OutdoorMissouri.com

How many of you guys that routinely pass on 1.5 and 2.5 year old bucks ever see that very deer the following year? I'm not sure that I have ever seen a deer that I know for sure I passed on the previous year. Now, I have a real wide 8 pointer that I could have shot at 4 different times that I believe I can identify next year. He was a good looking 2.5 year old. 17" spread probably, but only 6 inch tines with no mass.

None. In '03 I passed 5 different 2.5yr old 8 pts (one may have been a 7pt), some were very distinctive, and I only saw one buck this year that I would have guessed to be a 3.5 yr old,a heavy 9 pt. I was expecting the place to be crawling with 3.5yr olds and that I would have my pick of the bunch, but it didn't happen. I only got a couple glimpses of the 9pt and then he was hit in the road and killed.



This past bow season I passed several branch antlered bucks including 2-8's, a 7, and a heavy horned 6. The bucks are getting older and vanishing in these parts.



During gun season, I didn't even count the small bucks, but it was a bunch.

I saw another really tall 6 pointer at 15 yards that I think I can identify next fall. So, I think I have 2 bucks that made it that I can for sure identify. Dave-t, like yourself, I did see several 1.5 year olds and a half-dozen 2.5 year olds that I think made it. Now, I did see 5 mature bucks all in one weekend. I am pretty sure one of Gamm's buddies killed one of those bucks. I may have killed one too, but I don't think the 11 pointer was a deer I had seen before. But, I don't think I'll be able to identify any of those deer next year. I just thought it to be a bit interesting as you see some guys that pick up sheds from year 2.5 and follow a deer as he gets larger.

What the point of my last post was, is that the biggest bennefit to not shooting a small buck is not filling your tag, so you can still hunt for a bigg'en. Bucks move so much during the rut, there is no telling where an individual deer may turn up, or where you might have the best chance to shoot him. Find a good funnel or food source and hope a big one is using it, when you have time to hunt.



Also, the 7 and 8 pt that i passed on this year, I'm sure were bucks that I had seen together at the end of last season, two spikes that were always together, but there is no rock solid proof of that. With my luck, they will both be 5+ miles away next year. Maybe a dumb one will come by and make my season.

I hear you. 4 years back, I shot a small 8 pointer (very small) that had a lame front leg. I should have gotten an agent to give me another buck tag because he was messed up. Then, I shot a 9 pointer the weekend of ML season with my bow. Well, go figure in January I had to let a pretty good deer pass because I didn't have a buck tag. I will never shoot a lame deer again. Oh, I might, but I won't tag it.

That's a great point dave-t, but it does not excuse wasting the first tag just because.

I won't burn a tag ever again. Ever!

9+years ago I shot the first buck I saw on the second weekend of the gun season, and then had to pass a MONSTER less than 10 minutes later because I had no tag left. Using your tag on a small buck is a double whammy. You have no buck tag left, and the small buck won't ever get any bigger after he's dead. (unless PS is telling the story, Ha! )

A lame buck is not burning a tag. I think it was the noble, and right thing to do.

All of my deer grow, shrink, grow a little, shrink a little. You know the story.

2B: That poor deer wouldn't have made it I don't think. There was some serious infection in that dude. Shot him the day before rifle season. I just wish I had taken him to an agent to get another tag because I was concerned about eating the meat. PS

Two years ago I pass on a 3.5 year old 10 pointer (mostly because it was the last day of gun season and I didn't have a clean shot). Saw him a month ago. He's about 150" now. Hope he makes it to next year.

Your a good man charlie brown.

Oh yeah, that deer from two years ago was only a legitimate 16 pointer (scoreable) when I shot him...he is a 19 pointer now...granted those were the three that were broke off but still....16 to 19...pretty cool.

There are two advantages to letting those little bucks pass...hopefully they will make it through the season and get bigger for next year. OR Your huckleberry neighbor will shoot it after you pass on it on opening morning and will be too busy showing off his basket rack to his buddies to mess up your hunt when the actual shooter comes by you

At least that is always my hope when I am hunting with MoCraig.

Seriously, I would much rather see that buck make it, but if the neighbor shoots it...at least he is out of the woods.
Seen it before where the neighbors to the North of us have been back at camp while the big one has walked right through their part of the creek bottom to get to one of us.