Let him go?

I am attempting this season to only take a deer that is 4.5 or older. I have several pictures of this buck named “Stickers” and by all evidence, he appears to be all of 4.5. The question is, does he have the potential to grow significantly between this year and next, or do you all think he is 5.5 and is most likely as big as he will get? I would love to let him walk to see what those base stickers turn into as well, but my hunting partner is pretty convinced that he will be taking him if he step out. Maybe I am getting too picky in wanting to get the mature bucks on our farm consistently into the 140-150 range before harvesting them. The area certainly has the genetic potential, but is in need of a management adjustment.

I know ultimately I have to make the decision to take him or let him walk, but I am curious as to what others think regarding the management aspect of the situation…and I am bored because I elected to stay in tonight out of the rain and I am possibly overthinking things

I’m confident that if you let him go, two things will happen. 1. He’ll grow towards the potential your looking for. I think you have him aged correctly at 4.5. 2. Another year of passing on his genes. That’s my only grief with big bucks shot in the early season before breeding. Just nice to have those qualities passed along as much as possible. From someone who has spent 20+ years in taking the crud out of tyhe geen pool, its fascinating to see the hereditary attributes that get passed on year after year after year. If you do take him, congrats he’s still a nice buck!

That is what I was thinking Randy. But what I think when I am home in front of the computer and what I think as he is standing 20 yards away could be 2 completely different thoughts. All I know is, he would be the biggest I have ever shot and that it will be awfully hard to pass up the opportunity if it is presented.

3 questions come to mind after reading.

1. Do you have this buck patterned and able to shoot him?

2. Do you have pics of this deer as a 2.5 and 3.5 yr old?

3. If you are questioning whether or not to shoot this buck (given the opp), why is it a question?

It sounds to me that you wouldn’t be happy if you shot this deer. I’m pretty sure all QDM hunters question a specific deer from year to year. Speaking from a personal point of view and from a very good friend’s perspective. Don’t shoot him if you won’t be satisfied. However, don’t be upset if somebody else (person in your hunting party or neighboring property hunter) does. A person can only do so much and I believe you to have great intentions but there are so many different variables that are out of your control.

From the outside looking in on your view. I hope nobody gets an opportunity at this deer and he grows another year. That way you won’t be frustrated with the situation and get your wish to see the growth.

Good luck

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he would be the biggest I have ever shot and that it will be awfully hard to pass up the opportunity if it is presented.

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sounds like he’s already a shooter for you. I’ve been down that road a number of times. As mentioned, neighbors , hunting party, road kill,…..all have an equal shot at taking him. The real key is letting enough bucks go to reach that size you desire. I finally reached a stage where we have 3 to 5 bucks of that caliber in the general area and 2 consistantly on my farm. Doesn’t mean I didn’t take a buck in the “not so big years” Another challenge to to target a specific young buck that you want out of the gene pool. Non typical bucks are pretty good eat’n

What does “the little guy on your shoulder” tell you to do. Follow his direction before anyone else’s. The decision to harvest the deer should be made to your own personal standards, not someone else’s. The input is given has been good, but it’s ultimately your call. I would pose this question back to you, “What are you gonna do if lucky enough to have it show up within bow range?”

Right Randy, his and others genes are already stable in your area so you can take any one of those bucks that were contributors without disturbing anything. It kinda sounds like he may not be big enough for you and your looking for a really big one, but I could be wrong. You could always spend time in your stand and wait things out and enjoy yourself longer bowhunting, incase a really nice one comes along during the rut, from anoher property. You take one soon and the seasons over. You never know, maybe a nice one will come along that hardly anyones seen befor. If anyone shotguns or hunts with a rifle, now may be the time if your only hunting bow. Good luck and he is a decent deer.

Or do like we did with my grandfather when he was getting a little too unstable for a firearm. Just take a camera and see how close of a shot you can get of him.

Jake-
He looks just like the one I shot last year. I’d bet he score about 115″. I would say he’s 3.5 years old.

IMO, let him go and get him next year.

I think he is 4.5 and could really blow up next year, but I would have a heck of a time passing a buck like that.

I keep telling myself that after I’ve got a couple 140 + deer hanging on the wall I’ll be able to pass a deer like this. As of now, he’s on my personal hit list. What I love about hunting, only I can decide what is a trophy for myself. Whatever you do, be committed so you are not 2nd guessing yourself at the wrong time.

Jake,
Not trying to burst your bubble, but that deer is 3.5 years old at most, and scores about 125….Let him walk.

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Jake,
Not trying to burst your bubble, but that deer is 3.5 years old at most, and scores about 125….Let him walk.

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It sure does take a lot of bone to make P&Y….I don’t think I would be able to let this guy pass. He would be my biggest deer as well.
The choice is YOURS.

Went through the trail cam pictures from last year, and I am pretty sure it is the same buck and if so, he grew a lot in the last year and may do the same between this year and next.

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Jake,
Not trying to burst your bubble, but that deer is 3.5 years old at most, and scores about 125….Let him walk.

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I don’t think he was asking for advice on if he should shoot it or if you would shoot it, but whether people think the deer has potential. The score doesn’t matter if you are happy with the deer, don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.

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Jake,
Not trying to burst your bubble, but that deer is 3.5 years old at most, and scores about 125….Let him walk.

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I don’t think he was asking for advice on if he should shoot it or if you would shoot it, but whether people think the deer has potential. The score doesn’t matter if you are happy with the deer, don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.

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You are correct Joel! I was looking at more of what the thoughts were on whether this buck was an old buck on the downhill side, or if he still has growing to do. Based upon the trail cam pictures from last year of what I think is the same buck, he has grown quite a bit from last year. If it is, I passed him up at 20 yards last year and I see what a year has done!!! Now if I can just convince myself to let him walk 1 more year….

I’m going to guess he is 3.5 and has potential to grow bigger but… depending on what else you are seeing he would def be one I’d consider taking. Only way i wouldn’t is if I knew there were bigger deer around and a good shot at them.

I know I’ve had this pic on here before, but I think it is a great example of what 1 more year can do. I had this buck a couple times well within my bow range and even drew back once. Had him during gun season around my tree stands numerous times, but was holding out for one larger…that my neighbor had shot early bow season (I didn’t know that then). Anyways, I found his sheds during spring turkey hunting and rattled him in on opening day of gun season. Its cool to look at because every twist, bend, turn,….all match up perfectly. I tried to hold them for the pic at about what the spread was the year prior. It a equated to what his outside spread was the year prior was his inside spread this year + the additional mass and height!

I agree with Randy and have an example of the deer that I shot at the begining of season this year and the pics show his growth during the past 2 years.

Every year, there are a bunch of bucks that I pray make it to the next season. That is what is great about hunting. Each season brings on new challenges and strategies. It’s funny how some bucks can blow up in 1 year and some that hardly grow at all.

I love watching deer grow from year to year.

Here is Tank at 2.5, 3.5, & 4.5.

I wish i had enough property to let deer get to the 4.5+ age but the reality is that a 4.5 yr old is hard to come by on the properties that I have permission to hunt. And at the moment, a 4.5 yr old that is 140″ or better will get shot at every time.

Jake, it’s a tough call on what to do. On one end, it would be your PB and on the other end, IF, that’s a big if, he makes it, he should be a lot bigger next year.

Then you have cases like this buck. First two pics are from 2011, last two are from 2012.

I’m disappointed to say the least that he didn’t grow up much since last year. He is a marked deer.

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He is a marked deer.

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Kooty, when our deer population was really high at our farm, we had a LOT of bucks like that. You would think the growth potential was there until 6.5 years old, but at 4.5 they just seemed to stop. Now a number of years later, we have a lot of them out of the system and the bucks are getting nicer.

If it would be your biggest buck yet I would say its a shooter!! Unless you have your sights on a bigger one on camera I wouldnt think twice.

A couple additional pictures that I just got….including a couple zoomed in of his stickers at the bases. I don’t think he will get a pass if he walks by.