Planter

Don't get me wrong. I like to shoot big deer and have a few "decent" 8's and 9's in the house. Never scored them but it never really mattered. The best ones are not even mounted cause I like to pick them up and fondle them from time to time. I also have a few spikes and forks racks laying around. My bow buck from last year was a beat up older fellow with a ratty but unique rack and I shot a doe still with milk and a couple of yearlings. I'm an old guy (NOT as old as Smoke) and hunt as often as time permits which is not very much. May be more after an unexpected layoff. I have passed on small bucks and will again but the right to shoot them is always reserved. I guess when I made the original post I was a bit miffed as there were guys on the other forum calling people who shoot yearlings "Baby Killers"
One thing I know is that any deer I shoot will get posted on this forum and I KNOW i will get alot of atta boys regardless of size. I can shoot two bucks and will end up with at least three doe tags. How many deer I shoot is gonna be another story all together.
I guess I will keep the story of the crisper drawer deer to myselfbut boy that was one easy drag. Deer are like the girls from my college days. Everyone passed on may be lost forever..LOL

bowfisherman

I have a 6 point in my woods right now that is pretty big as far as sixes go. He dwarfs a lot of 8 points I have seen. He has a ton of mass and is a very young deer. I don't want to shoot him because he has such potential to be a very big buck next year and the year after. Not sure if he'll be in my woods next year but I sure hope he is. Even if I don't get my wall hanger this year its nice to know I could have. Another thing is I don't mind spending time in my stands so I don't want to shoot a decent 8 this early knowing 100% that I will see some much larger bucks. Might not get a shot but I will see them. Depend on your area I guess.

ranger56528

If it's going to score a 180 or better you bet....other then that I only take doe's....Dont need a wall full of deer heads .

Planter

Better than 180?? Please tell me your just kidding right??Inmy general area the state record bow kill was taken last year and scored 185. In the surrounding states like CT, RI, and ME the best deer taken last year with bow or gun wereless than 180. I would be pleased just tosee a 180 while in my stand.
It probably has as much to do with location as time spent in the woods. The bowhunter success rate in this state is around 6%. I wonder what it is elsewhere.I would certainly have no objections to antler restrictions IF they worked. I have heard mixed things about PA and understand some guys are shooting deer and then counting points which could be the result of driving which has zero to do with archers. Good luck with whatever you chose to shoot as long as it's legal.
I know an awful lot of guys who have spent years trying to shoot their first deer with a bow.

bowfisherman

Yeah I'm not sure if our antler restriction does any good or not. Now we have little spikes and scrawny 4 points reproducing more than ever cause no one can shoot them. I'm not sure what to think.

ranger56528

Nope....thats what it will take for me to shoot a buck.....WELL OK....I would do a 165-180............................maybe.I like them doe's I say....

lemoyne

Circumstances offten change things,I looked for a big buck for a long time when I finally got him he was real pretty on the wall for about 20 years,the he spoiled,same thing happened with my 600 pound black bear and the boar that charged me.
Now I just enjoy myself, I have one that I see occasionally that usually goes 14 points with a nice stout typical rack and if he walks out in front of me I'll nail him other wise I'll proaly take a nice fat doe theres getting to be too many of them anyway. Lee

Planter

Lots of mixed reports Brad. I have hunted PA in the past and last year for opening of rifle. Never seen so few deer in PA and although it was warm it was also troubling.I think hunters want to see numbers for the most part and quality is second. I had always been able to take a doe home for the freezer and with the exception of opening AM did not even have that opportunity in a week of hunting. I can remember going to a meat cutting plant in Leona and they had aPILE of deer waiting to be cut, but I don't think there was a real qualitybuck in the pile. They did have a BIG game land buck hanging though. Just forks and spikes. Sure would be nice if the restrictions worked. Seems like they have been in effect long enough for some evidence. What is it?? Six years now?Good luck!!
PS.. Will never use my time to gun hunt PA again. It's a state better suited to bow OR private land.

bowfisherman

yeah its been probably 6 years or so. Your right about private land. State game lands here are a joke. It really depends on what part of PA. Some areas west and north have very poor numbers. Southeast is loaded though so I'm lucky. I belong to a gun club about 45 minutes north of me that has land to hunt and they closed it down this year because the lack of deer. It is backed up too state game lands that are just as poor. Good luck to you.