zubba

Would you shoot a young buck if it was your last year hunting on that property? Let's say you were going to be moving to another state before next years bowhunting season. You've be seeing and passing young bucks all season long, but you kinda want to fill your tag since it will be your last year hunting that area. Buck management isn't really stressed in this area either. Would you keep passing young bucks and risk not filling your tag or would you lower your standards the last couple days of season so you could fill your buck tag? Keep in mind, you would be just as proud and respect the animal the same if it was a 6 pointer vs. a 12 pointer.

uncballers45

id go for it. cant eat antlers anyway

Full_Throttle

Just to fill a tag? No. If I needed more meat in the freezer....You bet! I am only a 2nd year hunter, but I have gotten past the need to kill anything that moves. I hunt for 2 things, meat and something to hang on my wall. If I already have a full freezer(and I do right now) then the only reason I am shooting is for a wall-hanger. This is just me. I don't think there is a wrong answer here. If YOU feel ok with shooting a non-mature buck then go for it. If it is legal and your OK with it then why even ask? If your hesitant about it and that is why you are posting, then that in itself may be your answer. Good luck!

Mike

shed33

Shoot what truely makes you happy.

hollywoodvx

I would take it anytime. But I only hunt for meat and my freezer has never been full, do to my bad luck, but if it was I am the only one in the family that hunts and they all love deer meat so I would shot it and give my family the meat if I had enough.

rybohunter

I probably wouldn't shoot. Unless I needed the meat, which round here that's what does are for.
I can see how shooting something the last time you are there would be neat. I say just let the situation dictate whether you pull the trigger.

zubba

Then maybe I should explain myself a little farther. I don't have a full freezer, and could use more sausage. But does that mean I should shoot a doe vs. a young buck? If I am going to shoot something for the freezer, I would rather get a set of horns to go along with it. Does it make sense to pass up young bucks all year, then take one at the end? Maybe it does, I'm not sure.

Full_Throttle

I should clarify that my freezer is small...2 deer filled it up. I have a deep freezer in the garage that we don't use...I guess I could go crazy and fill it up also.

I see TONS of doe where I hunt...I think I could get 2-3 a week if I wanted to....As a rookie last year I killed 4 deer bowhunting. I say that not a bragging but to show how many deer we have in the area.(Southern Illinois) I could fill both freezers and never need to shoot an antlered deer. That is a good thing I guess. I get to let them grow...woohoo!

Ray Hunter 42

I would shoot. I have no problem with taking smaller bucks, NOW i do like to try and get a biger older one but some times it just dosent happen. and with a bow i am just as happy with it no matter what size it is.

But i also wouldnt shoot it just to fill a tag if i dint have any freezer room left.

RDHunter

If I knew that was last time I would be hunting that land , yea I would take a shot at anything I could get.
You can't eat the antlers anyway .