Do you let them walk...

[doubletall]

I didn't start hunting until my mid forties and I think this was my 15th season.  It's also the first season I passed on a legal buck.  Hunting on my property for a mule deer isn't what I would call a challenging hunt, it's more like harvesting which I'm fine with.  This year I decided to hold out for one of the whitetails that I'd been seeing on my cameras.  On opening day with 15 minutes of legal shooting time left a 4x4 mule deer walked by at 40 yards.  I let him walk and with two minutes left another deer walked through my first shooting lane. It was dark enough that I couldn't positively id it through my scope.  I kept waiting for it to come out from behind the shrub but maybe it saw me swing my gun to the next shooting lane because it hung up there until after shooting hours.  It turned out to be a 5x5 whitetail.  The next night was pretty much a repeat with the same whitetail minus the opportunity for a mule deer.  I might add that part of my decision to pass on the mule deer was the fact that I have a multi season tag and I didn't want my season to be over so soon.

[nwalpineguide]

I went back and forth on this a few years ago. That year I killed a small fork horn blacktail and decided that the amount of meat I got off that deer didn't warrant me killing it. I'd rather it got a chance to grow another year.  I passed on a small spike this year. It was my only opportunity at a legal buck, I have no regrets.

It has nothing to do with trophy hunting. I'm not desperate for food, and with the stress our herds are under, I feel I'm doing a small part in helping the young ones get a chance to grow to maturity.

Well stated 7mm. I'm in lockstep with you on the issue.

[Gentrys]

If you really want/need the meat, shoot the spike.
I've shot enough deer over the years that I let the spikes walk.  Give them a chance to grow up a bit and shoot em in a another couple years.

[Apples]

Personally I have no problem letting small legal bucks walk, not a trophy hunter but if I see a legal and dont get excited about the rack I let them go, plus the amount you get on a young deer is pretty small.

[brokentrail]

I shoot the first legal deer (blacktail) that I can.

[vandeman17]

For me it changes every hunt based on a lot of factors.

1)Do I still have meat from last year in the freezer?
2)Do I have meat in the freezer from this year?
3)What hunts do I still have left in the season and what is the likelihood of filling those tags?
4)What am I seeing and how many days do I have to hunt?
5)In state, out of state, otc, quality tag.

All these go into my decision on whether to pull the trigger or release an arrow or at least I try to use them as my decision. More times than I can count have I told myself I was holding out, only to whack the first buck I saw. No regrets on any of them either because they all provided meat for the freezer which is the ultimate goal

[85yota]

Like others have stated, it's all relative.. I hunted the same
monster blacktail for 2 years and doing so passed on a few spikes and fork n horns. Old lady got it last year haloween scored 143ish. So this year decides first legal buck. Saw a small spike, decent body and went and got my friend to take it. Do I feel like a trophy hunter? Absolutely not. Had a blast and a goal of a mature blacktail is my dream animal. Do I regret not having meat from the smaller ones, absolutely, but for blacktails atleast it's cool knowing what your doing is working, and deciding to let one pass (for whatever reason) is satisfying. Got another buddy a 3x3 Blackie late hunt for his first deer ever. And I was probably more stoked for him than if I would have taken it. If "trophy" hunting means passing on younger deer for the goal of a big one, that may never happen, than call me a trophy hunter. I got a fair amount of meat from there bucks, that for late muzzy it will just be a decision I make at the time, if I ever get the opportunity.

[Buzzsaw461]

Usually let the small ones walk unless the wife is telling me She wants venison then all fat two points or bigger are going down

[dylanb]

if they get me excited and it’s legal i’ll shoot it. if it doesn’t get me going then i’ll let them walk. i had a 2 point this year that was chasing a doe that is very lucky i didn’t get a shot, shaking like a leaf over what would of been the smallest buck i’ve killed in 10 years.

[MADMAX]

For me it changes every hunt based on a lot of factors.

1)Do I still have meat from last year in the freezer?
2)Do I have meat in the freezer from this year?
3)What hunts do I still have left in the season and what is the likelihood of filling those tags?
4)What am I seeing and how many days do I have to hunt?
5)In state, out of state, otc, quality tag.

All these go into my decision on whether to pull the trigger or release an arrow or at least I try to use them as my decision. More times than I can count have I told myself I was holding out, only to whack the first buck I saw. No regrets on any of them either because they all provided meat for the freezer which is the ultimate goal

This

[huntandjeep]

Call it what you want , but im not shooting a young deer just because it's legal and i need to fill my tag . I have let alot more deer walk then I have killed in my life . Would just rather kill a mature deer .

[NOCK NOCK]

For me it changes every hunt based on a lot of factors.

1)Do I still have meat from last year in the freezer?
2)Do I have meat in the freezer from this year?
3)What hunts do I still have left in the season and what is the likelihood of filling those tags?
4)What am I seeing and how many days do I have to hunt?
5)In state, out of state, otc, quality tag.

All these go into my decision on whether to pull the trigger or release an arrow or at least I try to use them as my decision. More times than I can count have I told myself I was holding out, only to whack the first buck I saw. No regrets on any of them either because they all provided meat for the freezer which is the ultimate goal

This

x3

[Naches Sportsman]

I kill an animal when I’m hunting on resident tags when I feel like I’ve accomplished my goals  and got the most out of the season.

Shot a 2 point this year in a very tough unit for white tail in Idaho and have no regrets. Shot a 33” bull moose this year and have no regrets. Elk hunting I had a few regrets this year not shooting one of the 12 bulls I saw but knew in the back of my head that a moose and shooting a deer is enough hooved animal meat for myself.

[shadowless_nite]

I'm fortunate enough to have access to private property with a good local amount of deer. Enough that we usually take a few within the family and friends. Me and my father inlaw target the biggest bucks, simply because we spend the most time out there pursuing them and we are also the most experienced in dealing with blacktails. We leave the younger less wiser deer for those of the group that are limited in time, experience or just new and looking for their first deer and aren't picky of a buck. I will gladly pass on a smaller buck to allow my wife or kids more chance of a opportunity, especially since they are limited with school/work/sports activities and the younger deer provide them with more opportunity to be successful in a hunt. If a big buck i was targeting comes out and they are with me they are the priority since I don't know the chances of that happening very often for them but I know my chances are higher simply because I spend more time hunting. My trophy is seeing them being successful and knowing my role helped get them there whether it's a big buck or a spike to hit the freezer or just seeing the joy of their pursuit.

[bigmacc]

For me it changes every hunt based on a lot of factors.

1)Do I still have meat from last year in the freezer?
2)Do I have meat in the freezer from this year?
3)What hunts do I still have left in the season and what is the likelihood of filling those tags?
4)What am I seeing and how many days do I have to hunt?
5)In state, out of state, otc, quality tag.

All these go into my decision on whether to pull the trigger or release an arrow or at least I try to use them as my decision. More times than I can count have I told myself I was holding out, only to whack the first buck I saw. No regrets on any of them either because they all provided meat for the freezer which is the ultimate goal

This

x3

xxx4