Buck Passer Uppers

[FLIZZ]

Alright, I'll admit it, im a 19 yr old that wont shoot anything under 90 BC or so, I get nonstop $%^$ from my freinds but I dont care, small bucks just dont do it for me. So, lets see if im the only one like this. I Personally passed up 5 different bucks this year. How many did you guys pass up? PS: I ate my tag this year lol. I'm talking Blacktails by the way.

[Craig]

I saw between 10-15 bucks ( couple were probably the same buck ) in Montana this year. One half way decent 4X4 was the biggest. I ate tag soup. 

[FLIZZ]

Here's my philosphy, everyone of them will be bigger next year right on man.

[HUNT]

Tag soup for deer for me for the last five years.   If it isn't a wallhanger I'm not shooting it.  Can't even count the number I've passed on.   My kids on the other hand don't pass up many.   

[FLIZZ]

last year i passed up a couple spikes, and two pretty nice 2pts, ended up shooting a week sack 3x3 on impulse, I learned my lesson with some hardcore regret immediatley after it died, since that day (oct 30th) I swore to never shoot anything but a wall hanger. lol

[6x6in6]

I can respect your thinking!!
I ate another out of state elk tag this year simply because I couldn't get to the one I wanted. 
I let the rag horns grow up. 
My hunting partners all go by the 320+ or go home theory.  We used to subscribe to the it's got to be bigger than what's already on the wall motto.  Highly doubtful any of us would ever harvest another one. 

[FLIZZ]

hahaha, my brother jokes around saying if he shoots a 3pt, next year he has to shoot a 4 pt only, then a 5pt after that, then back to a 3 pt the next year in that order lol, or " i'm only gonna shoot a buck if it has a drop tine off of a drop tine" 

[carpsniperg2]

There is nothing wrong with it at all, it your hunt so do what makes you happy. I will kill any elk that I can with a tag in my pocket When it comes to deer I am more picky, sometimes there is more in a hunt then the score of a animal. That being said I passed up 54 legal bucks in one season about 5 years back when the cats hadent killed the deer population here Not to mention all the road hunters and tresspassers we are dealing with right now LOSERS!

[hambone]

I let 3 bucks walk this year because i had the late palouse tag and was holding out for something bigger it all worked out i got one i am pleased with.

[Arteman]

Im with Carp, fill the tag with Elk that's a lot of meat to let walk away.  I shot the first legal bull that stepped in front of me this year only to see a bigger bull run off at the end of the herd when I stood up.  Deer ill hold out for a big one, I let a pile of smaller bucks walk this year in a walk in area.  But the difference between us is on the last day ill shoot anything.  I paid the state for a deer so if I see one I'm going to take it.  Until the day they give me my money back if I don't get what I pay for then thats what ill do.  Nothing on earth cooler then antlers, everytime I boil and clean a rack up or find a shed I can sit there and study every detail about them for hours, but meat in the freezer is good also.

[uplandhunter870]

Im a meat hunter above all else. that said elk hunting first legal bull, or cow (depending on what state im hunting ) gets shot, as said above thats a lot of meat to let walk and i havent shot an elk yet so got to start somewhere.

Bear hunting ill pass on sow with cubs and smaller bears but first average size or better gets it

now deer hunting, if im hunting in washington first legal deer i see gets shot. this was my first season hunting in montana i passed on maybe 2 or 3 smaller bucks. found 2 decent 3x's that i shot at, clean missed both of them a couple times each. ended up shooting a respectable 4x3, i honestly thought he was a big 3x when i shot him. he ended up 125 gross green score.

ill pass a deer based on body size before i pass on antler size, i hunt to put meat in the freezer first and foremost. to me antlers are a wicked cool bonus.

i respect the OP's way of hunting but for me, i measure success more based on pounds of meat rather than inches of antler.

[huntnnw]

deer I am selective..elk in a OTC unit..first one is shot

[buck man]

Elk is the first legal one to come by. Like so many others. Deer on the other hand I usually set my minimum on age not antler inches. I try to shoot a 4 1/2 year old or older each year which usually translates into a decent buck. We are talking whitetails here
 

[NWBREW]

deer I am selective..elk in a OTC unit..first one is shot

That is how I feel as well.........I like elk meat a lot.  As for deer, The only reason I am selective is because I like to shoot mature deer. They are the ones I am after, not so much antler size........although that doesn't hurt. And yes.....I am still after that 160" but I did not eat tag soup. 

[huntnnw]

heres a buck I would shoot..he may not be a wall hanger , but this is a old buck and past his prime.. atleast 7 or 8 now. Too many use antler size to dertimine age...there are alot of 3 1/2 yr olds that have bigger head gear than him