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Started By
Message
re: What bucks do you pass on?
Posted on 11/9/25 at 8:03 pm to PlaySomeHonk
Posted on 11/9/25 at 8:03 pm to PlaySomeHonk
quote:
I’ve never understood using number of points as harvesting criteria because you could have a cow horn spike, 4 or 6 point that’s 5.5 yo or whatever.
Like I said it’s loosely enforced. If it’s one of the descriptions you made, it’s obviously fine to shoot. It’s essentially a rule to just try to shoot mature bucks that they put a “numbers criteria” on years ago.
We have like 5 family members that hunt our property and no one else. It’s not like we get up in arms over things.
0
Posted on 11/9/25 at 8:08 pm to Rize
I’d have to agree with your friends, if you’re managing for B&C class deer this guy doesn’t have much of a shot of reaching that level. Not saying it’s impossible but he looks to have inferior genes.
** if in fact he’s a 4 year old
** if in fact he’s a 4 year old
Posted on 11/9/25 at 8:54 pm to SETH6180
quote:
I’d have to agree with your friends, if you’re managing for B&C class deer this guy doesn’t have much of a shot of reaching that level. Not saying it’s impossible but he looks to have inferior genes. ** if in fact he’s a 4 year old
He’s 100% 4. I don’t manage for BC genes because I only have 540 acres.
What’s funny is it won’t make 2 shits if I shoot him tomorrow for our herd. I’ve got 30 other bucks at least that I’ve seen in three days of hunting.
That’s why I’m doing this experiment. I could shoot him tomorrow at 90 inches as a shitty 4 year old. But I’m going to let him go a few more years
to see what he turns into.
Posted on 11/9/25 at 9:03 pm to Junky
175 pounds or up gets shot
Usually means 3.5 years or older for us. Shot one that was 194 pounds last weekend. I really think he was only 4.5.
Usually means 3.5 years or older for us. Shot one that was 194 pounds last weekend. I really think he was only 4.5.
This post was edited on 11/9/25 at 9:05 pm
Posted on 11/9/25 at 9:07 pm to 4Bagger
I’m in SE Alabama. I’ve killed several what you would call good ones for around here. I’ve passed on several that others would probably shoulder mount, but I bet on the deer making it and possibly being bigger the next.
The last buck I shoulder mounted was in 2020. I just have skull capped them since and got the flesh off myself and screwed them to cheap plaques from hobby lobby that I’ve stained.
I feel an out of state trip will be required for me to kill one big enough to shoulder mount.
The last buck I shoulder mounted was in 2020. I just have skull capped them since and got the flesh off myself and screwed them to cheap plaques from hobby lobby that I’ve stained.
I feel an out of state trip will be required for me to kill one big enough to shoulder mount.
Posted on 11/9/25 at 9:29 pm to lsupride87
quote:
175 pounds or up gets shot Usually means 3.5 years or older for us. Shot one that was 194 pounds last weekend. I really think he was only 4.5.
You should just shoot does.
Go Bills!
Posted on 11/9/25 at 9:43 pm to Rize
quote:
You should just shoot does.
Our racks aren’t the best but the bodies of our deer are big
Look at this deer and I really don’t think he is older than 4.5. He just doesn’t look that old in the face or weathered but his body was massive. We have every now and then killed older bucks and the are easily 200 plus pounds and their racks may not even be 110”
This post was edited on 11/9/25 at 9:50 pm
Posted on 11/11/25 at 10:31 am to 4Bagger
We don't have set rules, but my son has only shot two bucks off my property in the 5 seasons that I've owned it. At this point, it's mostly just got to be better than the last one. That won't work forever though. Neighbors are pretty good for the most part too.
Posted on 11/11/25 at 11:30 am to 4Bagger
Depends on public vs private. I try for 5 year olds, culls and love shooting does, hogs and turkeys for the freezer. I’ve ground checked my fair share of young bucks and now I just prefer watching them. If you’re a bowhunter I feel like you have to kill a handful of smaller bucks before you can expect to be successful on a really big deer.
Posted on 11/11/25 at 11:35 am to 4Bagger
I tell my guys that if they have to think about it, let em walk.
Posted on 11/11/25 at 2:17 pm to 4Bagger
Wildlife biologists (QDMA, etc.) with decades of experience and after aging (eyes only) 1000s of deer are only accurate about 1/3 of the time when they visually inspected the dead or darted deer.
Posted on 11/11/25 at 3:06 pm to Rize
quote:
I want to add unless you’re hunting a place littered with 150’s shooting deer with no brows, means you make grilled cheese sandwiches after midnight
I agree with this. I am on a new place in TX and it cracks me up how fast guys throw the word "cull" out on bucks. It's year one and someone shot a decent 9 point (3.5) because it had no brow tines. They also, in my opinion, think deer are older than they really are and are quick to pull the trigger.
Posted on 11/11/25 at 3:12 pm to Volt
Not hard to believe, multiple years of pictures are invaluable in this regard.
Posted on 11/11/25 at 4:59 pm to 4Bagger
Nothing less than a 130 8 point
Posted on 11/11/25 at 9:42 pm to 4Bagger
Big bodies. If they have big bodies around here they usually have a big rack to go with it or a compact heavy heavy mass palmatted rack. We are lucky my neighbors are very picky and almost never kill anything. I just got to continue working on my dad not shooting 2.5 yr old studs “before the outlaws get him.” “If the neighbors aren’t shooting them, I’m not shooting them, that leaves you…you are the outlaw.” The lightbulb finally started glowing.
Posted on 11/11/25 at 10:35 pm to JohnDoe00
quote:
I agree with this. I am on a new place in TX and it cracks me up how fast guys throw the word "cull" out on bucks. It's year one and someone shot a decent 9 point (3.5) because it had no brow tines. They also, in my opinion, think deer are older than they really are and are quick to pull the trigger.
Yeah it’s hard to age a middle age deer without years of being on a place. Even then it’s hard as shite. I have certain deer that there is no mistaking them. Sometimes it can be an antler characteristic but that can change drastically from year to year. Most of the time it’s a distinct marking if I’m lucky enough to find one. Then my arse goes back and looks at my notes and I’m like damn I had this deer at 4 two years ago and he look 5 now so was he three 2 years ago. I always go with the younger age to error on the side of caution and it seems to pay off.
I had a deer with a broke leg with the bone sticking out 2 years ago and my dad wanted to shoot him but I said we needed to give him a pass as a solid 4 year old. His leg seemed to heal up a bit last year but he was still limping pretty bad with bone showing but he made it, so we passed him again. I thought he may have died but I finally saw him in person last week and his leg is all healed up but he has a scar on the inner part of his leg and we will pass him again this year. Next year I’ll have at 4 years of photos and know he’s at least 6 or 7 and probably have someone shoot him,
It’s not a perfect science and I’m still learning but I will say we have way better deer now than we had when we leased the place to hunters.
Posted on 11/12/25 at 6:06 am to 4Bagger
Dad lives on his 150 acres in Georgia. He won’t hunt much anymore, but he’s always complained about the buck rules for Georgia, which are -
A legal buck must have at least four points, one inch or longer, on one side of its antlers, or a minimum 15-inch outside antler spread.
He’ll shoot a spike or four point, then tell me how annoying it is to have to look for one that meets the higher requirements.
I gave him a good pair of binoculars and told him to only shoot bucks that meet the higher requirement. A 158” was killed a quarter mile away and he has plenty of does, yet the yearling bucks are what he will shoot when they come out.
A legal buck must have at least four points, one inch or longer, on one side of its antlers, or a minimum 15-inch outside antler spread.
He’ll shoot a spike or four point, then tell me how annoying it is to have to look for one that meets the higher requirements.
I gave him a good pair of binoculars and told him to only shoot bucks that meet the higher requirement. A 158” was killed a quarter mile away and he has plenty of does, yet the yearling bucks are what he will shoot when they come out.
Posted on 11/12/25 at 6:14 am to 257WBY
And on a statewide scale for a Southeastern state, Georgia has it about right. Ten does and a young buck are legal for the meat hunter, while the second buck requirement encourages quality management.
Posted on 11/12/25 at 6:43 am to AlxTgr
I am assuming you are on the river or OOS?
Posted on 11/12/25 at 7:57 am to GREENHEAD22
quote:Yes, I think we have discussed this before and maybe even emailed. One of the Davis clubs.
I am assuming you are on the river
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