No, it's not what you were thinking. 13" or not?

I say 13 and 1/4" Good lookin deer...

He makes it! Fire Away!

This little buck came in last weekend and I watched him for about 20-25 minutes while he was eating acorns. I wasn't going to shoot him, because I've got pics of 2 different 10 points that I would much rather have, but for the life of me, I couldn't decide if he was 13" or not. He gave me several different looks, and just when I was sure he was legal, he would turn his head or look another direction, and then I wasn't so sure. Looking at this pic, he looks legal, but it's still a close call.

To close to shoot! If you need the meat shoot a doe...let the 1 1/2 go! JMHO....He is going to be a brusier in 2 yrs....

If you are living under the AR regs, let him walk. He might make 13 and a quarter, but is it worth the fine if he don't????

He definetly close on the ears, but still a young deer.

i'd say legal,were running into a lot of these close calls in Rusk county, makes it hard, and we dont have any pics of big 10's, but we do have doe tags so we can still get meat, we want to be sure were legal

Sorry, I should have said that I hunt in one of the anter restricted counties. I didn't intend to shoot it, but the whole time I was watching him, I couldn't help but wonder how many folks would consider him legal, and shoot. As I said earlier, this pic makes him look legal, but when I was watching him a couple weeks back, I wasn't so sure. He looks larger on film than he did in real. As far as him making it a couple more years, I think the chances are pretty slim. This pic was taken about 150 yards from public land. There is no feeder in the pic. I simply put this camera on a white oak tree that I knew was dropping acorns. If this buck jumps the fence, then I'm sure the first hunter that sees him will drop him. Those guys that hunt public land could care less about game management.

WOW....150 yds to public land...I hope he stays on your property or he is going to be sausage!

Dangit, I thought this thread was about something else!

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Dangit, I thought this thread was about something else!

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With antler restrictions being 13", "Barely Legal" takes on a whole new meaning.

ground check him Thats a 190 class buck, about 6 1/2 years

How strict are the GW's on the 13" thing.... would 12 & 3/4's get you a ticket? They tell you to go by the ears in the book, but I'm sure not all ears are exactally 13" apart right.

let him grow !

I don't have the restrictions where I hunt but was just wondering if anyone has got a ticket for it (or knew someone who has ) and how close they were.

We measured a buck just for the heck of it last week, and it was 16 inches ear tip to ear tip, over the back of the head.

It will depend on the GW, but I bet with most of them, 12 and 3/4's ain't gonna get it, the regs have been in place to long for that. JMO.

If a deer's antlers were outside his ears and the GW gave me a ticket then we would see each other again in court. If guide lines are 13" and the ears are the reference used to measure the 13" I don't believe a jury would convict anyone.

Do what you think is best, but regardless of how big them ears are, if the tape measure don't say 13 inches inside spread, you are going to get a ticket and you can try fighting it till hell freezes over.

Yep probably win. If ya loose all you have to do is pay court cost and the GW's OT for having to go to court right?

Just a civil matter like a traffic ticket etc for having your windows tinted too dark.

My son and I are going on a youth only draw hunt in about an hour. Gotta be there at 11.

My paper work for this hunt says ears. Not 13.

If we see one like that today or tomorrow, I will say take em.

Good Luck to your son on the hunt.

I'm in Houston County and my buddy shot a buck last year that measured 12.5" Last year was the first year of the antler restrictions for us. We took him to have him processed and they called the game warden and had him speak to my friend, long story short they accepted the buck, but the game warden said they would not be so forgiving next season.

Maybe thirteen, but if he lives till next year he'll be better. Shoot a doe and save the horns.

That is what I have been hearing ever since the AR's went in place. The first year is a slide year, the second year is drop the hammer. I just do not see it as worth it, to shoot a questionable buck.

A person might be able to beat the ticket in court, but at what expense.

My opinion is that if it is borderline, let it walk.