Letting small bucks walk?

[fishermusk]

I let a small 6pt buck walk last night, this was in Carlos Avery. I could have killed him he was only 18 yards away and was broadside, I was on the groung backed up agaimst a small pine tree.

I have talked to a few other hunters and they had passed on smaller bucks this year on public land aswell. I think catch and release deer hunting is starting to catch on.

I shot a doe during the early antlerless season so I have already tagged some meat. This helped me let that one go last night, but I also thought that I would like to see this deer again next year or the next, and by them he have a rack worth bragging about.

Good Luck,

Dave

[Shoot2Kill]

That is awesome man, seriously. With enough preching in the units where it could really make a difference hopefully it will catch on more and more every year. In the 9 day gun season I let 8 different bucks walk - could have killed every one of them. 2 of them were respectable 2.5 y/o deer that will be something to look at in another year or two, the rest were spikes, forks, and dink basket racks. I ate tag soup with my gun tag and am proud of it because I at least know I didn't kill one of them so maybe there is a chance they will make it. I still have my bow tag and will eat that too if nothing of any size presents itself.

[BigWadeS]

Congrats on letting him walk, I shot a small racked fork horn this year and a doe...

[FLnick87]

fishermuskie, how was hunting carlos this year? did they get a lot or any nice deer out of the area? I am also from forest lake, but don't hunt Avery much because I don't like the crowd. The only time I get out there is muzzleloader season when we try to get a group together for some drives. congrats on passing the small buck! it's tough to do on public land

[FishingwithJake]

I applaud you for letting him walk. I had the same exact thing happen to me on opening morning of the rifle hunt. I had a relatively small 6-pointer walk right by my stand as well as a small fork horn. I too am hoping I see them next year. I ended up shooting two does one the first weekend and the other the second weekend.

[slimngrizzly]

Way to let them go! And on public land! Someone will be happy someday that you let him walk. maybe itll be you!

[fishermusk]

Carlos Avery is not where I usualy deer hunt, but I was busy with work and with the license changes I decided to give it a try. I think there a lot of deer available there and probably some nice bucks aswell. From what I noticed there was very few people hunting and the people that were didn't seem to interested because I saw most at there vehicles. What was interesting about this spot is that is is close to a road and is a cattail area and has grass only 2 1-2' feet tall, I was sitting on a chair backed up to a pine tree. I think most people wouldn't give this area a second look for deer.

Good Luck,

Dave

[maros91]

Good job. Let them go so they can grow. All these guys shoot small bucks because they want the meat. If you want meat shoot a doe. I am on year 5 on my personal 8pts or bigger to shoot. No basket racks either. Once you start passing on small bucks the easier it gets.

[BigWadeS]

Good job. Let them go so they can grow. All these guys shoot small bucks because they want the meat. If you want meat shoot a doe. I am on year 5 on my personal 8pts or bigger to shoot. No basket racks either. Once you start passing on small bucks the easier it gets.

Well the good thing is I shoot bucks and does, once I learn how to cook the antlers I will worry about letting the basket racks and forks go....

[Musky Buck]

Good job, since 1994 been catching and releasing in my scope, here's why. I had a hot doe come by and she had a 5 pointer on her tail, I thought about it because I only had zone 4 2 days to hunt back then. After the 5 pointer came a 2 1/2 year old 8 pointer, not tremendous but let him walk as well, set my gun down and on the same doe was buck number 3, big 11 point buck. Well down he went. Learned a big lesson and not the last time I had more than 1 buck chasing the same doe. After I took that 11 pointer I thought, man could there be 1 more buck, there wasn't unless my blast scared him off. It's why muskies keep getting bigger, catch and release. If you blast tehm for the meat in your area go ahead, just don't expect many big boys that your tag will go on, it takes most of the hunters in your section and you'll see the difference, hard to accomplish though. Lots of trigger happy wanting to shoot for the sake of it, good luck all, my 14 pointer worked for this year.

[Dano2]

I learned a big lesson too this weekend. after doing grunts and bleats, dont set your gun down and start drinking a pop.

without sharing too many details out of embarrassment, a very large 10+ pointer is alive and well

[CSTPETER]

Hats off to you fishermuskie. If you need the meat shoot a doe. I would love to see more people take this common sense approach to growing bigger bucks.

[Ryan Becklund]

A buck that I passed on at 15yds got shot the first weekend of slug hunting. I passed on it cause it was too short for tine length. It was out just past the ears but real short. Too bad it did not get a chance to see next season. Oh well....I am sure he was a trophy for someone.

[Sandmannd]

I just started deer hunting. I don't hunt for trophies but because I like the meat. I will shoot does unless I see a nice sized buck. If I see a large buck I'll take it, but until then, I'll shoot the does.

[Musky Buck]

I hear ya Ryan, happens a lot, but not all of them will get gunned down, hopefully someone else in your neck of the woods let 1 or 2 go as well, and maybe your tag will go on that 1 next year or the year after. I hear well if I let it go the neighbor group, they will blast it, I'd say politely talk to the neighbors about it and see if you can work something out in your area. It does work eventually. In the section I hunt, many 200+ pound bucks are taken each year. If you doubt it get the New York Mills Herald newspaper and look at the monsters coming out of that area, haven't seen the paper this year but past years have shown tons of mature bucks taken in that area including 1 of the 6 state records in 2005. Muzzleloader/non-typical. I have wondered ever since that guy took that buck.... could I pay for a lie detector test and ask him Did you shoot that animal on my land ? The guy who got it and his friend and dad were trespassing all over my property the day it was shot. They claim they got it on the bordering land, same group of guys came marching in at me on Sunday only to turn around and walk out when they saw me, I work 2 hours away and a friend said on Wednesday there were trucks parked all over my approach again, so they drove my land toward theirs again, to you should I call the CO's or Deputy to go and have someone present when I talk to them ? I also found a stand on my land Sunday. I don't want to be a jerk but their party owns about 1,000 acres and don't see why they need to bother me or my 80. Sorry got off topic.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

I'd rip that stand down in a hearbeat, then make a report to the local CO about trespassers, have your friend call the CO next time he sees them set up shop there

[Sandmannd]

Can you do this Musky Buck? Take the stand down (I would do that right away) but take pictures of where it is first and that it's up. Then take it to your house. If they come looking for it, tell them to pring a CO or Sheriff with and explain to them what it was doing on posted land.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Just IMO, but someone puts a stand, permanent or portable on your property, you own it. Especially if it is posted, forget about it. Just got yourself a stand

[Ryan Becklund]

Thats a bad deal all around. I don't own the land that I bowhunt but the landowner is nice enough to give me a area to hunt. I cant complain about the buck getting shot, nor do I really want to because I know there are others in the area. I just need to be in the stand when it decides to come thru. It is a rush to have a decent buck come thru within bow range and let him pass right on by. Was a awesome feeling that is for sure!

[Shoot2Kill]

Originally Posted By: Biff Tannen

Good job. Let them go so they can grow. All these guys shoot small bucks because they want the meat. If you want meat shoot a doe. I am on year 5 on my personal 8pts or bigger to shoot. No basket racks either. Once you start passing on small bucks the easier it gets.

Well the good thing is I shoot bucks and does, once I learn how to cook the antlers I will worry about letting the basket racks and forks go....

You're the same guy that would brag up and down that he finally shot a big buck too if ever given the opportunity and tell the story over and over to your buddies year after year like most people do that actually shoot something worth talking about. I'd tell you about the excitement one actually gets out of harvesting a true mature buck but you don't care since you can't eat the antlers. Have fun shooting your dinks - how big is that pile of fork horns in your garage that you never talk about?

[jerkbait]

Originally Posted By: BigWadeS

Originally Posted By: Biff Tannen

Good job. Let them go so they can grow. All these guys shoot small bucks because they want the meat. If you want meat shoot a doe. I am on year 5 on my personal 8pts or bigger to shoot. No basket racks either. Once you start passing on small bucks the easier it gets.

Well the good thing is I shoot bucks and does, once I learn how to cook the antlers I will worry about letting the basket racks and forks go....

You're the same guy that would brag up and down that he finally shot a big buck too if ever given the opportunity and tell the story over and over to your buddies year after year like most people do that actually shoot something worth talking about. I'd tell you about the excitement one actually gets out of harvesting a true mature buck but you don't care since you can't eat the antlers. Have fun shooting your dinks - how big is that pile of fork horns in your garage that you never talk about?

No pile in my garage, tried cooking the little tender forks once, but still way to chewey. Now the backs straps on them little bucks, em em good!!!!

[smnduck]

If you want to let a small deer pass to see if it can get old and maybe have "shooter","trophey","150ish" antlers its all up to the hunter in the woods. To say that a buck needs to be a mature animal to harvest is all just an opinion. If you hunt in the south central part of the state, just shooting does is NOT an option. A doe tag is once every 3-4 years to get. There simply is not the numbers of animals that other parts of the state have to just shoot does and let bucks walk that are not a"shooter". That is one term that I hope goes away. I like to eat deer and have yet to find a recipe in any way for antlers. I do like to have a chance at a big antlered buck but that is not the definition of deer hunting for me. I hope that this goal of big antlers brought on by magazines and TV shows, also known as horn porn settles down. I hope that Mn does not go the way of "trophey management" as many people will loose there hunting spots due to out of state hunters leaseing up lots of land. It will affect a lot of people when the pro's come in and lock up the land. Just look to southern Iowa and the chance to hunt down there. A spot that I hunted down there now is in the middle of a pro staff hunting area that comprimises about 1200 acre's. If you look with your binocs you can see the feeders to "train" the deer where to come and eat so they can film the "pro's" doin it the right way. If you want to pass on a small buck go ahead. I like to eat deer better than tag soup.

[B. Amish]

Quote:

I have wondered ever since that guy took that buck.... could I pay for a lie detector test and ask him Did you shoot that animal on my land ? The guy who got it and his friend and dad were trespassing all over my property the day it was shot. They claim they got it on the bordering land, same group of guys came marching in at me on Sunday only to turn around and walk out when they saw me, I work 2 hours away and a friend said on Wednesday there were trucks parked all over my approach again, so they drove my land toward theirs again, to you should I call the CO's or Deputy to go and have someone present when I talk to them ? I also found a stand on my land Sunday. I don't want to be a jerk but their party owns about 1,000 acres and don't see why they need to bother me or my 80. Sorry got off topic.

I know where your land is and who you are making these accusations of. Some of the most honest people on this planet I might add. Does anyone really know where the property lines run amongst a tangled mess of spruce and tamarack? Isn't the approach to your land very near the "tresspassers" land and isn't it the only approach for over half a mile on either side of the road?

It's great that you want to talk about QDM and such, but please stop with your accusations.

[walleyeman1]

Has it ever occurred to all the trophy hunters out there that there are people who like to eat venison. My question to you is why the DNR doesn't tell you how big of buck you have to shoot? Maybe you guys should lobby for that. That way we can have a few more regulations next year to worry about.

[fishermusk]

I never said that you or anybody else should not shoot any deer you see, you bought a tag and can do with it as you please. I just said that a few fellow hunters and myself decided to let the 6 pt walk so I may have a chance at taking someting worth bragging about.

I am all for people shooting as many deer as they are allowed and enjoy the venison meat. I love to eat it too. My only point in this thread is that I think that there are some folks out there that are Letting The Young Bucks Walk.

And by the way walleyeman1 I think our regulations book is screwed up enough without adding more regulation to it.

Good Luck,

Dave