Should I take 145" buck?

bonepicker

Very Active Member
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I'm not sure what to do. I watched a great 4 point buck this morning for about an hour. My best guess is that he is a 145" buck about 22"-24" wide, great front forks, weak back forks, eyeguards, he's pretty symetrical with no broken tines or anything. He's nice but I'd love to get one just a little bigger. I almost took him, safety off, great prone resting position, he was feeding up the hillside broadside at 250 yards, but I decided not to. I'm kinda kicking myself now. He's hiding in this nasty canyon and I don't think he's going anywhere, but somebody could find him. We're at day 3 now, 12 days left, he's the 5th and biggest buck I have passed on so far, not sure how many more I should let go before i close the deal...any thoughts?
 
Since we are talking Oregon I supposed i would take him - but then I've had sort of a curse when it comes to 4x4 - they always get away from me:) I've done OK on all but a slick 4x4 so being biased I would go get him.
Good luck - all things considered sounds like your season is already a good one so good luck for the rest!!
 
You know that saying...."You can't shoot a big one if you shoot a little one first" :) BUT as stated above you are in Oregon and unless you know the gene pool in your area has the potential for larger bucks. I think I would be dropping the hammer on that bad boy...Lots of things to consider #1 and #2 how bad do you want to kill a buck this year or waiting for something bigger and taking a chance on tag soup? #3 meat in the freezer, #4 weather conditions may change moving that buck and you lose your chance at him.

Good Luck

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Do you have to kill one?

As hunters we like to think our role is to manage the herds, at least that's what we were tought in hunters ed. is there an excess amount of deer in Oregon? if you have to settle for a dink is that a sign?

I no longer shoot any deer in Oregon I won't mount. so I haven't shot one here since 2000. I have no regrets.
 
My freezer was empty so my goal was to shoot a mature buck. My tag was in an area that still has a natural migration deer herd. The deer population can afford my taking a buck. That is why i applied for the tag. I have spent the last several muledeer tags hunting trophys, Nothing wrong with the goal. I get tied of tag soup here in oregon. Every year i spend weeks hunting cougar in the area this muledeer herd winters, one dead cougar so far. Trophy tags taste like crap.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon
 
Well gents I decided to take him. I passed on him Monday, thinking I'd wait for a bigger one. Tuesday though, I took my boys out (aged 5 and 6 & 1/2) and we went back to the same ridge and the buck was still there. They really wanted me to take him. I glassed him a little more and thought maybe he was a little bigger than I thought on Monday, I noticed that he was only as wide as his ears though so probably only a 22" spread. I was thinking he might break 150" now (though I realized that it might be buck fever, so I tried to think rationally) He went to the top of the opposite ridge (a much easier pack out) so decided to do the deed. He really started looking bigger now, I was sure that I was totally fevered up but my boys stll really wanted me to go for it. So I ranged him up: 285 yards, I put in a 130 grain in my 270 and got a good prone rest. I held 6" above his back, took a breath and let it fly. He never even took a step, he was done.

We started the long hike over to him, down the rim and back up to the top of the other side. Here's what I walked up on.

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Let me tell you there was no ground shrinkage on this guy! I was a little surprised to say the least, but surprised in the best kind of way. Here are a few more pics of him (and my boys).

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And a few at my house

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The final stats: Score 165" gross, 26" outside spread (yes his ears were 26.5" tip to tip! Crazy.) 18.5" tall and a huge, 210 pound body. He's everything I was looking for, can't believe I let him go on Monday and almost let him walk again! But my boys kept me on track, never doubt the instincts of a 6 year old :)
 
Great buck! I'd be happy to put my tag on that one, wouldn't have thought twice.....especially here in Oregon!

Mind sharing the area or just the unit?

Thanks for posting, good story and awesome your boys were there to experience it.

LBR
 
Smoker buck, Congrats!

Bet you're glad you took that buck and I know those future hunters are happy!

Ed
 
Wow that's a nice buck sure better than that 145 estimate in the original post. Seems like most often it usually works the other way around and they shrink once on the ground. Glad the buck stayed in the area for you and you were able to share your hunt with your boys. Love the smiles on their faces definately that "I'm proud of daddy :)

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