LittleChief brought up a good point in another thread where I used the term "average hunter," and he questioned me on it. The context of the discussion was what size deer would be considered a trophy to the average guy. I thought it was a pretty good point of discussion. Not getting into semantics, but now, just because I'm wondering, what's the smallest buck that you'd shoot in an average hunting scenario this fall? Not the smallest buck that you've ever shot. I want to know what is the smallest buck - in fall, 2011 - that you'd harvest. I don't want any b.s. about "what if it's injured and suffering a slow, miserable death?" or "what if the apocalypse has occurred and my family is dying of starvation?" or "what if I'm hunting with my atlatl?" or "what if it's the last day, and my feet are freezing?" or "what if I'm hunting with an outfitter with a 130" minimum?" No B.S. - Just click the option that corresponds to the smallest buck that you'd tag on an average day of bowhunting in one of your current hunting areas. No need to chest pound about QDM or bust anyone else's balls about what they shoot. Everybody here hunts different places, with different deer herds, and different expectations. Note: It's an anonymous poll, so you don't have to worry about anyone busting your chops for placing an honest vote. I'm just looking to see where the bell curve falls in a random poll. If you're not much of a deer scorer, here's a point of reference for you: This buck scores 110" on the nose.
Any deer, anytime, any place. The small ones taste better. The big ones look better. They are ALL trophies to me.
x2 As for bucks, I would gladly shoot a 3.5 year old spike...and not because I thought it had bad genetics. There is not option for me in the poll. While I wouldn't shoot any antlered buck, they don't have an inches requirement. Just age.
I've never shot a deer with my bow, so anything this season. In a few years I'll plan on taking a doe to get my earn-a-buck tag and the rest bucks.
The age card is a cop out. You should click the 1st one since there is no minimum size requirement, just clarify (any size as long as it was old enough)
I'll admit it completely. I'm not shooting anything under 110, and even then that would be pushing it. I was spoiled with a 150+. Had that not be the case then a 110 hell yeah. However, it is the case. I passed on a very nice 8 that I don't know anyone that I know personally would have passed on. It is what it is.
While I believe age adds to the coolness, memory or story of a harvest (obviously the older a buck gets, the more rare it is), but age it is not the determining factor on if I do or do not drop the string.
135, But if I have any doubt that he goes 135, I'm holding off. I'd like to say that it's 150+, but I'm not to that point yet. Maybe in the future.
It depends on what kind of season Im having, how many tags I have left, what bucks Im seeing on the properties, and how full my freezer is. I always try for mature bucks but I'll take a small guy if Im down to the wire and my freezer is empty on certain properties.
I would love to say 140 I would love to say age is a factor but that would be a lie If a 3.5 year old 135 8 point with double droptines walks out I shoot it Really hard to put a number on it :D
here in Vermont... just about any legal buck, Missouri trip, Im shooting for pope & young or tag soup! i've killed 170" gross bucks with a rifle so it isnt about killing a "big" buck, this will be my first year being serious about bow hunting, putting in lots of time in the woods since January. so I would really just like to see it come together for me here in vermont with a first bow kill.
Not sure why it's a cop out...but how about this, If the buck is 3.5 years old theres a good chance I'll shoot him if legal late in the season. I've killed enough deer if my life that I don't have to shoot a deer every year to be happy. If I really find a need for meat in the freezer I'll shoot a doe. But that isn't all that important either. I'd like to say I'll hold out for a 4.5 to 5.5 year old,but in Pa that is almost unheard of. Very few live that long here. The bucks are getting bigger but in PA a 130-140 class whitetail is considered a monster.
This year... a button buck is in serious trouble. The park is hinting at bringing in sharpshooters if the hunters don't kill enough deer so I'm not going to be too picky. Otherwise, I'd say 120" or so. In October and November I'm looking for 130" or better. By mid Dec., 115" deer tempt me.
