Scenario. . . Which buck would you take?

grizzmoose · Aug 13, 2005

Imagine you have been scouting all summer long and have found the buck you plan to be taking. For several months straight, without missing a weekend, you have seen him. He is a nice 27" heavy 4x4 with great symmetry. You have been scouting this buck and have patterned his behavior to a "T". Its the night before the opener and you are getting giddy knowing right where he will be and all of your scouting and homework is about to pay off. You are thinking, "this is how a hunter should hunt!"

Opening morning arrives and you are are on your way to the bucks familiar ground. As you are in your truck making your way to the area your buck is, the sun is just coming out and its light enough for legal shooting. Right as you are about to park and get your hike started, you see a really nice, equally heavy 4x4 that is easily over 30". To take him, all you have to do is get out of the truck, walk off the road and take a simple 75 yard shot.

Reflex_Shooter · Aug 13, 2005

Well i personaly would take the 30" and let the 27" buck grow to be a 30" buck the next year.

Reflex

RACKMASTER · Aug 13, 2005

are you kidding?
drop a 30" with out any sweat... and all the comfort of a warm truck with power windows,how sweet is that!
I still would off work for 15 days and one more tag for B zone!
rm

jims · Aug 13, 2005

I've seen 30" bucks with crawdad fronts or backs that I'd pass up in a flash if they were standing beside a really deep forked 26" buck! I tend to like bucks with deep forks and long beams and points rather than wide racks with dink forks. If you look at the buck in the last 2 pics on the left side of the screen they would likely score better than many 30"ers and they aren't even close to 30"!

To answer your question...if it was a 30" buck with deep forks I wouldn't hesitate to fling an arrow! You may be able to pattern the same buck again next year if he can make it through the season!

kicker · Aug 13, 2005

Gotta' take into consideration all of the bucks characteristics. The difference between a 27" buck and a 30" buck is only 3 points. Alot more to consider than the width.

Kicker

bobcatbess · Aug 13, 2005

WELL HELL

THIS IS EASY!!!

YOU NEVER SHOOT A 30"ER WHEN YOU'RE GOING AFTER THAT 26" BUCK WITH SENTIMENTAL VALUE!!!

WHEN YOU SEE THIS 30"ER YOU CALL bobcat AND GIVE HIM GPS COORDINATES OF COURSE!!!

I'D DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE HUNTING OR IF IT WAS A DREAM BUT I'LL BET YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS SITUATION HERE IN THE N.E. REGION!!!

THE ONLY bobcat SUGGESTING SHOOTING THE SMALLER BUCK & GIVING ME A CALL!!!

FamilyMan · Aug 15, 2005

For me I'd have to say "a bird in the hand...". However, for guys with lots of nice bucks already on the wall, I imagine the heavily scouted buck would mean a lot more to them.

Mark

B_F_E · Aug 15, 2005

Yah, what Bess said.

GONHUNTIN · Aug 15, 2005

Pass on them both, you know you cant shoot such a big buck, take the next 2x2 then you can tell about the ones that got away...............LOL

SHOOT THE FIRST BUCK THAT WOULD LOOK GOOD ON THE WALL, AS WELL AS THE RECORD BOOK

PS, DOES THE 26IN HAVE ANTLERS THAT TURN IN????

RACKMASTER · Aug 15, 2005

Huh?
what?
rm

mmwb · Aug 16, 2005

Yeah, what Familyman said. I would shoot the nice buck at hand. Those of you who have a few nice bucks already...probably evaluate which is the better of the two, and go with the choice.

bcmulie · Aug 16, 2005

First, I'd call bobcatbess with the GPS coordinates for the 30" buck and tell him to get over there right away. Once I was sure he was on his way, I'd shoot the 30" buck. When bobcat arrived, he could gut the buck for me, and drag it to the truck.

Seriously, though, the 30" buck would be on the ground. Just because the 27" buck has been consistently appearing in the same spot doesn't mean that he will on opening day, or that some other hunter won't bump him out of the area. Plus, being in B.C. I'd still have a couple more tags to fill, so my hunting wouldn't be over.

boneaddict · Aug 16, 2005

I'd pass on the 30" because I wouldn't have enough wall space for him, then drive up the road just in time to see some jackass dragging "my" buck out of the brush. I would then eat tag soup.

bobcatbess · Aug 16, 2005

bcmulie

YOU AIN'T VERY NICE NOW ARE YA???

WELL AT LEAST I'D KNOW WHERE TO BE SITTING NEXT YEAR!!!

WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO,JUST SHOOT THEM WHEN YOU SEE THEM???

AH HELL,I'VE GOT MORE TAGS,HOW MANY DO YOU REALLY NEED & USE???

THE ONLY bobcat WONDERING IF bcmulie NEEDS A LITTLE HELP WITH THE TRIGGER,THE ONLY WAY YOU'D BEAT ME TO THE SHOT IS YOU CALL AFTER YOU'VE MADE THE KILL!!!

bcmulie · Aug 17, 2005

Bobcat, with nothing but "deep-forked" 2 pts and spikes "with mass" in your area, I thought you'd appreciate the chance to see a 30" 4 pt. Plus, I never said I wouldn't share a steak or 2 with you.

The only BCMULIE who doesn't need help on the trigger!

grizzmoose · Aug 17, 2005

Interesting comments. I think BCBOY alluded to this in another string on the rich hunting thing. I shot a buck about 3 years ago that I didnt work for at all. I was driving around and saw him drinking out of a cattle water hole. Never saw him before, but it was the best thing I had seen in 4 days. I got out of the truck, walked off the road and popped him. I have felt guilty about it ever since. I think I should have worked harder for an animal instead of shooting it how I did.

So in the scenario, I honestly think Id have to pass on the 30" and go for the buck I worked for. From that moment on, I could point to him on my wall and tell people how I actually hunted for deer instead of falling on one. This season I have a Bookcliffs tag, and promise that any buck I bring home wont have been stumbled on.

CATMAN · Aug 17, 2005

Grizzmoose,
Don't make promises you can't keep..

With all the roads and the usual deer migration of the Book Cliffs during hunting season...I'd almost make you a bet you will end up with a different buck than one you may be scouting now...presuming you have a rifle deer tag. Good luck just the same.
And as far as the question...I'm afraid if that 30" buck had everything the other one had....he'd be a gonner.
Catman

BCBOY · Aug 17, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Aug-17-05 AT 09:44PM (MST)[p]Grizzmoose,
I was speaking tongue in cheek. Every once and a while LUCK can shine on a hunter. Best to take that opportunity in the here and now as Luck may not smile on you again in a long while. Not every big animal has to be hard earned to go on my wall, but the sad thing is, most are. I have to make my luck most times. Just lately though, it seems I've got a horseshoe up my a$$.

Ifn the 30 incher had more to him than just width, like deep forks, height and mass, I'd probably take that one. To pass isn't a bad thing either, just know you may not seal the deal on the other buck because big bucks have a way of laying waste to our best made plans.

RACKMASTER · Aug 17, 2005

Either or other would fit nicely on the back of my QUAD!!!
HOPE MY CRACKS NOT SHOWING!
RM

bobcatbess · Aug 17, 2005

GRIZZMOOSE

NOW TELL US THE TRUTH!!!

YOU WALKED OUT OFF THE ROAD TO SHOOT???

OR YOU TOOK A DEAD REST OUT THE TRUCK WINDOW???

NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIB,JUST TELL US THE HARD COLD TRUTH!!!

IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE BOOK CLIFFS,DON'T TELL ME YOU WON'T DO ANY ROAD HUNTING,THIS IS ROADHUNTERS PARADISE!!!

I'M NOT SAYING YOU WON'T TROMP SOME REALESTATE!!!

THE ONLY bobcat WONDERING HOW MANY OF YOU WILL ADMIT TO TAKING A SOLID DEAD REST SHOT OUT THE TRUCK WINDOW,COME ON,IT'S TIME TO FESS UP!!!

RACKMASTER · Aug 17, 2005

BOBCATBESS(OR DOG! still waiting)
I was gonna say!
rm

GW4BOW · Aug 17, 2005

Better plan on going for the scouted buck... Your going to be in all kinds of BUCK FEVER Trouble...

Can't find your release
No bullets loaded yet
Still need to unzip your case
Foggy condensation on your spotting scope
Cant find where to shot with top pin... antlers stick out too wide...and on and on....

Call it the Murphy buck and stick to the PLAN.

Honestly.... go through the entire process until you are ready to fire and then decide, back off when you know for sure you can take it. Both sound like great bucks.

GW4BOW