Just checked my cam yesterday and this is one of the bucks i got. In your minds is this guy a shooter or one to pass? *The thumbnail is the original photo the above i tried to contrast to make his antlers a little more viewable.
I would probably let him slide, but that all depends on what else I have been seeing and whether or not I had an elk in the freezer. Shooting a buck is up to YOU. If he comes in and you want him, take the shot.
I have another 4 and 5 point on cam. with that being said i also have some deer (hoping they are bucks) just past where the IR flash reaches. I moved the cam and am hoping to get those guys or gals in some photos pretty soon.
I would just hang out and see what else show's up. When you're in the stand and the one shows up, you will know it.
To me this is one of the hardest questions asked in the forums. Every one has different opinions and goals for the buck they want to shoot. If it is a buck you would like to shoot, then I say go after him and good luck this season.
If that was my deer I would wait. However if he would put a smile on your face after you shoot him then by all means shoot him.
My personal opinion would be to wait. Northeast Ohio creates some pretty good size deer. Also, he looks a little young. If you don't have a lot of other people after him, and it looks like he has some good genes, let him hang out another year or two and breed, never hurts to have a few more bucks you know will be good size.
This is about like asking "Which bow's the best?" We're all going to bring our personal biases into the answer... Some of us have a lot of years under our belt behind the bow (some of us more than we care to admit... ), or have the opportunity to hunt big-buck producing land(s), or any other myriad assortment of criteria that are going to skew our answers differently than what yours may be... Hence, the only REAL answer here can only be what was alluded to above: What's YOUR goals, and does he make YOU happy?
If it was public land i would say shoot because his chances of living during gun season drops dramatically but if its on private wait a few years.
The majority of the responses have been to hold off. Thats what i was leaning towards any how since i know there are about 10 hunters on the 100 or so acres that surrond the land i hunt. Hopefully i can keep an eye on him and he gets his genes spread this rut.
Personally I would shoot him. It's like everyone else says though do what makes YOU happy. And that deer would make me Happy
i would probably let him go. unless it was getting towards the end of the season and i hadn't seen anything better. but everything could change when he's standing 15 yards away broadside
+1 This pretty much says it all. The decision to go after this buck is a personal one based on a multitude of factors. Hunting is a personal thing than thus your decision to kill or not is also personal. Either way, good luck this season!
Depending on where you hunt and what your deer look like around there I'd wait. But he will taste just as good as the next one. Good luck.
Personally, where I'm currently living/hunting I would shoot that buck any day of the season. But as it was said, answers will differ between hunting situations/personal preference.
MHS. If you are trying to get some experience in killing deer, then KILL one. In fact, KILL a few. Some of you guys (please do not take this the wrong way) seem to have started hunting in some pretty good places to tell a newbie to hold off on killing any deer. I worked my living rear end off for three years to kill my first deer when I started and it also took me 2-3 years to kill my first archery deer. I would have been ecstatic to have ANY deer pass my stand and offer me a shot. I say KILL.
