johnnyk
Well-Known Member
I couldn't get my safety off fast enough!
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To shoot or not to shoot????
- Thread starter motrapper
- Start date
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It's a great looking buck so I'd take him all day long. I'm over the whole scoring game. If I like the animal, he's getting shot and there's no waiting in hopes he'll survive another year. Especially, from what your describing. Chances are he more than likely won't make it another year if he's that visible to others.
I'd definitely leave a nice buck like that for someone else to shoot, saves you a bunch of work! And the other person I'm sure would be grateful too!
ColoradoElkHunter
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately your choice isn't even an option in most of Colorado. Private land or public you may have to wait years (2-to a whole lot more years) to even draw a rifle buck tag again. When I lived in Texas, and had a private, 10,000 acre hunting lease, we would have made this buck off limits. Hoping he would get bigger; as well as, pass on those genes!
Absolutely understand the 100yds off the road problem. I live surrounded by private property. No public hunting land in miles. Yet, every season starting with archery through the last rifle season (and beyond due to poachers) we see vehicles slowly creeping down the public roads which cut through the private property. It's getting worse every year. Some are photographers/hunters and that's cool. But, then there's the 11pm-2am gun shot echo which happens every hunting season.
basinman
Well-Known Member
Beautiful buck. That is a hard decision. We go through the same dilemma each year at the ranch in Texas. It is hard sometimes but we choose to shoot only trophy bucks that are 4 years and older. We know we stand the chance of not ever seeing the big 3 year old bucks again. But it does make it a little easier to pass on them if you already have good bucks on the wall. Good luck, which ever way you go.
Not very often you have a buck like that you know is only 31/2. I'd say leave that buck for a chance at an amazing buck in a year or two. Let him widen out and add some mass and he will go from a great buck to a once in lifetime buck.
Really depends on whether you are happy shooting a 150 inch deer. IMO, chances are slim you will get a crack at him next year.
Hard rock
Well-Known Member
I'm into letting bucks grow too their maturity but I can tell you some of my most fun and memorable times hunting with my hunting buddies was when you shot your buck on opening morning and couldn't wait too get back too camp too see what was hanging or was going too be hung on the meat pole the most memorable time was when the pole broke and 10 too 12 bucks where piled on top of each other those where the good old days and they were all trophies no matter how big now we all come back too camp look at our game cams age deer hope we will see him next year too find out a place next door sure shot a nice 10 point this morning
VTbluegrass
Well-Known Member
Unless specifically told not to by the landowner/ hunt club rules I would put the first arrow or bullet through him I could. I've seen two deer of that caliber my whole life, one in VA and one in NC, and never been in a position to do a dang thing about it.
Hunting mostly public land and a little private that's surrounded by dog hunters.
Would he make me happy, is it legal, and no other stipulations club/landowner rules or agreements are the only questions I would ask.
Hunting mostly public land and a little private that's surrounded by dog hunters.
Would he make me happy, is it legal, and no other stipulations club/landowner rules or agreements are the only questions I would ask.
squawberryman
Well-Known Member
Find his father.
motrapper
Well-Known Member
Thank heavens we do not have to ask as it's on our north 700 acres mostly pasture and hay ground with nice draws and shelter belts.
The problem is neighbors and road hunters.
One time one of our college friends dropped a nice 4x4 in the alfalfa next to the cotton woods on a frosty morning. Its was only 2 miles from the folks place so he tagged the deer and headed to the house to get some help loading. We get back down there and see a fresh set of truck tires going into the alfalfa field right up to where the deer was and GONE. LOL: the brazen A holes. obviously Citified out of towners.
So there in lies the Shoot or not to shoot. Other thing is our 1week rifle season coincides roughly with the Rut **** Bucks will go wherever a hot doe takes them. Stupid Guys!LOL
So someone driving by and 100yds out he is standing with doe's
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J-B welder
Well-Known Member
Since I don't have enough property to raise whitetails, I would shoot him.
motrapper
Well-Known Member
We have never had a 7x7 but only being a 3.5 year old he could put 30 to 50 inches on next year that's our quandary
