Shoot the biggest buck on the farm or pass?

[HISBounty]

I think you answered your own question with this sentence.

but it’s not as big as what your really after.

If it’s not what your after don’t shoot it. May make it till next year and it will become what your really after.

[Rich M]

Shoot a buck you are happy with.

Just remember that he isn't gonna get any bigger if you shoot him.

It is okay not to shoot a deer.

[gsquared23]

No way I would disrespect an animal by taking its life and then immediately regret it. If you want to be disappointed, go to your kid’s basketball game.

[DaveT1963]

I guess I would flip the question around. Why would you still be hunting a place that doesn't hold the buck you are after?

Truthfully, only you can make the call on what will satisfy your personal goals. I hunt many different WMAs, some have a lot of better bucks (rack size) on them. But I typically pick out the 1-2 top bucks on each WMA and will put a tag on any of them I can hunt down. To me it is not so much the rack size as much as it is hunting down and pursuing the best for what it available on the WMA. But not everyone is wired that way.

Three seasons ago I got wrapped up in 2 giants on public land so much that I never released an arrow that season. I had fun, learned a lot, but is was not one of my most favorite seasons. This year, in comparison, I hunted over 25 different properties/locations and took two older mature animals (both over 5 y/o) and neither had great racks - I also hunted with my daughter a lot just chasing deer around - one of the funniest seasons I have ever had.

So its your call - there is nothing wrong at taking the best buck available where you hunt... and there is nothing wrong with going elsewhere to look for a bigger racked buck.

As far as respecting animals - IMO there is a lot more to respecting an animal taken then the size rack on his head - if that is the only factor considered, IMO that is not about respecting the animal as much as it is a personal choice (and often associated with our own pride and egos). Not wrong, but it certainly doesn't respect the animal any more.

[Bach55]

Do what makes you happy. Who cares what anyone else thinks as long as its legal and you’re hunting ethically. Me personally - I’d drop him if given the opportunity, and I’d be fired up to do it!

I’ve watched some people waiting on a great buck season to season to the point they haven’t taken a buck in years. Again - to each their own. But that doesn’t seem like much fun to me personally.