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Am I being too picky?

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Airdale

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
After scouting and locating a new spot, I put up a hang on stand a fews day before and yesterday I got in way early, sat in my stand for probably an hour and a half before light. My trail cam showed deer moving though from 6:30-10:30, so I wanted to make sure I was well ahead of them. At 6:30, like clockwork according to my camera, a big doe comes in and she's licking this apple block I put out. I'm getting ready to shoot this doe, when she starts acting funny. A minute later, 3 more does come in. Now I'm like shit, which one do I shoot? LOL! So I pick out the biggest looking one and wait for a broadside shot (they're 20yds out), when suddenly they all kind of take off, but not running, more like a quick sprint. The big one stays, and out from behind this big tree I see buck coming. Now I get excited because maybe I can get my first buck. Well as he gets closer, it's a 4 pointer, but his rack looks nice. I say no way, I'm not gonna shoot a young guy. Well suddenly he gets all wired up and runs past the big doe and stops at 40yds out looking back. Holy shit here comes ANOTHER buck! This one breaks into the clearing and I can tell he's bigger than the 4pt. So I bring the bow up and get ready. He comes right up to the big doe, sniffs her ass at 15yds and I see he's a 6 pointer, but he looks young too! So I'm trying to decide who to shoot and then the doe takes off trotting and the buck is on her ass. In a flash, all my deer were gone LOL! I sat until 11:00 then got down.

I'm wishing I just took a shot on that big doe, but oh well. I'm not looking for a wall hanger buck for my first buck, but I just don't want to kill a young buck. This place really seems like a great place and I've got it to myself. Maybe these young bucks will be nice and big next year.
 
#2 ·
Shoot what makes you happy. Don't listen to the prostaffer BS that's spewed by
some people on here. besides nobody will say squat with a small buck for you poppin your cherry.
 
#4 ·
I'm wishing I just took a shot on that big doe, but oh well. I'm not looking for a wall hanger buck for my first buck, but I just don't want to kill a young buck.
Click to expand...
Congrats for passing the young ones and holding out....[up]
Plenty of season left to shoot a buck and still fill the freezer with does.
 
#5 ·
To each their own. Shoot what ever makes you happy. If i had a dollar for every little buck i passed on in the last few years i would have enough money for one of them liberty hollow cage hunts.Dont be a victim of shoulda coulda woulda because your worried what others will think. I dont care if its a spike, post the pic, i love seeing dead deer .lol
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Well I haven't seen a shooter buck show up on my camera just yet but it's only been a few days. I have 3 bucks that came by on camera, the 4 pointer which I passed on, a spike and another 6 pointer who I'd have to see in person to make the call. Got a bad pic of him. But that's not saying a nice mature buck doesn't live there. I sat in the evening Thursday with my climber in a different spot, same area though, and watched a nice buck chasing a doe back and forth in a dried up swamp about 100 yards out. I think there's a really good number of does here and I'd like to just take a mature deer, buck or doe, to get a little reward for busting my ass. I would like to hang a stand near the other swamp as I believe the dominant mature buck probably lives over there.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
I'm not passing on young bucks because I care what other people think. I mean if they're ugly, I'll kill'em anyway. But when you see a small 4 or 6, you know that they're a 1-1/2-2 year old deer. I do believe in letting those guys live because maybe next year there will be more shooters there. Although as they get bigger, the probably get harder to kill. My Dad says, first year deer hunting, kill'em all Dave lol
 
#10 ·
I'm in the same position. I want my first bow kill to be a nice buck. I'm not into killing young deer. I've already kind of set a personal buck standard & doe standard. But I'm starting to have more big does come around within easy shot range. I keep telling myself since I have 4 tags, I could be a little less picky, if a doe presents herself again, just get some meat. But just having the deer that close & knowing I could whack one is just as rewarding. I'm just trying to be as patient as possible for a buck because I know some big ones are falling in the area. Just a matter of time before its our turn [up] Do what makes you happy, patience will be rewarded.
 
#11 ·
Just repeating what's already been said, shoot whatever makes you happy. Only time I cringe at spilled blood is when it's a button buck. Other than that, drop'em. I myself won't shoot a doe when bucks are chasing (they are chasing does in my area, why 1- shoot, gut and drag in my setup and disrupt things and 2 - shoot what the bucks are looking for). Got plenty of time left for that. Good luck and absolutely post your kills!
 
#13 ·
Shooting any deer with a bow is an accomplishment. First year out i wouldn't put so much pressure on your self. Just go have fun. Personally and i am not saying this is correct or anyone else has to agree but I only shoot bucks that I would spend the money to put on the wall. Plenty of does out there for meat. But again that's just me and i would never tell anyone else how to hunt so have a great season and sling some arrows
 
#15 ·
You will never learn to kill bucks by letting all of them walk. You really need to know that you can kill one. You need to start somewhere. Don't be one of these guys that have to pump their chest about big bucks. Most everyone started by shooting smaller bucks whether they care to admit that or not. The experience will lead you to bigger and better deer down the road.
 
#16 ·
What X7 said x 2. Sitting still and have the bucks walk by ya is great. And passing on some deer is honorable. But, sitting still, drawing back, stopping the deer and making a successful shot are learned skills. If I was you, I'd drop the next decent buck you can get an ethical shot on. Its good to prepare you to take the big one when he walks by. If you see a big one later in the season, just think the same way you have been thinking. If he makes it til next year, he will be even better. JMO. Good luck!
 
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#20 ·
JD_H said:
When you have a season where you let a buck walk, then you go the rest of the season and not have another shot at one you won't think twice the next time heheh
Click to expand...
This happened to me. I gave a deer a pass and it ended up being the last deer I had a realistic opportunity for the rest of the year. And when I had a similar opportunity the next year, I didn't bat an eye.
 
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randolphray
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