Who's passed up a buck this year?

[96trigger]

I'm sorry man, that blows, truley it does. I still wouldn't shoot the little bucks, but I can see where you are coming from.

[walleyeking19]

I passed up a small spike on opening morning of rifle season, it had a big white spot on its side, but it was getting chased off by a nice 9 pointer I was able to get.

[Quackaddict9]

We are in our 10th year of passing immature/small bucks. In that time we have harvested 3 bucks that have made walls. But thats with up to 6 people hunting at various points throughout all the seasons.

I havent shot a deer since 2009 myself. I havent shot a buck since 2004.

my dad went 9 years without shooting a deer and it was a well deserving buck, not big or small just a nice medium thick 9 point. So come back here after its 9 years! Hope you guys figure something out, we have kinda the same problem but people in our party shooting small ones, even the ones me, my brother or dad had passed up earlier the day, day before, or during the season. It has gotten a little better but it happened again this year.

[bottom-bouncer]

hunting in zone 343 s it is apr. this year with the bow I have passed on 9 2.5 year olds 8 of those were small eights one was a 10 I also had 7 other young bucks that were 6pt and one that was a young deer that had main beams but no points basically a spike but they were in the form of main beams. I would have shot any of those regardless of apr zone or not. all of these bucks were within 25yds of my stand. I did have some great encounters with some mature bucks as well just could close the deal no shot, to far, Oh and I choked on one encounter. I did stick a 130 class 8pt that I was unable to find. had great blood for about 150yds and then nothing 4 of us looked for about 7hrs totall with no luck.

[surewood]

Between archery and rifle I passed 26 times on 1.5 to 2.5 year old bucks. Saw the same bucks a few times. Zone 179.

[jeep guy]

This year where we hunt we where really buck heavy. The bucks we had roaming around ranged between 8's to spikes. At the begining of the season we decided none of us where going to shoot does. The bucks out numbered does 3 to 1. Between 5 of us we ended up shooting an 8,6,and a spike. The problem we figured was we've been in an intensive harvest area for a couple years and last year our neighbors ended up shooting 1 buck and 14 does.

[elkhuntingfan]

I passed on 3 small bucks during gun season. Two were six pointers and one was a fork. During bow season, I passed on a small 10 right under me and two eight pointers. I still don't have a deer, but I am OK with that. I hope those bucks make it through. They'll be nice ones next year.

[B. Amish]

i don't keep track of numbers. i know i had more bucks in range than does.

biggest buck i passed was about 120".

haven't shot a deer yet this year and it doesn't bother me at all.

[MUSKY18]

I passed up on a beaut of a young 8 pointer during the Ripley hunt. Maybe a 2.5 year old deer. Perfect rack almost out to the tips of his ears, but the rack was thin with shorter points on it. He ate acorns in front of my stand for almost 1/2 hour. I drew on him twice, but just couldn't do it. Two years and this buck will be a STUD.

[MUSKY18]

Not as many this year as usual, I shot mt buck on Sept. 24th but I passed 4 or 5 opening weekend zone 293, then 4 more on the day I shot mine in zone 341.

Normally pass up around 20-25 1.5-2.5 year olds during bow and gun season.

So you shot two bucks this year already?

[paceman]

I haven't kept very good track but I'm sure I passed at least 10 shots on bucks with the bow and rifle. Some bucks multiple times.

[LABS4ME]

I passed at 4 in Mn and 6 in Wi, half those were 2.5 y.o. eights... bodes well for the next couple of years...

Good Luck!

Ken

[Bear55]

Between archery and rifle season I probably passed a dozen or so bucks, mostly 1.5's and a couple of 2.5 year old 8 pointers. Saw several more just out of range with the bow, two of them looked pretty good sized but hard to say for sure.

[LABS4ME]

I passed at 4 in Mn and 6 in Wi, half those were 2.5 y.o. eights... bodes well for the next couple of years...

Good Luck!

Ken

[bigbucks]

I passed on 2 small 6 pointers with the bow one morning that were together & another small buck, not sure if he was a 6 or a real little 8 another morning. These were with the bow, I only saw like 4 other bucks all fall. They didn't offer shots, but I would not have shot them. I got a glimpse of a fairly small one during shotgun season, even though he was only about 20 yards. It was close to dark & the brush was so thick, I couldn't see him until the shot opp was there & then it was gone before I had a chance to even say pass.

Usually I pass on many more small bucks during bow season. I just didn't see a lot of deer on stand this year. Very weird year for me.

[tracker x-2]

zone 338, sevral spikes, forks, and six's have gotten passes. So far have not noticed any affect from APR.

[Musky Buck]

I don't even like to call it passing on them as I don't even grab my gun, yearling bucks are the future big ones we'll see and read about in the next few years. Did see a 6pt opening day, poor thing had ran to me from nearly 2 miles away and was exhausted plowing through the swamp water. People were doing a drive and my cousin saw that buck cross the highway and shot the other buck that went his way. Didn't see much this season.

[LightningBG]

So you shot two bucks this year already?

Nowhere in that post would it imply that he took 2 bucks. He passed on 4 or 5 opening weekend (9/17-9/18), then passed on 4 on the 24th before he took one.

[Stratosman]

Umm, no...not sure how you got there. Glad to see you're concerned though!

[Stratosman]

Thanks LightningBG,

I apologize if my original post was confusing.

[MUSKY18]

Sorry Stratosman....i misread and was throughly confused. My apologies!

[TruthWalleyes]

I hunt APR for the most part, saw many small bucks, and let one small 8pt walk opening morning.

Will be hunting a lottery zone this weekend and i won't hesitate on small horns.

[Stratosman]

No sweat Musky...

This thread is interesting...

I would be interested to see how many hunters passed up APR bucks in 3 that they would have otherwise shot...

[InTheNorthwoods]

I passed up several bucks. Perhaps even one I should have shot, about a 135" ten point - didn't even raise the gun. I understand that people can get frustrated with passing deer that others in the area will drop without a second thought, but my theory is this:

If I shoot a deer, it will for sure not make it to next season. If I pass it, it at least has a chance to make it to next season. Sure, lots of bucks that I have passed have ended up on the meat pole, and it sometimes stings a little bit (because I like to shoot deer too), but it doesn't sting as much as the feeling of disappointment of shooting something that doesn't meet my personal goals and that ends my season early.

[jerkin'm]

I personally only passed up one buck, small basket 8 at about 10 yards. Two others in my party were standing with me at the time and nobody even thought about pulling up on him. After lots of preaching, everyone is on board with letting the little guys walk. Everyone passed on multiple small bucks and does w/fawns. We did see some shooters but none presented good shots. First rifle season none of us took a deer. It felt good to not be butchering for once too.. (total of 8 people for rifle season) I still have my Muzzleloader tag and bow tag in hand and feel my chances are still good to take a nice buck. I believe it keeps me motivated knowing there are some real quality deer to be had on our property still. We hunt private ground in zone 240. Cant wait to get out again as I haven't hunted since first weekend of rifle season...Don't believe Stratosman...he has the spikers stacked up in his freezer...