toddyboman Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 There obviously is no right or wrong answer just curious what the deciding factor for you is on to shoot or not to shoot a deer... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
257bob Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 First and foremost I rely on venison for a large portion of my family's meat. I answered the pole with age, but I always look for a big (high scoring buck). When it comes right down to the end of the season though I will shoot a deer that I let walk during the first days. I always try to take does when the opportunity arrises as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razortec_hunter Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 i went with age but i go by age and antler size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M00N Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 If I'm hunting a doe I try to avoid shooting the button-bucks. I also try to shoot a bigger bodied doe, unless a wounded smaller ones or late-born fawn walks by and then in that case it's a mercy killing. If I'm hunting a buck I'll be looking for the first legal buck, which has to be a 3-point to one antler or better. After I shoot my first buck the next seasons I'll probably be much more picky, but I can't be too picky or public land or I'll go another 10+ years until my next buck again. In the special "earn a buck" area that I have permission to hunt this year I have to shoot a doe, not a button-buck, first. Then I can shoot a buck, which I'd be looking for the same thing as listed above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 I look for maturity first, then antler size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiganbowhunter_SQ2 Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 I picked age, but if i am at deer camp in the U.P. i shoot for size mostly. if it has a good size body (preferably a doe)i'll take a shot , even if it is a buck, it doesn't matter if it is an 8 or a spike if it is a good size deer, i'll take it, or at least try the small piece of property down here we hunt, I i will take a good size doe if one presented itself, i seen a 1-1/2 year old 7 or 8 last year, had him at 35-40 yards, let him walk, knowing that my cousin and i are the only ones that hunt this property and no one hunts the property across the street...i figure this year he'll be a nice 2-1/2 year old, he give me a shot this year, he's goin down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPic Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Number of points.Where I hunt,it's a 3pt to 1 side area so that's good enough for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest COACH J. Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Antler size and age Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8ptbuckpa Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 It's a mix if I have a buck come throught that is legal(3pt on a side minimum) and has a big old body I am shooting but if a set of bachelors come in I am shooting the bigger rack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 I look for maturity first, then antler size. Yep, ditto. If there are , lets say 4 nice mature bucks where I'm hunting, I will try to hold out for the one I like best, but sometimes, that just doesn't work out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 I went with age. When I first started hunting I really did not see many deer and was learning and I would hunt with the mentality that I would shoot the first legal deer I saw. Then later at some point I learned that was not always such a great idea, and started seeing more and more deer the more I passed them up. For a few years, we had a good number of bucks around here and holding out passing up the little guys would eventually pay off, but afraid with so many hunters around here now, it is just not that way anymore. So I guess this year I will do my best to judge what is there, and depending on what is in the area, I will try to hold out for the best deer that gives me an opportunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 As of now I'm not a trophy hunter, because I'm still going for my first deer with a bow, but once the first one goes down its does and big bucks only. I'm giong to have to go by score, but also by age too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCheeky Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 I went with age but alot of things go into to it. If we need some meat for the freezer then I'll pretty much go for any doe. However if I get a shot at a smaller doe rather than a larger one I will try and go for that one. Dad always says that the more mature does will be more likely to have twins or triplets the next year so to let them go. In a buck though we're trying to impliment QDM and only take the older more mature bucks so we can try and build up the buck population some and let the smaller bucks go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 As far as bucks are concerned, my goal is P&Y every year. As far as does (if I could get one to walk past me), brown = down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Definitely age. I'm too darn old to mess with "little" deer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckslayer Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Like the majority, I said age. I have to first look to see if it has 4 points on one side, but I want a mature deer. Where I'm at all the mature deer that meet antler restrictions are special in their own way and I'll be lucky and thankful for what I'm given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThethirdI Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 I picked "brown it's down" but what I really look for is to make sure it's not a yearling. I hunt for fun and food not a rack. If it's a button I'll let it go or if it's a small doe I'll let it go. Anything else is fair game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzy916 Posted September 2, 2007 Report Share Posted September 2, 2007 well i usally go with if its brown its down, i love shooting does, but if im buck hunting on my private land i can hunt i will try to shoot an older buck, that is atleast 120s i shot a 140 in 10 point last year so im going to try to beat it this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted September 2, 2007 Report Share Posted September 2, 2007 I voted if its brown its down because I need to get a few archery deer kills under my belt. Anything within range this year is NOT walking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nut Posted September 2, 2007 Report Share Posted September 2, 2007 I voted Nothing. It really depends on how I feel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerslayer79 Posted September 2, 2007 Report Share Posted September 2, 2007 I'm not Really a antler hunter,if a nice buck comes by he's got problems,but I do it more for the meat than the mount on the wall.I start the season off by usually shootin 3-4 nice does for the freezer then I work on hunting something for the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted September 2, 2007 Report Share Posted September 2, 2007 Not enough options We have a doe season first so I hold out for an big old doe if I can. For bucks I wait until the have a decent rack but I don't worry about P&Y or whatever. Mostly I like to es deer while hunting and then depending on the situation I will shoot or just watch 'em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest superguide_jr Posted September 2, 2007 Report Share Posted September 2, 2007 i picked score when i hunt i roughly try to judge wat he will score to decide weather or not to shoot him but one last days i would take a doe with my either sex tag rather then shoot a small buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest doublelung45 Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 final stage of raising big'uns When I frist started hunting the property I hunt now we set a guidline of >16" inside spread...that was over 9 years ago. After that we went with "get it mounted or pay $400"(about equal to the cost of a mount around here)...Then we put a 140" limit. Now we have the 140" limit in place but we are working on age being the deciding factor...trying to get them to 5 1/2 before we harvest. Except when it comes to does...then its kill'em all, well not all but you get the point (1 to 1 ratio is the goal). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 The first buck that comes by me will die. I will wait for a mature doe. So I have two different answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.