passing bucks
 

in mid november i passed a nine pointer that would have scored around 110". i passed him in hopes of shoting hime in another year. holding out for one bigger one than last year >125but in late january i would haveprobally have shot him.

do you guys shoot smaller bucks in Late december then you do early in the rut

p.s. Major bummer shotgun hunter shot him 2 weeks latter

RE: passing bucks
 

Sure do.... I would rather shoot a small buck than no buck. Also, I never limit my hunt to one particular deer....disappointed to many times.

RE: passing bucks
 

You will never shoot a huge buck if you kill a little buck first! You won't do yourself any favors by killing next years giant either! If you are killing a buck just to kill a buck, then you need to check yourself. Kill a big doe instead!

RE: passing bucks
 

Unless you are in an isolated area waiting for the right deer seems silly. I hunt in pressured areas so if it's brown it's down.

I agree with the above shoot big does. They taste much better!

Tom

RE: passing bucks
 

My goal for a certain size buck doesnt' change throughout the season. If I dont' get a chance at what I'm looking for I accept the fact that I'm eating bucktag soup.

All part of the game unfortunately. I'd rather watch 100 small bucks walk by me and pass on them then to shoot one "just to shoot a buck".

RE: passing bucks
 

I won't shoot a buck unless it's mature with a nice rack. I take a doe for eatin', and then wait for a biggun' the rest of the season. I enjoy watching the younger buck, and I hope they make it to maturity. I know how frustrating it is when they get harvested by someone else, but like as said earlier, that's part of the game. ;)

RE: passing bucks
 

I have maintaned a practice of only shooting bucks that have at least4pts on a side and a minage of 2.5 yrs old. Doesn't matter what time of year or location I hunt. No we do not have very large bucks in our area. I do thisin hopes to geta few bucks to make it to an older age class. We don't have agriculture in the main area I hunt, so we have established food plots, apple tree plantings,a good amount of doeharvestingand horn restrictions.

RE: passing bucks
 

I generally set a standard before season and stick to it. My general standard is nothing under 130" no matter what, here in Indiana we can only shoot one buck a year, so that's why I stick to it all the way through the season.

RE: passing bucks
 

I killed my first 4.5 year old buck this year so nowI think I will pass on small bucks and only take 2.5 year old or older ones. The does better look out.

RE: passing bucks
 

I will agree with THE LONE WOLF on this one all the way. Couldn't have said it better myself. Also I hope the good Doctor reads this as well.