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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 3,157 Likes: 15
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 3,157 Likes: 15 |
I finally met my new neighbors and they are good folks with the same hunting values. We don’t have a lot of property combined and they are both timber company leases so we can’t do but so much. We are going to do all we can to try and keep deer our places with food and decent habitat. And only shoot mature. Another gentleman down the road a few hundred yards hunts family land and they only shoot mature also. I’m thankful my new neighbors are willing to work with me for sure.
To GOD be All the glory!!!
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,992 Likes: 25
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,992 Likes: 25 |
I am guilty of misjudging deer pretty often. I have killed some very nice looking three year olds. and Honestly, I do not know a way around it.
In the places I hunt(99% public land) it is VERY thick, I can see a rack coming through the palmettos and 9 times out of 10, the buck will only get in a hole where I can see his entire body for a second or two. I can either spend that time sizing him up or shooting at him.
I have made the mistake in both directions. they have got in a hole and I've taken the shot only to later regret it, AND conversely I have let them get by me and thought "oh dang that was a nice one I should've taken him. I really don't know what to do differently. because both mistakes feel equally bad Good post. It is totally different than when I get to look at a buck, maybe a few times, in a wheat field and examine both body and behavior. But props to you…I’ve probably lost a lot of the skill it requires to take a 3 year old on public land. Thank ya sir.
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,992 Likes: 25
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,992 Likes: 25 |
I am guilty of misjudging deer pretty often. I have killed some very nice looking three year olds. and Honestly, I do not know a way around it.
In the places I hunt(99% public land) it is VERY thick, I can see a rack coming through the palmettos and 9 times out of 10, the buck will only get in a hole where I can see his entire body for a second or two. I can either spend that time sizing him up or shooting at him.
I have made the mistake in both directions. they have got in a hole and I've taken the shot only to later regret it, AND conversely I have let them get by me and thought "oh dang that was a nice one I should've taken him. I really don't know what to do differently. because both mistakes feel equally bad We have all been guilty of that. Which is why I argue cameras are actually a net positive for growing big deer, even though it seems the majority believe it’s the opposite. Yes they can help pattern and kill a big buck, but more importantly they let a mature buck hunter know what is on the property and identify shooters, non-shooters, and the target buck(s) worth holding out for. Going in blind, you are much more likely to make a rushed decision to kill the first decent buck you see. I agree the cameras do help. This is exactly why I use cameras, namely cell cams. There have been several times where I have been in my spot, get a picture of a good one on a camera a couple hundred yards away and often times I will see him in person not long after the pic and it cues me in to be more conservative. I can say "ok just got the pic, he is headed this way, don't freak out when you see the rack coming" and sure enough he will come right by me and I let him go Without the camera I run the risk of taking him without prior knowledge of which deer it is. In my scenario, the cameras are actually saving deer
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 146
3 point
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3 point
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 146 |
I am guilty of misjudging deer pretty often. I have killed some very nice looking three year olds. and Honestly, I do not know a way around it.
In the places I hunt(99% public land) it is VERY thick, I can see a rack coming through the palmettos and 9 times out of 10, the buck will only get in a hole where I can see his entire body for a second or two. I can either spend that time sizing him up or shooting at him.
I have made the mistake in both directions. they have got in a hole and I've taken the shot only to later regret it, AND conversely I have let them get by me and thought "oh dang that was a nice one I should've taken him. I really don't know what to do differently. because both mistakes feel equally bad We have all been guilty of that. Which is why I argue cameras are actually a net positive for growing big deer, even though it seems the majority believe it’s the opposite. Yes they can help pattern and kill a big buck, but more importantly they let a mature buck hunter know what is on the property and identify shooters, non-shooters, and the target buck(s) worth holding out for. Going in blind, you are much more likely to make a rushed decision to kill the first decent buck you see. And my argument is the last case scenario is better than the targeted removal of the higher end young deer, which is what is happening on more properties than not. They’re great if everyone is on board. If one rogue actor decides to use them beside you it can get bad quick. Camera saved one three year-old that was running a doe in front of me this year. Without a camera, he would not have made it. That said, I would have been proud of him if I would’ve shot. If you are a weekend hunter like me and are targeting four-year-old and older bucks, you need to be prepared to go multiple years in between shot opportunities. I have only shot two in the last eight years and I am fine with that. That last part is true. I'm in that category, and it's been 5 years since I've killed a buck. Now, to be fair, in that 5 years I've hunted with my son more than not (and put him on a few good deer, including one that would have met my standard two years ago), and I've also shot does myself for meat. End of last year my son finally started hunting by himself, so I'm back hunting more by myself. Even so, I've passed two deer this year already that would have been considered decent bucks for our land, but would not have aged where I want them to be. I'm fortunate to hunt in a club with a lot of acreage and pretty good deer population, so if a few younger deer with good potential get killed by others, it doesn't ruin anything for me.
Last edited by Wahoo; 02/04/26 05:08 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,599 Likes: 18
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,599 Likes: 18 |
We are in the third year of not shooting any bucks younger than 4.5 years old, at least that is the goal. We have seen an uptick in older age class deer without a doubt. Out of the bucks killed the last three years, 25% were misjudged deer. We kill about four bucks on 2,000 acres each year, so three have been misjudged. I shot a 4.5 year old deer this year and from the time I saw him until I pulled the trigger was 20-30 seconds. Big deer that was chasing a doe. Had I had time to watch, I probably would have let him walk because he had strong potential to make a really, really nice deer. Still happy that I got a nice deer, a freezer full of meat and experienced a great hunt. In Alabama, its just hard to manage perfectly based on terrain, length of season and land fragmentation. I know some folks that do it and have great success but they are the exception.
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1 member likes this:
T-hatchie |
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 15,168 Likes: 54
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 15,168 Likes: 54 |
^^
Good luck
I hav graduated to 5 past few years. I hav probably shot too many on my 250 since i hav been here. Averaging over 1.5 buck per. Killed one really good six this year and got one more 6 year old (could be dead). Was wanting to kill him - may be blessing if i dont. Got a solid 4 year old just got pic of. Got 2 older bucks that never showed this year. The wicked rack buck would be 7 this year. Hoping the neighbors acorns had him gone. He did skip a year on me 2 years ago. Had stud 7 last year hav not seen this year - hope it neighbor acorns. They both prob dead. Wicked rack spookiest buck i ever hunted. He ran from cameras
Hunt the wind - leave it better than you found it - love your neighbor as you love your self
We need prayer for our country now more than ever
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 15,168 Likes: 54
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 15,168 Likes: 54 |
Recounted - averaging 1.3 bucks per
Hunt the wind - leave it better than you found it - love your neighbor as you love your self
We need prayer for our country now more than ever
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,992 Likes: 25
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,992 Likes: 25 |
We are in the third year of not shooting any bucks younger than 4.5 years old, at least that is the goal. We have seen an uptick in older age class deer without a doubt. Out of the bucks killed the last three years, 25% were misjudged deer. We kill about four bucks on 2,000 acres each year, so three have been misjudged. I shot a 4.5 year old deer this year and from the time I saw him until I pulled the trigger was 20-30 seconds. Big deer that was chasing a doe. Had I had time to watch, I probably would have let him walk because he had strong potential to make a really, really nice deer. Still happy that I got a nice deer, a freezer full of meat and experienced a great hunt. In Alabama, its just hard to manage perfectly based on terrain, length of season and land fragmentation. I know some folks that do it and have great success but they are the exception. I would love a 30 second observation window. I think 3 of the last 5 or so bucks I have shot back in some of my public land swamp spots I have hit them in stride as they came through an opening in the palmettos. Almost like wing shooting them. In January, they are almost always behind a doe and are moving at some type of speed. A couple of them I have had to lead like a dove. It is a very very tough way to hunt but it is fun. There have been a handful of times I have caught them totally exposed crossing some flooded timber in the wide open, but those are VERY few and far between and I don't think I have ever taken a shot on one like that.
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