just watching the little ones and let them walk.

However, I know that in some places any forkhorn buck is the biggest deer that is available in that hunting area, so people are happy to shoot any buck. Can' t fault them for that. Only way to change that is to change the law that allows these little bucks to be shot, or severely limit the numbers, something a lot of people are not willing to do.

Me? My yearly hunting fix is obtained from hunting elk or mule deer on some mountain top. However, I do hunt in Texas on my family ranch. Most years I shoot 2-4 does and only kill a buck every 4-5 years.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

I' ve never been a " trophy" hunter, and I' m guilty of shooting little bucks. But then again, I' ve shot little does as well. The younger deer make better eating in my opinion. The meat doesn' t seem as tough or gamey tasting than on an old buck who' s in the rut.

I' ll hunt for a larger deer this year, but if the season gets near end and my freezer isn' t stocked, I' ll go for the first deer that comes along, big or little.

Is there something ethical I' m not quite getting by shooting a smaller deer? Again I prefer to have meat in the freezer than have a trophy on the wall. To me that' s what deer hunting is all about. I usually only kill two a year then quit for the season, gives me enough meat to last til next hunting season.

Thunder

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

By me, to shoot a buck it needs to have 3 points on one side and the spike are off limits. Prior to the regulation change, when we could shoot spikes, we would only shoot them if they came in and nothing else was around and it was near the last day of the season.

Basically a young buck tastes better than an old buck or doe.

Tomster

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

To add what txhunter said...Here in NH, the success rate is very low. It' s the hardest state to tag. I agree with the saying that if you can consistently shoot a deer in NH, you can shoot a deer anywhere. We only have about 70,000+ deer in the entire state and no area has a density greater than 15 deer per square mile. Where we hunt that number is closer to 8....All that aside, most hunters that I know, will shoot the first legal, adult deer. If you allow a deer to walk early in the season in hopes of punching your tag on a bigger buck later, you just might not have venison in your freezer when all is said and done. Other than that, and if I hunted in areas where I saw deer almost every day, I could certainly agree with the point you' re making.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Cause little bucks don' t give birth to more deer, AND the big bucks spread their genes to the does by creating fawns that will be big bucks and does when they grow up.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Because they want to. Ain' t America great. I' ve seen trophy hunting ruin a few people.

I have no problem if a guy wants to shoot any legal deer.

Maybe he only can hunt a few days and wants meat. So he wants to fill all his tags.

Maybe it' s a person that hasn' t hunted much and has the oppurtunity.

Maybe he doesn' t care about rack size and he just wants to get a deer.

Maybe their hunting an area/ farm where the owner wants to reduce his herd.

I like to hunt mature bucks too, just wish people would stop hitting them with their cars before I can shoot them.That' s where the one I was hunting ended three years in a row.


That' s your opinion and your welcome to it, it doesn' t mean every one else has to agree with it , does it?

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

I agree with Charlie P. I pass on small ones but when I first started, a young buck was a great trophy for me. I didn' t grow up with a family of hunters. I thought any deer you got was cool. Now that I realize what makes big bucks, I shoot does for meat.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

I used to shoot the first thing that had horns. (I know they are really antlers.):) I think I changed when I took my bow during gun season one year. My father-in-law had my rifle and I got to the lease the day before he did so I took my bow. Right at daylight there was a nice ten point in front of me. He was bigger than any deer I had ever killed. If I had my rifle I would have taken him. A little while later something spooked the ten point. It was a huge eight point that had great mass. Then the eight ran off and I could see nothing but horns coming through the brush. It was a monster buck!!![:o] He had to be close to 180" I counted at least 14 points and he had stickers everywhere. I learned that day in order to see deer like that you had to pass on smaller deer sometimes. Even with a bow I pass small bucks now. I will shoot one if it is late in the season. I believe there is always a big mature buck somewhere close no matter where you hunt. They don' t get big by accident.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

One other thing for me is this. I love a challenge! The better hunter I think I am the picker I get. However, if I am meat hunting I go with the if it' s brown it' s down theory. (As long as it is legal.) Whatever I choose, I knock noone for what they want to do as long as it is legal.

GOOD HUNTNG EVERYONE!

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

In PA you shoot the first buck you see, or you don' t get a buck that year. Most people don' t like shooting does. Now with Alt' s new plans, you can' t shoot a deer that doesn' t have at least 3 points on a side. So we are shooting a lot more doe, and the population is being affected greatly.

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RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Just to clarify a few things, I hunt in west central MN where the deer are abundant and one may see 30-40 deer in a 2 day weekend. Of the say 40 deer 35 would be does and fawns and 5 would be bucks, maybe only one mature buck, usually no mature bucks. If you are after meat in my area, shooting a buck doesn' t cut it in my opinion, you can shoot 4 does legally. In fact, my family tries to shoot doe fawns, we have gotten two of them this year and they taste great.
We also allow kids who have never shot bucks to shoot a buck or whatever they see.
I understand those of you in tough hunting zones shooting whatever you see, but if you see many deer, why would one shoot a little buck?
Lastly, I realize anyone who has a liscense has the right to shoot whatever they want, this is America. But it is also my right to disagree with those Americans.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

I guess I would like my two cents into this thread...

Like someone said...it really depends on how you were raised and who you hunt with. There isn' t anyway I can get my dad to change his ways, because he is pure and simply a " meat hunter" and is " old school" . He likes to see deer in pure numbers. Not the quality of deer, but quantity. Not that there really is anything wrong it that, but... I used to shoot anything that walked by me until I really got into the sport and started reading tons of material on it. Now this isn' t meant to offend anyone and anyone has their own right to shoot what they want, but this is the reason why I don' t. It' s called QDM. The word itself to many people means one thing and only one thing.....big bucks and that' s all this guy cares about. Well in a way yes, but in many ways no. QDM is understanding the herd in your area, what the doe-buck ratio is, how many deer can the land afford to hold(vegetation speaking) and the over-all health of the herd. I have seen it work 1st hand on a piece of property I hunt. Over the past 3 years, we have probably taken out 15-20 doe and letting the little ones(spikes, forks, basket 6' s and 8' s..all 1 1/2 year old to 2 1/2) go. The hunting(in my eyes) has gotten to be awesome. Sure we see a little less doe, but the probability that your going to see a " good" buck is much, much better. Getting the doe-buck ratio closer to 1-1 or 2-1 makes for a more intense rut, bigger bucks, the deer you see will stay on the land longer because the vegetation will be able support them and the more mature bucks will be doing the majority of the breeding. Which will result in a healthier, stronger herd.

I have heard..." Well if I let that little one walk, someone down the road will shoot it. Why should I let him walk?" To me, that sounds like we/me have a little educating to do with our fellow hunters.

I guess that' s how I look at it, but I also believe that a youth hunter that is new to the woods, older gentlman/women or people that need to shoot whatever because their family needs it....is a totally different story. I am lucky enough I guess to not need vension although I love it, to have to be able to shoot anything. Sorry about the long post. Good luck to everyone this hunting season.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Stump_MN_Hunter
I am very interested in starting a QDM like you talked about. Do you have any ideas? I thought about getting all the neighbors together and talking about why deer need to be managed and aboiut how successful management can make it easier to get mature bucks. Educating the neighbors and making some sort of a club is our idea. I have heard of some clubs even offering prizes for the biggest doe shot. What has worked for you?

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

I am new to this forum but I am sure glad I found it, there is a lot of good info and good people here.

My father-in-law took me hunting for my first time 4 years ago and all I wanted was a " big-ole-buck" . I shot the 1st one that walked out which happened to be a 9 point (5 and 4) looked big from where I was but once I got it to camp I was told that it was only about 1.5 years old and it was pretty small. I don' t have a problem with that, I had a great time and enjoyed the venison.

Now when I go I either want a very impressive buck or I will take a doe, but I will not take a small buck.

This is better for the population where I hunt. Last year I watched 9 doe and 2 small bucks for several hours and I finally shot a large doe. Who knows, maybe this weekend I will get that " big-ole-buck" , but either way I will have fun and come home with venison and a greater respect for the outdoors.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Quality Deer Management..QDM isn' t really a new thing. Years ago, I subscribed to Deer and Deer Hunter magazine and that' s pretty much where I got all my info on the topic, plus a few others. The only thing that I have done, is gone to my neighbors, sat down and discussed how we want deer hunting to be. Kind of knowing my neighbors and knowing what they would say was a bit easier in approaching them about it. Cause I knew what they would say.....heck ya. I would suggest doing the same in your area. Try to do some research as get some reading material for them if they have never heard of the concept of QDM before. The more acres of land being hunted under these restrictions the better off you are. Set goals for everyone on what you want to shoot and what not to. But be realistic. A buddy of mine hunts in Iowa and they don' t shoot anything unless it' s a 10 and well outside the ears...probably a 140 class or better buck. We couldn' t do that....yet. ha, ha I like the hunting club approach. Make up some t-shirts or blaze camo hats and it might be a fun little thing to do. Have big doe, most doe for a season or big buck contests. Really doesn' t have to have $$ involved, but maybe make up some goofy looking trophy or something. Hope that gives you some ideas.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Thanks for the tips. We have about 6,000 acres (highway to highway and from town to a river being our proposed borders) 1500 of which we control (mostly cropland though, not much woods) Would like to make it into a party sort of atmosphere and have everyone register there deer at one site for record keeping. I know all the neighbors and some will go for it and some will be tough to convince.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

That sounds like a very, very nice chunk of land to manage. We are doing it to about 400 acres. LOL I bow hunt more than I do anything else. If you need some help with deer irradication....let me know. LOL

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Hey, read Otis' reply. That' s how hunting in PA is gonna be in a few years.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Mississippi' s game commission has gotten into QDM for everyone. They have changed their rules. Buttons and spikes are no longer legal. A legal buck is one with 4 or more points. Granted, the points need only long enough to hold a ring, but this may give the buttons and spikes a chance. One compensation, you can take 3 anterless deer and an additional 2 by bow. Not too bad of a deal. And MS has a fairly large herd.

Russ

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

I can speak for myself, but i shot a young 2.5year old 7 point last year becasue it was the only deer i saw all week and it was the last day of season. And yes this year again i will shoot the first deer i see doe or buck doesnt matter because i can only hunt for 2 days of the season. As with a bow i will also shoot anything that comes with 30 yards, i quess in my mind if it makes the hunter happy to kill a deer(of any kind) then it is a trophy in my mind( expecially with a bow). But then again i am only 15 and maybe it will come with age to have the need to kill a monster buck but right now im perfectly happy with taking does, young bucks, or a mature buck,(any deer) but then again like i said it might be because that is how i was brought up the " if you see a legal deer shoot it" mantality. or maybe it is because i am young and do oot desire to kill a huge deer.

Happy hunting!

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

If you want a big' un you gotta let the little ones walk , they don' t get bigger on the wall or in the freezer . I gave up fishing the Smallmouths where I live because the local yokels overfish them so badly that you' re hard pressed to find one even close to legal size . Some folks just don' t get it . [:' (]

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

i think its because they dont care....they are after a deer and if they see one they shoot it and thats that.....and yes they do brag about a small buck.....i got a 4pt you only got a doe........i get that once in a while......meanwhile my doe outweighs their 4pt by a ton.....i shot a small buck once....my first and only to date......and its not a SMALL buck compared to most that people shoot here......spikes and 4pters used to get whacked like you wouldnt believe.....my 6pt basket rack was a decint buck believe it or not....a basket rack used to be considerd a big deer by alot of people.....those who dont know any better.....but ive seen what we have out there.....and now we have antler restrictions......so theres alot less except the kids in school....the ars dont apply to me yet because im a junior but im applying them to myself.....1 small buck was enough.....im addicted to antlers now....took 4 years to get that first set of antlers on the wall......but now thats all i want is more antlers.....bigger antlers......im not going to think of taking a doe until my buck is tagged.....or until late muzzleloader season i might take one if we have no venision for the freezer....but dad should take a doe or 2 in rifle season so we will be good i bet......but im only 16.....and im done shooting SMALL bucks.....i mean my limits now arent huge but i have them.......and i choose to put them inplace....not the law.....

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

i think shootin lil bucks is fine. i try. we on our mproperty here in WI have way too many does and we have always shot liler bucks and we always see at least 8 or9 really good bucks a year. we dont practice QDM (i dont believe in that B.S. 17 in my god what r u hunting moose?) i hunt to enjoy the spirit of the wild to get protien not only for my belly but for my soul! if the only way u can " get high on nature" is shootin a big ole buck once or twice every 5,6,7,8,9 years so be it. i would rather fill my tags and help the herd. those genes get passed on. i argue this all the time. but as hunters we cant let arguments turn us against ourselves when there are ppl suchas PETA out there. so i leave u with this
every1 has a right to there own opinion, just too bad urs is wrong:D

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

That rules Beagle!! Well said! :D

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

i think 99% all depends on where you hunt.

when i hunt my farm out west i won' t shoot anything with less than 20 inch antler spread, period.

when hunting here on the east coast those kind of deer are basicly unheard of unless you hunt private land. i hunt with a club that prohibits anything less than 6 points (this is only the second year the rule has been in effect and the first time everyone has seen deer on opening weekend)

however i also hunt on public land and will shoot anything ...the reason being that for the 1 or 2 deer i see a year if i don' t shoot them someone else will, so might as well be me.

the arguement for not shooting to let them grow is only valid if others hunting the same land also follow the rule.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

I hope I' m using this quote stuff correctly.

Beagle....
In that statement....to me your a meat hunter...which for one I' m not bashing and everyone can hunt the way they want to, but I have never once ran into a meat hunter that didn' t argue the concept of QDM to their grave. That' s why you think it' s BS.

QDM has nothing to do with " Being high on nature" shooting a big buck every 5,6,7,8,9 years. It' s way more than that. Hunting(unless needing meat for your family to survive) should never be out the kill. Although very exciting and gratifying. It should be about the hunt. The experience out in nature and the experience in your hunting camp. Tradition and the great stories that come about from year to year.

Your kidding yourself if you think that by shooting little bucks....it helps the herd. Have you taken the time to read ANY articles on QDM? I really doubt it. About the genes getting passed on....sure they do, but just think of what it would be like if you let a couple little ones go and the older, more mature bucks did the majority of the breeding and the herd was healthier when talking about age structure. Fill your tags with doe or doe fawns if you want meat. We all know they are fairly easy to shoot anyway. Take some satisfaction in shooting a wary old doe and shooting a spike or fork. Probably a harder hunt.

Beagle please don' t take offense to the things that I' ve said. Just throwing out my two cents on what I not only believe, but from the studies and statistics that I' ve read. I' m not here to bash anyone in the way they hunt. Hunter numbers are dwindling every year and I think that' s sad. Fellas, get your kids out hunting...boy or girl. We need more of us!!

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

if it is a legal deer I will take it,be it a doe or a buck.each person has to do what he or she thinks is right.
In my area of Fla. there are no " BIG" trophy bucks as some of you call them.we just do not have the gene pool to make them,and never will.to me a trophy is in the eye of the person that takes that deer.

if you live in an area that holds good genes and the chance to make big trophy animals then go for it.just don' t bash a person that doesn' t believe what you do.that is what this country is all about,each person has the right to believe his or her own way.
JMHO;):D

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Well, I' m 14, and this is my second year bowhunting. I' ve shot one doe with a rifle, but that' s my only deer. Lately, I' ve been trying to get a little local forkhorn. I know there are bigger bucks around, but I' ve only seen them a couple times. Personally, I would consider this buck a great trophy. I' ve spent alot of time in the stand trying to get him. Sure, he doesn' t have a lot of head gear; but, no matter what, he' s one warry buck. I' ve passed up a smaller spike, but there' s no way I would pass up this buck. I know that he would be a bigger buck next year, but only if he survived rifle season (which is very unlikely). My goal for this year is to shoot this buck. If I happen to get lucky and find a bigger one, great. I' m sure some of you older hunters pass up bigger bucks than this all the time. But, when you' re a newbie, it' s hard to do.

-Spike Buck;)

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

States have bag limits for a reason. They employ deer biologists to study the deer population and the quality of the deer herd. Some states have restrictions on the size of the deer you hunt. In Arkansas, I believe it' s a 6 point or higher (3 points on one side), in Tennessee the antlers must be 3 inches or longer, in Virginia the antlers only have to be above the hairline.

In Virginia (West of the Blue Ridge) I' m only allowed 3 deer a year. In Tennessee in the particular county I hunt I' m allowed 18 deer a year - yes I said 18, and that' s not with any kind of bonus deer permits (I only take 2 deer a year, FYI)

These biologists make these different requirements based on the deer population in their area. They are managing the deer populations based on their own independent government-funded studies. If the deer are so unhealthy, or in need of better management then I' d think they would be a lot more strict with what size buck you can kill.

I tend to be wary of what I read in magazines because they are really only out to make money, and appealing to the big-buck hunters is probably where the money is at. Not that I trust the government any more than I can throw them. Some states want bigger trophy bucks only to attract more non-resident hunters, so there is some financial incentive for setting restrictions on antler size.

In all the years I' ve been hunting I' ve never seen an unhealthy deer. Deer are smaller in some areas than in others, but I' ve never seen a half-starved deer or a mal-nourished deer. To say that only killing big bucks will make the population healthy is stretching it a bit, IMO.

To bash anyone for the size of deer they kill is unacceptable IMO. If you want to shoot a trophy just so you can go show all your friends, or just to hang on your wall is your own business. If you hunt for the first thing that comes along because you find entertainment in that, then more power to you - that' s what makes this country great. If you hunt to put meat on the table, then I can empathize with you as that' s what I do. Some people hunt all year long and don' t kill anything but still get the thrill of hunting from sitting in their stand and watching the dark, quiet forest come to life as the sun comes up. I personally am a combination of these things.

I like to watch as the woods around me comes alive, and the squirrels get to playing, the deer get to moving, the birds get to chirping, but I also want to feed my family. I let fawns go by, but I usually shoot anything else if it presents itself. If it' s a 1 year old buck I' ll let it go probably. It' s really my decision to make, as long as I keep to the regulations that the Game Commission sets for me.

Just my opinion, take it for what it' s worth.

Thunder

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Exactly....

Kindest Regards,

-Will in Maryland

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

By shooting a little buck, and not a doe you are ensuring a future season. A buck is easily replaced, as a doe is not, and can have one or more fawns for next year. I never shoot does, and only shoot a small buck if its the last day of the season.
And as for " trophy only" hunting; its a matter of personal preferance. I myself consider myself a trophy hunter, but will take meat for on the table.
I have heard the " you can' t eat the antlers" phrase quite a bit, but the bigger the antlers --- the more meat there is under them

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

It' s nice to see large bucks in the woods. But my opinion is... You can' t eat the antlers. You can chew on them a bit, but they' re mighty tough to swallow.

I hunt for the big-uns but come the close of the archery season, I need to put some meat in the freezer and anything that' s legal by PA law is fair game. If a legal buck makes it through gun season in some parts of the state, it' s a miracle. Just my 2 cents. When harvesting any animal loses it' s glory/excitement then it' s time to hang up the bow/gun and find a new hobby/sport. It' s a blessing to put meat in the freezer.

Those who hunt for only ' monster bucks' are fine with me, and maybe i will evolve to that and consistantly shoot 120 + class deer every season. But until I' m that good I will continue to hone my outdoorsman skills.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck out there.
-BJ

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

well in years past i was a still hunter so i took just about whatever i could sneak in on..... most were does but i did drop a spike one year .... and that was the only deer i bagged that season so he didn' t go to waste and he was quite tasty. I don' t consider myself a trophy hunter just a hunter who enjoys eating his kills whether it be duck,goose,dove,quail or deer.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

My goal as a hunter is to put food in the freezer. Usually that means a doe first. In the past I' ve taken my share of smaller bucks with a 4pt being the smallest. With todays laws we' re now limited on antler sizes. Depending on the location it' s got to be 3 or 4 points to a side.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

Okay, here' s my two cents. I' ve been hunting since I was about 12. I could hunt well, and I learned from experts, but I will say that the first buck I shot was with a muzzleloader when I was 19 years old- a 115 lb. 7 point. It wasn' t a huge buck, but it was my buck.
Yesterday, I took another deer much like it with a muzzleloader, my second buck at age 21. I never see bucks, and I am dang proud of the buck I got yesterday. It' s nobody' s business whether I let him go or not. The bucks we get on our 40 acres are usually passing by, and you take ' em or you don' t get a buck. I had a buck tag, and wasn' t about to spend another $20 on a doe tag, so I took the first buck I saw. I' m also gonna take another buck like this with my bow or rifle if I get the chance, too. I' m going to eat it, and I' m going to enjoy it, and I' m not going to give it another thought. I' m also not going to assume I did it because I' m uneducated. I did it because I wanted a buck, and I got one.
It' s not an uneducated thing to do. I don' t hunt for my ego. I hunt because I love to, believe it or not, hunt game. My buck I shot yesterday is a trophy to me, and I am glad I took him!

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

It seems I have a different perspective on hunting than most. If a deer of any gender or size is in line of my sights, it is doomed and destined to be dead meat. Not just by me, but by another hunter or predator. The truly impressive animals will not make the mistakes the younger or inexperienced will make. The ' survivors' will carry on their genes. Also, if the younger of the bunch is killed, the older, more stable will better survive the winter. A doe with 1 fawn will raise a healthier deer than if she had 2 or even 3. I hunt for food. In fact, to shoot a deer simply because of a rack seems to be getting away from our right to harvest. I don' t believe in bragging rights. A large buck is definitely difficult to find and shoot. I prefer to watch them instead. Let him breed his incredible genes. Just my personal 37 cents.

RE: Why do people shoot little bucks?????
 

I think people get the wrong impression of people who do not shoot little bucks. You call us " trophy hunters" or horn hunters. That is not the case. I shoot does with my bow and usually get one with my rifle. I have gone a year or two without taking any thing though. I often pass up deer from the bow stand and just enjoy watching and learning from them.

I do not hunt for big bucks. I hunt because I love nature and being outdoors and the serenity of a deer stand. I do not need to shoot a thing to be successful.

With all this being said, I still have the choice on what to shoot. I will shoot does, fawns, and mature bucks. I still pose the question: " If you had the choices I have, why would anyone choose to shoot a little buck? To these meat hunters and the guys " who need something for the freezer" I think you are full of crap. Find a doe for the freezer, or shoot a couple of fawns, they taste the best anyways. If the only presentable shot you have is a little buck, go ahead and take it, its your liscence to do with what you want. If you need meat that bad though, I' ll shoot a couple for you.