This year I was able to hunt a private forest that only allows 37 bowhunters for 7000 acres. It allows the bowhunters to use corn for bait. The primary hunt is for deer management and to harvest as many does as can be harvested. The forest has been managed and hunted for 15 years. I saw 7 bucks for every doe encountered. I never saw less than 5 deer per setting. One morning I had a 145" 4 1/2 year old buck come in. I had my bow in my hand and my release on the string. The buck poped out from behind cover at 15 yards. He looked up at me frozen in the tree the entire time he was in shooting range. I was waiting for him to look elsewherre and give me a shot. He never quit watching me. I did not want to spook him and waited patiently. I watched him walk away without being able to take a shot. Yes I have thought about it and could I have shot this deer, Maybe Maybe not I have shot over 215 whitetails over the last 52 years. I did not want to risk making a bad shot or spooking this deer. I was hoping for a second opertunity. But I never saw this deer again. The only good feeling that I have was this deer was not harvested by another hunter. He was 4 1/2 years old and 140-145" of heavy horns. If this deer lives to be 5 1/2 he will not grow body wise much. He could possibly grow another 20-25 inches of horn. We have had a bumper mast crop this year and a mild winter. My hopes is this deer will be even bigger next year. I have something to look forward to hunting this buck next year.
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Not all unsuccessful hunts are time wasted
- Thread starter Rustystud
- Start date
Awesome experience! There’s no such thing as a wasted trip to the tree. Every minute out there is more knowledgeable than being in class room or scrolling on your phone! I’ve had just as much fun on hunts where I saw nothing but birds and squirrels as I have on hunts where I made a harvest
If it's any consolation I think you did the right thing. When they have you pegged like that then you usually ain't getting away with nothing. Especially with a mature buck.
Sounds like you did the right thing, and it sounds like you are seeing more deer per sit than I see in a month of hunting. He will be better next season.
Do you think your observation of 7 bucks to one doe is consistent with the population or are the does more wary because they are being targeted?
What state did this hunt take place in?
What state did this hunt take place in?
i enjoy myself anytime I get a chance to be in the woods, fields or on the water. The older I get, the less important it is to come home with something for the freezer. It has been a slow deer season for me here. It might be that it’s just one of those years or the deer diseases that are in this area have taken a toll. I had a big bodied buck within easy bow range, unfortunately you have to take doe first and I have not. Fun to watch him walk away and not be aware I was there. I am no wildlife biologist but it seems to me that if you want to lower the deer population you should make taking bucks a priority. A single buck can mate and impregnate many doe. Less bucks=fewer pregnant doe. If I am wrong feel free to voice your opinion.
I feel for you that you had to let the buck walk. However I can assure you that even if you were allowed to shoot him, another buck would impregnate any does that yours would've potentially impregnated. Doe management has more impact biologically.
The objective should be a well balanced herd comfortably within carrying capacity of the property.