Lip Ripper
IDA Field Staff
Reged: 07/14/03
Posts: 7836
Post Bucks: $21.22
Loc: Northern Twin Cities, MN
|
|
Just wondering what everyone is setting their bar at this year? I know it varies from hunter to hunter depending on properties, location, experience, etc. but what are you guys willing to shoot this year? What do you guys look for when deciding to harvest a buck that comes in? I guess I'm just curious as to others criteria and how you determine a shooter or not regardless of what size it is?
For me personally, it used to be any P&Y buck that walks by, but now it varies from hunt to hunt, and property to property. But, I'm trying to harvest 4.5 year olds and depending on the property 135"es or better. Some 3.5 's in the late season can be very tempting especially on Public land, but only time will tell.  For quick figuring inches I have a lil formula that I follow to determine if it is a P&Y buck at minimum. I look for Inches of tine length first with spread, main beam length and mass coming 2nd ifthere is time. I want to see 20-22” of tine lenght on one side. Depending on other things like main beam length and spread this can vary between the 2. But if I see 20-22” on one side and it is pretty typical, this tells me that it will be in that 125”-130” range. The other way is with trail camera pics. In ND we decide on what bucks are shooters and what bucks are not from trail camera pics or encounters we have through out the year. These deer are discussed every weekend and sometimes deer that were shooters in the beginning of the year if they make it through Rifle season the come off the “Shooter List” come late season bow. 
What about you guys?
--------------------
Lip Ripper (aka Rob Stenger)
GameHide Pro Staff /
Northland Concrete & Masonry
BfishN Tackle /
Stone Construction Inc
|
gutone4me
Member
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 365
Post Bucks: $6.30
Loc: sparta wi
|
|
over the last few years ive been lucky enough to shoot a couple 140's so id like to think 140 is my goal but id take all the numbers out if i have to talk myself into shooting him hes not the one if he comes out and i go  then hes the one thats what i go with gl  time
--------------------
growing old is mandatory growing up is optional
|
packingheat
Member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 146
Post Bucks: $2.30
Loc: Lake City MN.
|
|
Good question, let me start off by saying I'm a deer hunter.
My Dad brought us kids up by being proud of any animal You harvest, that being said. If I up north I'll let my heart be the decission. If a small buck just comes in and stands there I might let him go, but if I have to talk him in or really have to "make it happen" I won't feel bad at all for the harvest.
Now down south I like to hold off for one that will be on the wall. Getting back to your question Lip it may be a BIG buck but there is other thing that go in to it.
Sorry to ramble on Guys and Gals, Have a Great Hunt and be safe!
|
swimingjig
Member
Reged: 12/21/06
Posts: 139
Post Bucks: $3.38
Loc: Waumandee, WI
|
|
I have been telling myselfe 140 gross or better.
|
pahaarstad
Member
Reged: 07/18/06
Posts: 363
Post Bucks: $3.96
Loc: metro
|
|
For me I hope I do not shoot one. My hope is that my two kids will get to shoot one. It will be there frist year out. So I will be there just in case they need some back up this year or until they shoot there frist deer. After that it will have to be pushing 130 or better. I would rather see my kids shoot a few for the meat hook.
|
Steve Plantz
IDA Field Staff - Steering Committee
Reged: 05/17/01
Posts: 10205
Post Bucks: $15.58
Loc: SE MN
|
|
Good topic Rob
For me my best buck so far was my buck from last year he went 130, so for me my next buck needs to be 140 or better weather it be with gun or bow. I will not shoot a buck if I can not put him on the wall, I get just as big of thrill shooting a doe as I do a buck and there are plenty of does to go around here in SE MN. However with that being said I would not impose my guidelines on anyone else, everyone needs to answer that question for themselves a trophy is in the eye of the beholder 
--------------------
Steve Plantz ~ IDO Field Staff
Bluffland Whitetails Association
To Let-em Grow You Gotta Let-em Go So SHOOT A DOE!!!
|
big G
Member
Reged: 09/19/03
Posts: 2861
Post Bucks: $13.96
Loc: St. Cloud, MN USA
|
|
I am hoping to take 2 mature does at Camp Ripley & a 130+ either at my cousins place or at the cabin. Of course, if a 140" deer saunters by in Ripley, then it looks like only 1 doe out of Ripley
big G
|
todd carnes
Member
Reged: 07/15/05
Posts: 438
Post Bucks: $3.08
Loc: Milan IL
|
|
I will shoot any p/y buck , I enjoy shooting nice bucks and any p/y deer is a nice one I also like to look at deer on the wall. The biggest thing i like about hunting for big bucks is the challenge of out smarting them and the feeling of acomplishment when it all comes together, and agin I belive by the time a deer reaches p/y size he is a very smart animal. So for me If i would put him on the wall I would shoot him some where around 125 inch deer. I also could not agree more with steve on everyone should shoot whatever size deer makes them happy, Thats the cool thing about hunting or fishing , It can be done at whatever level a person enjoys.
|
Lip Ripper
IDA Field Staff
Reged: 07/14/03
Posts: 7836
Post Bucks: $21.22
Loc: Northern Twin Cities, MN
|
|
Packing heat. I agree. Sometimes it depends on the hunt or etc. It also not only depends just on horns for me. Last year I kicked myself for not harvesting a mature 8 pointer. He probably would not have made P&Y but he was a very mature deer on the decline. I'm guessing 6-5 or 7.5 years old
Good answers guys, I'm just really curious as to how people judge that a buck is a shooter for them. I agree, sometimes you just know, but there are many times when I'm adding numbers in my head to figure it out. As we all know like my mature buck I passed up on last year, sometimes we do not get much time to size them up. As I seen that boy last year I immediately drew and had about 4-5 seconds to pull the trigger. His one side had a crab claw for a G3 throwing my calculation off in my head. By the time I noticed he was a mature bruiser, about 5 seconds after that, it was too late. 
--------------------
Lip Ripper (aka Rob Stenger)
GameHide Pro Staff /
Northland Concrete & Masonry
BfishN Tackle /
Stone Construction Inc
|
Chowdski
Member
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 205
Post Bucks: $3.06
Loc: Oakdale, MN
|
|
I'm thinking that this year, I would like to set my sights on 130"+ or better with my bow, or 140"+ with my rifle. I was fortunate enought to wall my first deer this past year with my slug gun, which was a 125" 8 pointer. Now that I have a benchmark to improve on, I would really like to stick one with my bow that makes it into the books! 
Hopefully all the offseason scouting, and newly aquired pieces of property to hunt will pay dividends!!!
24 more days to go! 
|
Brad Juaire
IDA Field Staff
Reged: 03/18/05
Posts: 1115
Post Bucks: $9.30
Loc: Maple Grove, MN
|
|
After harvesting the buck in my avatar last year, I will be very picky this year when it comes to bow hunting in Buffalo Cty. If I have to think about inches and what he will score, I will not release my arrow. I believe when I seem him, I'll know it right away if he's a shooter or not.
My standards are lower where I hunt in MN. I would like to harvest a buck around 135 or better.
Here's another question for you guys when it comes to determining if he's a shooter or not. Does your shooting standards decrease throughout the course of the year? In other words, for me hunting in early season, he's got to be a monster if I'm going to harvest him. I try to keep those standards through the rut and into the firearm season. However during the late bow season and muzzleloader season it's hard to keep those same standards. I realize it depends on what bucks you know are still in the area and what you captured on camera, but do you keep the same standards throughout the entire hunting season?
--------------------
Brad "Grifter" Juaire
IDO Field Staff
brad.juaire@in-depthoutdoors.com
|
mossydan
Member
Reged: 03/27/03
Posts: 2826
Post Bucks: $9.88
Loc: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
|
|
My sights are set on a few diffrent kinds of bucks and what thier racks look like. If he's a very nice 140" with few deductions I may take him as long as his mainbeam has good measurements. I always try to find that spot where the trees are really torn up and alot of branches broken from him standing on his hind legs looking for one bigger then 140". To some I may have my standards set to high but A nice 160" and over is what im looking for. If I feel theres a big buck or two around I will hold out for them. If the season gets down to the last week or so then a mature doe starts crossing my mind. Doing this a few years I would let my tag expire in hopes of getting a last hour, last minute shot on a big one, especially if the spot im huntings within a half hour from my house and an easy drive. In reality Im waiting for a nice 180" or bigger and am looking for that one timber that holds one. My first buck I shot was after slug season and two weeks away from the season closing Janurary 10th. I will hold out until season ends looking for that timber thats had little pressure that I know theres a couple very nice bucks in the immediate area. By the time that ruts in full swing its hard to check all the timbers for the big guys sign because they don't start creating thier signs until sept. Sometimes there just not enough time to check every timber looking for just the big guys, darn bowhuntings the ultimate.
|
Lip Ripper
IDA Field Staff
Reged: 07/14/03
Posts: 7836
Post Bucks: $21.22
Loc: Northern Twin Cities, MN
|
|
Good questions Brad. My sights still stay the same late season for the most part. But it does depend on the property. Public land it will get lowered to any P&Y. If I'm filming, it possibly will get lowered late season to a P&Y also.
In ND shooters that make it through the Rifle&Muzzle Loader seasons sometimes get put on the don't shoot list. So sometimes the bar is also raised later in the year.
--------------------
Lip Ripper (aka Rob Stenger)
GameHide Pro Staff /
Northland Concrete & Masonry
BfishN Tackle /
Stone Construction Inc
|
whitetailaddict
Member
Reged: 01/19/04
Posts: 334
Post Bucks: $4.08
|
|
Quote:
Here's another question for you guys when it comes to determining if he's a shooter or not. Does your shooting standards decrease throughout the course of the year? In other words, for me hunting in early season,
Don't pass up a buck on the first day, that you would shoot on the last day, IMO. IMO any other philosphy than that allows to much wavering and that is when the ground shrinkage happens more often.
To answer the first question, I unfortunately don't have access to the more premier ground of BC, etc. So it is hard to put an "inches number", on the deer I want to harvest. Don't get me wrong, I am crunching numbers and sizing him up, every second I can, if I have the opportunity. Generally though, I have lots of pics of these animals and harvest on maturity more and rack size less, especially in WI. All of my hunting is done public land, 100% on my own. Even all of my out of state hunts, although these are public land hunts, they are of higher quality, so then I can go to rack size more, as long as it is a mature animal.
Here are a couple of pics of last years buck. That I was extremely happy with. Take a stab at his score and age.
|
Chowdski
Member
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 205
Post Bucks: $3.06
Loc: Oakdale, MN
|
|
Personally, I don't think my standards change too much throughout the course of the season...I can't come to grips with shooting a buck that i don't plan on putting on the wall. Granted my measurement of a wall worthy deer has changed over the course of the past few years, but the principles are the same.
I figure I get enough of the killing factor out of my system by harvesting at a minimum 2-3 does/yr. I personally get more self gratification knowing that I took a few does out, rather than taking a borderline buck out of the gene pool.
|
Steve Plantz
IDA Field Staff - Steering Committee
Reged: 05/17/01
Posts: 10205
Post Bucks: $15.58
Loc: SE MN
|
|
Same here I could not have said it any better myself.
Quote:
Personally, I don't think my standards change too much throughout the course of the season...I can't come to grips with shooting a buck that i don't plan on putting on the wall. Granted my measurement of a wall worthy deer has changed over the course of the past few years, but the principles are the same.
I figure I get enough of the killing factor out of my system by harvesting at a minimum 2-3 does/yr. I personally get more self gratification knowing that I took a few does out, rather than taking a borderline buck out of the gene pool.
--------------------
Steve Plantz ~ IDO Field Staff
Bluffland Whitetails Association
To Let-em Grow You Gotta Let-em Go So SHOOT A DOE!!!
|
mossydan
Member
Reged: 03/27/03
Posts: 2826
Post Bucks: $9.88
Loc: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
|
|
Im the same Chowdski
|
Walleyebuster5
Member
Reged: 12/22/06
Posts: 463
Post Bucks: $5.84
Loc: Central MN
|
|
I'll know it when I see it!
--------------------
-The more you know, the more you want to know-
|
swimingjig
Member
Reged: 12/21/06
Posts: 139
Post Bucks: $3.38
Loc: Waumandee, WI
|
|
When muzzle loader season and late season bow hunting roll around my standards actually get a little higher. Because at that time I am pretty sure that buck will not get harvested by anyone else and he will be that much bigger the following year. I am used to eating my tag.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Just Wondering
Edit
Reply
Quote
