PAhunterJEN

Today I was faced with a decision. About 15 minutes before the close of legal hunting hours I spied a buck coming thru the thick vines. I put my binoculars on him and at first I could only tell he had six points. Here in western PA we have 4 point per side antler restrictions. After a few minutes I could determine that the buck had another tiny point on each antler. Now without a tape rule there's no way I could tell if that point was a legal inch or longer. Finally the buck comes out into the open and I had clear view. I still could not tell! I thought to myself that surely if I could see it from where I was (10 yards away) then it would have to be an inch... I had a perfect broadside shot several times but I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger. Another thing that bothered me is that the buck had an injured left front shoulder/leg. So I pondered the 'shoot or not to shoot' dilemma for 10 more minutes until finally another deer busted me from down the hill behind me. This 6 or 8 point will live for another day....

T-bird

Sounds like you did the right thing --- and besides, if you let those little guys walk, they have a chance to get bigger. Good Job, Jen

kerr73

if they are hurt i would have killed the deer .

WV_Coalminer

My dad always told me "when in doubt, don't". Sounds like you made the right decision.

Steve

Pa Trophy Man

seeing that he was already injured, i probaly would have pulled the trigger.

jrbsr

To me to not shoot was a wise desision.

If the point was less than 1 inch you would have shot an ileagel deer.

So you did the right thing.

I hate the fact that it was hurt but the law is the law.

As law abiding hunters we must up hold what ever law we live under.

Thats what makes us hunters in the first place.

People that do it out side of the law are poachers.

Well thats my 2 cents

BowHuntingFool

I too think you made the right decision! Laws are their for a reason. Boy I'm sure your head was probably spinnin at that point, as well as your heart a racin'! ya gotta love it! Good luck!

JimboHunter1

Jen,
If I was in your shoes, I would have done the same thing. Time and time again, deer tend to shrink when you see them lying flat on the ground. Maybe he was legal, but maybe he wasn't. When in doubt, don't shoot. You did the right thing so you can feel good about that.

rybohunter

I think you made the right decision, deer get injured legs all the time and cope fine. I hope you get a BIG one now as your reward.

PAhunterJEN

Thanks for the encouragement guys! Yes, my heart was pounding and my head was spinning. I'v never gotten a buck yet so I was really thrilled at a possible chance.
What bothers me the most is the fact that we have to carry a ruler (or micrometer) while hunting!