I have had a big 8 come in two days in a row. He is about 21" wide inside and at least 5 1/2 years old. His main beam is broke just past his G2. Would you shoot him and if you did would you get the rack fixed if you knew what he looked like before he was broke?
I might shoot him, it would depend on what state I was hunting and what else was around. In Illinois I probably would not shoot him but back home in New York absolutely. I don't think I would ever get a deer repaired by the taxidermist unless it broke something off in between when I shot it and when I recovered it that's just my opinion though.
I would pass. He made it this far so he will most likely be around next year. Would not get a rack fixed either that was going on the wall. The way I shoot them is the way they go up.
Depends I would like to see a picture. Sounds bigger and older then the one I was having the same question over, and I decide to take mine.
Oh and I decided to get repaired, but I have him leaving a black ring around the broken parts to show how it was when I shot.
I responded on FB. I'd shoot and mount as is. Maybe with a picture of him intact below. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I wouldn't without history. If it was a buck I had followed and finally caught up to he wouldn't have walked on the first encounter. With you hunting out of state and the original thread, what did you decide for a goal? If it was age or scoring class then you should consider it, if it was a combination of both or strictly score spread not so much. I wouldn't repair it unless it broke on his death run and the original rack was found.
If I chose to shoot him I would only mount him the way he was when I pulled the trigger. I passed up a buck several years ago that I was after because he had broken his main beam. Had tag soup that year and I was glad I did.
My recommendation...........remove the temptation of shooting him by going and hunting Pat's stand so you can show him what he missed out on if he held out longer!! LOL!
5 1/2 is a pretty solid trophy in itself. If I had good photos of the buck prior to the break, I would seriously consider having it repaired. Breaking off part of the main beam did not make him any easier to kill. Tough decision, but you have to do what your gut tells you. Maybe his big brother will follow him out next time and the decision will be simple. Good luck!
