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Public Land Deer
#6924005
10/17/17 09:51 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 172
wacoducks
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 172 |
For all the public land guys out there, what age deer are y'all pulling the trigger on? I've seen some 3.5 year old but unlike private land I'd wait on those. However, seeing that its public land would you pull the trigger on them or let them go.
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6924008
10/17/17 09:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
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Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
I've killed 2 public land deer the last 2 yrs. a 5 yr old 10 point and a 6 yr old 8 point both verified by biologist. Passed on multiple legal 3 and 4 yr old deer.
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6924216
10/18/17 01:26 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,816
Bigfoot
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,816 |
I guess that depends on what you want. If you are after a freezer of meat then the younger the better and usually easier.
This year I wont have a lot of time to hunt so I will kill whatever is legal and gives me an opportunity.
Last edited by Bigfoot; 10/18/17 01:29 AM.
GO TRUMP!
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6924258
10/18/17 02:12 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,862
swampthang
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,862 |
Kinda depends on what public area you're talking about.The quality of hunting varies widely from one public area to the next. Some areas are loaded with mature bucks and you can afford to be more picky/selective,Haggerman,Richland Creek, Chapparel,etc. While other areas might not even have a 3 year old buck on them. If you get a shot at a 3 year old buck on one of the latter areas you might as well go ahead and kill it.Because if you dont some other guy probably will.
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6924404
10/18/17 10:33 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271
Palehorse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271 |
It depends on the management goals of the WMA. Some are managed for quality deer so it's better to wait for an older buck. Most of the WMAs though are simply trying to get the population down to carrying capacity for the area. In that case, I don't feel one bit guilty about dropping the first legal deer I see. A two year old 13" buck eats the same amount of browse as a 7 year old, so biologically it makes no difference.
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6924521
10/18/17 12:57 PM
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,363
Cherokee Mingan
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,363 |
I agree with Palehorse that it depends on what the biologists are trying to accomplish.
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6924557
10/18/17 01:22 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
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Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
I just passed a 3 yr old 8 point about 16 inches wide he was at 20 yards broadside. This is on Ft Hood public land hunting.
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6924955
10/18/17 06:54 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 269
TomBaty
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 269 |
This'll be my first year chasing deer on public (chasing deer period really), and I drew a doe tag. I'll be popping the first doe that walks out. I'm new to deer hunting, trying to learn how to do it on public land, so I'm not going to be too picky. If I keep doing this year after year I might get picky, but for now I'm just looking for a meat deer.
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: TomBaty]
#6924991
10/18/17 07:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,862
swampthang
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,862 |
This'll be my first year chasing deer on public (chasing deer period really), and I drew a doe tag. I'll be popping the first doe that walks out. I'm new to deer hunting, trying to learn how to do it on public land, so I'm not going to be too picky. If I keep doing this year after year I might get picky, but for now I'm just looking for a meat deer. Right on brutha,bust a cap in her azz!
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6934484
10/26/17 03:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,429
charner
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,429 |
i have hunted on multiple public land units... I have had only one shot at a legal buck other than spikes... i let my wife shoot and she pushed the shot. that was 5 years ago... where I am hunting now I have 2 really nice deer on camera, a 3.5 yr old 6 point (no brow tines) and really nice 10 with alot of trash points that looks to be around 5.5. the 10 would be a trophy buck on private land and I really would like an opportunity to take him, that being said... if the legal 6 point walks out, ill probably take the shot still
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6935786
10/27/17 03:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 346
Paul W
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 346 |
I'd pass on younger deer regardless.
Honorable Discharge USAF 1997
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Re: Public Land Deer
[Re: wacoducks]
#6935854
10/27/17 04:02 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 65
quackedup
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 65 |
all depends on the management goals, as previously stated. My kids were able to hunt the Chaparral and killed 6.5 and 7.5 deer. Drawn at Mason Mountain management and it was spikes. South LLano was numbers.
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