Our friends Zach and Ellie from southern Illinois were out scouting on their farm and found a good pinch point between two ponds. “So we decided to set out a camera and this is what we got,” said Zach. “Very mature deer, his body is huge in my opinion for this early in the year.”
Yes, great deer (I’m guessing 5 1/2 w/short face and pot belly) and just the 130-class buck that millions of hunters (most hunters) should look for this season. This is your typical American buck. I can’t tell you how many 8- and 9-pointers I’ve seen that look just like this in all my travels, but it has to be thousands.
On TV you see a lot of people hunting on fancy, well-managed properties and passing bucks like this all the time. If you are lucky enough to own or lease good land and manage it, or hunt as a guest on a managed pristine tract, or pay $5,000 to hunt with an outfitter, you can do that.
But let’s keep it real. Most of America’s hunters, your typical guys and gals who work hard all year and take off a few days to hunt on public or private property where there will be a little to a lot of hunting pressure, should shoot this buck and be proud they did.
Would you shoot this buck and be happy?
No hesitation. We have bigger where I hunt but I’m not a true trophy hunter. I hunt for the fun and camaraderie. This one would go on my wall, personally.
Shooter, where I hunt if you let him walk you will probably never see him again.
Heck I’ve killed a lot smaller bucks than that and been darn proud of them!!
It depends on when I saw him. Early in bow season till the end of the 2nd week in November I would hold out. Not that there is anything wrong with him…he is a very nice whitetail and if my buck hadn’t showed up by gun season, he would be in trouble. Early though, I would wait. There are bigger ones out there where I get to hunt, even though it is public ground.
Would shoot him on our farm to cull. wouldnt pay $5k to hunt him. Wouldnt use my last tag on him either(we get 3 in VA)
I’m a firm believer that a hunter should fill their tag with whatever buck they choose (as long as it’s legal). That’s a personal decision.
I’ve hunted a long time and have been lucky enough to kill comparable deer to the one in the post, so now I hold out for something more unique, older and/or bigger.
Having said that, where I hunt deer above 130″ are much tougher to come by and I’ve eaten a lot of tag sandwiches over the years waiting for him, but that’s okay, it’s my choice.
I own 100 acres in Buffalo Co and I would shoot that buck. Why, because I should. He is not getting any bigger. A lot of people that say they are managing there land for trophy deer are letting them walk, that is not true deer management. Just my view.
I would try to pass, knowing there are bigger bucks where I hunt. Call it what you want, but if he shows up at the end of the year and I have not tagged out, I am taking the shot.
That is a beautiful buck IMO. I guess it really comes down to location and maybe a hunter’s skill level. I would most likely pass him this early in the archery season, but would look at him differently in the late archery season. Sure, you could end up eating your tag, but either way that is a nice buck. Again, be realistic in your area of the world and the situation you have. One way to look at it is that his rack won’t influence how good his venison would be.
WELL, that’s just not what I’d want. I’ll just wait for a truly mature deer with truly heavy beamed and multi pronged G1’s G2’s G3’s and maybe G4’s. If not I’ll just let them all walk till I see the buck I truly want to take. One must truly want. I heard a 6 yr. old immature boy child say that last week. Sorry guys made me sick.
I imagine everyone’s answer on this will vary depending on where they live. I can tell you that in the southern states there isn’t a doubt in my mind that 99.99% of all hunters would shoot this stud in a heartbeat and never think twice. If I were hunting in Missouri (insert any midwest giant producing state) I would have to think long and hard about it considering in those states you literally never know when the next monster buck is going to walk out in front of you. Truth is a mature buck like this is a trophy for sure, he is still as smart as any other 5 yr old buck and would make a great memory. Mike why haven’t there been any new shows in the last month? I’m having withdrawls
Shooter for sure. Personally I hunt state and private lands in a few states. The private stuff are 200-300acres and all land surrounding it is pressured hard, as is state land.
I know I have deer in the 150’s to 170’s on my private land(a couple) but as we all know that these older bucks just go nocturnal,even though I leave some bedding areas untouched all season. These bucks just don’t move in daylight,so if you get a 51/2 year old in your sights shoot. I’d be proud to take an old bruiser like that….
In a heartbeat with a bow.
Would stare at him for a few seconds with a gun…and then shoot, depending on the property I’m hunting.