I looked at the antlers and made my decision from that. Everyone hunts for different reasons. Here I can shoot 3 does and buy more tags if I feel the need. Either way I let that buck walk. I don't care if he is 10 years old he is a 100" 8 point. Personally I wouldn't waste my tag on him. But you don't have to talk us into shooting him just yourself :D
that I can respect gut. For those of you that dont know I could care less about the score if I shoot a buck for antlers I want the narly non typicals. You cant mistake them when you see them from pic to hoof Besides I have never seen a high rack on our property while in the stand
To me, putting posts on here asking if you'd shoot him or not isn't the best idea. There's always gonna be people that are for shooting him and then there's people that say let him grow, no matter if the deer has tooth picks for antlers or if he looks like an elk. It should be a personal decision. If you think he'll stick around and he has potential to grow more, let him walk, but if you really like his rack at the moment and he's unique to you, that's all that matters, shoot 'em! It's your choice. Nice deer, good luck with whatever you do!
if it's a trophy to you and in the area you hunt.By all means shoot it. I have shot deer that were alot smaller the my biggest deer but sometimes things happen on a particular hunt that makes that deer special for what ever reason to me and thats all that should matter.
X2! I once had a deer on a property where the racks never seemed to get above 100" and they were 8 point narrow racks. One deer I chased for two seasons was a moose in body size but had maybe 105". If that deer were to walk in front of me today I would shoot him because he was unique and at least 5 1/2 years old the first time I paid eyes on him. Nobody I know ever shot him and he was rarely seen. The deer in this picture has thick bases and lives in an area with a lot of pressure from what it sounds like, with that being said the challenge of connecting with him would drive me....
If I was in it for the racks, I'd probably let him walk. To me, if he could get another 50 pounds or more of meat on him, I'd be a lot more interested. That being said, if he was the meatiest deer I'd seen walk along in awhile, I'd be cooking his backstraps on the grill that night.
I still think he looks young, Obviously a better picture without 4' tall weeds in front of him would be better. For IL I would expect alot larger body on a deer over what looks to be a 2.5 yr old. Taking rack size out of the scenerio now, and the zoomed in pic, he still has a skinny neck and small face and frame. Hes 5.5 then kill him, I dont think anyones gonna fault you either way honestly, Im just saying that deer looks young!
I hunt public property and a few various small parcels of private land that I've gotten permission to hunt. I don't hunt for a huge rack. Although a rack is a bonus and I'm personaly in love with high racks like the one he has but have never had an opportunity at one. If I saw that deer I'd relax and shoot him. And then i'd cry like a baby and be happy as I could be.
