I hunt and East Texas county halfway between Beaumont and Lufkin under antler restriction by TPWD. Standard AR for my region here and lease has no restrictions. So I have been hunting pretty regularly on a pipeline and seeing plenty of deer. Kept seeing one particular buck with a good size body, 4 points on one side and broken main beam on the other. Probably would have been a 15"-16" 8 point. The broken main was visible and I studied him at 180 yards (closest he had gotten) with my 45X spotting scope. Main was unforked so broke off below the dog catcher but still looked about 2". So 4 points on the right and snapped main on the left about 2". I have watched him almost 30 total minutes.

Legal by definition with TPWD as a cull? Harvest or no harvest? Tag as a cull (almost have too)?



I know that in the spirit of the law he shouldn't be taken. There is good deer populations with some very good deer taken every year on this lease but I also know there are 4 stands within a half mile of me with some classic "meat hunters". I generally pass on my does but try to take a cull and 14"+ deer every year

What does the Board say?

Completely legal under 'one unbranched antler'.

I agree although I think those deer should get a pass. We never shoot bucks with broke antler. Shoot a doe and practice management. Better tasting anyway.

Shoot him if you want him, let him walk if you don't...Personally, I wouldn't.

^^^^^

Correct.

Per the letter of the law.

Doesn't matter how the un-branched antler came to be (provided it was that way BEFORE the animal was shot). It is legal.

Technically....the same would hold true IF a buck had broken off all the points of a main beam to a measurement of less than one inch (less than one inch is not legally considered a point/branch).

'Ethically' it is left to the hunter or provisions/policies set forth by the Land Owner/Lease.

I’d let him walk.

I was a bow hunter only for years, and I have never taken a deer off our Leon county place, I thought I might shoot one this, because age has caught up with me and I’m not a good shot with a bow anymore.
I let this buck walk yesterday and this morning I let a 16-17” wide buck walk.
I’m just a hog/coyote hunter now I guess.

I would usually scout a day here, and a day there before deer hunting opens. Always spot and stock on mulies for me. I noticed now that I hunt from a blind, I’m watching the deer I’ll harvest for weeks. Kind of developing a relationship over time. Then that moment comes to smoke him; I can say I felt that sediment for the first time exactly. Only for a moment though because the image of a filet mignon came shinning through.

I make a few batches of sausage every year, we hang it in the smoke house and dry it.
I’m wanting a deer for that , but I have sons and grandsons that will take care of that for me.

I make a few batches of sausage every year, we hang it in the smoke house and dry it.
I’m wanting a deer for that , but I have sons and grandsons that will take care of that for me. [/quote]


Yes Sir; your job now is to dig up them delicious recipes, and let them experience the possibilities of their harvests. Hope they fill your freezer.