I am on a 1500 acre lease in Stephens county and let this obviously young 10 point walk opening morning. He would have been a personal best as far as points go.





I am still trying to figure out if I was practicing good management or let a trophy slip through my fingers.

What do yall think?

that deer needs at least two more years.

you did the right thing.

shoot him then when he's 150+

I know it's hard to pass on a deer like that, but you definitely did the right thing.

Great choice. Hard to do but if you want mature trophy deer you have to let middle aged trophy potential deer walk. This is a 3 yr old deer IMO.

"You can't kill 160's if you keep shooting 120's" is what an old friend told me and I took it to heart.

Management. Good choice.

Good decisision on letting him grow!

Good call.

Not a good choice or a bad choice, it's your choice.

Great decision in letting him walk. Young deer that needs to grow. The more difficult decision is going to be when he shows up end of December and you haven't shot a buck yet. Do you take him or let him walk?

A very good question! Hopefully it won't come to that.

Never pass on the first day what you'd shoot on the last. If you've already passed I bet you'll let him walk again.

thats what separate the deer hunters from the wildlife managers.

if managing your property for quality whitetail deer, it should be easy to pass on that buck.

What is tough is passing on a 5 year old deer that is in the 160's hopeing he will break 170" the next year.

It's never a bad decision to let a buck walk. If you have to think about it, leave the safety on. In this case in particular, good decision.

Only until you reap the reward a couple of years from now, will you realize what a great decision it was.

Once this happens to you a couple of times, it will become second nature to let them walk.

What is tough is passing on a 5 year old deer that is in the 160's hopeing he will break 170" the next year.

Amen !

You definetly did the right thing...

great call. probably a 2 1/2 - 3 year old deer.

nothing against you in particular just because i dont know you, but, thinking like that blows my mind and i have family/friends with the same mindset. they have to get a buck and think their season was a waste if they dont. i just dont get it.



i think something more fitting is, "never shoot on the last day what you passed on the first."

I applaud your decision, as long as that is what all there are doing, he has potential!

To me it depends. If you are interested in shooting older mature deer and letting them grow as big a antlers as they can then it was management. If you are just a hunter hunting for some meat and a good time because its how your grandpa did it... then a missed oportunity.

Ive shot a shite load of 2 and 3 year old 8's and even a couple 10's, didnt and dont feel bad about it, but im in a different place now.

matt

i think he needs a year or 2 .....the season is young , so is the deer .....lots more huntin to be done ....luck to ya ....hope you get one twice that size

Kinda depends on if you think you will see him in a couple of years. I have let deer go and never seen them again. It all comes down to if you think you made the right choice then it was.

X2