Cant decide if this deer is a shooter or not. Would love some input. I added some pictures of another 8 I have coming in regularly for comparison.
Big 8




Smaller 8

What's the criteria for your decision?

He's been around since early summer. I think there's a good chance he would be back next year and bigger if I let him go

Sounds like you've made your decision. For me he's not a first-day shooter but many people on here have never taken a deer that good. If I had a good chance to age him at 5.5 or more, in our area he'd be a shooter because he's 20-30" below the best in his age group. If you think he's young enough to keep growing and you don't need to shoot him, then pass.

Big 8 Yes the other one nope

At my age anything is a shooter.

I shoot anything I want. I don't ask permission.

I would shoot him in a heartbeat!

Yes, you have big deer. Good job.

NO! Let me come shoot it.

You can't kill what you want if you kill something you don't like.

No I would not. He is not mature and that's the bucks I shoot. He looks like he could grow into my favorite type of buck, BIG SLICK 8's.

However if you like him, kill him.

I have shot lesser bucks. Some questions to ask yourself...any hunters on adjoining land that would shoot him during the rut? Any chance he will become the nocturnal buck you never get a chance at? Any chance you will not be able to hunt the property next year? Any chance road hunters might get him. Got any bigger bucks on the property that you like more? I can’t answer these questions for you.

One time I let a buck like this pass for several years, and he gained enormous proportions. The year I went for him, I was watched him pass through my property (no shot opportunity) into an adjoining landowners field on the trail of a hot doe. About 300 yards into the field, he laid down near the doe. An hour or so later they got up, headed the Wrong direction from me. I heard a shot and the buck dropped. Along came a four wheeler, two guys loaded him up, hauled him off. Two weeks later I read the article, one of the biggest bucks killed in the state...a 230 class low fence buck...and I had let him walk for three years, so that would be me. Never again.

Basically, it is a personal choice and you have to deal with your decision, either way.

Agreed

That's a trophy in my neck of the woods. I would let him walk in the hope that he would breed before our neighbors shoot him. If you like him it doesn't really matter what others think.

it all up to you

Bow, yes. Rifle at the end of season if I haven't found another shooter. Couple more years he might be a giant 8. Looks to be 4 to me.

all day long

Heck yes

if he gets you shaky when he walks out id take him, if you still have to question yourself give him a little longer. to answer the question, i would most likely take him...

He is legal, if it will make you happy, do it. Its pretty impossible to get a consensus on question like this unless its a 300" monster or a tiny fork horn. For LOTS of places that is a trophy buck. For others that's a management buck. For me, if I was bow hunting Id take it for sure as Ive never killed a buck bow hunting. Rifle hunting, Id let it walk the first part of the season but may take it later on if I didn't see anything better. But don't let what others would do make you feel bad about any legal animal you take. Ill probably take the first legal buck I get a clean shot at with my bow and be proud of it no matter the size of whats on its head. Good luck!

Only you can make that choice. Don’t worry about what people on here think.

are they legal ta shoot ? Tis all bout pure pressure, if ya have ta ask. Is it HF, what will the neighbors or other hunters who share property think.
Tis your tag.
Pappy's 101: "Chooten- trigger finger point at with slow smooth action, slowly trigger finger points back ta chooter. "