Don't pick the fruit before its ripe.......

[md126]

Sean,  I've hunted Westchester almost exclusively for 30yrs. Definitely some big (or bigger) bucks around there. That being said, the hunting is nowhere near as good now as it was then due to building, coyotes, over hunting,etc.. In my opinion, it's still a mature buck for Westchester.

All i'm saying is If your holding out for a more mature or bigger buck than that's fine and I admire you for following through on that. Frankly if more people would do that than maybe the hunting would be like it was 15yrs ago. I also ate tag soup this year (still have CT Jan season to try and get one) and passed on quite a few bucks that others may have shot. Nothing wrong with that either.

[Sean B]

Md, Ive done 95% of my hunting the last 35 years here in Westchester myself. I was born and raised in northern Westchester and am actually living back down here after my divorce.  I've taken a few the size of the one in the pic. I'm kind of setting my bar a bit higher. If I'd seen that buck in Dutchess, Putnam, or Delaware Co, I'd definitely punch my "either/or" tag on him. But there is a definite slammer somewhere in and around my woodlot.

[md126]

Yup nothing wrong with setting your bar wherever you need it to be. I've raised (and lowered) my own bar several times over the years. Haha

I hope you get one of the Bucks that made those rubs. PM me sometime and we can compare notes on hunting suburbia.

[Bobaru]

Sean, I passed on 6 eight point bucks back in 2012...  Hahahaha ....  not the same thing.  I filled my buck tag early and had to watch all those fine deer walk past me...

Best of luck getting that biggen!

[Frank V]

When a person makes the decision to pass a deer don't look back. At the time it was the right choice, & at the end of the season it is still the right choice!  

[Jerry Russell]

I made the choice to take mature bucks only about 25 years ago and never once looked back.   I firmly believe that every man should set his own goals that bring joy and personal satisfaction.  For me it has always been about the supreme challenge that mature animals bring to the hunt.  Sure I have been successful over the years but I can honestly say that chasing a single buck for 2-4 years and even failing to take him brings me every bit of the satisfaction that I desire in hunting.  

Good luck with that big boy next year.

[Sean B]

Thanks Jerry. I've passed up a bunch of spikes, fours and 6's over the last five or six years. Last season I could only get out for TWO sits, I passed on a a 3 and a 4 pt and took a big doe instead. This was by far the bet set of antlers that I let walk. It was definitely tough at first but it sat better as time went. Again, this area is a bow only county and this woodlot has a lot of unhuntable sanctuaries around it. Another Unit that I hunt has had antler restrictions for the last three seasons. Do there's some really good potential. We'll see how long I can hold out!!  

[twitchstick]

I think its okay to set goals for yourself. I have been holding out the last few years again, not necessarily for counting inches but to out smart a truly mature mule deer. I was only able to hunt 4 days this year and didn't punch a tag. It still was one of my best and most satisfying years in a while. In those 4 days I passed up a good 20 bucks under 20 yards, Seen two of the giants multiple times I had been watching all summer. I got to half draw twice on one of them but smaller bucks always got in the way. Most years I don't get nearly this many chances if any at all. On the last day and the last hour I could hunt I had a nice 3 1/2 year old 22" wide 3x4 at 15 yards totally unaware I was there. I just watched him feed off and I'm okay with that.