Do I shoot or wait and hope??

[Slow Jigger]

The area I hunt is light pressured hunting most years. There is a big bruiser still walking around at least a 10 pointer, under the QDM (quality deer managment) umbrella is this one to let go and wait until next year? if he walks by I might take him since it would be my first ever deer.

His brow tines are my main reason I question of letting him go and maybe get another big buck out there for the next year? My hopes are for a doe but.... He is about 15 yards from my ground blind in this picture.

[fisherking01]

Man that's entirely up to you. Your the one filling your shoes. If you take him Good for you, If you hold out, Good for you. Let him go and you may find something like this [image]http://[/image]

Unfair to say anything but use your own judgement. Took me 25 years to take a buck like this. I killed many smaller bucks and was proud of them in the past, just decided a few years ago that just taking a buck wasn't what I was about anymore.

The buck in your pic would be an extremely nice first buck!

Congratulations on still being out there, that's what hunting is all about! Brent

[Wanderer]

Would you feel really excited if you got him? If so, take him if you get the chance.

If the answer is, eh, he's O.K. Then let him go. In the QDM scenarios that get talked about so much, he's a prime one to let grow up.

Like Fisherking01 says, "Good for you" either way!

[Slow Jigger]

Any deer is a trophy... As stated before I would rather take a doe and let him grow. His "Daddy" is a massive deer which I have seen twice so either way I have one that will keep me up at night for the next year.

I am hunting weekends or until I am lucky to harvest a deer. A doe or buck to me is a trophy!! I guess I will know IF I see him when I am out there. Hard to pass on him but will see what happens! Would love to see him get a year older. Also would like to see him in-person as well.

Fisher Nice Buck...

[96trigger]

Do what you want and be happy but the guy in the picture could use a little more time. He's only going to get better with time. Your kind of at crunch time now, good luck in whatever you decide.

[Powerstroke]

The brow times area nice, but they match the rest, which means this guy has a lot more potential.

If you really are trying to do QDM, then I would say let him walk.

If you want to take him than you should.

I have never shot a buck with antlers, not even a spike. It haunts me a bit, but I know I will get the chance. I've seen them, it just hasn't been the right scenario. Take a doe, put some meat in the freezer and start looking for those sheds in a couple weeks.

[deerslayer5]

If the pressure is like you stated,light, let him go you will be glad you did I'm interested in what camera you took the picture and what brand is your blind?

[LuciandTim]

Me...at this point in the season am shooting that deer. That is a nice deer and as a reward for battling the cold am taking it

[maros91]

If you are practicing QDM and the area you hunt is light then let him walk, like previously stated he can only get better BUT like you said this would be your first deer. I'll tell you what that is one heck of a first deer. I have been hunting for 15 years and still have not taken a buck that big. Whatever you do it is a win win situation for ya.

[deerslayer5]

Let him walk, if the pressure is light, you will get a better and bigger deer. What type of camera and blind are you using?

[Slow Jigger]

Well he is still walking although I am having a bit of a problem. The evening before I was heading out I kicked my daughters sock down the stairs, unfourtunately the little block of wood molding, was right there. WHAM! Broken Toe , very hard to walk but hoping to try once more if I can. Otherwise I hope to see him next year!

Camera is a Moultrie I40 and the ground blind is an Ameristep G20. The camera is perfect but the blind needs replacing!