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Key:
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 11,195 Likes: 138
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 11,195 Likes: 138 |
I probably let way more deer walk in a season then I probably should. Especially this season due to the fact that I killed all the deer I needed in Texas. Some of the guys at the camp give me a lot of crap for not shooting but I explain to them that when I’m ready to shoot something, I’ll shoot. I’m past the stage of killing a deer just to say I killed it. I know what I’m after and when I see it, I shoot. First few hunts of the season, I’m a meat hunter and once I get what I need then I get very selective. But if someone wants to shoot and it makes them happy, I’ll be right there to celebrate the kill with them. Deer hunting is supposed to be fun and watching deer in their natural state is way more fun for me then having to clean a process them. 
It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chews your a$$ all day long.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 11,195 Likes: 138
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 11,195 Likes: 138 |
A spike in AL is not an indication of anything that he can or can’t do at maturity. A few years ago I passed on what I believe to be a 2yr old spike. The spikes were about a foot tall and the one on his right side has a sharp bend about half way up. 2 years later, my buddy shoots one afternoon and tells me he shot a big bodied tall 6pt. I went meet him and when I walked up to the deer, I immediately notice the right antler had a sharp bend in it about half way up. The antlers we probably 15-16” tall and only had about a 10-12” spread with big forks and small brow tines. Till this day I believe that was the exact spike I let walk 2yrs prior. He wasn’t a monster but my buddy was dang proud of him and I sure would have been happy to kill him. You never know what a bucks potential is if you kill him when he’s a baby.
It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chews your a$$ all day long.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,718 Likes: 165
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,718 Likes: 165 |
I bought a little Camcorder and started filming the bucks I let walk. It was just as good as shooting them to me. They walked and I could show people what I could've killed if I had chosen to.
Lord, please help us get our nation straightened out.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 26,712 Likes: 31
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 26,712 Likes: 31 |
I let a 4.5 yo 8 point walk last Tuesday because I had to be up for work at 2:45 am and still had a 4 hour drive to the house to complete. No thank you lol.
"Some men are mere hunters; others are turkey hunters."
-- Archibald Rutledge
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,578 Likes: 96
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,578 Likes: 96 |
Life is a journey. Make sure and bring plenty of Beer.
My luck has been so bad lately, it could be raining pussies and I'd catch one with a dick broke off in it.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 10,735
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 10,735 |
Ya, I like pulling the trigger
The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 33:4
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,578 Likes: 96
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,578 Likes: 96 |
Ya, I like pulling the trigger Yep! And eating venison!
Life is a journey. Make sure and bring plenty of Beer.
My luck has been so bad lately, it could be raining pussies and I'd catch one with a dick broke off in it.
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,314
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,314 |
We pass a lot- I mean a lot. Never really see the benefit over the next couple years. Maybe they get killed at 3 or 4 elsewhere. I have learned to enjoy just watching them and working the property, being in camp. maybe one day our trigger restraint will pay off.
WDE
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,111 Likes: 35
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,111 Likes: 35 |
I just wanna shoot chit.. i get to go like twice a year now..i dont give crap if its got horns..spots…or identifies as a hippopotarangutangapuss..i needs ta blowse it…👌🏻
"I dont quit.. And ill fight alone if i have to"
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 15,112 Likes: 52
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 15,112 Likes: 52 |
^^
🤣🤣
Glad i still like to shoot - i like letting them walk - tryung to graduate to 5 yr olds and i dont care what others do - i try to take care of me - we all got our hands full just to do that 😀
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: Apr 2021
Posts: 891
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 891 |
I probably let way more deer walk in a season then I probably should. Especially this season due to the fact that I killed all the deer I needed in Texas. Some of the guys at the camp give me a lot of crap for not shooting but I explain to them that when I’m ready to shoot something, I’ll shoot. I’m past the stage of killing a deer just to say I killed it. I know what I’m after and when I see it, I shoot. First few hunts of the season, I’m a meat hunter and once I get what I need then I get very selective. But if someone wants to shoot and it makes them happy, I’ll be right there to celebrate the kill with them. Deer hunting is supposed to be fun and watching deer in their natural state is way more fun for me then having to clean a process them. Agree....I went thru the killing stage about 10 yrs ago and now have become very selective....If I kill a couple early in the season for meat, I am good...my wife will kill 1 or 2 and we usually give most of the meat to family and friends....I have never worried about what others shoot....I tell everybody that once you make the kill, then the real work begins in cleaning and processing....
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,472 Likes: 17
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,472 Likes: 17 |
I probably let way more deer walk in a season then I probably should. Especially this season due to the fact that I killed all the deer I needed in Texas. Some of the guys at the camp give me a lot of crap for not shooting but I explain to them that when I’m ready to shoot something, I’ll shoot. I’m past the stage of killing a deer just to say I killed it. I know what I’m after and when I see it, I shoot. First few hunts of the season, I’m a meat hunter and once I get what I need then I get very selective. But if someone wants to shoot and it makes them happy, I’ll be right there to celebrate the kill with them. Deer hunting is supposed to be fun and watching deer in their natural state is way more fun for me then having to clean a process them. This right here!!
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,931
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,931 |
Dead little deer don’t make big live deer!!! Its pretty simple.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,718 Likes: 165
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,718 Likes: 165 |
I ask my self two questions about a buck when deciding whether to shoot him or not:
1). Is he mature? That is why if you are going to be serious about a trophy plan you should learn to age them in the field, then shoot the mature ones whether they are a huge spike or a 10. Mature bucks, that aren't trophy quality don't do anything but eat up food that could be used by young, growing deer so take em out.
2). Do I feel like fooling with him? I'm getting old so it is important to me to have someone there to help me load, etc. Usually, there is a front-end loader on a tractor to use if no one else is around. If I'm by myself I always check to see that it is operable before I go.
Lord, please help us get our nation straightened out.
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,381 Likes: 150
Glad He Doesn’t Have One
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Glad He Doesn’t Have One
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,381 Likes: 150 |
I ask my self two questions about a buck when deciding whether to shoot him or not:
1). Is he mature? That is why if you are going to be serious about a trophy plan you should learn to age them in the field, then shoot the mature ones whether they are a huge spike or a 10. Mature bucks, that aren't trophy quality don't do anything but eat up food that could be used by young, growing deer so take em out.
2). Do I feel like fooling with him? I'm getting old so it is important to me to have someone there to help me load, etc. Usually, there is a front-end loader on a tractor to use if no one else is around. If I'm by myself I always check to see that it is operable before I go. I would add to your 1st point… it’s not always wise to take them out whether they are a huge spike or a 10. From what I’ve learned from Matt and others here and other places, it’s better to have an older age class of breeding bucks. So don’t just shoot him because he’s old, shoot him because he is old and has a rack that is a trophy to you. Even if he has 10” spikes, there’s no science saying his offspring will have 10” spikes. Maybe he breeds with a doe that has good genes and she throws a buck that has 10” brow tines. Who knows? Science does say that an older age class of bucks leads to a better fawn survival rate. And with the coyote epidemic that’s a big deal if you ask me. Plus I doubt your deer are starving. The mature buck eating the food isn’t really that big of a deal is it? Just passing along something Ive learned over the last 3-4 years or so. But I’m definitely no expert.
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,103 Likes: 10
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,103 Likes: 10 |
I got ya Spud ![[Linked Image]](https://i.postimg.cc/L8scK34d/Screenshot-2023-12-23-185025.png)
Turkey’s tell you when they want to die not lawmakers.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,578 Likes: 96
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,578 Likes: 96 |
I got ya Spud All I see is Sausage and Burger! 
Life is a journey. Make sure and bring plenty of Beer.
My luck has been so bad lately, it could be raining pussies and I'd catch one with a dick broke off in it.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 19,233 Likes: 27
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 19,233 Likes: 27 |
I got ya Spud All I see is Sausage and Burger! for eating thats the best kind , lol
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,103 Likes: 10
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,103 Likes: 10 |
I got ya Spud All I see is Sausage and Burger! My point.. if where im hunting its legal to kill and i aint going to die getting him out im filling the freezer. dont get me wrong i love killing a good mature big rack deer but those dont come by a whole lot when the surrounding property is brown or down
Turkey’s tell you when they want to die not lawmakers.
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 806
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 806 |
I ask my self two questions about a buck when deciding whether to shoot him or not:
1). Is he mature? That is why if you are going to be serious about a trophy plan you should learn to age them in the field, then shoot the mature ones whether they are a huge spike or a 10. Mature bucks, that aren't trophy quality don't do anything but eat up food that could be used by young, growing deer so take em out.
2). Do I feel like fooling with him? I'm getting old so it is important to me to have someone there to help me load, etc. Usually, there is a front-end loader on a tractor to use if no one else is around. If I'm by myself I always check to see that it is operable before I go. I would add to your 1st point… it’s not always wise to take them out whether they are a huge spike or a 10. From what I’ve learned from Matt and others here and other places, it’s better to have an older age class of breeding bucks. So don’t just shoot him because he’s old, shoot him because he is old and has a rack that is a trophy to you. Even if he has 10” spikes, there’s no science saying his offspring will have 10” spikes. Maybe he breeds with a doe that has good genes and she throws a buck that has 10” brow tines. Who knows? Science does say that an older age class of bucks leads to a better fawn survival rate. And with the coyote epidemic that’s a big deal if you ask me. Plus I doubt your deer are starving. The mature buck eating the food isn’t really that big of a deal is it? Just passing along something Ive learned over the last 3-4 years or so. But I’m definitely no expert. From what I understand a property can only support a certain number of mature deer even with a strict habitat management program + food plots. Mature deer don't like to be "crowded". Again, someone correct me if I'm wrong here. I do agree you won't change a herd's genetics by shooting a 5yr old spike but you will free up a spot for another mature deer and have that much more forage available for other deer with better potential.
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