Is this eight-pointer a shooter?
I pulled a trailcam the other day from one of my spots. I had put the thing up before I left for Alaska. Let’s just say that if you can leave a camera up for six weeks you have potential for a lot of pictures.
This place is a large tract in Botetourt County that is managed under the DGIF’s Deer Management Assistance Program. We do a pretty good job of passing up young bucks, as do the hunters on the adjoining properties. I think the DMAP area is probably 2,500 acres.
Anyway, I had quite a few pictures of decent 2.5-year-old bucks, but very few mature bucks. The best buck was heavy but had a broken main beam. The last couple of years we have been printing out shots of deer to help us better get an idea of the borderline and non-shooter bucks, as well as those that are shooters.
The top shot here is of a deer that is not a shooter (except for youth hunters, of course). This is obviously a 2.5-year-old buck, and one that seems to have awesome potential. The G3s on this deer are just super.
The next one is tougher. I think it’s a 3.5-year-old deer. The rack has decent mass and tine length, but is not very wide. With a couple more years this deer will get better. But will it get significantly better?
I realize there’s a good chance none of us will see this deer this season. But there’s a chance we will. Is it worth the tag? Or do we let it walk. (This would be no-brainer bow buck, but there’s no archery season hunting on the property.)
By the way, my philosophy is that the definition of shooter buck shouldn’t change throughout the season. In other words, if it’s a shooter on the last day of the season, it’s a shooter on the first day of the season.
October 16, 2012 - 4:15 PM
shoot it …..i think it is a nice buck …if you dont shoot it ..someone else will
I would pass on the first buck but shoot the second one only if I hadn’t used a tag yet. After that I would really be picky and look for an older heavily antlered deer. This has worked for me well over the years.
until next year big (bigger) boy!
The second buck’s chest is beginning to deepen and muscle definition is starting to appear in his neck, shoulder and on the hind quarter. His rump and chest look to be about the same size and there is still a visible distinction between the neck and shoulder. All good characteristics of 3.5 year old. Will he be an 8 point next year? My money is on probable, but he might add up to a foot of bone in 2013. You know his pressures better than us, so your call whether or not he qualifies as a 2012 shooter. If he was on our property, he gets a pass. The one year jump between 3.5 and 4.5 can produce exciting results.
Neither one of these deer are shooters. Both deer are no older than 30 mo. I know my age estimation may be inaccurate, but either way they are both clearly very young. But, this opinion comes from someone who dreams about trophy bucks. Trophy bucks are simply few and far between because us as “experienced hunters” collectively excluding youth hunters do not let deer like this walk. Look at the potential of both of these deer!!! Wow.
As the QDMA says, “Let him go so he can grow”. It’s completely up to the individual, but if I could stand it I would try to let him walk. I try to ask myself, is this deer big enough for a shoulder mount? If not I pass in order for the buck to have a chance to grow another year or for another hunter to get a shot at him. Filling my freezer with does and waiting on a big one is my mantra. But, I don’t get too horn crazy and I enjoy myself regardless if I see a giant or not. Your call Mr. Taylor. 20 yards with a bow in your hands, the lower buck would be a trophy for sure.
Don’t shoot even with a bow unless you judge it as a trophy worth mounting
I agree with Kurt. I’m not going to shoot a buck unless it’s going on the wall… That said, if number 2 decided to bed under my stand during archery season I’m afraid I’d talk myself into shooting him at some point, otherwise I’d let him pass.
Pass both of them. The top buck needs at least 2-3 more years. The bottom buck will be nice next season, and depending on the jump he makes you may want to let him get to 5 years old. From the sounds of the property and the neighbors, I wouldn’t have a problem passing these bucks for the next couple years.
The consensus seems to be pass both. I think letting both walk is the right call.
I just got a report from a guy who hunts the adjoining property and he said this has been his best year ever for seeing bucks. He said he has already passed on five 2.5-year-old eight-pointers, and has seen three shooters that didn’t get within bow range.
When this guy says a buck is a shooter, it’s a shooter. So even though I didn’t get any on camera, they are out there.
I just love the spirit of the hunt. I say enjoy it, shoot or no.
I think the first buck could use 2 more years and the second buck could use 1 more year. The second bucks G3′s are weak and should be longer next year, both bucks have very good potential. It would be very hard to let second buck pass if I was hunting with a bow though.Got to remember your hunting in Virginia not Illinois.
The best call is this: Shoot it and you pay the taxidermy fee to mount it. That said, is it a shooter?
These bucks are not mature thus I would not shoot them on purpose, but I sure would like to see up and coming bucks like these on the lands I hunt. The comment about if you let it go someone else will shoot it, is not a true statement. Sure sometimes it might happen, but many times a 2 or 3 year buck will get by. If not, no one would ever kill a 4 or older buck. You can even let them go on public lands. I have done it and it works. My buddy Royce killed an awesome buck a couple years ago that I let go a couple years before in the same stand. He was similar to these bucks but a couple years later it was 22 inches wide with huge bases. It works and I recommend everyone try it sometime.
way too much emphasis these days on Antler size!
The trophy qualifications of any given buck are, (like beauty), in the eyes of the beholder!
What makes any buck, (or doe for that matter), a trophy is purely personal. Some of my fondest, most memorable deer had nothing to do with the size of the antlers. I’ve said it here before and I’ll say it again…… the true trophy is the hunt itself! As an example…. Once I stalked and shot a small buck with my bow in his bed….. the excitement of that hunt far outweighs others that involved much larger antlers! And hunts with my children that involved little bucks or Does are priceless….. I wouldn’t trade those hunts for all the B&C bucks on the planet!!!
Mark….. thoose bucks are beauties…. if you want to shoot, then shoot! And when you do then proudly pose with that buck for a photo and don’t concern yourself with the trophy standards imposed by others. All that matters is he’s a trophy to you!
Preach on Ralph. I agree completely.
I agree with Ralph, too. The location of the hunt is part of that “purely personal” part of the equation.
Under certain circumstances I, and I suspect many, hunters would be happy as could be to take either of these deer. Under normal circumstances at this particular property, it will most satisfying and rewarding to let them pass for another year or two.
The title of this post “Is this 8 pointer a shooter?” As Mark asked, most of the comments were opinions about what each hunter would do about shooting these particular bucks. Maybe I am mistaken, but nobody appeared to be imposing their standards on Mark. I also highly doubt that anyone on the blog could impose anything on Mark about what buck he wants to shoot. Thank you Mark for giving everyone the opportunity to give our opinions on this topic!
I understand where Ralph is coming from and his comments are very true. Any deer, especially one taken with archery tackle, is a trophy. I have taken a few younger bucks over the years and at the time you would have thought I shot a 200″ monster by how excited I was. That being said, I have started passing young bucks in hopes of getting a shot at an old, mature deer (no matter the antler size). This means that I have to be willing to eat tag soup more often then not, but then again, there is nothing wrong with filling a few tags with does. If given the opportunity to shoot a 150″ ten point, that I think is 3 or 4 years old vs. a 130″ eight point that is 5 or 6, I’ll shoot the eight point. And from what Mark said about this property he got the pics from, I think that getting both of these deer to 5 or 6 years old is very poosible.
On a side note, any of you guys hunt with a stick and string all season? I’ve found myself taking my bow over a firearm more and more. I think I’m going to go with the bow all season this year, I love this stuff!
The 2.5 year old is not a shooter, but the 3.5 year old could easily be a shooter. I would want to pass this buck, but it would not be easy. I would be happy either way, passing or shooting!
I hunt National Forest that ajoins private land in which nearly every deer seen is shot,so none of them would have gotten a free pass from me.
Being a very close follower of this blog but commenting for the first time, I always enjoy everything posted by Ralph Barton…Ralph could not have addressed this question any better…I pass numerous young bucks every year and this has come with experience and years hunting as well as knowing what letting the youngs walk will produce, but at the same time I would have no problem shooting a young buck…With all the concern about the size of antlers we have lost the heritage and history of hunting…It is about the memories and experiences in the outdoors not what others may think if a buck that would not be shot on tv is taken…If the adrenaline rush hits you, take it…
Well stated Ralph!