I hunt in a very small patch of land in ky. I already have a doe on the ground. Only shot 2 bucks in my life. Don't need a trophy but if gonna hunt a buck i want it to be a nice one. Only seen a deer even close to that caliber a couple times while hinting and always (except for the one successful time) too far
Very true... I don't own the deer that's for sure. I'm not questioning the deer really... he is bigger than I have ever seen with a bow so he is going down if he does come into my lane... just curious what others thought.
Shoot it, no one here will criticize you for it. If they do, ignore them. Nobody started out shooting booners.
If you are wanting bigger bucks you have to make the sacrifice and pass him up. They don't grow if they are dead. A lot of us have passed similar deer and were rewarded in the future when it grow to its potential. Not every buck will be killed by your neighbors.
it's all relative bud. but if i saw that thing within confident range, it would be in my freezer if i had anything to do with it.
That all depends on if you have harvested anything this big or not. If you haven't, then this might be a Trophy for you. Personally, I would let him walk, if you think there is a chance that he won't get shot and can get at least another year older.
If he gets your heart going, shoot him. From your history, it doesn't seem like you've shot a lot of bucks and none with your bow. It would be a great first buck with a bow. Me, I would film him with my phone and let him pass and wouldn't even think twice about it because I see deer like him often, but I'm not you and my property is not your property. I like the top 25% rule. If he's in the top 25% of bucks on your property, shoot him, especially for your first one.
if you whack him, I'd call him venison! shoot what you think is good to you and the likely hood of shooting something else.
Here's the thing. U shoot what makes you happy if u have to ask someone if they would kill it or let it walk tells me you may not be happy with it if that's the case don't kill it. A trophy in your eyes my be different to someone that has higher standards. Shoot what your happy with that's it. Your not shooting a buck to make someone other than you happy. Don't pass a deer now that you would wanna kill on the last day. Simple as that. I how ever would not kill him.
He is as big as what I generally see. I would Shoot. We have dog hunter that surround our property and there is a good change he night not make it to next season. Our only rule is eight or more.
I would not shoot him and I certainly would not name it. Can we stop naming deer already? I didnt even know that was still a thing anymore. I thought we were passed that.
I've passed similar deer in the past few years. 6 years ago I would have shot that deer without a 2nd thought. Now unless I know 100% whether it's 3 1/2 + I'm passing.
1) People on the internet think very highly of themselves and LOVE to judge others that don't meet their level of super awesomeness. Ignore them. 2) If that is a good deer to you, shoot it. On the state land in PA I hunt, I would shoot that deer. On my friend's private farm in OH, I am passing it. But you shoot what makes you happy. It's your tag and your experience. 3) Ralph.
