Let him grow another year?

[MNRookie78]

Just wanted to get some opinions if I should take this guy or not (IF I see him when I'm in my stand of course). My opinion, he's too young. Looks to be 3 1/2 based on his body size. What do you think? Thanks in advance for your replies. One last thing...the tree he's looking at in the second pic is where I hang my climber. The deer is standing in the exact location as the 9 pointer I harvested last year from that stand. Looks like it's still going to be a good spot

Note: The date on this one is a month off. Should have been 9/4/09

[Archerysniper]

Take him my rule is at least eight points wider and taller then his ears and he passes all of that. Yes he has room too grow but will you kick yourself if you pass and someone else takes him because my guess no one else will pass him me included.

[tunrevir]

Nice looking buck there. If you think he will make it another year and not get hit by a car, shot by another hunter or eaten by coyotes or wolves I'd give him a year to grow. Of course there aren't any garuntees when it comes to surviving the winter either. On the other hand, I'd have a really hard time passing him up unless I knew I had some bigger deer in the area as well. Good luck!

Tunrevir~

[vister]

sure he may be bigger next year, but if you think he'll be there next year, then let him go. I can't say i'd let him walk. definetely with a bow he'd be coming home with me. its easier passing on deer with a rifle, because you can tell by the amount of hunting pressure around you if he'd be safe if you pass him up, and if he walk away from ya, you can still decide to shoot. with the bow, typically, you have to make that decision right now! I'd shoot!

[96trigger]

Nope, definitely take him. He is a nice deer. If a guy like that presents himself, take him. I wouldn't even consider him borderline. Lots of junk on that thing. Only way I'd consider it is if it is you think he will definitely make it to next year and there was a bigger one around.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Will he be there next year though? If so I would let him go.

Other wise "pop him"...

Good Luck

[frogtosser]

I wouldnt even think twice about taking him, do you have bigger deer on the wall is that why you would give him another year?

[archerystud]

He's a shooter in my book. However, I have a very difficult time getting 3.5 year olds in my hunting area.

How confident are you that he will survive and be there next year? Also, how many this big have you already harvested?

If I had 1-2 more like him already on the wall I might let him pass but only then. If he walks in front of ME tonight I'm shooting.

[MNRookie78]

I'm with you guys on this...I'd be hard pressed to let him walk if was within range. Chances are there would be some carbon flying through the air. There are 2 reasons I WOULD let him walk though. #1 there is very little pressure near our property throughout the seasons and the neighbors that do hunt have been letting younger deer walk for the past several years just like my dad and I have been doing. Does that mean THEY wouldn't take him if he was in their sights? Not necessarily, but if they hold true to their words they would let him get to 4 1/2. #2 It sure would be nice to see him breed a few does this fall and get more of his genes in the herd This pic was from last season...enough similarities to conclude this is his dad? It's a little blury, but you can get a good idea. Thanks for the comments guys.

[archerystud]

I'd say that's him from last year.

[mrklean]

i would take him unless you know theres no doubt in your mind he will be around next year

[HotPocket]

I would have to take him if he walked infornt of me. Good luck

[winniewalleye777]

I would shoot

[mudslinger64]

i would take him,but remember you can't take a great deer if you take him when he is a good deer...

[ANYFISH2]

Your choice! It would be easy for me, a definate shooter. Never would I pass on a 150 or better deer, which I believe he is, not that score is that important. Unless you have teeth his age is just a guess. Good luck this year!

[koonie]

Give him two more years and you will have a true giant.

[Scott M]

There are 2 reasons I WOULD let him walk though. #1 there is very little pressure near our property throughout the seasons and the neighbors that do hunt have been letting younger deer walk for the past several years just like my dad and I have been doing. Does that mean THEY wouldn't take him if he was in their sights? Not necessarily, but if they hold true to their words they would let him get to 4 1/2. #2 It sure would be nice to see him breed a few does this fall and get more of his genes in the herd

Mickey Hellickson, a leading white-tail deer researcher, has been the lead biologist at Texas' King Ranch, the famous wildlife preserve. He's going into year 9 on a dominant buck study. It was covered in Field and Stream. He's quoted saying

"It's true that mature bucks in the study did the majority of breeding, but remember that the King Ranch is intensively managed. Up to 30 percent of the bucks here are at least 5.5 years old, and we shot bunches of does. Even then, immature bucks did plenty of breeding. Most wild populations will have far fewer mature bucks and be less balanced."

Honestly, mature breeders can only tend to so many does. F+S goes on to say that in all likelihood, the genetics of the herd won't be affected one way or the other by your decision.

I'm guessing Hellickson will publish on the subject shortly. I don't mean to pick on you MNRookie, I just thought this was interesting and your thoughts on letting him walk or harvesting the deer tripped my memory of the article. I think it debunks a common perception of QDM; still, there are plenty of reasons to let deer walk, as in MNRookie's case if the area has low hunting pressure and the neighbors are also letting immature bucks walk.

[Double D]

Mice deer, so if you pass are you prepared to see him hanging on the neighbors pole come gun season? There is a lot of argument to be made for letting him walk, he would be a brute next year.

If you see him again.

Just my 2 cents.

DD

[Bear55]

I'd shoot him but that is just me. I also wouldn't be surprised if he was already 4.5 - in the 2nd pic he's got a little belly hanging down and deer alwasy look a little smaller with their summer coats on.

[InTheNorthwoods]

I would say that the deer is 4.5 years old and that the picture from last year is the same deer at 3.5.

I think it would be hard to pass him up this year. My guess is that he will make the decision if he lives till next year, and not you. That said, he will be a stud next year or the year after if he makes it.

[BLACKJACK]

I'd shoot him in a heartbeat - unless you know that there is a bigger one around.

[CodyDawg]

I will start off by saying I pass up all the immature bucks in hopes of getting a big one. However, having said that, I would make my decision on this guy based on a different scale. Rathter than antler score, I would decide based on the hunt. If it was a good, fair chase, fun, ethical hunt....BANG!. If it was standing on the trail on the way to my stand....I might let him go. But that is me. The best deer I have ever shot was a 10 that will score about 140. Nice for sure, but not huge, not the biggest I have shot. It was the first and only deer I have mounted because the "hunt" was so perfect. I relive that hunt about 654,715 times per year! This deer is more of a trophy to me than the bigger ones. Dont let antler score define your hunt!

[tracker x-2]

thats some good points C Dawg. I would have hard time passing on him if I was presented the shot.

[Bear55]

Well CodyDawg don't leave us hanging lets hear the story.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

"I relive that hunt about 654,715 times per year"

Whoa that is a lot times, I'm not doing the math but seems like a lot...