I've been hunting the same public land parcel for a couple of years now. I pass on a lot of small bucks hoping to see bigger deer. Year after year, I see one shooter and several 2.5 year old deer that would be good bucks next year. Am I thinking rationally for letting these deer walk in passing on these bucks meanwhile there are probably guys out there shooting everything that walks? How would you guys approach this?
Double, you and I are in the same boat. I pass a decent amount of smaller 2.5 year olds each year and generally see only 1-2 nice shooters. Seeing those big boys gives me hope and also tells me that my set-ups to kill the big boys have not been all that great. I cannot control what anyone else does where I hunt. We have a 6 week gun season that begins in the middle of the rut. That means the only thing I can do is hunt the bigger bucks down and kill them. If I cannot do that then I am toast. They do not just stroll by and offer themselves up to me, so I must find out where they bed/live and kill them close by as they enter or exit their beds. You have to be realistic about your chances of killing the type of buck you want given your skill set combined with the potential of bucks where you hunt. If you are looking at a 1 in a 1000 chance to kill the type of buck you want where you are currently hunting, then you either need to lower your expectations or move on to another piece of property. So what I am saying in a nutshell is that I have to improve myself and not worry about others, because the "others" variable is a given and cannot be changed.
Shoot what makes you happy. If shooting that buck satisfies you then shoot it. Simple. If you pass on good bucks hoping to see a great buck on public land you are setting yourself up for frustration IMO. I'd shoot that 2.5 yr old and be damn proud I took it on public land.
Since you asked, this is how I approach public land hunting. I shoot what makes me happy. I will not shoot a deer because I think someone else will, if I don't. If I choose not to shoot a deer and another hunter is lucky enough to take it, then good for him/her. With that said, I also hunt private land. I shoot enough does every year to fill the freezer. I can be a little pickier in other places. If public land was my only option (which would mean less antlerless tags), I would have a different opinion. Having venison is my first priority.
Does satisfy my need to kill and eat. If I lived in a one tag for either a buck or a doe, I might reconsider what I call a shooter buck as I do love to release arrows.
Excellent points in the posts above. I believe your decision as to which deer to let pass has alot to do with your personal choices as a (public land) bowhunter. Any deer you pass on may become the target of another hunter. That is just the reality of hunting...especially on public land. The choice to pass is yours and yours alone. The truth is that we can't control much. But each bowhunter is in control of the release of each arrow. It all comes down to choices and living with those decisions. I personally am not a big trophy hunter. Venison is my main priority minus the joy of just getting out in the woods and enjoying creation. I believe my decision to pass on deer tends to involve factors like what type of shot I have, if I've already taken deer that season, and situational factors like weather and time of day. If I feel it's a good shot and additional factors are a yes than it comes down to a simple choice...yes or no. Small bucks are usually at the bottom of my list but I can't say I would never take one. I'm happy with any deer that I'm fortunate to take. I just do my best be in the stand early, shoot straight, give the deer time, and be thankful for my blessings. Good luck this season. C
I'd have to agree with the others, I hunt both public and private land and my expectations are different depending on where I'm hunting and how much time is left in the season. Don't get me wrong I would most definitely let a smaller buck walk early in the season, but getting down to the last couple of days and not having seen anything, I'm shooting.
i've never hunted private ground and have never met someone who lets small bucks walk. i've put in many seasons and come home with my tag. and now that i'm bowhunting for the first time if a spikehorn presents and i make good shot i will be very proud.
I am in agreement with everyone else on QDMA when hunting public land, in that its very difficult to let younger bucks go hoping they will get bigger in the following years. But having said this.........there are usually a couple whoppers around the public land near me. In fact a 190" plus buck was taken with bow a couple of years ago. I rarely hunt there, but do on occasion.
When you are passing these bucks, do you feel there are bigger bucks that you would shoot out there, you just havent seen them yet. If yes, keep passing. If no, I think it is completely foolish to think those bucks you pass could "grow up". Hunt for what is there NOW, not for what MIGHT be there in the future. Makes things much easier to deal with.
