Who's passed up a buck this year?

[Wensel]

I passed a few with the bow, dont carry the gun, however you always ask yourself, "could I have really pulled it off" alot of times when you decide to take, one falters, and the buck is walking..........

[Stratosman]

Don't believe Stratosman...he has the spikers stacked up in his freezer...

You know it Pat!

[Hench]

342 APR Zone (3B). I passed on 3 bucks. 2 were forks (not legal) and one 7pt that was 2.5 years. Nice deer but will get bigger.

In addition to the bucks I saw 11 fawns and no mature does. Kinda frustrating watching 3 fawns walk past and 20 minutes later I hear 5 quick shots from that direction. I agree with everyone having a personal choice but wish those hunting the neighboring property would let them grow up a bit.

Others in my group saw forks and fawns. Our group of 5 ended up with 2 does which is below par for us.

[honker23]

349 by law had to pass on 3, would have anyways, Had a nice 10 pointer at 40 yds twice, but no shot. Last year there were 6-8 different bucks in my area that got a pass and the bow hunters were happy this year!

[Wanderer]

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...

I'm assuming you mean the deer that were passed because they weren't legal? Or, passed legal APR bucks because they were baskets?

Just wondering because I fell into both categories this year.

I'll tell you guys one thing though. When people don't have time to hunt, their standards change quite a bit. Mine did this year. Maybe next year I can be picky again. Hopefully...

[Stratosman]

Passed because they would have been illegal to shoot...

But would have shot them if there weren't apr's in place.

Just curious...

[Hoyt4]

Passed on 11 or 12 bucks this fall bow hunting metro and 236. Ended up shooting a small buck I had already passed. Had the week off before gun and will shoot a deer before gun opens. Our deer vanish after gun opens so bow hunting is tough later. Not a doe around to even add to the bag this year. Was a slow year for us so far. Hoping to still put another one or two in the freezer from the metro. Been out to our spot in 236 and no pictures on the 3 cameras very few tracks right now. I try and hold out for most the fall till gun and then will put any deer in the freezer can't pass up at that point. Just love to be out hunting don't hunt for status. I never judge what people shoot as long as they are happy with what they took and get that rush we all like to get before pulling the trigger.

If people like to let deer walk and are looking for something for the wall good for them but don't judge others for taking something you might not of.

[Crappie Rage]

I passed 4 yearlings and one 2.5 year old in MN. In Kansas I passed about 10 yearlings 9 2.5 year olds and the following 3.5 year olds.

[mnviking28]

I hunt a fairly large tract of private in 264. I will agree that it is pretty frustrating to have neighbors or members of your own party that will hammer down everything that they see, especially if they are deer that you have passed on to let them grow. I passed on several small 1.5 and 2.5 year olds this year and a 3.5 year old 120"-125" or so that had great potential. Standing shot, 75 yards...telling the story to my uncle and he says "I'd of shot him." So many of the attitudes that I personally am trying to change is the "older generation" that grew up shooting everything they saw, because the may only see 1 deer a year. But, as InTheNorthwoods put it, you know if you shoot them, they aren't going to make it. If you let them go, they might. I passed a similar deer a few years back, two years later my cousin shot it and it netted 158", so it does work.

[Musky Buck]

mnviking 28 and I grew up with the older generation telling me a young buck can't become a great buck if he's dead already. I grew up with go/grow let young bucks walk long before it was ever talked about, but I agree many old timers were you shoot and my grandpa's hated that. But, then again you saw better/bigger deer in those days so waiting an hour or 2 or the next day wasn't much of a wait. In my area there isn't many older deer buck or doe around anymore, almost got to hope a doe fawn comes into heat, if it wasn't for the city limits and them being off limits our area would be really crippled, at least those survivors next summerish can migrate out of town and fool us into thinking lots around and a few decent sized ones only to sprint for town again when the pressure comes. I have to pass on small bucks because I prefer to wait out a large buck, if I fill my buck tag on a runt then my season is over, but there are very very few at present time that are shootable so it makes for long deerless seasons but when you finally score it's well worth the wait and there's no doubt the buck was passed by someone else and I appreciate that as do they when they score.

[HunterLee]

I have passed quite a few small bucks from spikes to 8's and small 9's. Most are the 80-110 in varity and couple 120ish. Still waiting and hoping for that crack at a mature one. Otherwise mama is going into the freezer.

Hunted ND Neb and Mn. Should of shot the 8 in Neb but it was the first day first hour. Oh well shot a doe the last afternoon.

[matchset]

i passed up an outrageous number of bucks. (shhhh, i won't post the exact number) but i harvested 4 does, and one nice buck in minnesota

i'm probably going to "eat" a wisconsin non-resident $160 tag for the 3rd time in four years, but that doesn't bother me. i don't need 36'' of antler on my garage wall, i'd rather put lbs of doe meat in my freezer.

[Wanderer]

Nice pics Crappie Rage. The bottom one is real similar to the 10 I shot this year. I'm happy with what I got this year for the time I put in (none) but when I was looking at him hanging I had the thought pass through my mind a time or two if I'd been better off letting him go.

If had though I wouldn't have any vennie in the cooler and that's been pretty important this year for us.

[slimngrizzly]

Ive passed on many over the passed years usually eating "tag soup" which was fine. This year I cashed in my hours and tagged out on two mature bucks. In WI I passed on a 3 year old only to kill a 5 - 7 year old a half hour later. It was a very rewarding experience! And I know the 3 year old should be a tank next year! Mn I passed on a couple bucks but didn't see many as been the case the last few years. I did shoot a beautiful 4 year old finaly that I had some history with.

i was a great season but im not seeing as many deer period... and I know they got hit hard this year!

[tearin' lips]

I only saw one buck this year, a small six. I won't shoot a buck that I don't think is 4.5 years old or 125 inches anymore. I saw probably 40 deer all season, but they were does and fawns. I took my part in Quality Deer Management this year and dropped the buck to doe ratio on our property by shooting a 3.5 year old doe.