For many the 2011 season is over; however, for others it’s still in. I reside in southern Illinois where our season officially ends this coming Sunday. When we “Bow hunters” will have to share the woods with Shotgun and muzzleloader wielding hunters. This will be the “other hunters” last chance at tagging a deer (Doe only) for the 2011 season. Fortunately, we “bow hunters” can still tag a buck or two during this end of season. Unfortunately, many bucks have started shedding their antlers already. This point brings me to my question. Let’s say you are sitting in your stand and you target buck happens to come along and finally presents a shooting opportunity. Then all of a sudden you notice one of his antlers has already dropped. You’ve waiting the entire season for a shot at this trophy buck, and here he is in front of you at 20 yards broadside and he only has one antler left. Would you shoot? Many have said that they would shoot then find the other antler, but my argument is at this point he’s survived the season and can only improve by next season. Let us know what you would do. Hold on folks this could get interesting.
I wouldn't be able to tell you until the moment of truth. I honestly do not know. I may then again, maybe not.
This has happened to me before and I let him walk, unfortunately I never saw the deer again. So I can't say that have an answer for you, gotta go with your gut.
Happened once to my dad and I during rifle season when I first started hunting. On side was had 5 beautiful long tines and the brow tine was almost as tall as the G2. I wanted to shoot but dad had me shoot a doe instead because he was hoping to be able for us to chase it the next year. Well the next year didn't happen because the guy sold the land and the new land owner wouldn't let us hunt. Then I would have shot. Now I really wouldn't know till the time presented itself. Late in the season with no meat in the freezer, probably. If I had already shot a doe or two probably not.
I'll let him walk. I probably wouldn't be able to find his shed, and I'm not going to mount a 1 antlered buck.
Hilarious! I would pass without a doubt. In fact, that very scenario happened to me a few years ago. The buck I had been chasing for two years finally gave me a slam-dunk opportunity late muzzleloader season. Unfortunately, he had broken most of his left side off and I let him walk. Karma is a good thing, he walked in to 10 yards the next October on the 28th after working a scrape and I killed him with bow. He went 185".
I already have one doe worth of meat in the freezer, and as soon as I can pick it up, I'll have about 100 lbs more from my buck. I'm the only one that eat's the deer meat, so I guess I better start cooking. I don't know where i'll put all this meat. I already have about 60 lb's of burger in my freezer and I'll be adding about 90 lbs more. Crazy! Anyone needing some meat?
I think it all depends where you are hunting. If you hunt a piece where deer frequently travels between properties, you may want to take him if he is a mature deer. if you have a large property all to your self, you may want to pass him and get him early next year. I think it really comes down to the situation and where you hunt.
I would try to get a picture with the phone and then shoot a doe after I pass on him. Sucks when you lose your right to hunt land.
I made this mistake already during a rifle hunt...seen Good bone on one side of a buck in heavy brush and had a clear shot...I assumed the other side was about the same... took the shot only to find that the left side was nothing more then an 8 in crooked brow tine with no main beam growing of it, the right side was big typical 5 point......the buck obviously had an earlier injury which cause the abnormality. I wasn't a happy camper. So no I wouldn't shoot a one altered buck....
If I did shoot him I'd probably never find the shed. But he's been on this property for a long time, so I would pass in hopes of shooting him next season.
