Would you let him grow another year?

[Huntboy]

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

[willapawapiti]

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

[rb2506]

no,    shoot em!

[Co]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Take 'em!

[hunter-4-life]

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]

I'd shoot him.

[Skyvalhunter]

grow

[1morebuck]

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

[Pathfinder101]

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]

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