The place I'm hunting whitetails is loaded with deer, but the friend who got me on the place and I made a pact to let bucks pass this year unless they are monsters or 'over the hill'. The place has the potential for real trophies, and I am fortunate to have been invited on, but things are getting frustrating. I have had several bucks in range, but nothing that fits our shooting criteria. Here's a picture of a buck that was willing to take an arrow yesterday if I had done it, but I passed.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_0413.jpg)
I hope that our efforts and will power hold out, and in a couple of years we may have some real hogs. Is anybody else gritting their teeth and not shooting smaller bucks in order to have bigger bucks in the future? We will be killing some does for the freezer, so we won't go hungry.
Stings some at first, but just give it two to three years Pat and you will be amazed. Sending you a pm.
TJ
It's hard but will pay off. I have a place I used to hunt and the guy only wanted bucks shot, didnt matter the size, his theory was that if you left the does they would draw more bucks and enough of the adjacent property owners kill enough does. So here is what he has for his efforts, small bucks and a ocassional nice mature deer that usually get taken in the late December muzzle loading hunt. let -em grow
I am holding out too...tell you the truth though I am gonna shoot a 4.5 year old deer if I get the chance. I am hunting with MS Hope and have 2 buck tags. I had an honest 170 inch deer at 25 yards the other night, and he never gave me a shot :banghead: This did something to me. Some guys never see a deer that big, I had one in shooting range and never launched...so the odds are not good it will happen again, and on my 160 acre farm, a 150 inch 4.5 year old is good enough for me I think. Good luck holding out. I have a few days off and the first good deer I get in front of me I am killing ;)
I am in the same situation, it really gets frustrating as you shoot more with your camera than your bow, the place we hunt had never been hunted and there are very big bucks but we have to kill 5.5 or 6.5 age bucks , I really think it's worth it hopefully we will get a good one , good luck to you!!!
Since Blue Tongue nearly wiped out our deer a couple years back, the hunters I've talked to this year are all saying "no does". The deer are making a comeback and I was looking forward to my first traditional kill, doe or buck. I'll probably hold off, but I guess we'll see what I'm made of if and when the opportunity arrives. Phil :confused:
I'll be PROUD to take any deer this season, never mind anything of that magnitude. Slim pickings over here this year,not sure whats up. LOT of land loss to building?
Good luck, can't wait to see the whopper you nail!!!!!!!
ya ive passed on 22 smaller bucks so far and passed on a good 140 6 pointer just to see what could come by next....somethings gonna pay the price this weekend....freezer full of does so its time to let one loose on one....
Just hold on. I had a plus 160 at 12 yards Sunday and held off due to a doe looking at me. Look at my avatar. Waited 2 years to get him. It was worth it.
If you have control of a reasonable sized chunk of ground.. let em grow. You will be happy ya did. You will need to start killin does though.
It's sort of fun holding out for a nice buck like I'm doing this season. Problem is I saw him and can't get him out of my mind. I'm enjoying "counting coup" on the does and other deer that I have had bona fide shots at but didn't take.
You can always cull the ones this year that are not genetically superior....? That way you can kill a buck this year and still keep the ultimate goal in place.
been holding since september
Just finished a 3 day hunt in a county park. I passed on the same buck each day because I had decided to only take a doe. Never even saw a doe, go figure. Usually it's the other way around.
Jealousy is a tough thing to swallow :readit:
Oh yea, it is. But the outcome you will enjoy for years to come.
We never seen any big deer for years and since we started holding out on smaller bucks there has been 5 nice deer in 2 years.1 big six that I shot because someone on the property next to ours shot in the leg with a bow.2 nine points,2 eight points.You have to let the little ones walk even if your neighbors shoot them.If you shoot them they will never get bigger and they might let them walk never can tell.
"Over The Hill" is in the eye of the beholder.
I'm holding out also.....for a brown one!
I'm hunting public ground (first the first time in a couple years due to a move) and haven't had the luxary to be able to pass on bucks. Only have seen one small 6 pt and several does yet. If I get a nice buck in range, there's no passing for this guy!
Holding out is HARD
That's why I can do it :laughing:
Holding out is hard....but it gets easier! I'd say if a hunter has minimal bowhunting experience that holding out is not the thing to do...shoot, shoot, shoot....until you have some successful hunts under your belt. After killing mature deer and passing on nice bucks that are young it certainly gets easier.
As far as the seasoned hunter, I feel it's a personal decision. I'd never stop a fellow hunter from shooting a deer (even on my land) that they really want to. My father for example is 66 years old and bowhunting hard. For as long as I can remember he would "hold out"...but in the last couple years has begun to be happy to just shoot deer. I love his decision!
I passed on a nice 4x4 the other day (not big but 130ish) on public land that my father, me, and some other locals hunt. I understand that there's a better chance than not he'll get shot before the time he reaches his full potential, but will be happy for whoever decides to put his tag on him.
I guess what I'm saying is that it is a personal decision and one's ideas of letting deer age should be shared but not forced on others. As far as managing personal farms etc.....just don't invite hunters who are not at the "letting them grow" stage.
I know, I know....easy to say for a guy living in Canada!!!
I purchased my dream farm 3 years ago. I have gotten the the adjacent neighbor to join me in managing for trophy bucks. in just three years we have begun to see some real whoppers. He says this year is the best year hunting he has ever had. He is passing up bucks he would have shot in a heart beat previously , because he has had several close encounter with real whoppers. i had a giant 8 point at 40 yards 2 days ago and couldn't get him closer. Its hard but i think its worth it. To see a deer at his full potential is really something. Especially when they are 100 % free roaming wild deer. Hang in there and enjoy the journey.
ps i live in the best buck county in the state
Other than a doe, it might well be 'tag soup' for me on bucks this year. I know you guys are right in that giving the little guys time to grow into big guys is the way to go. You don't shoot the big ones by shooting the little ones. I hope to post some pics of a whopper or two in a couple of years.
And, turkeys taste good, and there are a couple of them in my freezer!
Don't just go by horn size though. A 4 1/2 year old with a scrub rack is not going to make a big trophy buck and he is just eating food that a buck with more potential could be using. Just shoot mature bucks regardless of horn size,and some of the younger bucks that you know will not develop into a good trophy.
I'm a public land guy and I haven't even seen anything bigger than a small 8 in the several years I've been hunting our game lands.
I'd say anyone who pulls a big buck off our public land was the first guy to get a shot.
Much enjoyment, increased knowledge of buck movement and better patterning can be had by letting bucks walk. Usually, I have averaged letting 15 bucks walk per season and average taking a shot every three seasons. The preparation and getting close are my favorite parts of the hunt with figuring out blood trails being next. Perhaps if I was a better hunter, then I would be able to loose more arrows at the biggins.
Note: My urgency to loose an arrow on turkeys is quite the opposite. Just step into my effective range.
Much pleasure and satisfaction can be had by developing patience and being totally engrossed in the hunting experience. Just try to keep in mind that it is your hunt and you set the criteria for personal enjoyment.
Be smart Centaur.You can always hunt somewhere else in the meanwhile.