Here I am doing it again

[Shawn Leonard]

We can take more than one buck in NY, so I usually shoot a 1.5-2.5 year old pretty early on in season than wait for a bigger one. 3.5 year old or older, problem is here in my part of the state the genetics are not great and a big 3.5 year old would be 120" deer. Most are between 100-110"s. I shot a good 2.5 year 6pt. this year and he was only 13"s wide and short tined. I would love to hunt some spots in the mid-west. Shawn

[thunder1]

Stopped doing that a couple of years ago. Went with my hunting partners line " if it's brown it's down." Well now I don't even see the one's I passed on anymore. LOL

[Stump_pounder]

for me its really about where Im hunting. If im hunting blacktail bucks Im shooting the first leagle buck I see. But I normally pass on forky mulies during the early season. But if I head back home to michigan I burn the first leagle deer I see cause Im hunting public ground that gets tons of pressure. If I had privet ground in Ohio, or Michigan In wait on a stud. Its really all about what is availbale to you and how much time you have. tag soup tastes bad in my house. Wife makes sure of it.

[TRADSTYK]

I am guilty, passing many young bucks waiting for mature ones. It does help in this part of ohio where we have really good deer. Sometimes you wonder ,but when that brute shows himself it is worth the wait.

[Autumnarcher]

I hunt for a brute every time I step in the woods. But I'm also realisitic. I hunt with a longbow, and have no problem taking a doe, or a small buck if the shot presents itself. Im not picky, I do sometimes pass up shots. But I like to eat deer meat. Plain and simple. IF I had passed the little one I did shoot this year, I'd be eating chicken. Made a good shot and watched it go down. Im fine with that. I grilled one hind quarter for Thanksgiving, them little ones may make ya look silly on the buck pole, but you're a genius in the kitchen .

We had 2 or 3 real good bucks cruising the property, I saw a heavy horned 8pt twice, but never could get a shot. My wife and son saw a huge 8 or 10pt the last night ofthe season, efore gun opener. Wife saw another tall narrow 10. Havent seen any of them since, but theyre still tearin up some cedar trees.

[flintznstyx]

If I hunted an area that consistantly held good bucks I would do the same.

[Bob Morrison]

I have not shot a buck in 5 years. Last one was 194 1/8". I'm not say the next one has to be larger, anything over 140 (141)I'll look at real hard if in range. I have for over the last 15 years, felt that if you shoot a 125, it will never be a 150 someday. I shoot does to eat and help control the deer in our area. I also know that a lot live in areas there are no or very few that make it to 125" and never will be until some 100 make it though a few seasons. Just think if restrictions there 125" in 2-4 years there would be several around and smarter bucks to get even bigger.

[jonsimoneau]

Me too.  I'm in my third buckless season right now.

[sheephunter]

I can only say I will shoot at the deer that feel and look right at that time. Could be big or small but the moment will tell. That's the one awesome thing about does is that there usually isn't any apprehension.

[tracker1]

Hunting Michigan you take what you can get.  When I'm hunting Kansas you got to hold out for a monster.

[tuscarawasbowman]

Guilty also. Truth be told when you find a set of sheds that would prolly go 160" or so 200 yards from your house it's hard not to hold out.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

I live amongst giants, so i have does in the freezer and I am still out there patiently waiting , and waiting and waiting........

[Gatekeeper]

Guilty. I have never shot a buck for the reason of letting them grow. There are some years where I don't shoot a deer at all because the only deer that come into my shooting lanes are young bucks.

[wv lungbuster]

I always pass on young bucks, I can always take a doe for meat. But in WV its rare to see the  4.5 to 5.5 year old bucks. Very few make it to 2.5 to 3.5 year olds.

[twitchstick]

Guilty! It happens sometimes even when I say I'm not going to be picky. This year I had to be picky because I didn't have a deer tag but next year I'll probably drop the string quick. I hunt a poor quality anybull elk unit instead of some of the better spike/cow units because I see just enough good bulls to string me along each year!

[Hill Hunter]

you guys are missing something very important, just because you shoot them does not mean they stop growing,,,, it's only when you mount them that they stop.  

[maineac]

I would if we had more opportunity.  Right now I am on a buck only season for the first time ever because I have venison in the freezer due to a couple of does (one with the longbow).  I have finally found an area in an expanded opportunity zone that has deer.  It really helps to have enough deer to be picky.