Would you let him grow another year?

[DBZona]

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]

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]

 

[billythekidrock]

Public land = take 'em!

[270Shooter]

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

[DBZona]

Ugly!!!  I think he's beautiful...in his own kinda jack up way.    Why do you think he has grown that way?

[Alan K]

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]

  then I would  then 

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

[saylean]

Let him grow another year....

once you tell me where he is.

SHOOT! for gods sake.

[Houndhunter]

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]

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]

Take him for sure 

[DBZona]

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]

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]

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