huntn4bucks Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 First of all...here's my disclamer: I am in no way accusing anyone on this site for doing this...I just thought it would be a good topic for discussion. It seems that I read and hear a lot of stories about deer hunters "managing" and "selectively" taking deer. They make statements like "I only shoot 4 1/2 year old bucks" or "He has to be outside the ears before I'll take him" and so forth. I rarely hear someone say they will take the first buck that comes along but more times than not most of what I see are small bucks being taken. Why is this? I know it all depends on your area and the quality of deer in your area but why do people make statements like that and then kill the first thing that comes along? Can they not resist or is it just a case of saying one thing and doing the other? Let me know what you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I'll tell you right now, first thing I see I take. First and foremost, I am a meat hunter, that's why I hunt. I have never seen an edible set of antlers yet. Second thing, most of the areas I hunt are public, and yes, I have that mentality that "if I don't shoot him, someone else will". The private land I do hunt, which happens to be up in your neck of the woods huntn, we have never seen a big racked deer on the place. Biggest deer killed has been 2 6 ptr's. We have even had camera's out before season, no big bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? i don't know. personally, i want my bucks to be right around pope and young quality. i've literally passed up probably 100 bucks in the last 3 years waiting to shoot another buck. the last buck i shot was on november 17th, 2001. it's just a personal preference i guess. plus, the landowner where i do a lot of hunting now only wants mature deer shot so the little guys can grow. last year on his property i passed at least 20 small bucks. i had 2 little bucks actually bed down and fall asleep right in front of me. to me, does fill the freezer just fine, so if you're a meat hunter, shoot does (which makes good QDM sense too), and if you want trophy bucks, you have to let the little ones walk in hopes that you'll see them again in a few years. i do miss grabbing rack after a blood trail though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanH Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I have beensince i was 15! Im now 22! At 1st i was shooting anything! But after about the 3 years i will still shoot a decent deer with my bow! With a rilfe or blackpowder its gonna have to be a really good deer! Or really i wanna shoot one bigger then my biggest! So Im still working my way up the ladder! But i soon will be there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebig1 Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? [ QUOTE ] I'll tell you right now, first thing I see I take. First and foremost, I am a meat hunter, that's why I hunt. I have never seen an edible set of antlers yet. Second thing, most of the areas I hunt are public, and yes, I have that mentality that "if I don't shoot him, someone else will". [/ QUOTE ] COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER MYSELF! i also have to add that i'm a trophy hunter. but to me a trophy is anything that i'm fortunate enough to take. All this doesn't mean that if there were 2 deer in front of me, a 4 pt. and a 12 pt. that i wouldn't hold out on getting a shot on the 12 and probably get screwed and get nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I hunt mostly public land, and I hunt to put meat in the freezer. That being said I will pretty much take any deer that gives me a shot, especially during gun season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I let the little ones grow. If I don't get a nicer buck early on I may decide to shoot something from a`16" wide 8 pt. on up. More often than not I'll pass though....the last buck I tagged was a 10 ptr. in 2000. I fill the freezer with does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superguide Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I hunt till last day of our 5 week rifle season and if I don't see a big enough buck to shoot I'll take a doe-I've shot lots of 130ish deer so no reason to shoot another-besides if I shot first chance I got I'd have to quit hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_lou Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I will hold out for a nice buck. Now what is nice to me may not be nice to the next guy. I fill the freezer with a nice size doe, then sit and wait for a decent shot at a nice size buck. I will eat a tag before I shoot a small buck just to say I shot a buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I like to hold out for something "nice". That doesnt mean it has to be close to P&Y, maybe if I were hunting a different state that would be the case. It's hard for me to explain but when I see a deer I'll know pretty quick whether or not I want to take it. For one thing antler restrictions make let little ones walk anyways. And to be honest, if I took the first legal buck I saw in most years I would be done pretty quick. I like the challenge of holding out for something a little older and a little more rare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? Ditto "Gator" to a tee. For a few reasons. Meat hunter, thats why I hunt. I hunt areas with little or no potential for big antlers. I can not afford the travel or cost for hunting larger bucks. I like hunting does during bowseason. Very challenging for us up here. Very proud when ya get one too. I suppose if I were in an area that held large rack bucks, and I saw then all the time, I may be inclined to wait on a larger one, but I'd still want my meat 1st. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? Here goes LOL.I think alot has to do with where you hunt, I hold out for a bigger buck but according to tv and magazines the state of Iowa has monster bucks running all over the place, its not the case throughout the whole state however.Im in a agricultural area, which most of the state is, but here its all wide open fields, very little cover, and high hunting pressure.A nice buck in my area of the state will carry 100 inches of antler or so, so theres no P&Y or B&C entries at all for my counties and theres no deer from here recorded in the iowa big bucks records.So while I will hold out for a nice buck, someone in the other end of the state may have let him walk.Same thing with private and public ground, if you hunt mainly private ground with little pressure your gonna see bigger, older deer, if you hunt public ground there may be deer like that on it, but theyre heavily pressured and probably not gonna show themselves as regularly during the daylight. should say that there are P&Y and larger size bucks in my area, but I havent connected with one yet.Last year I let the biggest buck Ive had a shot at walk, he was around a 130 class 10 pointer but there was a much larger one i was hunting, I dont regret not shooting him but he woulda been my biggest to date if I had.Shoot what makes you happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need2hunt Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? My plan is to try to take a doe or 2 early and then hold out for a good buck (130+)... I know the properties I hunt have the type of deer I'm after... I certainly don't see them everytime out, in fact i don't usually see them until the rut kicks in, but I know there around... so I try to hold out... so far it's been working for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I really do try to let young bucks pass to take older mature bucks. So far this year I've passed up a couple of 2 year old 8 point bucks and an older 7 point buck with about a 16" to 17" spread. Unlike most hunters I do have the luxury of being able to spend a lot more time in the woods than most hunters are able to. I probably spend over 60 days deer hunting each year. I personally try to hunt and kill mature deer because I just prefer to let young bucks walk in hopes that they will grow up to show their potential and I want to go for the older, bigger bucks. It lets me stretch out my season too. If I want some meat I can always kill up to 5 does down here. Killing any legal buck is not important to me at all. I've had a lot of great memorable hunts where I didn't kill anything. You also have to keep in mind that the upper end mature bucks are different from one area to the next across this country. Where I hunt here in Mississippi a 4 year old buck will gross anywhere from a low in the 120 range up to a high in the 140 range. The biggest buck killed on our property grossed 146 and change. Last year we had a 5x5 that scored in the upper 120's that was aged by the DMAP biologist as a 5 year old buck. The live weight of these Mississippi mature bucks is generally between 175# and 200#. They are light weights compared to most other areas in this country. Where I've hunted in Kansas the upper end bucks are alot bigger than the bucks I generally see in Mississippi. Where I've hunted in Iowa they are even bigger than the deer I've seen in Kansas. Heck the 2 year old bucks I've seen in Iowa are as big as our 4 year old bucks in Mississippi. Just something to think about if you're looking at a mature 4x4 or better that I hope to kill in Mississippi this year not to mention the one I hope to bag in Kansas too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger-Hunter Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? My goal is to only shoot a bigger buck than I already have, which is going to be a challenge this year. Now in MN, the ol' adage is "if its brown its down" so I'll take whatever walks in front of me cause I know if I don't the guy sitting 100 yards away will take it and if he doesn't the guy sitting 50 yards away from him will. All does get shot in MN, too. They work out the tag details afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I don't like to shoot small deer. I haven't killed a buck yet, so that would be an exception. It would have to be a good 6 pointer for me to take it as a first buck. Decent mass, width and tine length. After that, I would really like to try to hold out for decent 8 pointers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bigbuckmiddaugh Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? i shoot first buck i see! Then our second has to have 4 or more points on ones ide. I let all scrub racks go with 4 or more, and wait for something with a little width, Unless it is toward end of archery season. I very seldom get a second buck, lol Actually...i have never took a second buck,lmao. I have started shooting doe's now, only in area's i hunt that have i doe population. Venison, yummyy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I wait for a big one. This year meant a whopping 2 day wait but I do, some years it's 9 weeks of waiting, I don't really need the meat, I eat beef too, CANADIAN BEEF!!! I will shoot a do if nothing comes along. I've now got a pair of 200" bucks, I can honestly say that I don't want to shoot a little buck, would rather watch him grow up. I don't however put any stock in age or spread or all that jazz, i just want a big one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkV Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I have 2 does in the freezer and could have shot at 2 little bucks and more does and yearlings. Now I am looking for the big bruiser bucks. I will not shoot a buck unless he is going on the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I try to shoot "mature" bucks only, but sometimes judging in the field is a bit tricky. Usually a mature buck can be identified by the shape/characteristics of the body and face. If it is a mature buck the antler size is usually in line with the size/age of the buck. Like I said, sometimes in the field when a good shot presents itself the opportunity for that shot is often fleeting and the judging of the animals age/size is bound to be a little off. I will not shoot a buck without a rack, meaning spikes, forkies and smallest 3x3 and 4x4 bucks are safe from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bow Hunter Derek Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? Does should just have the word "FREEZER" printed on their side. I usually shoot 2 to 4 does per year. I like a little venison, but more than one deer goes to waste in my family, so I give most of my deer meat away to friends who will use it. I hunt does, just because I love to deer hunt. Bucks on the other hand are a different story. I hold out for bigger ones each year. I've got two high 120's at home now. I want bigger racks than those. Don't get me wrong, in my early days, I shot my share of scrubby bucks. But since then, I've grown out of that. You can not grow them big if you shoot them when they are small. I don't mind eating a buck tag if it means a potentially bigger buck next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I tell everyone that I'm holding out for monster bucks only. That way I have an excuse for not getting anything! Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? Hey buddy, long time no see The land I hunt is farm land and each year there seems to be more and more guys from the city hunting on it but I take anything I see because my mentality is "fill the freezer first". Between mine and Andy's tags one year, we put I think 7 deer in the freezer and ate all except a few roasts in one year. I think managment is good but if I pass on everything, we won't have food this winter,lol. Of course our neighbors are morons and only shoot bucks which is not as good as taking does and bucks. Just my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 30, 2004 Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? Think some people might think they will and it goes out the window when a buck comes in. I try to hold out for a deer with antlers past the ears and 8 points or for 3.5 year olds or older. Can be kind of tough to do sometimes though knowing that what I let walk has a good chance of not making it to the next season. The last couple years I have passed on several 1.5 and 2.5 year old bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones? I'll tell Ya coming from the the state I reside in which is Vermont I usually take what is presented to me if it is a decent deer. This Due to very poor genics in this state.I really don't think I have to worry about P&Y or B&C quality deer in this state which is really too bad. By all means I won't in anyway take out bambi but if it is a good deer and presents a good shot, I'm going to take it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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