I feel you buddy. I passed 26 bucks this year in KY before I took the one I was after. He's an older buck not sure, last year I ate tagsoup, which was the first year I had done that up there. One of the things that really helped me was all of us committing to 3.5+ up there. Everyone was given the option to take any buck that makes you happy for your first buck up there. After that it is 3.5+. Here in FL is a different story. I can kill a buck everyday if I can find one. Last year I passed a couple of young bucks. Having a freezer full of meat from my KY season makes that easier. But that said I haven't killed a buck in FL in 3 years now and I'm feeling the need to break the seal. Heading out in a couple of hours to meet a buddy and although I'm actually after a small hog if a young buck steps out he is done for.
[ Post made via Android ]
Taking that next step and passing 2.5 year old bucks
- Tufrthnails
- 500 Club
- Posts: 3128
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 7:40 pm
- Location: Knee deep in FL Muck!
- Status: Offline
- Southern Man
- 500 Club
- Posts: 3827
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:04 am
- Location: Extreme Western Kentucky
- Status: Offline
Re: Taking that next step and passing 2.5 year old bucks
bowmike wrote:
As far as taking Corbin out next year. I am on the fence. If you guys have read my stuff from years back, I have really focused on his foundation. I am not one of those guys who goes out just to get there kid a kill. When I take him out I am constantly teaching him things. I will play It by ear.
My boys were the main thing that changed me from killing meat to going after the bigger older bucks. When they started hunting I was in the meat mode. We lived on it, literally. Deer, squirrels, rabbits, what ever I could kill and eat.
When my boys started hunting, it took the pressure off. They were more than happy to fill the freezor. I started being a little more selective.
You Can't Argue With A Sick Mind
- Kraftd
- 500 Club
- Posts: 2819
- Joined: Thu Sep 26, 2013 3:44 pm
- Location: NE IL
- Status: Offline
Re: Taking that next step and passing 2.5 year old bucks
I wouldn't worry about letting your son kill a buck on your tag next year. Thinking back to that age, he will be just as happy to be with you when you shoot one. Get out and take him with and kill a doe with him. Not saying that for you to be selfish, just that he has a long road ahead of him, no need to race through every step.
-
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2014 2:18 am
- Status: Offline
Re: Taking that next step and passing 2.5 year old bucks
I think Dan's post was a very helpful post as this is something that I myself need to work on. I have a hard time hunting those low deer sighting areas where the chances of seeing a mature buck are greater just because of lack of confidence.
As for your situation I would suggest starting to carry a camera. I found as much satisfaction in capturing those 2 1/2 year olds on film inside bow range as I did killing them. Knowing that they were right there at my mercy and I'm choosing to aim the camera lens at them rather than my broadhead.
It's a lot of fun and makes it easier to pass those guys. Plus you have first hand footage to learn from as well as develop history with said buck which makes it even sweeter when you kill him at 3.5 or 4.5+.
As for your situation I would suggest starting to carry a camera. I found as much satisfaction in capturing those 2 1/2 year olds on film inside bow range as I did killing them. Knowing that they were right there at my mercy and I'm choosing to aim the camera lens at them rather than my broadhead.
It's a lot of fun and makes it easier to pass those guys. Plus you have first hand footage to learn from as well as develop history with said buck which makes it even sweeter when you kill him at 3.5 or 4.5+.
- john1984
- Posts: 4708
- Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:08 am
- Location: Wisconsin
- Status: Offline
Re: Taking that next step and passing 2.5 year old bucks
Did you see Dan's two year old buck he killed with his GUN this year????
I could never pass on a BIG buck like that.
But I can understand some guys choosing to pass on big bucks cuz they already have a bunch of big bucks on their wall.
[ Post made via Android ]
I could never pass on a BIG buck like that.
But I can understand some guys choosing to pass on big bucks cuz they already have a bunch of big bucks on their wall.
[ Post made via Android ]
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 3980
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 1:29 pm
- Location: Sunny Florida
- Status: Offline
Re: Taking that next step and passing 2.5 year old bucks
True, it is all about what we want out of the season.
The guys who says 160 inch or nothing, the guys who say they want a 3.5 yr old or better, and the guys who just wants to see and shoot something all respond differently.
I can pass spikes, 4 pts, and skinny bodied, small 6-8 pts all day long. Once a deer has a certain body size, I'm more likely to shoot as I'm out there primarily for meat. I passed a 150-160 pound 6 pt that I regret passing this past season - because he was 150-160 pounds, not due to the antlers.
This past year was a good learning year - If I don't have trail cam pics of larger bodied or antlered deer, I'm gonna shoot the first one I like and not hold out or wait for something that I do not know is there.
Taking a far out of state trip would involve raising standards as the area dictates...why shoot a 6 pt the first 6 days of the trip when there are plenty of larger bucks around?
The guys who says 160 inch or nothing, the guys who say they want a 3.5 yr old or better, and the guys who just wants to see and shoot something all respond differently.
I can pass spikes, 4 pts, and skinny bodied, small 6-8 pts all day long. Once a deer has a certain body size, I'm more likely to shoot as I'm out there primarily for meat. I passed a 150-160 pound 6 pt that I regret passing this past season - because he was 150-160 pounds, not due to the antlers.
This past year was a good learning year - If I don't have trail cam pics of larger bodied or antlered deer, I'm gonna shoot the first one I like and not hold out or wait for something that I do not know is there.
Taking a far out of state trip would involve raising standards as the area dictates...why shoot a 6 pt the first 6 days of the trip when there are plenty of larger bucks around?
- bowmike
- 500 Club
- Posts: 698
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:13 am
- Location: SOUTHWESTERN PA
- Status: Offline
Re: Taking that next step and passing 2.5 year old bucks
Rich M.
You bring up a great point about the amount of meat. I used to think oh there isn't that much difference between a 1.5 and a 2.5-3.5 year old dear. Boy was I wrong. I can get roughly 45-50 out of a 1.5 year old. I got around 60 out of my buck, and 65 or more from the buck my brother in law shot. 15# may not seem like that much, but that is pretty much 15 extra meals I would get. Not if I eat tag soup and don't kill one, then that's 0 meals. I think I have it figured out that 2 decent sized deer will get me through the year, and any more than that and I will be giving away the meat. I plan on getting 2 doe tags for next year, and holding out on a buck. Come rifle season if I don't have 2 deer I may lower the standards as rifle to me is more about grocery shopping but I think I can hold out.
You bring up a great point about the amount of meat. I used to think oh there isn't that much difference between a 1.5 and a 2.5-3.5 year old dear. Boy was I wrong. I can get roughly 45-50 out of a 1.5 year old. I got around 60 out of my buck, and 65 or more from the buck my brother in law shot. 15# may not seem like that much, but that is pretty much 15 extra meals I would get. Not if I eat tag soup and don't kill one, then that's 0 meals. I think I have it figured out that 2 decent sized deer will get me through the year, and any more than that and I will be giving away the meat. I plan on getting 2 doe tags for next year, and holding out on a buck. Come rifle season if I don't have 2 deer I may lower the standards as rifle to me is more about grocery shopping but I think I can hold out.
NEXT YEAR I' HOLDING OUT FOR A BIG ONE!!
-
- Advertisement
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 71 guests