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Started By
Message
Letting deer grow.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 4:32 pm
Posted on 11/8/25 at 4:32 pm
It took me a while to realize this when I first started managing a place but it’s amazing what letting those nice deer walk can do.
When a nice buck catches your eye and you’re thinking of pulling the trigger try giving him another year or maybe two if you can. It’s hard as shite but it can really pay off.
At this point I had never taken a deer over 130 inches and that was my goal to grow a deer that was over 130 inches. I wanted to shoot this deer so bad because I had been managing this place for 2 years and probably shot two bucks that shouldn’t have been shot but wanted to kill a buck.
Same deer the following year went from a 9 to an 11.
When a nice buck catches your eye and you’re thinking of pulling the trigger try giving him another year or maybe two if you can. It’s hard as shite but it can really pay off.
At this point I had never taken a deer over 130 inches and that was my goal to grow a deer that was over 130 inches. I wanted to shoot this deer so bad because I had been managing this place for 2 years and probably shot two bucks that shouldn’t have been shot but wanted to kill a buck.
Same deer the following year went from a 9 to an 11.
This post was edited on 11/8/25 at 5:44 pm
7
Posted on 11/8/25 at 4:38 pm to Rize
Doing the same with my property. Doe control has been my main focus. Haven’t even considered taking a buck yet.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:01 pm to Rize
We had a yearling buck last year with 2” spikes and a white patch on his neck, so easy to identify. This year, he’s a 9 point. It’ll be interesting to follow his improvement over the years.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:08 pm to 257WBY
quote:
We had a yearling buck last year with 2” spikes and a white patch on his neck, so easy to identify. This year, he’s a 9 point. It’ll be interesting to follow his improvement over the years.
I’ve got a 4 year old that started as a 3 point with no brows. He got his first little brow at 4
He’s got a lot of white on the back of his neck so there is no mistaking him. He’s always been kind of a runt but this year his body seems to be catching up with other 4 year olds. His antlers are not anything special but I’ll give until 7 years old before busting his arse.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:47 pm to mach316
Good 5 year old 8.
Gave him two more years and he blew up to 149.
This post was edited on 11/8/25 at 5:58 pm
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:50 pm to Rize
It’s not easy getting folks on board with going years without killing a buck. I’m not going to tell anyone what they should enjoy about hunting, I just try to preach shooting age not antlers. Every year we have three or four bucks that are above average upstairs but may go 130lbs, the ones that have made it have been our best deer taken the next year or after. If you can get over the high grading hump it pays off, but it is much easier said than done when the 2 year old you’re telling people not to shoot has a better rack than some of your mature deer, and he’s coming out in the daylight often cause he’s a dumbass two year old.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 6:01 pm to Rize
Whitetail deer hunting is so damn weird. These people watch deer for multiple years, name them, then kill them. It’s basically like feeding out a cow and then killing it.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 6:06 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
This buck was off 20 acres I hunt in Beaumont surrounded by rice fields.
Next year.
I gave him 1 more year after this because he had a drop starting on his right side.
Grew the drop out on his right side but his left side turned into some crazy shite
This post was edited on 11/8/25 at 6:14 pm
Posted on 11/8/25 at 6:21 pm to Taxman2010
quote:
It’s basically like feeding out a cow and then killing it
Uhh, no
Posted on 11/8/25 at 6:37 pm to geauxbrown
Dude only comes here to troll, there’s no reason to acknowledge him.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 7:15 pm to Rize
Yall are lucky. We let every 3.5 year old walk..very rarely see them again. The bears or neighbors must be eating them.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 7:31 pm to WeagleEagle
quote:
Yall are lucky. We let every 3.5 year old walk..very rarely see them again. The bears or neighbors must be eating them.
Pretty low pressure. It’s just my brother and I hunting our ranch and we may make a sit or two at our place in Beaumont. I do bring friends to hunt with me but it’s not like we have people there every week during deer season.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 7:55 pm to Rize
I wish Louisiana would reduce the antlered tags and impose an antler restriction.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 8:09 pm to chew4219
I’ve let a lot of nice 2 1/2 y.o.bucks walk,some 8-9 pts.Never saw them again.
My property is 300 acres and I’m the only one that hunts it.I think 300 acres is just not enough land to manage for bucks.
My property is 300 acres and I’m the only one that hunts it.I think 300 acres is just not enough land to manage for bucks.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 8:56 pm to Rize
When you have a large area to do that it’s great along with if neighbors are on same page. Retard club I’m in will have a fella shoot a 190# buck today and shoot a 115# buck tomorrow while letting 8 does walk by.
Posted on 11/9/25 at 4:52 am to LSUA 75
quote:
I’ve let a lot of nice 2 1/2 y.o.bucks walk,some 8-9 pts.Never saw them again. My property is 300 acres and I’m the only one that hunts it.I think 300 acres is just not enough land to manage for bucks.
I lease a relatively small piece of land as well. Two huge leases to our north and west, consisting of roughly 8000 acres, they don’t shoot does and have a 2 point per side rule. So I can understand that frustration.
I have three really nice young deer we are letting walk, the 140” plus deer on camera. It’s rewarding to watch them grow.
Posted on 11/9/25 at 12:08 pm to chew4219
Yes it is.
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