Shoot one or not?

[baldopepper]

Here's my dilemma.  I've been watching all summer 6 shootable mulies around my house. (one big 3 point, couple of small 4 points and 3 smaller 3 points) They've been coming out virtually every evening either right near my house or  close enough that we've seen them regularily.  They have become almost tame as they've gotten used to our presence and my wife taking pictures of them.  Was over at the new house again this weekend and sure enough, there they were again.  I've really developed a problem with the thoughts of shooting one.  Seems more like an unfair harvest than it does an actual hunt.  I know there patterns well enough that I'm pretty confident that I could whack one opening morning pretty easily.  All the ground around me is open with no other homes close by and it's all private, I think I'll just let them grow bigger and continue to tease myself.  What would you do?

[buckfvr]

Depends......how big is big............how bad do you want meat......and they may still pull the old disappearing act before the opener.  If I could determine one was atleast 4 1/2 yrs old.....maybe.   

[sivart33]

shoot one and then hunt something else,getting a kill is better then waiting and having them go into night mode when you go out hunting and see nothing, you will never be sure that they will even be around during the day during hunting season. i hunt for meat so its just my 

[kramman]

personally I would not. But Its up to you

[Blacktail Sniper]

Offer up an opportunity to a youth hunter that is just starting out or never harvested anything, maybe an elderly or disabled hunter if the area is relatively accessible for them.

Lots of ways to change someone's luck, start them off or just give them one more or one last chance...

Just a thought to consider.

[buckfvr]

Offer up an opportunity to a youth hunter that is just starting out or never harvested anything, maybe an elderly or disabled hunter if the area is relatively accessible for them.

Lots of ways to change someone's luck, start them off or just give them one more or one last chance...

Just a thought to consider.

    Great and honorable thought..........

[baldopepper]

I've thought about a youth or disabled hunter- probably could take one very easily from our back deck!  (The big 3 is a big deer, one of those should have been a 4 point but didn't branch deer.  Horns are twice above the ears  and I'm guessing in the 24-26" range.  I've shot many big deer in my years growing up in Utah, so I'm fairly familiar with what makes a "big deer".)

[SI Eagle]

Wouldn't shoot one and would not want anyone else to shoot one. No sport in it if you say that they are pretty much tame. Just not my thing. I would rather shoot a little buck and have to hunt for it.

[JJB11B]

Kill it and grill it

[brystal1]

I would cull one of the smaller deer and leave the others alone. It's pretty awesome to have deer you can see every day and if you could watch them grow through the years and see there offspring and recognize them that would be better than watching t.v.!

[adictd2hunting]

It sounds like you've been hunting them the whole time.  You know there patterns now.  When and where they will be.  Im pretty sure everyone would love to know the patterns of a couple nice bucks.  If you dont take one someone else is sure to get to them some how.  But who knows maybe monday after the opener with all the pressure you might have more bucks there if its all private.  Good luck i wish i could have the same dilemma.   

[adictd2hunting]

You should post some pics maybe that would help us help you.

[Jonathan_S]

Hunt them with a pistol then you'll increase the "hunt"

[boneaddict]

personally I would not. But Its up to you

Unless my family needed the meat or they were damaging my trees/property, I would find very little interest in doing it. 

[Boss .300 winmag]

My 14 YO Daughter would live to help you out on one of those bucks.