Shoot or let go?

Dead deer can't grow but I've got three other people hunting this 700 acre property with me right now and I know these deer can't be very old. Any thoughts on taking the chance of letting them go another year or should I pop one?

 

700 acres is quite a chunk. Are you saying the other 2 guys will shoot these? I personally wouldnt base my descision on what someone else would or wouldnt do. Just do what makes you happy. Just because you let them walk doesnt mean theyre automatically dead.

 

It's your decision. Personally, I'd let them both walk.

 

I say shoot what makes you happy. On that note, if either one of them walks by me, Im shooting..

 

How tall are those tines in the first photo. I go with what BigDaddy said if I saw that first one drop him

 

I forgot to add the grandparents of my wife are the ones that own the land they let people from Maine come down to do a big drive every year also. I think I'll def let the eight point walk but if that big six comes out I'll probably shoot him. If I could get everybody on board I'd like to start a management plan up there to start getting all the deer up around 2 1/2 to 3 years old that would be awesome if everybody would agree to do that we could get some big deer up there

 

I'm not sure how tall they are but they are huge in the pictures I have not much mass but they're very tall

 

Thanks for the replies I appreciate it I've been watching Bo hunt or die all those big deer on there are making me kind of feel weird about shooting something smaller. Haha

 

What state are you in? I would walk them where I hunt, and I only have 120 acres. You cant control what others do. You can request and try to work out an agreement, but at then end of the day you can only control your doings. If you pass them, it gives them a fighting chance to live. Kill and theres 100% chance they wont lol

 

Do not base you goals or expectations on any hunting show or video that "pro" hunters produce. It is like watching a porn to prepare for a first date. Plus real life hunts don't have edits.

 

I live in va but the land I'm hunting is in West Virginia. Very true. I understand what your saying.

 

. Haha... Right on... Well I'm gonna keep hunting that spot and maybe I'll get lucky and a old mature buck with visit. I think some of these other guys are right I should let them go. I DONT have to kill them. Maybe I'll just get a doe and see what next season brings.

 

If you want to shoot a mature deer or a big buck, shooting a smaller one and filling your tag won't get you the opportunity to achieve your goal. The reason I dislike performance hunting is that many watch and think I want that and are disappointed in what the real world offers, looking at smaller racked deer as lesser deer and looking at hunters that take them as lesser hunters does more damage to the sport than all the anti hunters could dream of.

 

If you are able, do some land improvements. Things like hinge cutting and even just a small foodplot or 2 will go a long way. Set realistic goals. Don't need to shoot 140" 4+ year old deer. Personally a shooter is a 3 year old or bigger where I hunt. I also try and hold to a 110" min. Probably a realistic goal in WV as well, especially with that kind of land to work with. If you have the ability to get some good foodplots and other land improvements complete, it can only get better.

 

Hard to tell for sure but that 6 point might be 3.5. Do you have other pictures of him? Also always remember, no matter what we say, whats most important is what makes you happy. My suggestions are only based on what I would do, that does not mean its what would be best for you. But with 700 acres mostly to yourself, you can have something special there with a little work.

 

I hunt on a small parcel of permission granted private property, 50 wooded acres, that only I hunt on. In the surrounding areas are all gun hunters and shoot just about anything. The way I look at it, I hunt for the meat first, trophy second. I have no problem dropping a small buck because I know its going to provide for my family. Took this guy last weekend and it insured me to have a good amount of meat in the freezer this year. No shame here.

 

where I am, the 2nd pic 8 pt is a 3.5 yo and should walk definitely.

That 6 looks like it has massive bases. I'd have to take a 2nd look at him before passing.

 

More pics for cmonsta. ( before anyone says anything no I'm not hunting that spot where that big pile of corn is haha) just for game cam I'm about 300 yards away and corn is gone) what are you talking about 110" rack score?

 

Private land in WV it is legal to have corn. Public land not. At least according to the way I read the regs and the way it is enforced were I hunt.

 

When I was younger the owner of the properties son's would envite half the population out for a deer drive several times during the weekend firearm season. We (stand hunters) still saw plenty of large bucks, and they (drivers) rarely shot anything other then young bucks among does, and there fawns. I wouldn't worry about those drivers. the Mature bucks are mature because they've learned to outwit the drivers and hunters (including yourself)

As far as the two bucks you've shown I wouldn't hesitate to shot the tall one. He's about as big as he will get by my guesses. Let your arrow fly buddy.