After being on the forums for a couple of months I have started to rethink my convictions on big buck hunting. So the question is, what would you guys consider a shooter here in Florida I understand the age part but what I want to know is the Score. Here are some Numbers to go by the typical State record in Florida is 168 1/8 2nd 165 2/8 and 3rd is 162 4/8 the three biggest Bucks taken last year where 154, 152 6/8, 151 3/8. The county I hunt in can reach the 150's but that is a rare buck. So based off of this info what would you call a shooter.
Everyone defines a shooter in their own unique way. You can't expect someone to tell someone else what THEY should be shooting. Hunting should be about the individual.
I agree whole heartedly, But just wandering on the size as far as Quality Deer Management side that's all. I am of the mindset to shoot what makes me happy, just trying to get some opinions.
For the most part a 4 year old whitetail buck or mature doe.. any elk pretty much minus a calf.. bears I like to shoot mature critters too..
If its legal , its down . I shoot Longbow and hunt for the excitement and fun of it , not the size or how many points it has , so I'm not picky
If he'd look good on my wall I shoot him. I'm at a stage that if I don't want to spend the money to mount him he walks. I shoot a few does to fill the freezer.
It's always nice to get opinions on things, but you should make that decision on your own. Everyone has different goals, and you shouldn't let anyone set them for you. If a deer gets you excited or meets your goals than shoot it. Now if you're hunting someone elses land and they have some shooter requirements, than that is different and you should probably respect their wishes, and consider it a privilege to hunt their land. Just my opinion on the shooter or not a shooter subject. Good luck with your decisions and share them with the rest of us if you have some success, whether some say its big or small, or a shooter or not. Good luck!
Thanks for the replies guys, the goal of the thread was not to have anyone set my goals for me I am always going to shoot what makes me happy whether it be a nice 8pt or a lil spike. Just thinking about doing some quality deer management to grow bigger bucks and want to know what could be considered a shooter and what should walk, if you were hunting in my state.
If QDMA is your goal I think you should be focused more on how old a "shooter" should be rather than how many inches of antler they have. For instance...you might decide to hunt bucks that are 4+ yrs of age? But like the others said...you need to decide for yourself what type of bucks to go after.
What Cooter said !! You should be more interested in it being mature then score. To throw out a score for a florida deer or any other state for that matter that I am not familar with is probably a waste of your time. I would just be guessing. But since guessing never stopped me from saying... I would say 120 - 130 inch buck is going to be big for your area if the best of the best is 150. Anything over a 100 inches is going to be a good buck. Tim
Something every hunter who decides not to focus just on meat in the freezer deals with, just what is a shooter? In my opinion there's a couple things one must consider before the answer can be reached: -Your geographical location and it's ability to produce big bucks. *Midwest states big in crops and natural mass producing trees are naturally going to produce larger bucks than that of Florida or similar such instances. The more nutrition pumped into a deer the better rack that deer "could" produce. Obviously genetics and age of deer play a factor as well. -What is your definition of trophy buck? Trophy bucks in inches or trophy bucks in age, and yes big difference as stated by some. I've witnessed a 2 year old buck on my property out score a 4 year old...but you can bet that 4 year old isn't any less of a trophy in any sense other than inches. If your answer to this is anything, than go for it, ultimately you have to be happy! -Terrain...your personal property? Yes in my opinion this plays a factor. Not only do you have to consider your location and definition of trophy is; consideration of your exact property is crucial as well. I have permission to hunt a property that is barely even wooded at all...more or less just a field that is good only for movement to food sources if lucky. On that property I would consider a smaller caliber buck a trophy than I would on my primary spot where I've personally downed P&Y bucks and seen ones on the edge of being booners over the years. *This if you own or have permission to can be changed with hinge cutting, food plots or plantings. Just my .02
that means that you live in north fl. heck we had one buck gross 174 last year with a bow. but in madison at my club if its 4 yrs and is close to 120 thats a shooter. but like everyone said if your not going to hang it or makes your heart race don't shot and wait for the big boy to set out.
