Poll


Hunt or be Hunted

Poll  

42 members have voted

  1. 1. Poll

    • Shoot that big buck?
      9
    • shoot the small 4 point
      2
    • the doe
      14
    • just dont shoot
      17


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I guess I don't quit understand the poll. "Shoot that big buck?" Does that mean wait and then shoot the big buck if he gets closer or make a pot shot. I'm assuming it means wait and wait for him to get closer.

no i mean he's walking away and not getting closer

Man, I never shoot a four point, first day or last day. Usually got enough nannys in the freezer by then. I suppose you'll have to define "out of range". :D

what i mean by out of range is......out of range for your bow. :smoke:

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My choice was don't shoot. Why? The 4 point that's probably a 1.5 year old buck gets a pass to grow a few more years anyway. That's an easy choice. If it's been like other seasons I've had over the past 15 to 20 years I already have at least 1 doe for meat in the freezer so she gets a pass. Even if I didn't already have meat though and that big buck I'd been watching showed up out of range and left, there's always the chance he'll come by again since I know he's on the move in the area I'm hunting. Might as well stick it out to the end and see if he gives me a closer opportunity later.

BTW, here at home in MS when I locate a big mature buck that I want to hunt I don't shoot does from the stands I've set in the area I'm hunting him. I simply don't want to risk disturbing the area by shooting, tracking, and dragging a doe out of there. I always have other stands where I can hunt does for meat away from the area I'm hunting a big buck. When I'm hunting out of state, I'm hunting for big mature bucks. The only time I've ever killed does while hunting out of state was after my buck tag was filled.

My best friend would never have even noticed the big buck. He would have been licking his chops for a shot at the doe. That's the truth. To each his own. One time when he did kill a nice 8 point during bow season I drove over to his stand to help him drag. The 1st words out of my mouth were "he must have shown up first". He laughed and just said "yep".

Edited by Rhino
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4th and long....Grunt...it's the Rut

The Doe is close with a 4 pointer nearby that you could make enough commotion and possibly turn the buck. Make a few grunts followed by a couple turns of the Can call.

Yes...it's during the Rut because it's daylight and you have 2 Bucks in the area with one Doe.

The large buck may not turn with just grunting especially if it's early in the rut...but if you add those Doe Bleats after grunting you will at least get his attention. He is more than likely going to check to see if what he heard is true. Even if he continues out of sight continue grunting and bleating and watch your downwind side for antlers...get ready.

Edited by GWSmith
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Never settle for less than what you've set your sights on. If he's outta range, he's outta range. I won't make an irresponsible shot on anything. If I'm positive he's not going to come closer, I'll smoke the doe if I have a tag.

Ditto. Set your goals in the beginning of the season, and let the chips fall.

I'm shooting the doe. :cool:

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First I would try to grunt and give it every effort I could to get him to come in. Chances are if the 4 pt and doe are there, the big boy might be encouraged to close some distance.

If it is as you described though and I am not comfortable with it I am just not shooting. He made it through the seasons avoiding getting shot by several hunters on top of our lines, there is a good chance he will be around next fall during our archery season and will be even bigger. I had the buck I was after in range last year, but not under the most ideal lighting conditions due to it being overcast. I really was not 100 percent positive it was him at the time we saw him, however he was well within my range with my .270 and although it was very dim it was still within our legal shooting light.

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I'd never take an out of range shot with a bow, regardless of how big the buck is. I know my limitations with the bow (which are considerable) and absolutely will not exceed them.

The 4 point definitely gets a pass too unless he is clearly an older deer, in which case he gets taken out as a management buck. Removing does and management bucks are a close second in priority for me next to getting that whopper.

If its the last day of the season, I've most likely already filled my doe quota, but if not, there is typically a late doe only season after the regular season so I wouldn't be interested in shooting her at this time.

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Last day of the season means I already have enough meat so I'm most likely trophy hunting. I assumed that waiting wasn't going to bring the buck in closer so I picked to not shoot. There is always next year and I'd hate to make a bad shot, not find him, and then there would not be a next year.

BTW...

This happened to me in the 2007 season. Only difference is the buck was just in range at 30 yards (see my avatar).

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Too many variables, if I had already got a deer that year I wouldn't shoot. If I had or another member in my party had a doe tag (we need to have an antlerless tag here which you're put in a lottery for) I'd probably take the doe. If I only had a buck tag and hadn't taken a deer I'd be taking the 4 point.

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you said last day, you didnt say what time it was on the last day, if it was early in the morning than i would try to grunt, and use the can also, i also carry my rattleing horns during the rut, so i might hit them too, if its late in the evening im smoking that doe.

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