Whitetail 8x8 or 6x7? Which one?

[DBZona]

Here is the dilemma.  I am torn.  Both of these bucks I have hunted the last two years.  Even shot at the first one opening day of archery last year, but bow (or operater) malfunctioned.  Have not had him on cam till the other night.  Been a year since I seen him.  He is way bigger this year and his body size is unreal.  He is a mainframe 5x5 with 3 NT points.

The other buck is a mainframe 7x7 with two NT points.  I let him grow from last year and he grew a ton.  He is also in an area I doubt anyone will ever see him.  I want to let him grow another year and see what he does.  (I estimate he put on 25 inches from last year), but don't want to take the chance he gets shot by someone else.

The first buck is in an area he could get shot at anytime.  So who do I go after?  I want your advice.  Also curious what some of you think on scores for these two.  I personally don't care but am still learning to judge whitetails.  My goal is a mature buck.

[3nails]

 I say you let the weather conditions dictate which one you hunt on any given day. Wind direction, etc.... Both are dandies!

[DBZona]

Last years pics

[nwwanderer]

Wow, pretty boys!  As always their brains are going to migrate this month.  Know where the ladies move, they will follow.

[CedarPants]

I'd need to get a good look at them in person to help you answer that question.  Pick me up, say ..... 4am tomorrow   

[kckrawler]

From your avatar, it almost seems like the 5x5 would be downsizing...gotta go for the 7...incredible animal 

[MtnMuley]

No doubter, the second buck.  Best of luck.

[bullcanyon]

I would love to have this problem. Either would be a great trophy.

[PlateauNDN]

I say don't take the chance with the 2nd buck.

[andersonjk4]

Let the 7x7 live and pass his genetics another year.  That is one of the coolest bucks I've ever seen.  Wish I could have some genetics like that were I hunt.  Both of them are great bucks though and I would take either one in a heartbeat.  Great dilema to have.  Good luck whichever way you choose.   

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I would love to have this problem. Either would be a great trophy.

Yeah same here.  "I'm torn". Cry me a fricken river and bust one, they are both awesome bucks and you never know what the future holds, they may disappear next year.

[Bucks2Ducks]

Id focus on taking the 7, hard to wait another year on him.

[Chesapeake]

Tell me where one of them is and I'll narrow down your choices for you.

[lewy]

  That second buck is a once in a lifetime whitey for most, esp. in Wa. Thats the one i'd be after.......good luck

[Kowsrule30]

Even though it's a WT... If I had to choose... The second one for sure... He's a hog...

[GEARHEAD]

who cares, "safety off"    very nice.

[groundhog]

Play the wind and take the first one that you can take!!! They are both great bucks!!!

[cem3434]

Tell me where one of them is and I'll narrow down your choices for you.

Better yet, tell me where the one is you decide not to shoot and I will let you know if he has any ground shrinkage.    Seriously though, either buck would make for a nice trophy on the wall.  I say take one of them out this year and focus on the other one next year! 

[coachcw]

#2 no doubt !

[borntoslay]

What about Zach?!

[DBZona]

What about Zach?!

This  buck actually is Zach... 

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Are you getting daylight photos of either one of these bucks?

[BoomWhop]

The 7

[DBZona]

Here is why I feel I am torn.  I shot and missed that first buck opening day of archery last year, I have a history with him.  I feel like its unfinished business.  But the truth is, I will hunt both.  They are far from each other and one is a lot closer to home than the other.  So whichever slips up first will wish he hadn't.  I also believe the first buck is a lot more mature, and I love taking a buck in his prime.  I think the other buck has another year to reach that status.  I would love to see what the other one would do given one more year, and he is in an area I believe if anyone saw him it would be a miracle.  Its a ways in.

[DBZona]

Are you getting daylight photos of either one of these bucks?

No not yet.  But I am hoping its just a matter of time. The big 7x7 made a scrape and rub in front of my camera 3 weeks ago and visits it whenever he is around, but he is a roamer and only comes in once a week for 2-3 days at a time.

 How about your bucks?  Any daylight activity yet?

[DBHAWTHORNE]

No mature buck daylight activity on my cameras. Hopefully I start seeing some over the next few weeks. All of my big ones are pass the cams in the middle of the night.

[mtman]

I would quit my job and hunt that second deer. Is that public land? I just want to Know if I could ever have a chance at something like that.

[MuleySniper]

No doubter, the second buck.  Best of luck.

 
Hopefully you get a day pic here pretty soon

[DBZona]

I would quit my job and hunt that second deer. Is that public land? I just want to Know if I could ever have a chance at something like that.

Yes you do!  Biggest bucks are public land bucks in my opinion.

[Jonathan_S]

If they're side by side, #2 for sure.  If they're not, I drop the first one I see and get sheds from the other.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I would quit my job and hunt that second deer. Is that public land? I just want to Know if I could ever have a chance at something like that.

Yes you do!  Biggest bucks are public land bucks in my opinion.

 

mtman...go ahead and quit your job... because there are a number of masher bucks like that out there waiting for you on our public lands.

[Jonathan_S]

There are plenty of huge deer on public land, like DB says.  Go hiking in January and you'll see them.

[mtman]

Thats what Ive heard about whitetails. All the the big ones are in the national forest. Only hunted them once with no luck. Hoping to make a trip out east next year for the whitetail. Mabye I will take a few weeks off and hope to god I can find one half that size. Dont know much about the whitetail but ive got books coming.Good luck with your hunt.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Thats what Ive heard about whitetails. All the the big ones are in the national forest. Only hunted them once with no luck. Hoping to make a trip out east next year for the whitetail. Mabye I will take a few weeks off and hope to god I can find one half that size. Dont know much about the whitetail but ive got books coming.Good luck with your hunt.

This is a great state for whitetail.

[mtman]

That's what I meant by east. Don't have the money to go out of state. I will try and get some money to go shed hunting somewere over there. Maybe a few scouting trips as well. It looks like the trail cams are the best bet on knowing what Kind of animals there are. On the west side you can see alot of the blacktails before the velvet comes off. After that I don't see them anymore. Thinking about trying to get them figured out using trail cams also.

[Jonathan_S]

That's what I meant by east. Don't have the money to go out of state. I will try and get some money to go shed hunting somewere over there. Maybe a few scouting trips as well. It looks like the trail cams are the best bet on knowing what Kind of animals there are. On the west side you can see alot of the blacktails before the velvet comes off. After that I don't see them anymore. Thinking about trying to get them figured out using trail cams also.

Trail cameras are like finding the missing link.  I'm surprised how many people don't use them.  Get a big buck on camera and then spiderweb from that location until you get a pattern nailed down.  Have fun with your upcoming whitetail chase.

[mdbuck5x5]

DB like some others said I would take the first one that presented itself to you! Good luck!

Trail cameras are like finding the missing link.  I'm surprised how many people don't use them.  Get a big buck on camera and then spiderweb from that location until you get a pattern nailed down.  Have fun with your upcoming whitetail chase.

Well I'm one of those people who don't use cams and don't care to. I wouldnt mind killing a big buck as much as the next person but it doesn't make or break my season. For me its about being in the woods away from everything and bringing home some meat.  My