Holding out is HARD!

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

Holding out is hard....but it gets easier! I'd say if a hunter has minimal bowhunting experience that holding out is not the thing to do...shoot, shoot, shoot....until you have some successful hunts under your belt. After killing mature deer and passing on nice bucks that are young it certainly gets easier.

As far as the seasoned hunter, I feel it's a personal decision. I'd never stop a fellow hunter from shooting a deer (even on my land) that they really want to. My father for example is 66 years old and bowhunting hard. For as long as I can remember he would "hold out"...but in the last couple years has begun to be happy to just shoot deer. I love his decision!

I passed on a nice 4x4 the other day (not big but 130ish) on public land that my father, me, and some other locals hunt. I understand that there's a better chance than not he'll get shot before the time he reaches his full potential, but will be happy for whoever decides to put his tag on him.

I guess what I'm saying is that it is a personal decision and one's ideas of letting deer age should be shared but not forced on others. As far as managing personal farms etc.....just don't invite hunters who are not at the "letting them grow" stage.

I know, I know....easy to say for a guy living in Canada!!!

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

I purchased my dream farm 3 years ago. I have gotten the the adjacent neighbor to join me in managing for trophy bucks. in just three years we have begun to see some real whoppers. He says this year is the best year hunting he has ever had. He is passing up bucks he would have shot in a heart beat previously , because he has had several close encounter with real whoppers. i had a giant 8 point at 40 yards 2 days ago and couldn't get him closer. Its hard but i think its worth it. To see a deer at his full potential is really something. Especially when they are 100 % free roaming wild deer. Hang in there and enjoy the journey.

ps i live in the best buck county in the state

[centaur]

Other than a doe, it might well be 'tag soup' for me on bucks this year. I know you guys are right in that giving the little guys time to grow into big guys is the way to go. You don't shoot the big ones by shooting the little ones. I hope to post some pics of a whopper or two in a couple of years.
And, turkeys taste good, and there are a couple of them in my freezer!

[Magnum in Ms]

Don't just go by horn size though. A 4 1/2 year old with a scrub rack is not going to make a big trophy buck and he is just eating food that a buck with more potential could be using. Just shoot mature bucks regardless of horn size,and some of the younger bucks that you know will not develop into a good trophy.

[Mr.Magoo]

I'm a public land guy and I haven't even seen anything bigger than a small 8 in the several years I've been hunting our game lands.

I'd say anyone who pulls a big buck off our public land was the first guy to get a shot.

[Friend]

Much enjoyment, increased knowledge of buck movement and better patterning can be had by letting bucks walk. Usually, I have averaged letting 15 bucks walk per season and average taking a shot every three seasons. The preparation and getting close are my favorite parts of the hunt with figuring out blood trails being next. Perhaps if I was a better hunter, then I would be able to loose more arrows at the biggins.

Note: My urgency to loose an arrow on turkeys is quite the opposite. Just step into my effective range.

Much pleasure and satisfaction can be had by developing patience and being totally engrossed in the hunting experience. Just try to keep in mind that it is your hunt and you set the criteria for personal enjoyment.

[cacciatore]

Be smart Centaur.You can always hunt somewhere else in the meanwhile.