wtnhunt Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Really am thinking that I am going to give up on the idea of trying to hold out for a mature deer, or at least put one in the freezer and then hold out. I used to be one of those guys who would shoot the first deer I saw. I realized about 6 or 7 years ago that is not a great idea, often times other deer are lurking shortly behind them and you might have a really good buck just about to step into your view you might otherwise not know is there if you shoot the 1.5 year old that is out in front of you. Have witnessed this too many times to count where the mature deer comes out last or near last. I just dont get it. My daughter goes to school, a boy is bragging about shooting a 4 point, she congratulates him says my daddy and I saw a 4 and a 6 and a good 10 on the youth hunt. I could not get a shot on the 10, and I passed on the 6 pointer and 4 pointer. Seems around here people think we are nuts for passing up deer. Problem is I am passing up deer, mostly 1.5 year old bucks, and NOT seeing the numbers of does we used to see. Was a time before the state encouraged and increased number on the doe limits that we used to see on average 3-4 groups of 4-6 does every afternoon in my back field, and it was this way up until around the 2003 season. Since I have only killed one buck, a 2.5 year old 4 point with very poor genetics. I used to kill 2-3 bucks every year and most of them were 7 or 8 pointers. The number of does we have taken from our property since 2003 has been I think one more deer than the total number of bucks. Have seen less than 10 does total this year I think, no more than 4 at one time coming down a trail and no more than 3 in the field at the same time as where we used to see a dozen on up to as many as twenty does feeding in the field. I have seen over a dozen different bucks this season already, got some on our camera I have not yet seen, and only one is really nice mature buck, and had one decent one, but those two might not be around anymore. Have had a few others on the camera likely 2.5 year olds over the summer I have yet to see as well. We decided due to the does seeming to be low in numbers and being most likely overhunted that we were not going to take any does this year. Have been seeing a 4 pointer that has poor potential that I think is possibly a 2.5 year old. His body is considerably bigger than the 7 pointer I passed on with the ml Saturday morning. I heard so many close shots between Saturday and Sunday, I am really wondering is it really worth it to keep holding out for the chances that are becoming less and less likely as the season goes on. These guys are celebrating taking the deer I am watching walk off, and every time I hear them shoot my spirit and the feeling of being happy about just watching this this deer knowing I could have taken him sinks a bit more. It is happening all too often and iit is so discouraging. I hunt because I enjoy the time and like the rewards, but I cannot help but think it is just not going to pay off and I am only fooling myself thinking it will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Re: passing deer-frustration setting in I'm sorry to hear about your frustration William. I wondered about the high number of does being allowed when I hunted near you in the Paris area. I never saw many deer in my particular spot there and I hunted there for several years. As you know, my group doesn't practice any kind of management on our land here in WI but we are also overrun with deer. We take alot of does every year. If we started to notice a decline, we would also change out of necessity. We have alot of young bucks running around too. 4 pointers mostly. They seem to abound. With an abundant doe herd, and the average doe gives birth to two fawns, usually one male and one female, our deer herd remains huge. I think TN has over done it a bit. I don't know what the herd size is estimated to be right now but I think they missed it somewhere along the line a few years ago already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Re: passing deer-frustration setting in I dont know if it's any consulation to you William...but at least your Hunting. It could be worse!!! My hunting has been non-existant since I started my new job If anything you've created a sanctuary of sorts for deer by passing up the smaller bucks. That will come back to benefit you if you continue to hold out. The deer pattern people faster than we pattern them! They will realize where they can go and not be shot at...and you'll be waiting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Re: passing deer-frustration setting in I feel your pain brother!I've seen more 1 1/2 year old bucks this year than does.It could just be that more buck fawns were born that year.I've had about 8 chances to shoot decent 6 or 8 pointers this year.I haven't shot a 1 1/2 old buck in about 4 years, and am willing to wait till after gun season to put some meat in the freezer....come December,if the freezers empty,I will take one.I have some pics of some nice bucks,but only at night.We'll see if the rut brings them out during the day in the next few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) Well, at least I got some good video, shot the video through the torn canvas on the side of the stand. Here are a few pics from the video camera of the 7 pointer I passed up fairly early on Saturday morning, he came in about 30 minutes after a coyote left the back of my field. Most hunters around here would have been pretty happy with this deer, but he is 1.5 and has so much potential, so I let him walk after he got less than 20 yards away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidd Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) remember dead deer dont grow it will pay off and you are doing your part also a trophy is in the eye of the beholder!!! BTW--i practice QDM good tymes nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKLambert Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) Kidd is right if its dead how can it grow anymore. That is just a risk that you have to take by letting it walk to see if it makes it through the season. I let a 6 with great potential walk on friday and the guy next to me shot at him on saturday and missed, so hopefully he will make it til next year and be much bigger. Also that 7 point in the pics has some potential, by letting him grow, he could end up being your biggest deer you have ever killed in the future. I am in the same boat with you, stay strong and your patients will pay off one day and youll be glad you waited!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY_Bowhunter14 Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) i have let a few pass this year too... 3 pt, 5 pt, 6 pt(twice), another 6pt, 7 pt... lots of does... it is getting really frustrating... i have only seen two shooters this year, and neither were within range... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) Well, you can't change the way the other people are. You can just decide if you're happ letting letting the deer walk or not. Ultimately it is a personal choice. I pass alot of deer and cannot alter what happens to them after. I can just be happy knowing I passed on them. If you're happy passing them, keep doing it, if not, give one a dirt nap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) Passing certainly pays in time, if you can keep the deer in your area and get the boundary landowners to pass also. and keep spotlighters off your roads. We've been trying to pass here on our 360 acre farm for 5 years or so. It is surely beginning to pay off, although none that we know for sure that we've watched grow up over the years, we are beginning to see evidence of a good crop of older bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) [ QUOTE ] if you can keep the deer in your area and get the boundary landowners to pass also [/ QUOTE ] I know for certain they will NOT pass up any of the bucks I let walk, given they see them. I have been down that road and it was a failed and very disappointing effort. To top it off they are crowding the edges of my lines on two different properties and in some cases cutting the deer off as they head to my land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMSD5 Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) will when i had my farm in obion co i let deer walk and the ajoining landowners would shoot everything that walked by even spots....they to got to putting up stands on the property lines to shoot deer in my alfalfa fields...i never had a chance.... so i started shooting what i wanted....the decision is your tho...do what you believe in...best of luck bud...there are to many meat and kill hungry folks out there to really manage deer round here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bownarow Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) Just don't think of it as "passing" deer. I look at like if a buck is not at least a 135" or 140" deer than there is not even an option as to whether or not to shoot him. Those deer are off limits, no questions asked!! In years passed I usually wack a few does early in the year just to fill the freezer. This year however I am trying to dedicate myself fully to taking mature bucks, so I have been passing all the does as well until I get a good buck or two on the ground. It's definately a wide learning curve, but deer hunting is different than mature buck hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsmola Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) if you choose to start passing small bucks in hopes of letting them grow you have to learn to accept some years you aren't gonna shoot a buck. I haven't killed a buck since 2003, I know sooner or later my patience will pay off again. I have no plans to give up waiting on quality deer anytime soon because once it finally pays off it makes it all worthwhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKLambert Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) Another thing about passing on them, if I have to think twice about shooting the deer, it walks. What I mean by that is if I have to think to my self is he big enough yet, is he old enough, I dont grab my gun/bow instantly. If any second though comes to mind I pass, becuase I know when the right one walks out there not going to be any second thinking about him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) Glad Tom understands the situation as it is around here, just dont get where the state is publishing this crap that there are so many more hunters now then before that are out there who are letting the little ones walk. I just dont see it. They must be somewhere in the middle or at the other end of this state, because they sure are not around here. [ QUOTE ] if you choose to start passing small bucks in hopes of letting them grow you have to learn to accept some years you aren't gonna shoot a buck. I haven't killed a buck since 2003 [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, I have been letting the little ones walk for like about 5 or 6 years now or maybe more and I am really not seeing the results due to the factors I mentioned. Its not like I just starting passing them up last year and am expecting to see results this year, although last year I did kill a 2.5 year old 4 point with poor genetics when i had no meat in the freezer and my daughter needed a cape for her first deer. I have had a season or two over the past 6 or 7 years where I passed up deer after deer and ended up the end of the season using none of my buck tags and I did end up having a bit of a feeling of regrets for not taking advantage on opportunities on some of the nicer 2.5 year olds that were offered. Really think I need to change my view to kill one decent deer first early on in the season then concentrate on mature bucks after that and let the rest of them that are not mature walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt03 Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) How much land do you own? If its not that much then passing up deer is kinda pointless when they are going to bordering properties, where it sounds as if there are alot of hunters around your area that shoot whatever. Its a tough situation for you b/c you want these deer to grow up, but its very tough to do in a situation like your. You either need alot more land or a high fence around your property. I can imagine your neighbors wont go in to passing up deer like you are. Not everybody hunts for the same reason. One of these days one of these buck you pass up will hopefully slip through the cracks and get the chance to grow up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) [ QUOTE ] How much land do you own? [/ QUOTE ] Not enough. Have 60 acres that we own then the neighboring property to our east where we are the only ones with permission is a 40 acre property nearly 30 acres of which is solid hardwoods. Got another 60 acres of field across the road to our northeast that is not hunted, but is farmed, still has beans in half the field now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) I feel your pain bud. I know the big boys are in there and there arent any gun hunters in the woods yet. I still have two weeks. I think on our farm the herd is finally rather close to being the same. Seeing a good amount of does but in return seeing alot of different bucks also. Im trying to get a buck. I passed up on a spike this morning and dad passed up a that spike and a smaller 6pt. My uncle decided this year we are going to do some QDMA to a point. Now that we have that cam we see bucks we never knew we had. Id hold out bud. Dad let a real good 6pt walk a couple weeks ago with a spread wider than its ears. It will pay off some day. Just remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 8, 2006 Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) I bet the deer are in the beans..just have patience Bill,,,in the long run it will pay off..they cant shoot em all!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) [ QUOTE ] I bet the deer are in the beans..just have patience Bill,,,in the long run it will pay off..they cant shoot em all!! [/ QUOTE ] Funny you mention that Martin. Saw a group of does yesterday morning on the way in from taking the kids to school. They were standing in the road leaving the bean field about 40 yards from my mailbox and headed towards the woods up next to my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3whunt Posted November 8, 2006 Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) I understand your pain.... a lot of the people that I hunt with are completely satisfied with any buck.... sure they may pass a spike, but then shoot a 1.5 year old 6 pointer.... drives me crazy... but you are doing your part.... there ain't nothing like the regret of killing a buck that your are not completely excited about... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gabuckbuster03 Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 Re:passing deer-frustration setting in(pics added) sorry about the frustration u get em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest totalscaf Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 Re: passing deer-frustration setting in It will pay off, keep your head up!!! At least we get to enjoy God's Great Outdoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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