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Feb 5th, 2020
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 Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
#8522502
02/04/22 02:09 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,115
DQ Kid
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,115 |
A very nice buck comes out opening weekend or very early season; he wouldn't be a personal best for you but close and it's been a good while since you've taken one this good. You know the ranch has some even bigger as you have seen some on nighttime pictures. What to do - put some lead out and enjoy this nice buck or hold out and hope for that personal PR? What would you do and why???
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8522598
02/04/22 03:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
#1 is he old enough? #2 do I like the look of him? #3 what is a "good" buck for my area? #4 if he is close to my personal record right now then I will kill him in a heart beat for my first tag and then keep hunting to fill my second tag.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people? ![[Linked Image]](http://neoswarm.com/images/Bug_Crawling.gif)
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8523103
02/04/22 09:14 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 972
QMC SW/EXW
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 972 |
Never pass on an animal the first day of the season that you would take on the last day of the season. My grandfather told me that and I have found it to be very good advice.
Retired Navy Chief
NJROTC Instructor for Tascosa High School
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: QMC SW/EXW]
#8523436
02/05/22 03:24 AM
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 447
Gw123
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 447 |
Never pass on an animal the first day of the season that you would take on the last day of the season. My grandfather told me that and I have found it to be very good advice. I agree with this statement, shoot on the first day/hunt what you would on the last, unless you have a very specific deer picked out then I’d wait on him, or something better to come out.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8523607
02/05/22 12:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 38,530
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 38,530 |
Sitting on our own place, if I thought he would get better next year I’d probably pass and shoot some does.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8523697
02/05/22 03:00 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 685
MClark
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 685 |
BOOM!
I have two buck tags.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: MClark]
#8524006
02/05/22 07:32 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,115
DQ Kid
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,115 |
BOOM!
I have two buck tags. Does the calculus change in an AR one buck county or one mature buck lease?
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8524026
02/05/22 07:56 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,410
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,410 |
I think there’s more to learn from this thread if you assume you have only one tag and the deer in question is “old enough”.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR
Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: freerange]
#8524031
02/05/22 07:59 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,115
DQ Kid
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,115 |
I think there’s more to learn from this thread if you assume you have only one tag and the deer in question is “old enough”. Exactly, was more my original angle intended to take just didn't fully articulate. Good point Free!
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8524167
02/05/22 10:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 326
270Sendero
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 326 |
I had this exact thing happen this year on our place in Jack county. It’s an AR county, so I sat and videoed the buck for an hour. Saw him again after Thanksgiving and that was the last time he was seen. I ended up shooting a doe for my only deer of the year. We hope he survived. You just never know.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8524443
02/06/22 02:39 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,977
Ranch Dawg
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,977 |
Pass. Get a doe for freezer. If ya settle for that you will never get your personal best.
THE ROAD GOES ON FOREVER AND THE PARTY NEVER ENDS.
F##K YOU JOE BIDEN !!!!!
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8524483
02/06/22 03:23 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,559
billyhunt
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,559 |
About 3 years ago that happened to me. In AR county, a really nice 10 at the feeder, first day of the season. Didnt take him and never saw him again, and still enjoyed the rest of the season. Thats just me, love sitting in the blind watching the wildlife go by. 
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8524576
02/06/22 12:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 469
Catperch
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 469 |
I say every year that I would let him walk and I'm REALLY going to wait for my trophy this year..... BUT, after sitting in the east texas woods for a few weeks, it's hard not to pull the trigger when you finally see a shooter.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: billyhunt]
#8524758
02/06/22 05:32 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,258
4Weight
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,258 |
About 3 years ago that happened to me. In AR county, a really nice 10 at the feeder, first day of the season. Didnt take him and never saw him again, and still enjoyed the rest of the season. Thats just me, love sitting in the blind watching the wildlife go by. You sound like me !!
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8524794
02/06/22 06:14 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,115
DQ Kid
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,115 |
I sit on this where I do pretty much every season; I am looking/hoping to top my personal best. Resultingly I have passed up opportunities on nice bucks looking for that PB, sometimes not firing a shot for 3-5 seasons or more on a buck. Thank goodness for yotes and hogs as a nuisance alternative. More recently I have opened up the options to management or cull bucks while still looking for that PB. Can't say I'd never shoot a nice buck that has something I've not ever harvested like a MB drop or a long flyer of G2/G3 that wasn't a PB. Guess I'd just have see if that buck gets my blood pumping.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8524965
02/06/22 10:38 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 450
Papalote
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 450 |
My podna passed on day 1 in Alberta and went home without a week later. He regrets that decision.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8525019
02/06/22 11:45 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 767
Russ79
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 767 |
QMC hit the nail on the head.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8525090
02/07/22 12:49 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,996
tlk
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,996 |
13 years I was on one of the very top LF ranches in Texas - I killed 4 deer over 13 years. One was a B&C lifetime buck. The other bucks I killed after that buck were not book but were 8-9 years old and that in my book is a trophy whitetail.
Everyone is in a different place in their lives and their hunting -
As I posted on another thread for me a big part of the game is to be patient - IF you are a lifetime serious hunter you will be willing to pass on many many deer in order to take the deer of your life -
You can't fix stupid
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8525125
02/07/22 12:58 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
For a lot of people, if they have to think about it.....then it is not the right deer for them.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8525146
02/07/22 01:25 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,753
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,753 |
I agree with QMC, that makes it easy to wait for that really good buck that you always hope for. Can appreciate your self discipline TLK.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8525513
02/07/22 03:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 30,186
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 30,186 |
If you like him, shoot him
I'm not concerned about "personal bests" and I will shoot a deer based on size,age, unique characteristics or simply because i wanted to have an adrenaline rush that day.
I can't fathom going 3-5 years between pulling the trigger, and where I hunt now the difference between an average deer and a "personal best" for the area may only be 3-5" of antler so I'm looking for Age first of all and then if I like his look 2nd of all. Method of take plays into it as well....I'm not interested at all in shooting a 6 year old hill country 8 with my rifle but will be giddy as a school girl to try and shoot him with my recurve bow.
Some species I'm perfectly content with a representative animal and other species I want a true trophy, but I'm not like that with whitetail deer.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: txtrophy85]
#8525531
02/07/22 04:11 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11,803
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11,803 |
If you like him, shoot him
I'm not concerned about "personal bests" and I will shoot a deer based on size,age, unique characteristics or simply because i wanted to have an adrenaline rush that day.
I can't fathom going 3-5 years between pulling the trigger, and where I hunt now the difference between an average deer and a "personal best" for the area may only be 3-5" of antler so I'm looking for Age first of all and then if I like his look 2nd of all. Method of take plays into it as well....I'm not interested at all in shooting a 6 year old hill country 8 with my rifle but will be giddy as a school girl to try and shoot him with my recurve bow.
Some species I'm perfectly content with a representative animal and other species I want a true trophy, but I'm not like that with whitetail deer. We know what you would do - even if your wife was there 
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: Hudbone]
#8525623
02/07/22 06:10 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 30,186
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 30,186 |
If you like him, shoot him
I'm not concerned about "personal bests" and I will shoot a deer based on size,age, unique characteristics or simply because i wanted to have an adrenaline rush that day.
I can't fathom going 3-5 years between pulling the trigger, and where I hunt now the difference between an average deer and a "personal best" for the area may only be 3-5" of antler so I'm looking for Age first of all and then if I like his look 2nd of all. Method of take plays into it as well....I'm not interested at all in shooting a 6 year old hill country 8 with my rifle but will be giddy as a school girl to try and shoot him with my recurve bow.
Some species I'm perfectly content with a representative animal and other species I want a true trophy, but I'm not like that with whitetail deer. We know what you would do - even if your wife was there Haha….I shoot a lot of things she doesent know about….but it’s hard to hide a buck when she is in camp with you
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: Hudbone]
#8525627
02/07/22 06:11 PM
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,506
spacejunkie
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,506 |
If you like him, shoot him
I'm not concerned about "personal bests" and I will shoot a deer based on size,age, unique characteristics or simply because i wanted to have an adrenaline rush that day.
I can't fathom going 3-5 years between pulling the trigger, and where I hunt now the difference between an average deer and a "personal best" for the area may only be 3-5" of antler so I'm looking for Age first of all and then if I like his look 2nd of all. Method of take plays into it as well....I'm not interested at all in shooting a 6 year old hill country 8 with my rifle but will be giddy as a school girl to try and shoot him with my recurve bow.
Some species I'm perfectly content with a representative animal and other species I want a true trophy, but I'm not like that with whitetail deer. We know what you would do - even if your wife was there Ouch. That had to have hurt. 
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Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8525764
02/07/22 09:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185 |
I shot mine opening morning as soon as he came. Never saw the deer before but I liked him.
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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