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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Dustin Waters on September 08, 2009, 12:18:00 PM

Title: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Dustin Waters on September 08, 2009, 12:18:00 PM
Alright I video taped a whopper of a buck a month ago.  Neither of the three trail cams on the property have caught a hair of him.  

Now there is a new buck that is tempting me.  He would be the biggest buck of my hunting career but his face looks younger and younger everytime I look at him.

Video snip it of "Brows"  Biggun
 http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e349/trdtnlbwhntr/?action=view¤t=MOV006.flv

Stills of "Tines"
 (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e349/trdtnlbwhntr/MDGC0231.jpg)
 (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e349/trdtnlbwhntr/MDGC0232.jpg)

Would you shoot "tines" if given the shot?
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: fatman on September 08, 2009, 12:33:00 PM
"He would be the biggest buck of my hunting career..."

Hell, yeah, I'd drop the string, with no regrets. It is possible to Trophy Hunt yourself right out of a deer.  There are all kinds of "shoulda, woulda, coulda's" that pass through your mind, but any deer that's in line for the "biggest of my career (whatever that is at the time)" is a shooter in my book....

JMHO

Now go get him!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: BRONZ on September 08, 2009, 12:33:00 PM
I'd let one fly at that one for sure!     :thumbsup:
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: BTH on September 08, 2009, 12:51:00 PM
How many can you shoot in your area?

Man, Brows is a nice buck. But the other one is very good as well. I'd take a shot at either of them.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: frassettor on September 08, 2009, 01:02:00 PM
Only you can decide that one. I personally would shoot something 1/4 his size!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Dustin Waters on September 08, 2009, 01:09:00 PM
in indiana you are allowed a single buck all year long so you best make your single buck count.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: trapperDave on September 08, 2009, 01:23:00 PM
to shoot or not is a question only you can answer.

If you need the approval of others, youre hunting for the wrong reasons IMO
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Dustin Waters on September 08, 2009, 01:31:00 PM
i dont need approval.  I love to hunt to chase whitetails around.  I am not a biologist.  I wants whats best for the herd that inhabits my property.  There are those on this site that are far more involved in herd management than i am and i was looking for their input.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Mr.Magoo on September 08, 2009, 01:45:00 PM
Unless those deer stay on your property, either is probably going to get shot by the first guy to get them in his sights.

Nothing wrong with letting any animal pass, just don't get upset if someone else doesn't.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Hooked on September 08, 2009, 02:01:00 PM
Dustin,

I agree with those above.  If it would be the biggest you ever taken, then drop the string!  Then you can send me a pic for a plaque, LOL!

By the way, did you send your deposit yet?

Also, the decision you gotta make is a nice problem to have!  Just hope I have time to get in the woods this Fall.  Going on an elk hunt next week, but not sure how my deer hunting time will go.  Especially if I keep getting orders for the carvings!

Good hunting!  

Chip
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: TommyBoy on September 08, 2009, 02:03:00 PM
Dustin,
I think you need to invite me to hunt your property so that I can take care of that young one for you.  That way you won't be tempted and will wait for the really big one :-)  I won't even charge you - heh, heh. Take care and get out and hunt!
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: James Wrenn on September 08, 2009, 02:10:00 PM
Well the best I can tell from the picture his backstraps look well filled out.I would shoot him  before they start getting tough myself.  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: J. Cook on September 08, 2009, 02:35:00 PM
I'd say shoot him, take lots of pics, and be super excited with either of those fine bucks.  Keep in mind...that buck will look alot different with a winter hide and testorone pumping through him come October.  Only sure fire way to know age is to age the jaw bone...only way to get that is a dead deer.  Both bucks you've shone are beautiful deer....Good luck and can't wait to see pics when you get one of them!
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: varmint101 on September 08, 2009, 02:46:00 PM
lol, I looked at tines and thought "biggest buck of your career? huh?  What about the monster last year?"  Then saw the video clip.  My guess Dustin, is 'biggun' is over 4.  I'm really not sure on tines.  He does look young.  This year, I would probably take either one, but might think about tines.  

You know as well as I do as soon as you see the deer up close you know!!

You gonna put the chop on one again or use your custom?  Good luck!
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: SlowBowke on September 08, 2009, 03:01:00 PM
A hoosier here too. IF I had a large area they were in where no one else was hunting, I'd pass on Tines in October. Bigun is a BIGUN!

Oh sure, you might get skunked holding out but, I know Id be holding out for that big boy if I knew no one could hunt him in MY area.  Yes, he might venture out of it, but he isn't a yearling and made it this far.

With the does we can shoot here in IN for meat anytime in the season, Id be holding out till the rut for Bigun.  If no shot at Bigun by mid November?  IT'S WAR! lol

That said, both bucks are super bucks in their own right.  With the length of the nose on Tines, and the body structure in this time of the year. He is not as young as some might think. IMHO

Not a LOT of mass but an excellent buck. I know I'd be tickled to shoot his twin.

A tough call, but non-the-less I'm tickled you have the chance to hunt either of them.

The "right" decision is the one YOU want to go for. Our own would be right only for us.

A quick question. The still of Tines is THIS September? Date says 08.

Keep us updated!
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: ron w on September 08, 2009, 03:10:00 PM
First one that offers a shot.....but thats just me.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: SlowBowke on September 08, 2009, 03:18:00 PM
Just for the heck of it, Justin. You might wanna post a couple photos of bucks you've taken here in N. IN.

It doesn't appear that you are new to hunting other "big uns".

just IMHO.

BTW... NORTHERN IN here too but Ive got a gazzillllllion guys to contend with. Not gonna be that picky. lol

Wishing you luck. I'd like to see either one on your garage floor if I'm close enough.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: BTH on September 08, 2009, 03:23:00 PM
Now that you mention your reasons for choosing...I'd wait on the Tines and hunt the Brows.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: maineac on September 08, 2009, 03:24:00 PM
Do what feels right.  If it is your biggest, or first , or just can't hold back take whatever deer you want. I understand that you are trying to manage a herd on a specific property.  From what I understand unless that property is huge, once the rut starts to kick in any deer worth his salt is going to be expanding his range and cruising, especially if he is not the top buck.  That 3,5 year old wants to breed just as much as your bigun.  If the big buck is holding tight to your property the other bucks are likely to start cruising.  Even your big buck might expand his range beyond your property lines, so you can't guarantee that you will see any of your summer bucks once fall hits.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Divinecedar on September 08, 2009, 03:25:00 PM
This is a terrible predicament. I would be glad to help. If you will set me up where the pictures were taken I will shoot the young 'un and you can then focus on pursing the big boy without fretting over such trivialities as age.

    :pray:      :pray:      :pray:      :pray:  

But seriously, if you are seeing bucks of this quality in the area then trophy deer development is not a problem and you should have no qualms about taking such a grand animal---especially if you are doing so with traditional equipment.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Izzy on September 08, 2009, 07:48:00 PM
Ohhhhh boy, what a conundrum.I would wait for Brows but shoot Tines after a week when Brows goes nocturnal.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: kbetts on September 08, 2009, 07:53:00 PM
Any competition from others, or is this "home?"
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: George D. Stout on September 08, 2009, 08:15:00 PM
If you lived in Pa., you wouldn't be asking that question.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Dustin Waters on September 08, 2009, 08:26:00 PM
Not much competition during bow season.  Gun season is a whole different ball game.  When the Indiana Firearms season opens up it is every man woman and child for themselves.  The orange army is thick around the property.  The deer have a very large sanctuary but i hate to think of what happens if one of them were to get "caught" getting there.  Granted the "competition isnt that great around the farm.  One guy has erected a stand out of an old piece of scaffolding, that sounds like a haunted house door everytime he crawls up in it.  Another guy smokes an entire pack of cigarettes before he hunts, while he hunts, and while he walks out of the woods.  EVERYTIME.  The only guy that I know of in the area that does it "right" is the guy about a mile and half away from where these deer are being caught on film.  However that being said he hunts a thick transition area between food source and a sanctuary of about 150 acres.  I say its a sanctuary because nobody hunts and nobody has for at least the past 10 years.  Big deer know how to hide and Im sure big deer are hiding in there every gun season and they dont come out till after dark.  So pressure is light for the most part as long as they stay away from the property lines.  The land is roughly 350 acres with 175-200 being planted in corn.  Two years ago a field of 80 acres worth of corn stood till february which im guessing helped the heard out tremendously that gun season.  Hopefully that happens again if I dont connect or decide to pass.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: luv2bowhunt on September 08, 2009, 11:58:00 PM
You would not catch me passing on either of those bucks!! Brows sure is a bruiser, thats for sure!!!
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: limbcracker on September 09, 2009, 12:57:00 AM
Both of those deer have passed on there genes to future generations by now. And both have survived several hunting seasons, so they're likely to make themselves very scarce once they get any indication they are being hunted. If I were you I wouldn't have any qualms about taking either one from a herd management perspective, and both are fine trophies. I wonder if tines might even be the son of big'un? They both have kind of a peculiar face and similiar horn structure.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: SlowBowke on September 09, 2009, 09:08:00 AM
Sounds like a dream spot, or as close as IN has in this area, Dustin.

Whatever you decide, it will be the right one.

Should be a great year for you even if you don't get one knowing what is around.

Good Luck!
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: GMMAT on September 09, 2009, 09:13:00 AM
That buck is SUBSTANTIALLY bigger than anything I've ever seen (in 4 seasons and +/- 250sits on stand.

So I'm guessing that answers it, from my perspective.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: buckeye_hunter on September 09, 2009, 10:20:00 AM
I will shoot any deer that is legal and gives me a good opportunity. As a result....he would be burger if silly enough to give up a shot even I could make.

-Charlie
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: straitera on September 09, 2009, 11:45:00 AM
3 neighboring properties implemented an 8-point & cull rule where I hunted. Big progress quick although the properties weren't high fenced. Nice 10's & 12's were taken each year. Keep genetic advantages in the breeding population & cull raghorns & does. The more people to adhere the bigger your deer will get. I'd let the young one walk in favor of a doe or fork.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: leatherneck on September 09, 2009, 12:11:00 PM
I think you already answered that question. If your questioning shooting him, then NO I would wait. You see, I like to pursue big bucks. I ate my tag last year(among other years). But I don't question a buck when I see it. If I do, then it won't get shot(at). I hate to hear someone say" I'll wait until the end of the season and then shoot that one". If they are not worthy enough in Nov., then they aren't worthy enough in the late season. I'd just assume take a doe for meat. My opinion that is.

Mike
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Dustin Waters on September 09, 2009, 12:26:00 PM
I like your thinking leatherneck.  If he can make it to the end of the season there is a very high chance he makes it to next year.  I do know that more trail cameras are going out very soon and hopefully we can capture some more film on Brows.  But we all know that when the velvet comes off they become completely different animals.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: xtrema312 on September 09, 2009, 10:54:00 PM
I would shoot the one that showed first for a shot, but then it is combat hunting around me even in bow season some times and particularly this year with the x-bows out.  If I were you I would set up to hunt the big one.  If the not as big one shows up and gives you a shot you will answer your own question at that time.  I personally can think all I want about what I will and will not shoot every year, but I never really know until the animal is in range for a shot.
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: Forrest Creature 1 on September 09, 2009, 11:45:00 PM
You have to do what your heart tells you is the right thing to do. I hunt with Leatherneck and i have seen some of the deer that he has passed and thought he was crazy, to me it is a very nice deer and if you have a farm were the deer are not pressured you might that that one go. We are bessed to have a very nice farm in Ohio to hunt and get to see some very big deer and some deer that are large antlered deer but have the young looking bodies, so thats the question you will have to ask. Good luck hope you get the deer you want  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: To shoot or not thats the question
Post by: ThomastaylorIII on September 10, 2009, 12:30:00 AM
SHOOT HIM, ............

Pick a Spot

Whoomp... Run run run run Crash

Repeat if legal