I dont' really see the issue. Legal deer, once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm shooting. I wouldn't parade it and I wouldn't hide it. I would do the same as I would with any other buck I shot.
I would not of shot him, simply because this deer was know around the town in city limits, and lots of folks looked for him to enjoy his awesomeness. Now if he was caught on the farm, or the back 40 and steps within 40-45 yards I'm puttin one through his pump station. Congratulations to the hunter. One thing is for sure, that is a buck of a lifetime.
I hold nothing against the hunter. However I would not have shot it if I was local and knew it was a local attraction. I used to hunt a farm that had an albino doe. People were always stopping and taking pictures of it. The land owner asked that nobody shoot it. Well one day a guy shot it in rifle season and the farmer took everybodies permission away. When a deer almost becomes a local pet, it is always a bad idea to kill it in my opinion.
For the guys that wouldn't shoot this buck....Would you shoot a 250" normal buck if it was close to city limits and people enjoyed looking at it? Both would be considered rare, but also the deer of a lifetime. What would be the difference?
No way I shoot that deer. Sounds like another clown passing the killing of tame suburban deer off as hunting. He should be ashamed of himself and I hope he enjoys his well deserved status as a social pariah in his town. The sad part is the people of that town will also hate hunters in general thanks to his stupidity. Hunters have always been and will always be their own worst enemies.
I was going to ask the same thing. If it was legal in iowa I'd be shooting and going straight to the taxidermist!
But what if this buck was on your property. We all know you don't like being told what can or can't happen on your land. I'd be pissed if I owned land near a town and people saw a giant buck on it that they loved watching and didn't want me killing. Stupid.
So, people wouldn't shoot this deer to placate what other people around town want? Most of those people don't want you hunting to begin with. Are you going to quite hunting too? It's deer. I'm shooting it!
Considering it doesn't explain what is meant by "his land" it's hard to comment. Is "his land" 5 acres between a Burger King and a public park or neighborhood full of people or does he own 400 acres 5 miles away?? Big difference. My guess is he was a weasel and clipped it in or just out of "town"
I am shooting... It's either doing to die of old age, another predator, or by someone else's hand. May sound somewhat insensitive but its the truth.
The BIG part in your comment is "HIS LAND".....who cares if its 5 acres or 400? If a couple neighbors to your property said "Hey we have been watching a 200" buck for the past 6yrs could you please not shoot it?".... How would you respond? The man killed a deer, plain and simple!
I believe this deer was shot outside city limits by the way the op made it sound. But if someone owns 5 acres that makes it so he has to pass certain deer?
I would have shot it, but then again I am only 18 so I am willing to shoot pretty much any deer that comes under my stand. I would hate to be the taxidermist for that full body mount though. if you screw up, well your reputation is going to take a nose dive to say the least!
That's a good question. I think the difference would be a 250" normal buck would draw the most attention from hunters whereas the albino buck drew the attention of the general public, many of whom aren't opposed to hunting but could easily be pushed that direction because a hunter killed the "majestic creature", as they put it. So, yes, I would shoot the 250" normal buck. As far as me personally not killing the albino, I'm coming from a business standpoint. My wife and I are building a small business in the community. This type of negative publicity would kill our business. That's the big issue for me personally. If my livelihood didn't matter.....
