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Post by rangersedge on Feb 1, 2021 17:58:17 GMT -5
I've probably told the story here before; but several years ago, I had an exceptionally tall tined & symmetrical 10 pointer within 30 yards of my stand for probably 20 - 30 minutes. I drew my handgun and aimed; but did not fire. His rack wasn't very wide; but the thing that stopped me was that he was obviously a very young deer and i would have always kicked myself for not letting him reach his potential. I let him walk. A few minutes later, a shotgun roared from the direction he'd gone. I'm sure the neighbor was thrilled with the huge buck he'd just shot.
This past season, we had a couple nice bucks on trail cam a lot. One was a 4.5 year old 9 point with a 22 inch inside spread. The other was a tall tined 8 point with antlers touching in front. A nephew shot the first after apparently missing (crosbow bolt hit small limb but couldn't find bolt nor blood) a much larger (reportedly 200+ class) buck. Neighbor shot the 8 point in the butt and we tracked it across our property to recover for him.
We own several hundred acres of prime deer habitat; but it's hard to manage for mature deer when neighbors don't and the deer travel their property too.
What is your policy on letting them walk?
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Post by contender on Feb 1, 2021 21:54:30 GMT -5
I suffer from the same malady as you do,, only with my property being smaller. I try & let smaller deer walk & live longer,, but I have a few adjoining properties that the people who hunt there have a mantra; "If it's brown,, it's down."
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Post by harold89 on Feb 1, 2021 22:04:14 GMT -5
This buck was in the gross 190’s at 3.5 yrs. I passed him in LM only to have his core bedding area turned to mulch the following spring. Never saw him again. So many factors beyond our control but I never wanted to look at him and wonder what he might have become. I try to pass deer until they are mature and in my experience they get pretty sharp AFTER they survive about 3 full hunting seasons LOL.
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Post by x101airborne on Feb 2, 2021 0:08:16 GMT -5
Same thing here. 500 acres is our biggest property although the "ranch" is made up of tracks adding to 1700 acres. I let a buck walk two years ago. Within 5 minutes a neighbor hunter shot and yelled with elation. I knew what had happened. Since then I still try to let the young ones walk; at least I am doing my part. But 5 1/2 or older and legal? Gets shot. Dont care if it is a monster or a basket head. Yes, I hunt in an antler restricted county (MUST be wider than 13 inches inside spread); State of Texas can, well you know... A 5 1/2 year old deer that isn't outside of 13 inches inside spread should have been culled years ago. I give them a chance. I dont shoot 2 1/2 year old deer. Have taught my boys the same. I also realize I am taking my own chances with the State. If there is a belly well below the brisket, that deer is old enough. If not, it walks.
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Post by zeus on Feb 2, 2021 0:44:06 GMT -5
Talk with your neighbor. See if you can come up with a plan together. I have always told guys that if I shoot them, I know they are out of the game but if I let them walk, there is still a chance. I hear the argument all the time about the neighbor. I always suggest talking with them to see if you can develop a mutual management plan.
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Post by 45MAN on Feb 2, 2021 7:18:16 GMT -5
THE DEER WOODS ARE FULL OF IDIOTS, GUYS WHO LAST SHOT THEIR RIFLE 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO AND GO AFIELD WITH A WOEFULLY "OUT OF SIGHT" WEAPON, GUYS WHO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TRACKING SKILLS, GUYS WHO THINK IF IT DIDN'T DROP IT MUST HAVE BEEN A MISS, GUYS WHO KNOW NOTHING AT ALL ABOUT AGING DEER OR WHAT IS, IS NOT, COULD BE, NEVER WILL BE, etc. A GOOD BUCK, GUYS WHO SUFFER FROM UNCONTROLLABLE BUCK FEVER, AND ON AND ON. AND THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE JUST NOT TROPHY HUNTERS, THEY ARE MOSTLY INTERESTED IN MEAT. UNLESS YOU ARE ON A LARGE TRACT OF LAND AND/OR HIGH FENCED DEER MANAGEMENT HAS ITS LIMITS AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE A SHARED DEER HERD.
BACK IN THE 1970's, ON THE RANCHES I HAVE HUNTED ON FOR 50 + YEARS NOW, ALL PART OF A ONE TIME 16,000 ACRE RANCH, 1 GUEST (A FRIEND OF A FRIEND OF THE OWNER) SHOT 3 BUCKS ON AN AFTERNOON HUNT AND AT THE TIME TEXAS HAD A 2 BUCK LIMIT. 3 BUCKS CAME OUT AND HE COULD NOT CONTROL HIMSELF AND HE SHOT THEM ALL. ANOTHER GUEST, A RELATIVE OF ANOTHER OWNER, SHOT 3 BUCKS IN ONE AFTERNOON. THE BUCKS DIDN'T DROP SO HE THOUGHT HE HAD MISSED. WHEN THE COWBOYS FOUND ALL 3 BUCKS DEAD JUST OFF THE SENDEROS, THE IDIOT RELATIVE COMMENTED "OH GOOD, I THOUGHT MY GUN WAS OFF", HE NEVER GOT INVITED BACK.
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Feb 2, 2021 9:08:51 GMT -5
Sadly, Rey, it turns out that there really is such a thing as "slob hunters". Old Marines call 'em "Maggots".
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Post by contender on Feb 2, 2021 11:31:47 GMT -5
In my case,, I have ONE good neighbor who tries to manage the deer as I do. He has much more land than I do,, but we both border a tract,, that,, sadly,, those individuals,, have basically told us to screw off. They just do not care. They want to kill deer & brag on the numbers killed. I tried twice talking to them,, and even though they aren't the owners,, when I spoke with the owner,, he allowed; "they are family." SOL. And on other nearby land,, these hunters kill for food,, and there are 4 families living in that area. I wouldn't mind them as much,, except,, that they waste meat. One comment was about how, "I throw away the front shoulders,, too much damage & not enough meat."
If I could get a larger tract of land & work it properly,, I'd enjoy better quality deer for sure. As it is,, I'm considering a fence along one property line section to cut down on the trespassing. Chain link is expensive & it would be in a rough to install area. Still,,,,,,,,,!
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Post by x101airborne on Feb 2, 2021 21:19:53 GMT -5
Check with your State, throwing away the shoulders in Texas is a crime. A hunter is required to keep the shoulders, hind quarters, backstraps till the point of final processing. I keep everything from ears to as**** Um, the back end. We eat the heart, liver, all the meat, stew the shanks, cook a few of the bones for marrow on occasion and the bones get a light seasoning and dehydrated for the dogs. I do waste the blood, kidneys, hooves and teeth. Oh, and the grunt. I dont use that.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Feb 2, 2021 21:33:31 GMT -5
Having assisted numerous hunters from all across the US and the World take deer here in the great state of Texas. I have come to realize that “MY” definition of a trophy is MINE!! And does not necessarily meet others definition. While I will generally let a 2.5 - 3.5 year old deer walk, I realize that some folks are quite ecstatic with any 8 pointer, and if it is a trophy to them then I accept the fact that MY measuring tape may need to be amended to fit the person and circumstances. Now people that are simply shooting any “legal” deer because it has hard horn protruding from its head, or does because their goal is to “tag out”...........I have zero tolerance for.
Trapr
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Post by bigbore5 on Feb 3, 2021 5:11:46 GMT -5
We are very over populated with deer here in the NC piedmont. This year I culled out a poor buck and one that had potential but was lamed appearantly by a car. Other than that I don't take young deer unless it's a doe. I hunted a great 12 point, but after culling the lame, my two tags for bucks were gone. I really don't feel any excitement out of taking a young buck. There's no challenge to it. Does have better meat. Older bucks make good hamburger, but also are more challenging and exciting to match wits with. Let em walk until they get old and smart.
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Post by rangersedge on Feb 3, 2021 11:30:18 GMT -5
I think my main frustration is people shooting obviously young bucks with obviously high potential. No gripes about the 4.5 year old 9 pointer. Was hard to guess age even after watching trail cam videos. The 8 pointer was probably a 3.5 year old. My main gripe there was the butt shot on a running deer. If he didn't have a good shot, he should have passed. That 10 pointer from years ago was either 1.5 or 2.5; but guessing 1.5. He was slender, very young, and showing tons of potential.
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Post by x101airborne on Feb 3, 2021 20:25:13 GMT -5
Yeah, losing a 2.5 year old buck that was already a 10 point is a sorry excuse of a hunter.
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Post by harold89 on Feb 3, 2021 23:18:40 GMT -5
The owner (family member) of the farm I predominantly hunt has a tree business. The property is over hunted and it is requested that all bucks are shot (because they rub said trees). It’s not a huge property and some years, as many 6-8 small bucks or more are killed. The other family members, in laws and friends of family are happy to shoot literally anything. I can’t really fault anyone who is happy to shoot the first deer they see. Years ago some friends of the owner would push the farm multiple times passing up all adult does just to sling lead at any bucks they saw. They always ended up wounding and/or killing small bucks. That was painful. A friend of mine recently decided to lease. I’m thinking of doing the same.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Feb 10, 2021 8:57:35 GMT -5
I've only had the opportunity to think about passing on one deer... never seen any "monsters" I did hunt one full season in SE Minnesota on MRS cousins property in the bluffs along the Mississippi river ( very heavily populated with deer... he now leases it to a TV hunter, & we only go over there during latec season muzzle loader ) but it was freezing drizzle all week, & miserable hunting weather, cold weather gear was soaked guns icing up... worse yet, no deer were moving... about half way through the week, Bambi walked right under my stand ( I was hunting with my 14" Contender in 45-70 that year ) scope icing was a problem, but this little guy was so close I could have conked him on the head with the gun... but at all of 50-60 lbs wet, I let that one go... only deer I saw all week...
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