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Should I or Shouldn't I?

SuspensionSuspension Member Posts: 4,783
edited December 2004 in Bow Hunting and Target Archery
Today was the start of muzzleloader season here in Ohio so I used my last vacation day. I saw a buncha deer today probably close to 3 dozen does and a 10 pointer. Most of the does were tiny and it seemed like everytime I had a decent shot at a large one there would be a little one staring right at me so I couldn't shoulder my gun. I sat on the ground, well in a lawn chair actually [:D]. I stayed out for about 7 hours, doubt I could have done that if I hadn't seen so many deer, it was 3 degrees when I left the house this morning. So here's my question, I had 4 opertunities to shoot that 10 pointer and didn't do it. He had a thin rack, was probably 16 or 17 inches inside, and not very high, but his rack layout was perfect. I thought about it, but everytime I clicked my safety off I thought about how big he will be next year walking within bow range. Actually he was within bow range twice. Should I have shot it?
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Comments

  • fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
    edited November -1
    Not with a gun, Susp. No real pride in that for a 'tried' hunter. With a bow, I would, but with a gun, all you are really going to impress is other 'gun hunters'. In other words, we would congratulate you, but snicker behind your back.[;)][:o)][;)]

    Ben

    "The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
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  • bang250bang250 Member Posts: 8,021
    edited November -1
    Good choice, Hope you see him next year!![:D] You will feel better about it when you tell us of the bow hunt then.[:)]


    Why do they make it taste so good and put it in them little bitty cans- Dad

    At times, days in the field are more than sport, more than adventure. They are nothing less than a gift to the soul.- John L. Moore Buckmaster magazine
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  • LmbhngrLmbhngr Member Posts: 271 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You did the right thing Sus'...give him 2 more years, maybe 3, and enter him in OBBC...or maybe B&C???
    Sounds like you have plenty of does to thin out of the herd.

    I saw 11 does today on our lease in Pike Co. Heard some other deer. They just got some ice in Pike Co. and it was terribly noisy crunching through the woods. You could hear the deer coming from a long ways, too. No shooter bucks wanted to go for a ride in my big, blue FORD, however. Maybe tomorrow...
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  • SuspensionSuspension Member Posts: 4,783
    edited November -1
    Thanks for backing me up. I am sorta regretting it now, but Oh well. We have enough meat plus I'm about to butcher a cow so there is no reason for me to shoot that one besides to brag to Ben and take pictures of it really close up. [:D][:D][;)]

    Lmbhngr, sounds like you better change trucks before you go out hunting anymore. [^] just looking out for your best interrest. [:D][;)]
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  • headzilla97headzilla97 Member Posts: 6,445
    edited November -1
    Ill be the back seat hunter here. I would have shot him in a heart beat.

    My old man's backhand used to land,
    Hard on the side of my head.
    I just learned to stay out of his way.
    There's been streetfights, blue lights,
    Long nights with the world sittin' on my chest:
    It just showed me how much I could take.
    Hard times, bad luck.
    Sometimes, life sucks.
    That's all right, I'm ok.
    It ain't nothin' but another day.
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  • SuspensionSuspension Member Posts: 4,783
    edited November -1
    And I woulda let you shoot him headzilla. I got no problem with a new hunter (new to hunting with me that is) or a young hunter shooting any deer on the properties I hunt. Even if that happens to be a young buck with a nice rack coming on. Now the guys I normally hunt with better not even think about it cause I'm not allowed popping their young bucks in their bow hunting areas. A few years back a friend and I were walking up on my dads property during muzzleloader season to wait on his brother to drive some patches of woods towards us. While walking up the hill he pulls up his gun and is about to fire, I looked up and saw a small basket rack buck I'd been seeing during bow season. So I did what come natural, I pushed his barrel straight up and he shot in the air. He asked why I did that and pointed as a big 12 pointer (that we all three hoped to get a shot at) bounced over top the hill heading towards the other farm. [:0] I said I didn't see that one, but he still doesn't believe me. [:D]
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  • headzilla97headzilla97 Member Posts: 6,445
    edited November -1
    now if i was you, that would have been the biggest buck i have ever seen hunting.Ive killed a spike and a 5 pointer. Around my house if that deer lived through gun season someone would have popped it out of season. Just last night i had a bunch of friends over and they said 6 deer were on my lawn. i asked if they saw horns and they told me a big 6 pointer was with them. Im glad he made it through gun season. Not 10 minute later i see headlight stopped on the road. Now im worried my deer is done so i turned the lights on and off the truck goes.

    My old man's backhand used to land,
    Hard on the side of my head.
    I just learned to stay out of his way.
    There's been streetfights, blue lights,
    Long nights with the world sittin' on my chest:
    It just showed me how much I could take.
    Hard times, bad luck.
    Sometimes, life sucks.
    That's all right, I'm ok.
    It ain't nothin' but another day.
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  • buckeyboybuckeyboy Member Posts: 5,833
    edited November -1
    Earlier in the year, I let quite a few walk, Man right now I think I would shoot him[?] but would would most likely regret it. I think ya made the right choice. But if he continues to show up and he itch'en to get get shot[:0] well thats up to you.[;)]
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  • gogolengogolen Member Posts: 1,619 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    C'mon now if its brown its down especially this late in the season.
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  • SuspensionSuspension Member Posts: 4,783
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gogolen
    C'mon now if its brown its down especially this late in the season.


    [:D][:D]
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  • fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
    edited November -1
    well, in two weeks I have doe-only pistol season. In all honesty, the first li'l thing to walk past me is going straight to the freezer. I like the ones that you can quarter like a rabbit and fit in one cooler.

    Ben

    "The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
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  • taco413taco413 Member Posts: 2,504 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I let a nice 10 pt. walk earlier in the year 4 times, it sounds like the one you described. Last shotgun season some idiot didn't know the guy I hunt on owned the old railroad tracks and ran the deer down on a 4 wheeler before killing it. The owner found out about it and told the guy, who he knew to give him the skull/rack and he wouldn't press charges. Monday I went to the farmers house and he told me the whole story. The guy reluctantly gave it up and it now resides in my garage[:D] Thought it very was nice of the farmer since I never ask for the rack.

    Better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool!!
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  • SuspensionSuspension Member Posts: 4,783
    edited November -1
    The guy ran it down with a 4-wheeler? How'd he manage that? I've seen people in Colorado trying to herd Elk towards a certain area using 4-wheelers, but their never to close. I'd wreck before I caught anything with my 4-wheeler. [:D]
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  • ENOS29ENOS29 Member Posts: 699 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You told me that I should already regret not shooting that doe a couple of weeks ago! so I'm kind of confused now![:D][?][:D][:D]

    BAG IT. TAG IT. EAT. SLEEP. REPEAT..
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  • ENOS29ENOS29 Member Posts: 699 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You told me that I should already regret not shooting that doe a couple of weeks ago! so I'm kind of confused now![:D][?][:D][:D]

    BAG IT. TAG IT. EAT. SLEEP. REPEAT..
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  • SuspensionSuspension Member Posts: 4,783
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by ENOS29
    You told me that I should already regret not shooting that doe a couple of weeks ago! so I'm kind of confused now![:D][?][:D][:D]

    BAG IT. TAG IT. EAT. SLEEP. REPEAT..

    That was a doe, it's only gonna have a little more meat next year. This was a buck that had a nice rack coming on, Next year he could let me brag on here. [:D][;)]
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  • ENOS29ENOS29 Member Posts: 699 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    BRAG[?][:0][:D]

    BAG IT. TAG IT. EAT. SLEEP. REPEAT..
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  • JeffreyBGood137JeffreyBGood137 Member Posts: 56 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    DEAD DEER on da GROUND


    "Americans have the right & advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms". James Madison - The Federalist Papers #46
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  • A.GunA.Gun Member Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If it were me I would have shot, but hey....I have a certain amount of deer I have shot (3) so gimme a break[:p]
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  • crosshaircrosshair Member Posts: 635 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Dead deer for sure if it were me. If you don't get it your neighbor or a car may get it before you![;)]

    Believe nothing that you hear and only one half of what you see!!

    I'm Just One Man Talking!
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  • dahmerdahmer Member Posts: 290 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Suspension, If your looking to grow a real shooter for next year then you made the right choice. Just remember that a "Trophy" is classified by the eye of the taker.
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  • SuspensionSuspension Member Posts: 4,783
    edited November -1
    I'm done with this topic. This deer walked under my stand three times yesterday. He must know that I'm not planning on shooting him. [:D]
    Next trip I'll take the digital so you all can see pictures then I'll draw a picture of what I expect him to look like next year (sorta like CSI does). [^] [:D][:D]

    NRA Life Member ---"A pocket knife, a clean hankey, and a pistol... things I can use." - Ted Nugent
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  • fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
    edited November -1
    quote:no reason for me to shoot that one besides to brag to Ben and take pictures of it really close up.

    quote:Originally posted by Suspension

    Next trip I'll take the digital so you all can see pictures then I'll draw a picture of what I expect him to look like next year (sorta like CSI does). [^] [:D][:D]



    I hear a lot of talkey-talkey, but I don't see no pics!!!!

    I say FALSE.[:D][:p][:D]

    Ben

    "The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
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  • SuspensionSuspension Member Posts: 4,783
    edited November -1
    [^]
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