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.
