Guys,

I saw this buck Sat and Sun morning and passed. I have to say he looks even better from 20 yards away! Really nice buck...so considering it was the first weekend of bow season and you only get to take 1 "trophy" buck would you have shot him? Look how long his main beams are...pretty nice. And in person his mass looks pretty good too. And guys I am looking for what "you" would have done...I am just curious. As for my decision I will explain later why I passed because I do believe that he is a very nice mature buck.

3.5 yo, think you made a good call on opening bow weekend...

That would likely be a top two-three buck in the area I hunt (lots of small low fence places in Mills county). Without knowing for sure that there were better deer around I would likely shoot him. I've averaged a mature buck every other year since 2008 and this would be the year.

IF I thought he was 5.5, and I'm not sure he is.

I would call him a 5 yr old. He is a nice buck but with no other history on the place and showing mature bucks. I would probably pass on him also.

Another look at him and he does look 4.5-5, nice buck but would probably pass on him opening bow weekend but maybe not late in rifle season

His running buddy has some future potential too. Good looking buck but I would have passed to see what else might be running around. Good luck

It would depend on how low my sausage stack is. However not knowing anything else other than 1 buck, I'd shoot a doe and enjoy as much of the season as I could. If I can only shoot 1 buck and then it's over I guess I'll pass on bucks to spend time in the woods.

No.

I would have shot him.Nice bow kill.

Gotta know what the rest of the deer in your area look like.

At my place, no chance on God's Green Earth I'd have passed. At some other places I hunt, the opposite.

Depends on how much hunting time I would have during the season. If its limited or uncertain I may have just taken it. If there will be plenty of time I would most likely pass.

What county are you hunting?

All depends on what else you are seeing on camera. If bigger deer in the area, then no.

yes

Just as some guys have said, what do the other "trophy bucks" look like on the place? How much more hunting time do you have for the rest of the year?

Would have shot him for sure!

I would have shot him if he walked out on my place. I'm having success getting the numbers and "quality" of deer up on my place and have nice young bucks coming up behind him (if he were on my place). Not certain if this is proper practice, but after years of fork horns and basket racks, Boom.

swmays i live in hopkins county and was wondering if the deer population has gone down in ur hunting area? i think the bag limits are too high but the bucks are getting better.

4 yr. old.....Pass.

I've been fortunate these past couple years and after some hard work and good fortune the population is improving.

Yes, I would.

I would pass too and enjoy my time hunting and looking for what else may occur throughout the season. I hunt in a 1 WT and 1 MD buck county and does are currently off limits. So patience is key. He looks mature but for me if I don't know right away when I see him that I AM SHOOTING as soon as opportunity presents then I don't second guess and let him pass. However, this may be a good deer for your area and would not have any issue of him being taken.

as others have said with out other info, pass

Pass. Still got a long season ahead of you.

Really nice deer. Prolly would have taken him, but I understand not wanting to end your season in a couple of hours