Rhino Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 (edited) You're hunting in Kansas on private property on a 6 day bowhunt. (BTW, this is a pic a Kansas buck I got last year). The owner's management rule on legal bucks is you're only allowed to shoot bucks that are 4.5 years old or older. If you shoot a younger buck you will never get to go back there again. The verbal abuse you'll get won't be pretty either if you shoot a younger buck. It's the 5th morning of your 6 day hunt. Bucks have been on the prowl but the weather has been a little on the warm side for rutting bucks. Although rain is in the forecast for later this afternoon and this evening with a front moving through the weather should be perfect for the last day of your hunt. You've seen 3 bucks that were legal for sure so far. They were, a 135 class 4.5 year old 8 point, a 145 class 4.5 year old 9 point, and a 160 class 5.5 year old 10 point so you know there's some big ones out there. No shot opportunities were offerend on them yet. The biggest buck was seen off another stand that will be good for the wind conditions tomorrow and you haven't been able to hunt that stand with the wind being wrong for 3 days now. This 130 class 8 point steps out and has slowly walked to within 25 yards of your stand. You've had the opportunity to watch him approach for about a minute now to size him up. It's your call now to shoot him or not. Is he a legal buck on this property? Are you going to shoot him? If you shoot him, pick the spot. BTW...I face these kind of decisions every time on the places I hunt in Iowa and Kansas. Edited July 6, 2009 by Rhino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Id shoot, he looks old enough to me. If i havnt had a shot at a decent buck until the 5th day, i wouldnt pass it up. 2nd red dot from the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterLuke Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 I'd be holdin my pin on the 2nd red dot from the bottom, Looks old enough to me but what do I know :hammer1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Very nice 8, but I'm going to hold out hope for the last day. Skipper here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 From that pic that deer looks to me like a 3.5 year old Alan. Considering it is in Kansas I say that deer probably falls short of meeting the 4.5 year old age requirement, taper upward at the gut tells me he is not quite 4.5 yet. If he were a shooter though, I would be aiming at red 2 from the bottom after a good grunt to get him stopped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 He sure doesn't look like a 4.5 year old to me. I'm leaning more towards 3.5 year old there. If the owners rules are 4.5 or better though..then I'm holding out on this buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 I would not shoot based on the info you gave. I would not field judge him at 4 1/2 and let him walk not chancing losing my hunting privileges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 3 red and I just got my first P&Y Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Unless I know for a fact that this deer is 4.5+ years old, I'm going to think twice and not take a gamble. Gonna skip this buck for now. Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccwhitey Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Looks like a 3.5 yr old to me so I would let him walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Based on how you know what happens if you shoot a younger buck, and you say you got this one, Im guessing he was only 3.5y/o:D:D Since I would have to play by the landowners rules, I think I would pass because he dont look over 3.5y/o to me. Playing by MY rules....2nd red from bottom and let'r rip!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Very nice 8, but I'm going to hold out hope for the last day. Skipper here. Ditto. But you knew that, right Alan? I think that's a 3.5 year old anyway. Based on the gut and shoulders, that's a younger deer IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted July 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 (edited) Very nice 8, but I'm going to hold out hope for the last day. Skipper here. Ditto. But you knew that, right Alan? Yep...X2 for both of ya. I've got another one for both of you next time and I won't even pick on either one of you with the scenario. Edited July 6, 2009 by Rhino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nastynissan4487 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Playing by the landowners rules Im going to have to pass on this deer unfortunatley. The buck is a definite trophy in my book but I wouldnt want to take a chance and loose my hunting priveleges by no means so I guess Im gunna have to pass this deer up..:bummed: PS:by the way Im definitley not the best at field judging deer and my uncertainty would be the reason for letting this deer walk.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Drops Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 I'd say it's a 3.5. As hard as it would be, I would have to pass. If it would have been Ok to shoot, I would shoot him for the 3rd red dot down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 If it would have been Ok to shoot, I would shoot him for the 3rd red dot down. Yep, right through the pump station. :gun2: Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted July 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 William and I think alike on both the reasons why we thought he was a 3.5 year old buck and the shot selection if he had been old and big enough. The shape of the head and neck also made me think he was a 3.5 year old buck. For all those that think he's 3.5 for a Kansas buck my hats off to you. Right or wrong for what it's worth, we agreed. I actually passed this buck up in Kansas at 28 yards last year from the same spot where I killed the B&C buck back in 2004. It's easier passing these up when you know there's bigger ones out there somewhere. I'll be there with bow in hand again and camera ready for the skippers come November. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 i dont think hes old enough either, he dont have that drupy gut like older deer have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12-point Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 skip i would wanna come back and respect my landowner. 130 inches is def not a 4 1/2 year old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 He's iffy. I couldn't say for sure he's any older than 3-1/2. I'd pass and hope for tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 I'm thinking he's 3.5 for sure. Even if he's 4.5 I pass on him because of what I know is still walking around..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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