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Age Old Hunter's Dilemma #8522502 02/04/22 02:09 PM
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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???

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8522598 02/04/22 03:06 PM
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#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]
Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8523103 02/04/22 09:14 PM
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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
Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: QMC SW/EXW] #8523436 02/05/22 03:24 AM
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Originally Posted by QMC SW/EXW
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.

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8523607 02/05/22 12:58 PM
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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
Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8523697 02/05/22 03:00 PM
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BOOM!
I have two buck tags.

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: MClark] #8524006 02/05/22 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by MClark
BOOM!
I have two buck tags.

Does the calculus change in an AR one buck county or one mature buck lease?

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8524026 02/05/22 07:56 PM
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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
Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: freerange] #8524031 02/05/22 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by freerange
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!

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8524167 02/05/22 10:44 PM
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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.

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8524443 02/06/22 02:39 AM
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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 !!!!!
Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8524483 02/06/22 03:23 AM
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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. 2cents

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8524576 02/06/22 12:44 PM
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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.

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: billyhunt] #8524758 02/06/22 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by billyhunt
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. 2cents



You sound like me !!

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8524794 02/06/22 06:14 PM
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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.

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8524965 02/06/22 10:38 PM
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My podna passed on day 1 in Alberta and went home without a week later. He regrets that decision.

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8525019 02/06/22 11:45 PM
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QMC hit the nail on the head.

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8525090 02/07/22 12:49 AM
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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
Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8525125 02/07/22 12:58 AM
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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?[Linked Image]
Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8525146 02/07/22 01:25 AM
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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.

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8525513 02/07/22 03:52 PM
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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.
Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: txtrophy85] #8525531 02/07/22 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by txtrophy85
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
bolt

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: Hudbone] #8525623 02/07/22 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Hudbone
Originally Posted by txtrophy85
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
bolt



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.
Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: Hudbone] #8525627 02/07/22 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Hudbone
Originally Posted by txtrophy85
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
bolt



Ouch. That had to have hurt. grin

Re: Age Old Hunter's Dilemma [Re: DQ Kid] #8525764 02/07/22 09:17 PM
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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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