Does age really matter?

[Spysar]

I do my ageing when they're dead.

Never really been an age hunter, that is not what is on my mind when I'm in my tree and a buck shows up. Plus, I'm bad at guessing age on live deer. I can tell the 1.5's and most 2.5's, after that, I don't know and don't care.

I like big racks, but I like filling buck tags too.

It all depends where I'm hunting, how long I have, and how many tags in pocket. I call my out of state trips "The Venison Tour" not the "Old Buck Tour".

I have no problem killing 1.5 old deer when I feel like it.(legally of coarse)

[dan]

Got to thinking about this. If you are after a buck and he has a heavy body and big rack do you put much importance in how old the buck is? If the buck is 2.5 do you pass him?

I would.....

You can't shoot a Whopper if you tag a 120-130"er. Now if said 2yr old was pushing 180-200"s I'd shoot em even with a skinny runty body But I think the odds of a GIANT 2yr old are low

I think Dan mentioned a buck that was 2.5 and had 170" rack. Not many would pass that buck but I think his friend did. I would not.

And it was found dead in the spring... Thats a very good possibility on any deer passed.

[Stanley]

I do my ageing when they're dead.

Never really been an age hunter, that is not what is on my mind when I'm in my tree and a buck shows up. Plus, I'm bad at guessing age on live deer. I can tell the 1.5's and most 2.5's, after that, I don't know and don't care.

I like big racks, but I like filling buck tags too.

It all depends where I'm hunting, how long I have, and how many tags in pocket. I call my out of state trips "The Venison Tour" not the "Old Buck Tour".

I have no problem killing 1.5 old deer when I feel like it.(legally of coarse)

Good honest answer.

[Stanley]

Got to thinking about this. If you are after a buck and he has a heavy body and big rack do you put much importance in how old the buck is? If the buck is 2.5 do you pass him?

I would.....

You can't shoot a Whopper if you tag a 120-130"er. Now if said 2yr old was pushing 180-200"s I'd shoot em even with a skinny runty body But I think the odds of a GIANT 2yr old are low

I think Dan mentioned a buck that was 2.5 and had 170" rack. Not many would pass that buck but I think his friend did. I would not.

And it was found dead in the spring... Thats a very good possibility on any deer passed.

Great point, a buck on the wall is worth two in the bush.

[Spysar]

Is it wrong to kill 1.5 and 2.5 y/o bucks if you have a tag for them?

[Stanley]

Is it wrong to kill 1.5 and 2.5 y/o bucks if you have a tag for them?

Nope it's not wrong. I don't kill 1.5 year olds there is no room on the wall for them. I'm trying to think of the last time I killed a 1.5 year old and can't right off hand. Wait, I do remember killing a 1.5 year old in 1978. I think that was the last year. A good friend of mine that has been hunting for about 50 years killed a 1.5 year old just this year. Nothing wrong with it as long as he was happy (not sure he was). I would bet I have other friends that killed a 1.5 year old buck this year also, but wouldn't tell me. A good 2.5 year old will sometimes make the state big buck records (135 net bow). A 1.5 will not.

[Spysar]

Around here most folks would be buckless if it weren't for the 1.5's shot.

I really wish those from the midwest knew what's it's like to hunt the northeast. Tell them Ed.

[Stanley]

Around here most folks would be buckless if it weren't for the 1.5's shot.

I really wish those from the midwest knew what's it's like to hunt the northeast. Tell them Ed.

It is tough when everyone is killing all the young bucks.

[Bucky]

I have killed my share of 1yr olds

Im not against it.... I eat plenty of venison. Just for where I hunt 1s and 2s dont seem to be a challenge so I focus on more mature deer.

[ Post made via Android ]

[keb]

I guess if you were managing property it could be a big deal. But in most of are worlds if it a good buck something's getting fired at it.

[ Post made via iPad ]

[Jackson Marsh]

I'm usually checking out the rack when deciding whether or not to shoot. If it gets me excited I am shooting. Most of my setups I do not get to observe the buck for any length if time, so it is a quick decision.

[ Post made via Android ]

[PK_]

I enjoy targeting older bucks, but anything with a decent rack is in trouble.

Being allowed two bucks per day helps in the 'not being so picky' department.

[Stanley]

I'm usually checking out the rack when deciding whether or not to shoot. If it gets me excited I am shooting. Most of my setups I do not get to observe the buck for any length if time, so it is a quick decision.

[ Post made via Android ]

Great point.

[JoeRE]

I'm usually checking out the rack when deciding whether or not to shoot. If it gets me excited I am shooting. Most of my setups I do not get to observe the buck for any length if time, so it is a quick decision.

[ Post made via Android ]

I know what you are talking about with not being able to see a buck for long....sometimes I have decided to shoot by body size because there is no way to get a good look at the antlers. My muzzleloader buck I got this year was like that, all I saw was a glimpse of a pretty heavy main beam and a big body so I shot when I got a small opening on his shoulder. When I walk up to the buck its like christmas, don't know exactly what I got. Its either a pleasant surprise or a let down doing that

[Edcyclopedia]

Around here most folks would be buckless if it weren't for the 1.5's shot.

I really wish those from the midwest knew what's it's like to hunt the northeast. Tell them Ed.

Don't get me going...


I've gotten a handful of 1.5's and now search out +2.5's and have a hard time finding those...
This year was epic for me w/ 4 bucks over +3.5 (and a lg. bear), must have had a horseshoe up my rear-end...


I go back to my buddy's statement that he told me while I was picking his brain and wondering why my wall wasn't starting to look like his...

He said he hunts archery only towns and his large deer sightings (and kills) skyrocketed.
He said even though we are 15-miles apart he would take his spots over mine anyday of the week.
He routinely arrows two bucks between 115" (smaller end of spectrum) to 171" (his largest), many in the 200 lb range w/his largest being 243lb. (also a few Doe's)

He figured this out after hunting for 15-20 years on non-producing land (VT, NH, etc), he went where the deer are (at least for the North East)