So I've been hunting whitetail for 28 years and have taken my fair share of deer. About 10 years ago I got really hardcore about archery hunting and basically was thinking about it 24/7 scouting year round shooting all the time and on and on basically that's all I wanted to do and is still I all I want to do and I would imagine most people on this site are the same maybe even more so. So I've finally gotten to a point a few years ago where I feel I'm pretty good at it and that I should start trying to hold out for bigger bucks 3 1/2 or older and I actually started letting a couple of legal bucks walk ( 3 points to a side where I'm hunting) not many but there have been a few that even 10 years ago I would have never considered letting go by. So the problem is this Ill let a small one walk but then I'll see another on a different day and I can't help but shoot so now this year I took a small 8 point last year a 6 point! My bucks the two previous years were bigger than the last two when I had decided to really try for an older bigger deer! I take at least one doe a year so I don't need the meat and the biggest problem is that I have some good spots now where I have even seen some really nice bucks while hunting or on my cameras but yet I don't know what happens to me when a smaller buck is standing there 15 yards away it's all I can do to let it walk and more often than not I don't pass up the shot. So to you guys that are holding out for older deer were you always like that or did you have trouble in the beginning letting deer walk? Is there anyone here going through the same thing I am? Sorry wrong forum wanted this in the bowhunting section
Your over thinking this entirely too much. You were obviously happy with the "small" bucks you took. Be content and keep shooting.
It's lakosky and thank you awesome first post! I can tell This forum will really benefit from your insight.
Just get out and hunt! If you enjoy it as much as you say you do and as long as that blood starts pumping when you see a deer, just shoot whatever makes you happy. Nobody has any authority to judge you except yourself. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk www.skyangler.com
I think it's something you have to make up In. Your mind even before the season starts. And then get used to passing a lot of little bucks, because you know why your passing them so hopefully you get a shot next season or two. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know and that's part of the reason I'm frustrated. I'm mad I'm not letting them walk then I'm upset for not being grateful that I've taken a deer I should be proud of. I am overthinking it I'm sure.
