Guest psejake16 Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 I honestly dont hunt for food. I work for it. When Im hunting I'll shoot a doe for meat but not a buck for meat. I like hunting for the excitement and challenge of taking a mature animal. Not saying that its not a challenge to kill a young deer, but Its just my definition of a trophy. Just my p.o.v. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? It has a ton from where you hunt !! I'm extemely lucky to even see a spikehorn where I hunt. Doe hunting is hard too do, so I kill when I can, luv venesion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need2hunt Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? My opinion is alot of it has to do with where you live and what your hunting area's possibilities are. It also has to do with how much time you get to hunt and very simply what you want as a hunter. I started passing on younger deer 2 years ago and have still been able to fill my freezer. My plan has simply been to try to take a doe or 2 early in the season and then try to wait on a good buck, so far I've done pretty well with that plan. One of the things that I've tried to do more is take my camera with me to the field. If theres a deer I'm going to pass on with my bow then he gets shot with the camera. Here's a couple pics from this last season. In the second pic the deer is approx 5 yards from my stand, my 8 year old daughter was with me and got to see this buck come in to the decoy, he stayed around for a good 10-15 minutes before finally walking off. I had some people give me some grief on passing him but at that point of the year he wasn't what I was looking to shoot. I don't have a problem if someone shoots any legal deer and there is a certain time limit I have set for myself vensison wise, if my season hits that date and I'm going to need more venison then I shoot to fill the freezer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I don't shoot 1.5 year olds, but I'm trophy hunting and I'm trying to build up the herd quality on the ranch I hunt. It's certainly your decision, just be aware that if you do choose to shoot the younger deer, that just decreases your chances of ever seeing a true trophy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilhnter Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I don't have a problem shooting young bucks. My personal agenda when bow hunting is to wait for a mature buck through the rut. When the rut ends and late season hunting begins i will take whatever gives me an opportunity including 1 1/2 year old bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? Nope, probably won't shoot a little buck. Unless that 1.5 year old deer is over 125", I won't be shooting. For one thing, it's the policy on the land I hunt for the most part, and it's also a personal choice. I'm a self confessed trophy hunter when it comes to bucks. Now does are a different story....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinoisbowhunter Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I definitely agree that it depends on your location. Around here I try not to take anything under 3 years. If I want meat in the freezer Ill take a doe, and in most regions does way outnumber bucks in the ratio. So your not only benefiting the herd but your helping the younger bucks reach their optimum potential. Last bow season I passed on at least 5 younger bucks ranging from 1 1/2 - 2 1/2. Now had a been a hunter from another state where the genetics dont get as good they would have been shooting. I will let these guys go becuase next year they will be much nicer and get to their best maturity level. Location says it all. In IL- "Let them go so they can grow" If you want meat take a doe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I pass up the 1.5 year olds bow rifle or whatever. I have yet to kill a buck with the bow, but will probably continue to hold out for a mature deer. Passed up one younger deer last year with the bow that the wife killed with her rifle on the season opener. Her first buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christsavedme Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I have to agree with the majority here.....it all depends on location and hunting conditions. As for me....we can harvest does pretty openly....what I mean is we got redistricted last year and our land now falls in Unit L......In this unit we can now take 3 deer a day during any season......not to harvest more than 3 bucks during the year. So with that said we try to take several does....2 per person a year off of our land. As for bucks......we don't go by age as much as I would like, but we do have an 8 point or better rule. This has helped our herd out tremendously. So hopefully soon I will convince people to start holding out for older more mature deer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshM Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? If its nice and big ill shoot it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I started passing on younger bucks a few years back.....in fact I came to full draw on a spikehorn 3 times last year......he was broadside at 20 yards and I let him go. There's a real sense of accomplishment that I get from letting the little guys go. Now I know that they're just getting bigger and that there are more of them to breed the numerous does around so that they aren't breeding themselves to death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThethirdI Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? In Northwest Ohio where I hunt you only get one deer per year. If it's a doe you're done...If it's a buck you're done. I hunt on public land and know that if I don't shoot it then come shotgun season someone will. I wish I had the flexibility that it sounds like most of you have. Until that day comes I will have to go with what's in front of me. I have to say that if it is small then I let it keep walking but I will shoot a big body buck even if the rack is small. I have seen bucks that are over 200 lbs. on the hoof with 4 point racks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJJ Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? i will pass on the younger deer. but if he is a wall hanger i would take him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? thats your call...not gonna tell ya what to shoot.Myself, a buck like needtohunt put up there...he's gonna walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? If I never shoot another 1 1/2 year old buck....I've still killed more than my share. I stopped shooting 1 1/2 year old bucks several years ago. I have killed one buck since then........ a 115" 8-pointer last year. I won't shoot another one this small. I set a standard each year and hold to it, whether it's the first week or the last minute of season. This year I raise the bar a bit. If a buck meeting my criteria does not show up, I will go without. I will shoot mature does if I'm needing venison. That's just my individual style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldawg Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I shoot any buck, even big nubbies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6sixpoint_nobrows Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? need2hunt those are some beautul bucks there...umm i would have to say........if a deer walks by im going to smoke him....thats just were im at right now with killing deer with my buck...as for shotgun season this year, im going to wait for the monster that robbed me last year with my bow.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I pass on them. Last year, I shot 2 does, my son shot 2 does and I passed over 10 bucks. The biggest being about the size of the one in Need2hunt's 2nd picture. We didn't kill a buck and I consider it a successful season. Shoot what you want....as long as you don't complain about not seeing bigger bucks when you shoot little ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? Since this will hopefully be my last year hunting VA, this fall, I will take just about anything. I will probably be hunting National Forrest (public land) so being picky is not realistic. We have enough tags so I can take a couple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThethirdI Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? In the words of my best friends father "YOU CAN'T EAT THE ANTLERS YOUNG MAN." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bond Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? [ QUOTE ] In the words of my best friends father "YOU CAN'T EAT THE ANTLERS YOUNG MAN." [/ QUOTE ] True, but in my experience, the bigger the bucks horns are, the more venison I got.... I've never shot a 1.5 year old, I would've my first year because the rules on our farm say a beginning hunter can but a 150 inch 11 pointer came out first. I never got my chance with a yearling. I also try to pass 2.5 year olds too, but that can be hard judging age and keeping the trigger finger under control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? [ QUOTE ] My opinion is alot of it has to do with where you live and what your hunting area's possibilities are. It also has to do with how much time you get to hunt and very simply what you want as a hunter. [/ QUOTE ] I agree with Gary's statement here. I'm one of those fortunate hunters that gets to spend a lot of time hunting so it really doesn't matter what weapon I use, I won't shoot a buck anymore unless I think he's a mature deer. I've made a few judgement mistakes with split second decisions but that's what I try to do anyway. As far as doe killing goes, I try to kill the ones that are 2 1/2 or older to put meat in the freezer. I usually get my meat deer during the early part of bow season and then switch to just hunting for mature bucks. We have a liberal bag limit on does here and killing does at home is not really that hard if you do your homework. It's unusual for me to take my camera out while I'm in a stand hunting but here's a picture of a young 5x5 I passed up. I'm pretty sure he was a 2 1/2 year old buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddhunter Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I shot one similar to Strut 10's two years ago and have decided not shoot one unless he is bigger than the one before. Didn't see any big enough last season. Didn't shoot any does last year on our land because the ratio is about 2 to 1 but did help a friend cut 2 does from his land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEAVIER_THAN_STEEL Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I would love to pass deer up but there are to many hunters around where i hunt and if i pass a deer up the next hunter will shoot it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitteken Posted June 28, 2005 Report Share Posted June 28, 2005 Re: pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks?? I've killed three 1.5s. One with shotgun and 2 with bow. That is plenty for me. Now I am content killing does and waiting for a wall hanger. It really is a good feeling to pass on small bucks, and it is really fun to take pictures. Actually I still have some pictures from last season on a roll of film. I need to get them developed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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