what size do you shoot


buckee

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scoring these blacktails means nothing to me.

I mean, it is nice when you get one that you can score, but I just go for a mature deer . It could be a big ol' mature 2x2, I don't care. I do try to get the biggest buck on the property sometimes, if there isn't a lesser one that I think maybe should go first.

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Re: what size do you shoot

If I held out for 150" class bucks I would not have a buck on the wall. My goal is to just shoot mature bucks--older than 2.5 years. If I lived in an area that consistently produced 150" class deer than I could see my self doing that. So I have tried to learn to age a buck on the hoof--and if he has a nice 120"+ class rack then I'm taking him. I only saw 2 bucks this year that would fall in that class--and one of them is at the taxidermist right now smile.gif

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Re: what size do you shoot

well if i ever saw a decent buck i would kill it. it seems like i can only see little spikes and fork horns. we have been little the small buck walk for about 3 or 4 years on our property so we should have some fairly nice buck next year. but to answer the question i would take a buck if he is past his ear or right at them and if he had some tines length. past his ear and no tine legth i'd try really hard not to shoot him. i've never killed a buck buck so that would be really hard.

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Re: what size do you shoot

I try to hold out for 3 1/2 year old or better bucks and I do pass on all the little 1.5 year olds and most often pass all the 2.5 year olds, unless I make a mistake judging them, which I have done. Usually here a mature buck would have 8 points and most often be out beyond the ears, but that falls well short of putting them into the 150 class. Have only seen one deer in all my time hunting here that I know was in the 150 class range, and that deer here where I hunt would likely have been a new county record. They just dont let em get that big around here. Most around here shoot everything they see.

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Re: what size do you shoot

last i checked, you can't eat the antlers smile.gif, if i lived in an area that produced big bucks i would probly be able to hold out, but when you are luck to even see a deer its tough to be picky, so i just mainly go for meat in the freezer, the antlers are just an added bonus, the only time i won't shoot is if it is really small and not even worth payin the mony to get processed smile.gif

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Re: what size do you shoot

140" minimum or a gnarly old, mature buck. We've got a big half rack buck we've seen running around the last couple years that would be at least 140" if he had both sides. I missed him at 25 yds with my shotgun last year because my sights were off and my dad had him at about 30 yds with no shot present this year.

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Re: what size do you shoot

I use outside his ears and 8 points for the rule. Haven't bow killed a buck in 2 years because of that, but have taken a few does.

Wish I hunted in an area that I could realistically wait for a 150 class buck. I can count on 1 hand my buddies that have killed bucks that big. frown.gif

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Re: what size do you shoot

before i got my big buck this year, if it had horns, it was down and if we had a doe tag, it was down. but now i would like to shoot anything thats about 130+, it all depends on how long i will be hunting out of the year. i loke my venison so if i need some meat, anything that has horns is going down grin.gif

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Guest DaHunter

Re: what size do you shoot

Well where i live and hunt its uncommon too see a 2.5 year old buck, so with that in mind i will take anything with antlers. Except of course button horns...I didnt even see a buck this year got a doe tho.

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Re: what size do you shoot

If I consistently saw 150 class deer, I could see me passing smaller bucks. Where I hunt any buck is a good buck. I have passed spikes, and wouldn't knowingly shoot a button. Anything forked...I'll make an effort to tag. I have yet to take a deer with the bow, and drew on 2 spikes this year, that I couldn't get a shot on. I wish I had the option on passing measly 120 class bucks!

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Re: what size do you shoot

During our early bow season i won't shoot anthing under an eight point atleast as wide as his ears.We are bucks only unless drawn for a doe stamp.I'll hold off on the small bucks until the last week of the season,by then i'm really ready to put some meat in the freezer.Since passing on smaller bucks i have been seeing more bucks and bigger bucks where i hunt.

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Guest ILBIGBUCKS

Re: what size do you shoot

i like to shoot a mature deer that around 150-160 in. since we have such good genetics here in illinois its pretty easy to let them 130-140's walk.

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Re: what size do you shoot

My plan every year is to take a doe or two early and then wait on a nice buck, I'm looking for a buck that's 130+ or just something I like. I do have a set time in the year that I change my attitude concerning the big boys... when that time comes and i need meat in the freezer I'll settle for something less.

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