should i have shot it??

I cant see a photo

lol now it shows up

I would have shot him

Not in the face ;0

I think you would have been disappointed with the ground shrink. Maybe 14" hard to tell.

If your place is big enough or high fenced and the neighbors are patient hunters, he'll be better next year.

I'd have waited this late in the season too.

If you had to doubt yourself... then I'd have to say pass.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Exactly

I agree with cole and mr clean. I would have let him go. Seen to many young deer shot at our place by newbies. All i heard was it looked huge in the scope.

Don't people check through binocs before having the gun ready and " he looked huge in the scope" ?. Dang I inspect all aspects of the deer for age not just the headgear.

If you get a chance at him this year you will be glad you passed on him.

Agreed, but i guess they didnt !. Some were really sad.

Too young... He has great potential and with another couple of years under his belt will be over 150" easily.

Worth waiting for.
I think you would have been upset if you would have ground-checked him.
Shame it is not catch and release.

If you have to ask - don't.

I do agree with the others in saying if you had to think about it, especially with the buck in the crosshairs, you made the right choice in my opinion. But only you can answer the question that you're asking, you know your goals and what you are hunting for, we all have differences when it comes down to it, and none of our reasons why or why not are wrong, only you hold the answer grasshopper, LoL.

hard to tell how old he is looking at him head on

Pass

Nah, if you'd wanted him you'd be holding him

let him walk

wait till next year

Not sure I would count on the 150" part, but I agree with letting him walk

if your first instinct is to reach for your gun, shoot.

If your first instinct is to reach for your binos, its probably too small.

Yup... Show this picture to your newbie hunters. Let them know that if your group of hunters wants BIGGER bucks that the little bucks need a chance to grow.

You made the right decision passing on him. What County?

I wouldn't. But that's me.

No question

hes gona hit a good age next year...looks like a 3yr old...he will be bigger next year

this year.... ha gota get use to that

WHY NOT????? LOL!

Good advice.

Next year for sure.

Good looking young buck there and definately not a shooter this year. Good decision to pass on him.

Yup.

+1

I just see a red x.

Looks young. I wouldn't have but to each his own. I like to study a deer before I shoot it just to make sure the age and if he is really the one I want.

good call letting him walk

I would have let him get bigger

I'd say it was a good choice to let him walk

Unless you are new to hunting white tail and need to "get it out of your system," WAIT. He'll make a bigger prize next year.

NO WAY that buck will ever reach 150". That being said, I think you made the right decision. The older I get yhe more Ive realized that Id rather let a buck go than shoot one that I wasnt excited about shooting. If a neighbor gets it and is excited about it then good for them. I let one that looked similar to that go 2 years ago. Could have had him as my first bow buck but it didnt get my heart goin when he walked out. The next year my buddy shot him as his firt bow buck and he had gotten MUCH bigger.

Yep, you did the right thing.

Good call.

How can any of you age that deer with that picture? If that's a 5.5 year old deer then I'd say shoot. If he's mature and you'd be proud of him then take him. If he's 3.5 he'll be a bruiser and you'll be glad you let him go. I think age is a bigger factor on deer than antler size as a general criteria. The antler size that people are looking for will vary for everyone but age is universal criteria. No matter if its a 120 or a 150 if he's an old mature buck then you can be proud of him...

I would have, no hesitation.

Mind says no.......trigger hand says pull

Pass

Too much potential. I have spent 2 years trying to teach adjacent hunters to my lease to let bucks like him go. It is a rule on my lease. We have let about 8-10 like him walk, next year and those after we will all see the results.
Now,, if I saw that buck next year and he did not improve or declined , he would make the hit list.

We have all heard the saying" you will never have any big ones if you do not let the little ones have a chance to grow "

I wouldn't have shot it.