Over the years I have turned to just shooting a buck if I can hang it on my wall, and it has to be pretty big. I have an 11 point from years ago that is in the 160 class. I have let dozens of bucks go by since then hoping they are bigger the next year. Well, on Saturday morning I had an 8 point come in that I have seen the last two years in the same area where he has tore up some cedars. His tines were barely passed his ears but were IMO a couple tines were 10-12 inches in height across the top. I watched him for 20 minutes but decided to let him go one more year (if he makes it through the season). I have been questioning myself ever since as there are plenty of does for meat if I wanted them. Did I make the right call?

Over the years I have turned to just shooting a buck if I can hang it on my wall, and it has to be pretty big. I have an 11 point from years ago that is in the 160 class. I have let dozens of bucks go by since then hoping they are bigger the next year. Well, on Saturday morning I had an 8 point come in that I have seen the last two years in the same area where he has tore up some cedars. His tines were barely passed his ears but were IMO a couple tines were 10-12 inches in height across the top. I watched him for 20 minutes but decided to let him go one more year (if he makes it through the season). I have been questioning myself ever since as there are plenty of does for meat if I wanted them. Did I make the right call?

Absolutely.

Yeah, came off the same farm too. I dropped him off this morning for a Euro mount.

 

I just picked up my free Euro mount from last year. I winged an 8 pointer last year. Found his skull as a 7 pointer this year while in the woods. Critters had gotten to one of the antlers. I'll try to post later.

Over the years I have turned to just shooting a buck if I can hang it on my wall, and it has to be pretty big. I have an 11 point from years ago that is in the 160 class. I have let dozens of bucks go by since then hoping they are bigger the next year. Well, on Saturday morning I had an 8 point come in that I have seen the last two years in the same area where he has tore up some cedars. His tines were barely passed his ears but were IMO a couple tines were 10-12 inches in height across the top. I watched him for 20 minutes but decided to let him go one more year (if he makes it through the season). I have been questioning myself ever since as there are plenty of does for meat if I wanted them. Did I make the right call?

Yep, if you watched him that long and still didn't pull the trigger then without a doubt you did. A deer will always get bigger in your mind as you think about the encounter. Always trust your judgement in the field with the deer in your sights.

Here's a little bit better pic of him....

Yep, if you watched him that long and still didn't pull the trigger then without a doubt you did. A deer will always get bigger in your mind as you think about the encounter. Always trust your judgement in the field with the deer in your sights.

 

Very interesting point!! I feel better now :thumb:

Don't have a picture of the Buck but my son-in-law brother shot an 8 point buck Friday on their farm in Pope County Illinois.

 

Was told that the Buck was huge, not rack wise, but in body size.

 

I was told that the front shoulders were as large or larger than a lot of hind quarters and they were processing that deer from about 10:00 am to 3:00 pm - non stop.

 

My son-in-law says it's from all the corn they eat on the farm......that makes them so big......

Went out this evening and sat in a double bull in the rain. Missed two does with my bow. The first jump the string and the arrow passed right over her back and stuck in a log. The second I'm not sure what happened. I really thought I hit her but didn't find any signs that I did.

First time in visiting this forum.Great stories and pics! I live in East Ky. in the Mtns. We have deer here plus Elk. Huge Elk! Regardless what ky. fish and wildlife say, Elk will compete with deer and turkeys for food. When elk move in, deer move OUT! An example, I had pics. of a 10 pt.(shooter), 8 pt. 5 pt. and 2 spikes from a deer cam. up to week before gun season came in. Then a 7x7 bull elk moves intakes over the feeder, eating the fallen acorn crop and the deer are no where to be seen. Fri. the Bullcame to my stand, with in 10 yards, started eating out of the feeder bottom. I was growing tired of it cleaning out the feeder, so I picked up a Raid Wasper Spray can that was in the blind and threw it at it. The can struck the tree that the feeder was attached to and then struck the Bull in the side. He jumped, started running, broke two trees about 2" in diameter down, taking off around the hill. I thought that had done him in and scared him off. nope! About 10 mins. later he comes back, finishing off the corn in my feeder. I took pics. that day with my cell phone. Sunday morning went back to same stand, he shows up at 8:30, eating acorns for approx. 1 hr. then comes over to the feederand cleans it out. I took approx. 15 pics. some as close as 5 yds. from the bottom of the ladder to the stand. The Bull finally goes off about 75 yds. on a flat below the stand and beds down under a beech tree that the deer were using for a scrape tree. H e was still bedded down there when I left 1 hr. later. I am not able to download pics. yet, but will try to get some posted soon. sent pics. of Bull to a friend that was lucky enough to have been drawn for a Bull archery permit. Will gladly let him take it and get it out of my deer hunting area.If not, that area is done for the season. Will post pics. when can.

Here is a pic of an awesome buck taken by Tyler Williams, Belfry's QB, this weekend. Great job Tyler!!

 

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Here is a pic of an awesome buck taken by Tyler Williams, Belfry's QB, this weekend. Great job Tyler!!

 

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WOW. Very impressive. Has to be 24-25 inches inside.

First time in visiting this forum.Great stories and pics! I live in East Ky. in the Mtns. We have deer here plus Elk. Huge Elk! Regardless what ky. fish and wildlife say, Elk will compete with deer and turkeys for food. When elk move in, deer move OUT! An example, I had pics. of a 10 pt.(shooter), 8 pt. 5 pt. and 2 spikes from a deer cam. up to week before gun season came in. Then a 7x7 bull elk moves intakes over the feeder, eating the fallen acorn crop and the deer are no where to be seen. Fri. the Bullcame to my stand, with in 10 yards, started eating out of the feeder bottom. I was growing tired of it cleaning out the feeder, so I picked up a Raid Wasper Spray can that was in the blind and threw it at it. The can struck the tree that the feeder was attached to and then struck the Bull in the side. He jumped, started running, broke two trees about 2" in diameter down, taking off around the hill. I thought that had done him in and scared him off. nope! About 10 mins. later he comes back, finishing off the corn in my feeder. I took pics. that day with my cell phone. Sunday morning went back to same stand, he shows up at 8:30, eating acorns for approx. 1 hr. then comes over to the feederand cleans it out. I took approx. 15 pics. some as close as 5 yds. from the bottom of the ladder to the stand. The Bull finally goes off about 75 yds. on a flat below the stand and beds down under a beech tree that the deer were using for a scrape tree. H e was still bedded down there when I left 1 hr. later. I am not able to download pics. yet, but will try to get some posted soon. sent pics. of Bull to a friend that was lucky enough to have been drawn for a Bull archery permit. Will gladly let him take it and get it out of my deer hunting area.If not, that area is done for the season. Will post pics. when can.

What county are you hunting in?

Knott co. Private property.