I'M dropping the hammer / string. as long as he has 4 points on one side that are over 1 inch. antler restrictions in my area. the taxd can fix most of the damage he will be riding in the back of a CHEVY truck:D Then hanging on my wall
100% I'm shooting, and even with the broken tines I will still have one of the best bow bucks in my county!
Looks like it's just me and Licking Branch at this point (unless I missed someone else). If he was 140 AFTER being busted up, then it would have been a yes. 140 BEFORE being busted up... Nope. Kinda funny seeing this thread right after our antelope trip to Wyoming... the outfitter had beautiful pics of all the goats killed over the last decade in annual albums, and we all flipped through them admiring them all. There were speedgoats of all shapes and sizes... We came across this one weird-racked buck that was big -- but ugly. I said unabashedly to the guy I was flipping through the photo album that I wouldn't even have to think about it; I wouldn't have dropped the string on him. Goes hand in hand with my position on the whitetails I shoot, too... I could care less about how old they are; I just want a big rack! (Of course, most times it takes an older deer to produce the racks that make me happy, but you get the point...)
Yeah you missed a few :D But here is what I like best!! You may be the first, other person, I've ever heard echo my sentiments.
I'd pass him up. I guess it also depends on his age though. If he is 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 then I for sure would pass him up, anything older it would make it a tougher decision.
I think I read this thread once per season, on 2 different sites. If he is THAT busted up: I let him walk. I'm hunting the rack AND the deer, not just the deer. It's gotta look good on the wall too, for me. Chances are, I've got plenty of other shooters I can try for. He'll just be bigger next season, anyhow. If he has minimal damage: I'll drop him on the spot. Some will debate "it's about the deer, not the rack" while others play the other side of the fence. It's all personal preference. Some hunt meat, some dont. Some hunt racks while others hunt the deer. If the deer in front of you, the way he looks at THAT time, is a trophy to you- shoot !! Hunting is personal. I dont try to please anyone but myself(unless, of course, I'm a guest on a managed farm...Then, its the rule of the land)
He gets to keep on walking. I am out there for big racks. I still shoot does but wont shoot something I wouldnt be happy with. I let what would have been a 170" 10pt walk 3 yrs ago that had broke half of his left main beam off. Havent seen him since but just couldnt shoot him. Maybe I shouldnt be that way.
yup...drop and pop..another successful day of hunting....i would mount it too..it would look sweet..my buddy mounted a does A$$ and had her tail up with a eyeball sticking you know where...pretty funny stuff..
