OutdoorMissouri.com

Dammit MOCraig, you got in the way!!!

Trust me MO, the thought did cross my mind!

2B: That might be true, but, the last 2 MO bucks I have shot at didn't give me time to think. Now, in that instance, from now on, I should simply not shoot I guess. I was a bit upset about the 8 pointer this year, but my 10 pointer on the last day last year, I was high as a kite. That one excited me like no other deer I have shot. I was kindof the same way when I found my deer the other day. As far as putting down the rifle, I think I have to do it. Where I hunt, most of my shots are going to be close anyway. If I had been in a stand with a bow in hand on that last day, that deer would have come by at 5 yards. I would have dumble-lunged his donkey, and that would have been that. I may never kill the 160", but ifn' I get him with a bow, it will be that much better. PS

That may be true. But, when it comes to killin' big bastard bucks, you aren't even a distant red dot in my rearview mirror.

Your headlights, foglights, taillights, truck color, I don't know. I should have said headlights. I suppose I should have defined it a bit better. Oh yeah, how was that for "Holier Than Thou"?

How in the heck did I get drawn into this thread? I haven't been bragging at all here lately....at least for a week.

PS,

Your 160 will come much sooner if you start letting those 120s and 130s walk. It looks like the HFA has a pretty good gene pool. I`ll bet you would be amazed at the caliber of bucks you would start seeing in a couple of years if you pass on the borderline shooters.

I hear you there. I have either got to go deerless, or shoot big deer. There is no in-between. Now, I don't think I can pass on a 135-140" deer. That one will be tough.

It`s real tough, but it gets easier. Especially after you whack that 160. A simple rule-of-thumb...if you have to debate whether to shoot or not, don`t shoot.

That is a good motto to live by. My problem is the last 2 deer I have shot, I haven't had time to debate anything. Also, I suppose if you don't have enough time to judge the size of the rack, you should not shoot at that point as well.

170, I think what works on PS the most is the thought of his neighbor whacking the bucks he has been shooting. Better him than them kinda thing. Am I right Smitty ? If he had 300acres+ and thought the buck would make it through the season, he dang sure would be letting them go. PS is hunting in the middle of smaller parcel's which is clouding his judgement some. A little trigger happy if you will.

Well, that is certainly part of it 2B. But, I have noone to blame but myself if I make a mistake. I don't look at last years 10 pointer as a mistake. Last years 9 pointer was not a mistake either. It was an allout stupid move on my part. You cannot define that as a mistake because I didn't have the excuse of not being able to see what it was. I knew it would be borderline P&Y and probably not score, but I shot anyway. Now, that was a serious mental error and I should be strung up for doing what I did. This deer was not on the HFA. Had I of known this years 8 pointer was not a 10, I would not have shot him either I don't think. But, I have to live with that. I really wish I had not shot it for certain. But, a 115-120" 8 pointer is not a shabby deer by any means. On one side of my property, a deer like that most often will live. On the other side of me, he will for certain die. Most of the time, on me, he will live as well. I just wish I hadn't been the person to shoot it. If Monica had shot it, I would have been fine with it. On another note, I was happy as heck thinking it was the 130" 10 pointer I had seen on 2 occasions. When it ended up being an 8, I was disappointed. If you feel that way at all, you should not have shot it. That is why I was kind of skeptical on shooting the big deer with a rifle. I could not see the other side of his rack. I am really glad I shot him, because he looks really good. I got lucky there and made the right choice. But, in that instance, I suppose you still shouldn't shoot.

PS, this is prolly somethin you have already tried but...

why don't you get together with the other landowners in your area and see if you can come to a common standard on deer taken? That way you don't have to worry so much about whether or not those borderline bucks will make it thru the year.

This is currently underway and will be taking place in the springtime.

Keith@AimLow said:
Would have made a couple nice bow kills.

Good plan PS

Boys, as some of you well know, I just had to shoot that deer with a rifle because I didnt have a buck tag left with my bow....already killed a 145" with it.

Yes, it has been a good season..

So there, Keith