Author Topic: Would you let him grow another year? (Read 10378 times)

DBZona · « **on:** July 24, 2010, 01:47:35 PM »

Just bought my first trail cams and put them out 2 days ago. Went and checked the Bushnell TC and, Holy Crap, I have 1075 pics! The bad part, I only got 3 deer on cam. (guess I need to mess around with the settings. Only 2 does and this guy. He hit this spot yesterday evening and was in and out of it 5-6 times throughout the night till I kicked him out at 8 this morning. Being new to Washington and not knowing how to trophy judge deer here in the northwest, I need some help... Would you shoot this deer? or would you pass on him and let him grow? (This is public timberland and hunting archery this year. Does that impact your decision?) Why would you shoot him? Lastly, I am not very good on aging deer, so how old do you think he is and what characteristics tell you this?

I am going to let this cam sit for 5 days and see what happens. I am trying the video mode this time. Also set up another Moultrie cam where I am seeing a ton of elk sign, also set it up in front of some bear scat, so I am not going to bait until I am certain there are no bears there that I want (looked like sign of a sow and cubs). This is an Elk spot for me. Thanks for your input.

wazzu17 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 24, 2010, 02:01:01 PM »

i would shoot him he looks rather tall. if you don't shoot him someone else just might so i wouldn't take any chances

markts · « **Reply #2 on:** July 24, 2010, 02:10:34 PM »

billythekidrock · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2010, 02:14:12 PM »

Public land = take 'em!

270Shooter · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2010, 02:21:33 PM »

I would shoot him, kinda ugly, but I wouldn't pass on a legal buck in WA public land

DBZona · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2010, 02:38:02 PM »

Ugly!!! I think he's beautiful...in his own kinda jack up way.

Why do you think he has grown that way?

Alan K · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2010, 02:39:19 PM »

That's one heck of a unique buck. Given the opportunity I'd take him in a heartbeat! You may never get the chance to lay eyes on him again.

wapiti hunter2 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2010, 02:46:07 PM »

then I would

then

Never pass on the first day what you would shoot on the last.

saylean · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2010, 03:01:11 PM »

Let him grow another year....

once you tell me where he is.

SHOOT! for gods sake.

Houndhunter · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2010, 03:02:40 PM »

for me it would depend on if the area is easy access and has hunting pressure, if no to both of those than i would let him walk

. but that is a very cool looking deer and for wa that is a good buck

Lowedog · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2010, 03:05:27 PM »

Cool looking buck.

If your cam is aiming east or west where the sunrise or sunset is directly at it that will trigger it to take pics.

400out · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2010, 03:09:10 PM »

Take him for sure

DBZona · « **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2010, 03:12:42 PM »

Lowedog,

I was told that when I was doing research on how to set my cam up, so it is facing north. Plus, every pic has a deer in it, just the same 3 deer. I had the cam set up to take 3 snaps at a time. So I just need to fool around with the settings till I get a setup I like. BTW, this trail cam stuff is addicting!

DaveBTS · « **Reply #13 on:** July 24, 2010, 03:37:42 PM »

Judging from his body, I would let him grow. That's a unique characteristic I would like to see more of. He won't score well, but he's cooler than 90% of the bucks out there. He reminds me of several bucks in the Cowlitz county area that are BT/Fallow hybrids.

However, if this is heavily hunted public land, I would take him under the following circumstances.

1. If you are scouting the area and you find him out in the open. Odds are, you aren't the only one seeing him.

2. If you continue to see him in that patch of timber, shoot him the 3rd time you see him. This coincides with exception #1 because he's a dumb deer for allowing you to see him more than once. If he's that dumb, he'll probably be standing out in the open during the rut and will get killed anyway. You may as well be the one to get him.

I watched the same deer for 4 years in a row. I only see him 1 or 2 days a year during the summer, in the same spot, during the 1st week of July. I NEVER see him after that. I'm convinced he died because if someone shot him, the world would know. I would guess he was a 170" 3 pt last year.

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 24, 2010, 04:53:51 PM »

he is a cool buck but on public ground i would take him in a heartbeat hard to let them grow when they are in another hunters freezer

Huntboy · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2010, 04:59:37 PM »

Probably just because of his uniqueness, I would be more than willing to take him.

willapawapiti · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2010, 06:06:40 PM »

Very unique buck! I'd take him if he came by me!

rb2506 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2010, 07:28:03 PM »

no, shoot em!

Co · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2010, 07:50:41 PM »

I would say he is 3-4 years of age, his belly is full and his head looks smaller then some of the old guys Ive seen. At this stage I would be surprised if he is in same spot at same times, but if your confident that he will be there next year, I would let him go another year, he could turn into a real surprising trophy.

400out · « **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2010, 08:12:45 PM »

Quote from: carpsniperg2 on July 24, 2010, 04:53:51 PM

he is a cool buck but on public ground i would take him in a heartbeat hard to let them grow when they are in another hunters freezer

Tony · « **Reply #20 on:** July 24, 2010, 08:46:43 PM »

I'd shoot any legal non-typical i am across on public land. Below is one way to field judge deer that i have read.

Young deer are easy to tell. They have smaller heads as fawns and slender heads as they get older. A young buck will have a face that resembles a does. His body will also look like that of a doe, being long, lanky and slender. His neck is skinny and his front legs will appear close together at his chest.

Middle-aged deer become much more filled out in the body. They lose the skinny face, and their bodies look more like that of a racehorse. Their bodies are now developing and they are putting on weight through their shoulders, neck and rump. The best way that I determine the difference between a three and a four year old is by looking at the deer from the side and paying close attention to where the stomach meets the body by the rear legs. If the stomach still goes up it is three. If it is straight to the legs, it is four.

Mature deer will stick out as mentioned above. Unfortunately, most deer never reach maturity for many reasons. But seeing one will really make a lasting impression. They are much heavier in their bodies than middle-aged deer. Their chests become deep and their legs appear to be short and farther apart at the chest. Their faces become full and their necks are now flabby. Their stomachs are now big and their backs are sagged. They have lost that look of a racehorse. Look even closer and you'll even see wrinkles at the base of their ears. They look old and it is obvious.

DBZona · « **Reply #21 on:** July 24, 2010, 10:04:42 PM »

Now let me throw this out there...if this were a private land buck, would that change your mind?

I have every intention of harvesting this deer if he walks under my stand this year. If I don't then I hope my dad gets a chance at him. We bought him a tag this year last Christmas and he will be coming up from Arizona to hunt the general opener in October. I am so pumped to have the opportunity to hunt with him for a month this year.

NWBREW · « **Reply #22 on:** July 24, 2010, 10:33:54 PM »

I would shoot him........but I like backstrap. If your going to try and eat the antlers let him grow.....more to make soup out of.

h20hunter · « **Reply #23 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:22:08 AM »

Take 'em!

hunter-4-life · « **Reply #24 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:29:57 AM »

I would let him go another year. But at the same time that would be very difficult knowing that he is a public land buck and he would have to make it through the season first.

Ray · « **Reply #25 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:36:46 AM »

I'd shoot him.

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #26 on:** July 26, 2010, 09:00:22 AM »

1morebuck · « **Reply #27 on:** July 26, 2010, 09:14:42 AM »

Yep, take that buck. He is a unique buck and once he's out drops those points are gonna look wicked.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 26, 2010, 11:30:52 AM »

Public land, I'd take him. Once the general season starts, anything can happen... some dufus could step on him while he's bedded and make a lucky running shot, or chase him to his buddy... Also, he's not real old, so he might not have enough sense to go nocturnal when the shooting starts and run out in front of a pick up full of guys and get swiss-cheesed...

If I had a chance, I'd harvest him...

daiello91 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 26, 2010, 03:13:43 PM »

public land = shoot him
private = let him grow to see what kinda of crazy rack he grows next year

rasbo · « **Reply #30 on:** July 26, 2010, 03:17:34 PM »

who says you would be around next year????Dead deer walking in my world.live for today tomarrow never comes

NWBREW · « **Reply #31 on:** July 27, 2010, 10:22:18 AM »

Quote from: rasbo on July 26, 2010, 03:17:34 PM

who says you would be around next year?

That is a very good point rasbo.

Gobble · « **Reply #32 on:** July 27, 2010, 11:08:25 AM »

Bang!

hunter-4-life · « **Reply #33 on:** July 27, 2010, 11:09:56 AM »

I would whack em and stack em in the freezer.

GoldTip · « **Reply #34 on:** July 27, 2010, 11:52:39 AM »

Pretty unique rack, I would take him without hesitation.

ladyelkslayer · « **Reply #35 on:** July 27, 2010, 05:19:11 PM »

using archery equipment, I'd shoot him in a heartbeat, public or private...rifle, I would pass...

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #36 on:** July 27, 2010, 10:10:16 PM »

I'd whack him

NWBREW · « **Reply #37 on:** July 27, 2010, 11:57:14 PM »

Quote from: ladyelkslayer on July 27, 2010, 05:19:11 PM

using archery equipment, I'd shoot him in a heartbeat, public or private...rifle, I would pass...

Why would it matter what hunting method on weather you would shoot him or not. just curious, I geuss I don't understand.

Not trying to be an a$$ but wouldn't he be the same age and score the same antler wise. Probably taste the same. It's the same deer rifle or bow. I know you have your reasons, would you please share with me.

hunter-4-life · « **Reply #38 on:** July 28, 2010, 08:10:28 AM »

haha. Good point.

piled-up · « **Reply #39 on:** July 28, 2010, 08:24:03 AM »

Two words for ya.. Ka Booom!!!!!!!!!

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