To kill or not to kill

[KB88]

So on my new property in key pen I've got 3-4 bucks continuously on camera. Mainly Young bucks with one being a two point with a third point starting.

Now I've never shot a blacktail or any game with a bow. So should I hold out and let these youngings get big, or harvest the oldest one while I can? I mean they are blackeys and in archery there's no gauarantees.

Any experiences you guys have had on watching unpressured deer returning next year?

[7mmfan]

In general, lowland blacktail have extremely small home ranges, so the chances of them going very far are pretty small. That being said, as they mature, they may "disappear". Not leave, just disappear. They become extremely reclusive and find their safe spaces and rarely leave them other than during the rut. So there could be some big bucks around, but you might not know they're there until the peak of the rut.

Should you shoot them or let them grow? If you shoot one, then 2 or 3 will get another year to grow. My guess is it wouldn't hurt your future chances as long as you don't spend a ton of time in there and push them around a bunch.

[h20hunter]

You should not. I should. Point out the most annoying flower eater and I'll do the rest.

Me, I say pop one. 

[Stein]

Shoot one.

[KB88]

I really look forward to getting my wife and kids on them in a couple years...but don't want any decent blackys getting hit or predation in the mean time

[hawks33]

If you're wanting meat, the young ones are always great to eat. You can always choose one of the deer with less potential to harvest and you'll still have several deer to mature. I see new BT bucks on our property every year, but the big ones, they can be like ghosts. You may have 3-4 small deer now, but you also may have a big one hanging that will show in the next couple months during rut

[buglebuster]

If you don’t shoot one someone else will

[fishnfur]

 

Often, they disappear because some other hunter shot the deer you were giving another year.

[JakeLand]

Let-em grow

[BULLBLASTER]

If you really want to let them grow older and bigger your only option is to let them.
If you kill one it is 100% guaranteed that he will not show back up bigger next year. 

I’ve had it go both ways. I’ve killed bucks I let go in previous years and also had them disappear and have seen them turn up that someone else killed. Just how it goes.

If you just want a deer and are happy with what they are then by all means shoot one!

[Alchase]

If you kill one it is 100% guaranteed that he will not show back up bigger next year. 

I laughed at out loud at the simple truth in this statement.

Now, knowing this is Hunting Washington, I am waiting for someone to come in and argue this point!

 

[BULLBLASTER]

If you kill one it is 100% guaranteed that he will not show back up bigger next year. 

I laughed at out loud at the simple truth in this statement.

Now, knowing this is Hunting Washington, I am waiting for someone to come in and argue this point!

 

maybe I could even argue agains my own point

[DOUBLELUNG]

Unless you control their habitat from August through December, it is really hard to stockpile bucks.  Even then, bumpers, predators and disease can throw a wrench into the most well planned quality management plan.  Good luck with whatever you decide, I like game meat and a deer in the freezer to me is worth 10 in the field

[Old Man Yager]

If you can get a decent BT first time with a bow, I woulnt hesitate. Decent BT bucks are hard to come by. Like others have posted though, if you pass on one, no gaurantee it'll be there again next year. 

[Stein]

Did the previous property owner hunt?  If not, you are already looking at what leaving them alone results.  In many places, deer just don't get old enough to get big.

[hunter399]

Kill em if your hungry ,don't cry later if you don't.

[MADMAX]

Choot em

[fishnfur]

Let 'em walk.  Make some other hunter happy!   

[ThurstonCokid]

Take one


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jellymon]

The spots give you something to aim at.

[Mudman]

Simple.  Shoot the 2nd biggest and fry em up.  Next year the bigger one will be bigger, maybe.

[KB88]

Property has been in family for 16 or 17 years. No hunting has occurred as far as I know from in adjacent properties.

I'm heading out tomorrow to hopefully put down a good buck if I see it .. with every intention of leaving by 10am and being patient. I have a mutli season tag and plenty of other hunts to do.

My only thought was dump either of the bigger two and just focus solely on archery elk..

Either way I'm pumped

[hardrichard]

the age old question to shoot or not to shoot............SHOOT

[fishnfur]

Property has been in family for 16 or 17 years. No hunting has occurred as far as I know from in adjacent properties.

I'm heading out tomorrow to hopefully put down a good buck if I see it .. with every intention of leaving by 10am and being patient. I have a mutli season tag and plenty of other hunts to do.

My only thought was dump either of the bigger two and just focus solely on archery elk..

Either way I'm pumped

Good plan.  Blacktail are ghosts.  If you see a good one, take it.  Get it done early and move on to elk.  Pass on a buck...... the season  can disappear before your very eyes. If you don't need the meat, just have fun.   Set your goals high and live with the consequences.  If you have  a goal or a minimum size/age, and you don't find that buck, you can walk away feeling good even if you pass on that small forky early on.  Good luck!

[Bowcrazy]

 I live on Key Pen. Wait until Modern to use your bow. The big ones will usually show up out here 18-25th of October. Deer you have never seen on your camera will pop up with the does.

[Huntingtony]

Hard to say if they will grow up, i know alot of people on key pen that pluck them off.