Hunting Bucks Only???

[woodchucker]

I was just wondering how many here on TradGang only shoot Bucks?????

I started my hunting career in western NY on my Grandpa's and Uncle's farms in Madison Co. There was no doe shooting on the north side of US Rt.20.(unless you were bowhunting) The first 2 deer I killed were does with an old Bear Alaskan recurve. Then a spike with the gun,then more bucks and does followed with both bow and gun.....

Over the years I have killed a bunch of does,but as time went on,I let more and more does walk by. I like horns on the wall. I'm not a trophy hunter by any means,a spike is as good as a monster. I only had one deer head mounted,that was a big 8 point that I shot in 1985. It was the first,and it will be the last.

Over the last 10 years I have let many does pass only to end up with "tag soup" at the end of the season. No mind though,I LOVE deer meat but I have VERY limited freezer space. Now I know all about "deer managment" and "herd quality" etc. But I just don't like shooting does. It's a personal thing,I have no problems with anyone shooting does. It's just that I prefer not to.

Anyone out there "just like me"?????  

[VTer]

Only during the rifle season when that's all they allow me to shoot with my bow. Still have only shot one though.

[BRONZ]

I don't think there's anything wrong with your preference.  Myself, I look for one anterless and one antlered deer a year.

[Chris O]

Ive only shot bucks so far but thats partially because I haven't had a good shot opportunity on a doe that wasn't a fawn or with fawns yet.

[flatlander37]

Everyone has their preferences.  As far as herd management, you have to keep the does down to keep a decent buck/doe ratio.  We are really starting to notice the benefits of this, and a 4 point on one side antler restriction on the family farm.  There are more bucks, and rattling/grunting bucks in is working for me for thr first time this year.  Also some of the best eating!!  Just my 2 cents.

[jcar315]

No, not in the least.

[longbow fanatic 1]

I happily shoot either, but I respect your decision not to.

[Warden609]

My family eats alot of deer meat. I always shoot does because they are trouble makers. I have killed two does and a buck this year and I am still chasing slick heads. I hunt counties where there is no limit on does as long as you have the tags.

[varmint101]

I am the exact opposite.  I rarely let a doe walk unless a fawn, but bucks I think I let walk too much LOL!

[Catskill Longbow]

Chuck,
I hunt for the meat.  I love to shoot bucks beacause it was the way I was raised.  That being said, I don't see alot of deer here now that all the farms are gone, so with a bow I will shoot either.  If I am not seeing many deer on our property I will not fill my doe tag if I have one.  I have done this many times.  I usually get a super sportsman license, so I treat my muzzleloader tag like a doe tag, and again end up leaving it unfilled.  I really wish the DEC would adopt the 3 point rule  for Delaware county, but they voted it down.  It does us no good to use that mentality on our 50 acres because the spike and forks will be gunned down as soon as they walk off our land, therefore we shoot them before someone else does.

20 years ago we never thought of shooting a doe on our property, but after 5 straight years of being skunked I ended up taking one. (2007 rifle season)  I was having venison withdrawl!

[Gun]

I haven't shot a doe in years mostly because there aren't enough deer here in my opinion. Have 6 tags of which I can shoot 2 Bucks. Have a Moose in the freezer so being picky. Have a month to do it with the best to come.

[jhg]

I've been buck only for years and eventually became buck only over 200lbs dressed.

 But take into consideration that where I hunt whitetails are: 1)very big bodied and 2) I have access to a lot of private land and/or land that gets very little pressure.

 So adding those extra conditons to the hunt have less of an impact than if I hunted in an area that saw lots of pressure. Its very unusual to even see another hunter all season, but it is still quite a challenge to fill my tag. Older whitetails are, if anything, careful...


Joshua

[joevan125]

Down here in Alabama in the county i hunt in we can legally kill over 100 deer a year. I shoot every doe i get a chance at and i have 3 walls full of mounts of some pretty dang good deer. Our herd is just to big down here and the does need thinning out. Plus i just took up trad and im having a ball chasing those slick headed suckers.

[ron w]

I guess if I saw more deer I mite get picky,but the numbers of deer I get to see will make me take the first deer that offers its self to me. I like eating venison and have'nt had any in a long, long time. Buck or doe, with a bow, down it goes. Most trips afield I'm am just as happy to see a deer.....I'm not happy very often...lol!!!

[joevan125]

Let me also add that i hunt 3,000 private acrs so im given lots of chances on deer. If i hunted a place where the deer herd wasnt that good i might try for a buck only.

[Shawn Leonard]

I try and shoot all the doe fawns I can! I really don't like shooting older does as I feel ya kill 3 deer by doing that, The one ya shot and the 2 fawns she would of had. In areas where there are to many deer shoot those older does. I used to be able to see 15-20 deer in my bow only area and now on agood day I will see 6-8 deer. I the last 5 days I have seen 18 deer and only 6 were does. It is up to the hunter but if ya want a good rut you should try and thin the does Shawn

[woodchucker]

Shawn, I agree with you about shooting the fawns,from what I've seen most don't make it through the winter anyway. But,thinning the does for a good rut??? Yeah I know,buck-doe ratio etc. but how do you know which does to shoot??? If you shoot a doe that's already come into heat and been bred,then she is done and no longer an attaction,but what if you shoot one that hasen't come into heat yet??? Now you have taken "Buck Bait" out of the herd.

I tend to think that if you leave the does alone,the bucks will just keep coming back as more of the does come into heat.

(JMHO but heck,what do I know)LOL

[Guru]

A good rut is all about availability of does and competition to breed them...

I've hunted places (not in NY!)where the ratio was very good and it's like a different world!

[woodchucker]

Hmmmmm.....   :confused:  

Years ago I had a piece of propery to hunt exclusively. There was no doe shooting allowed by the owner. The place was LOADED with does AND bucks!!!!! Nobody on any of the surrounding properties were seeing ANY deer,but we killed 9 bucks off that land in a week.

(just looking for feedback and info,I know what are considered "good managment" practices.But experiance has kinda taught me otherwise)

[lpcjon2]

In New Jersey you can only get three bucks the whole year except during permit season then they cost you $32.00 a zone and it's one per zone so you have to travel from zone to zone that is a lot of car time.