Should I have passed

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UThunting

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I give some people close to me a hard time when they shoot smaller deer (cousins wifes daughters) I dont really mean any harm in it. But I do wish that some of these deer that get shot would have had a couple more years to grow..

Well this last week in Colorado I shot a buck that was probably 3.5 years old and had true potental infact I call him my LITTLE BIG BUCK I am sure that with a couple years he would have been a true toad.. I do not think he would have ever been a really wide deer but I do think he would have been a trash factor buck..

I knew before I shot him that he was a young deer but I could not hold my finger back from shooting him.. Sometimes living your own words are very hard to do.. and in this case I failed But I am very happy with my LITTLE BIG BUCK here is some photos I would like to hear what you all think about passing on younger deer???
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i have one of those little big bucks to. You know what, i wouldn't take back that moment for anything, he is a deer that you will never forget and will stick out in your mind for years, and god knows if you wouldn't of shot him who is to say that the next guy doesn't shoot him. its hard to say but i know that deer wouldnt' walk past me with out something being flung at him. But congrats on a great buck, no matter the age its a buck you will never forget.
 
That was a "low budget" thing to do! I can't believe you would shoot that deer!.......before I had the chance, LOL.

I passed on several forkies, but I whould have whacked that one in a heartbeat. I think it's a great little buck!

My season ended today, so I will be forced to survive on last years elk. Congrats on a good looking deer.

You are right, he could grow into a serious trophy, or he could be cat food, roadkill, winter kill, poacher target or any number of things.

As it is, you should be grateful for the hunt and the meat.....don't second guess yourself, it only diminishes the experience.
 
I would have passed but thats just me staying true to who I am. I have always said go big or go home and I am more than happy to eat a tag. Hell, I've acquired a taste for it actually.

I wish more people would hold off on younger deer but it will never happen. To many people measure the success of a hunt based on what they kill. I measure the success of a hunt on what I learn and memories I make. I cant even imagine how many potential world records have been shot when they were 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 yrs old

All of that being said, I am not going to rail on somebody for shooting a potential giant. If it makes you happy then nothing else matters, its public ground and the deer is legal. Hope you had a good time on your hunt and I hope that the antlers will be a constant reminder of a great trip

Drum


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I just got back from a 3rd season hunt in CO that really tested my resolve. During the hunt I had several opportunities at good bucks, but things just didn't come together. On the last night I was sitting there watching a 2.5 year old 18" 3 point with my friend and I told him that I was thinking about shooting it. I already ate an Idaho tag, and felt almost like I needed to shoot somthing. My friend told me that unless I needed the meat, that it took more of a man to pass a buck that didn't meet my standards than it did to just kill a buck so I could say I had filled my tag (secretly I think he just didn't want to have to help drag it out). What he said made sense to me and I put the gun away and came home with a $300 piece of blue paper.

That being said, I don't think there is a universal standard for all hunters. I know my standards have changed since I was 14 and out for the first time. I am also sure that while I would probably pop a 160" 24" 4-point there are probably a lot of guys out there that would hold off for something bigger.

The bottom line is, you have to hunt for you, and what you personally will be satisfied with. To me, hunting is an individual sport, you are competing with yourself year after year trying to learn and get better. It is fun to share photos and stories with friends, but it is the desire for approval and respect of others that drives guys to poach and do other stupid things just to try and impress people.

If you are happy with your buck, then dont sweat anything anybody else tells you. I think it would be great if we didn't shoot so many 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 year old deer, but I also don't want to impose my standards on someone else. For the first few years I hunted I was probably more excited to shoot a yearling than lots of experienced hunters are when they shoot a mature buck. It's all relative.

Dax
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-12-07 AT 10:21AM (MST)[p]I think we at times we make hunting more complicated than it should be. Its a great buck. If you are happy with it, nothing else matters. Whether you shoot it or not is a personal decision. A decision that should be respected whether you shoot it or pass it up.
 
I agree with Dax...
If you are dissapointed with a deer you have killed, then you should have passed. Lesson learned for next year. If you are happy with a deer you have killed, who cares what anyone else thinks. One mans "little buck" is another mans trophy.
We all second guess our decisions sometimes, thats part of hunting.
My hunts usually end up exactly opposite of how yours did...I usually pass on what I consider a "marginal" deer, then have a serious case of 'second guessing' when one of my buddies kills the deer. (bird in the hand, I suppose...)
But, I seem to do the same thing year after year. The way I figure it, I'll never kill a HUGE buck if I keep killing really good bucks so....
I'm beginning to develop an affinity for the taste of paper as well...
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By the way,
I live in UT.
There are a lot of UTARDS that live here.
I have also seen quite a few WYOMORONS, NEVADUHNS, COLORADORKS, ID-IOTS and AIRHEADZONANS in my travels.
 
I want to make it Clear I am very happy with this buck infact it is the coolest Buck I have ever harvested.. That being said I also can see that this buck could have been a true TOAD of a deer in a couple years!!! I would also agree With Dex and others on here

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Willard Utah
 
Shoot whatever makes you happy. Who needs to worry what another person thinks. If you pulled the trigger you where happy with it obviously. Almost every animal out there has trophy potential. Depending on the area. Whos to say when the right time is to harvest the animal in its prime.

You shoot it your happy. Just enjoy the time out in the field.
 
He doesnt look all that young. His nose is starting to bulge and looks to be a little grey. I am thinking 5 or 6 years old?
 
Back in the day "it was if it brown it was down" now days I'm a tad more picky, but some hunt I still will kill a buck for meat other times it goes years before we get another one.
I do hunt horns more than meat.
 

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