Sat a stand this morning next to a creek. Was about to go in after 3 hours, as my back was bothering me. Looked across the creek and saw a small bodied buck coming my way. He crossed the creek and stopped broadside at 10 yards. Couldn't bring myself to shoot him because he was obviously a 1 1/2 year old and had a perfect 10 point rack!

Someone else will probably get him before he matures, but I'd like to think I might get a chance at him in a few years.

I had 2 mature bucks come by behind me yesterday, following a doe. They were both big bodied deer and hopefully will make the same mistake as the small buck.

QuoteOriginally posted by Chuck Jones:
Sat a stand this morning next to a creek. Was about to go in after 3 hours, as my back was bothering me. Looked across the creek and saw a small bodied buck coming my way. He crossed the creek and stopped broadside at 10 yards. Couldn't bring myself to shoot him because he was obviously a 1 1/2 year old and had a perfect 10 point rack!

Someone else will probably get him before he matures, but I'd like to think I might get a chance at him in a few years.

I had 2 mature bucks come by behind me yesterday, following a doe. They were both big bodied deer and hopefully will make the same mistake as the small buck.

 

Good luck on the older deer.

In some areas its take what walks by or eat tag soup for the season. well you got some values for letten that walk,if would be on the wall if it was me...LOL

Let 'em grow !!

If ya shoot young bucks you'll never see old ones.
Well done..

if ya SEE a buck a year in the Northen zone of NY you are LUCKY!

QuoteOriginally posted by Pat B.:
Let 'em grow !!

If ya shoot young bucks you'll never see old ones.
Well done..

Some places that's true.  I have seen first hand what QDM can create.        

On the other hand, some places you are happy to get a shot at a living creature. There's one area I hunt where a spike buck would be the equivalent of a 160" passer upper.      

This is the first time I've seen 10 points on a 1 1/2 year old in over 20 years. It must be a good year for antler growth, as I saw a good size 8 point rack on a 1 1/2 year buck earlier.

I'm glad you felt you had to let him walk.....That being said, when you see 3-4 deer per season like I do.........different story!

Way to go Chuck.  We are fortunate to be able to let them pass thank goodness.  I do, however understand the plight of some of our brothers on here...

Yep, I guess you have to consider where you are hunting before you make a broad statement..

I started bowhunting when just seeing any deer was a big deal. One season, I hunted 40 times without a single sighting on the same farm I saw the 10 pointer today. However; within a few years from that season, I was seeing as many as 10 deer a day, and passing on several a season. I believe that any state with good habitat can have similar deer hunting if they want it. You just can't have long, liberal gun seasons in most areas and have good deer numbers.

You hit the nail on the head Chuck!

Back at the family farm in WI, seeing a deer in the 70's made the newspapper. In the 80's you would see 20-30 a day.

Bring on the 90's and population was more healthy and so were deer racks.

2000's come on Chronic wasting and deer eradication.  (Not to mention some of the largest bucks ever seen before)but very, very few deer.

The population is recovering a bit.

When I moved to Upstate NY, I can drive an hour in any direction and have decent deer populations.

Go into the Adirondacks and well, lets just say I have yet to see a hunted deer there in 4 years.

Its amazing how populations can change in any given area! Like you said chuck, it depends on food, habitat and liberal tags issued to hunters.

Cant argue how great it is to see/let a healthy young ten point walk by.   It gives you this warm fuzzy feeling inside that is just awesome.      

Back to back great acorn crops and plenty of rain for growing lots of brows and good crops make deer like that. Good for u for passing him.