Hypothetical Question

[Swens]

Would you do a shoulder mount of the following deer and be happy with it? You find the antler sheds of a big buck and then 2 weeks later you shoot the "shed" buck as a doe.

[MnBOWhntr]

Would you do a shoulder mount of the following deer and be happy with it? You find the antler sheds of a big buck and then 2 weeks later you shoot the "shed" buck as a doe.

If it was an absolute GIANT I think I would and sill be happy with it. If it was under 150" I think I would just try and find something cool to do with the sheds.

[RidgeRunner]

I probably would do the mount but wouldn't feel the same about it. Thats an interesting scenario because you are in fact killing a big buck but at the same time you are somewhat being robbed of the hunt for that buck. You're not getting the memory of seeing those antlers coming through the woods or the "extra" adrenaline rush that goes along with a big buck vs. a doe.

[Grasshopper]

Interesting question...

For me, I don't think so. I doubt I'd ever shoot a shed buck on purpose...I guess I figure if he'd dropped 'em for the year, he'd won that round.

But who knows? Never say never, I guess!

[biker]

Probably not. It would have to be pretty damn big or I would never consider it. Also there would have to be a tell tale marking on the bucks body to prove that the shed buck was in fact the buck that once carried the antlers.

[Bukmastr]

No... 1st off, I don't think I would ever make the mistake of shooting a shed buck, but if it happened, and I found the sheds, that would be dumb luck. That would not be me hunting for and killing a big buck, and to me would be a disapointment.

[Swens]

There is no right or wrong answer on this one, but just out of curiousity....for those that are totally against shooting the shed buck if you are 100% which deer it is. Are you saying that you are actually hunting the antlers and not the deer itself? If the deer had every tine broken off from fighting are you not still killing that particular animal?

[Stump]

Which brings up a good point. So often you hear "I only shoot mature bucks". But then you hear or see(tv) bucks are passed up because of broken tines or main beams gone. So then which is it? Antlers or age?

[Bukmastr]

I would pass on a big buck with a broken rack... I love to hunt and take mature bucks, but really we prize the antlers. I think most people who claim to only hunt mature bucks are fooling themselves. I think a lot of people shoot 2 or 3 y/o bucks and think or maybe talk themselves into believing they are mature. In a lot of cases I would say unless you have a history with a particular buck there is no way to be certain how old it is unless you send a tooth in for cross sectioning. I shot a really nice 140ish 8 pointer a couple seasons ago I am almost positive was 2 years old... Most guys would call it 4 y/o.

[WayOutHereOutdoors]

I would pass on a big buck with a broken rack... I love to hunt and take mature bucks, but really we prize the antlers. I think most people who claim to only hunt mature bucks are fooling themselves. I think a lot of people shoot 2 or 3 y/o bucks and think or maybe talk themselves into believing they are mature. In a lot of cases I would say unless you have a history with a particular buck there is no way to be certain how old it is unless you send a tooth in for cross sectioning. I shot a really nice 140ish 8 pointer a couple seasons ago I am almost positive was 2 years old... Most guys would call it 4 y/o.

I agree that when push comes to shove, we are after the antler. Even anyone after 'just meat', if given the chance between a doe and a 190" whitetail standing next to each other, would take the 190".

For me personally, if I can see tines are broken off, the thought of what the buck was or in the future could be, is really what drives me to hold off. I also think you're right on that we tend to rationalize the age of a buck, under certain circumstances. If you're after antler and your at the end of your season, you'd love for that 150" to be on the decline. But, if everything's telling you he's three and you want to consistently kill 5+ y/o whitetails, you've got to let him walk.

I'll be honest, I enjoy killing whitetails. For the meat, the challenge, the antlers, et al; but being able to hold off on the younger ones is the single most difficult and important challenge to give yourself the opportunity to have a run-in with a truly mature whitetail.

Just out of curiosity (and forgive the 'devil's advocate' slant), but why did you shoot a 140" 8 point, if you were sure he was a 2 y/o animal?

[Grassbag251]

I would pass on a big buck with a broken rack... I love to hunt and take mature bucks, but really we prize the antlers. I think most people who claim to only hunt mature bucks are fooling themselves. I think a lot of people shoot 2 or 3 y/o bucks and think or maybe talk themselves into believing they are mature. In a lot of cases I would say unless you have a history with a particular buck there is no way to be certain how old it is unless you send a tooth in for cross sectioning. I shot a really nice 140ish 8 pointer a couple seasons ago I am almost positive was 2 years old... Most guys would call it 4 y/o.

As much as love big racked deer I can honestly say its not about the inches. My friend has watched a buck since 08. Every year his frame work stays the same, however he has gained some width and consderable mass. At the end of the day he still isnt much more than a 130 class as a (what we figure to be) 6 y/o. Well with thousands of pictures and video of this deer, he was at the top of my buddy's hit list this last year. A 130 mature buck won his passion over several b/c bucks in the area. Don't get me wrong any buck sporting a nice rack probably would have been getting a shot sent his way, but I dont think its only about the rack. Sometimes its about the story...

[WayOutHereOutdoors]

As much as love big racked deer I can honestly say its not about the inches. My friend has watched a buck since 08. Every year his frame work stays the same, however he has gained some width and consderable mass. At the end of the day he still isnt much more than a 130 class as a (what we figure to be) 6 y/o. Well with thousands of pictures and video of this deer, he was at the top of my buddy's hit list this last year. A 130 mature buck won his passion over several b/c bucks in the area. Don't get me wrong any buck sporting a nice rack probably would have been getting a shot sent his way, but I dont think its only about the rack. Sometimes its about the story...

Very good point! It would still put a wrench in my gut if that were the case and that 130 had a busted G2. I guess I'm just a little vain when it comes to my desire for a perfect rack!

[Bukmastr]

Just out of curiosity (and forgive the 'devil's advocate' slant), but why did you shoot a 140" 8 point, if you were sure he was a 2 y/o animal?

1st off, I did not come to the realization of the age till the buck was dead, aged by the DNR and weighed... 2nd, I would of shot him anyway cause I took him on heavy pressure public land, and thats a trophy there to me.

[Bukmastr]

[QUOTE=WayOutHereOutdoors;48404] I also think you're right on that we tend to rationalize the age of a buck, under certain circumstances. If you're after antler and your at the end of your season, you'd love for that 150" to be on the decline. But, if everything's telling you he's three and you want to consistently kill 5+ y/o whitetails, you've got to let him walk.

QUOTE]

I somewhat agree... I would love it if all my bucks could be 5 or older, but really, I think most booners shot are 3 year olds. We had a 3 year old that was confirmed with a cross sectioned tooth that came out of the marsh near my home that net scored over 185 typical... Who is letting that walk to grow another year?

[WayOutHereOutdoors]

[QUOTE=Bukmastr;48412]

I also think you're right on that we tend to rationalize the age of a buck, under certain circumstances. If you're after antler and your at the end of your season, you'd love for that 150" to be on the decline. But, if everything's telling you he's three and you want to consistently kill 5+ y/o whitetails, you've got to let him walk.

QUOTE]

I would love it if all my bucks could be 5 or older, but really, I think most booners shot are 3 year olds. We had a 3 year old that was confirmed with a cross sectioned tooth that came out of the marsh near my home that net scored over 185 typical... Who is letting that walk to grow another year?

I think my point was lost. I was just saying that if you want to let a buck reach its max potential, you've got to be willing to let them walk, even when they may look darn good on the wall in a given year. I'm not advocating that you need to let anything walk; just that age is the one thing that I think most people overlook when talking about deer management. It's also very tough to determine just how old whitetails actually are. Even with cross-sectioning teeth, there's a calculated error of +- 1 year as soil content largely determines the wear on the molars.

I agree, a 185" is a 185". I'm not saying it shouldn't be shot. However, if you have a very good idea he's only a 3 or 4 y/o, there's a good chance he reaches the 200" mark in year 5. Maybe he doesn't. I just know that he won't have the chance if he's shot.

I hunt public land differently from private land and I hunt one state different from the next. I don't adhere to a 5 y/o rule everywhere I hunt. If I see a buck as being mature and something I'll be happy with and proud to have on my wall, I'll attempt to take it.

I am however, definitely trying to implement stricter age management on one large chunk of private land I have access to, as I believe it to be something easier to control than genetics and will provide the best opportunity to take Boone-class animals.

[Bukmastr]

I agree with that... But I think you misunderstood what I meant by cross sectioning of a tooth. It has nothing to do with wear. The tooth is cut into a thin section and its looked at thru a microscope. Its simalar to counting the rings on a cross sectioned tree. From what I understand its very accurate. Tooth wear? Now thats known to be off...

[WayOutHereOutdoors]

I thought you were referring to tooth replacement/wear aging. I get an F for reading comprehension . My apologies.

I've read that the cross-sectioning has an accuracy upwards of 85% in whitetails which is pretty darn good, imo--have you had this done any other time? Are you aware of anywhere outside of the DNR where it can be done? I'd definitely be interested in getting some more info on where I can get this done, costs, etc, if anyone has any.

[hntrtravis]

I thought you were referring to tooth replacement/wear aging. I get an F for reading comprehension . My apologies.

I've read that the cross-sectioning has an accuracy upwards of 85% in whitetails which is pretty darn good, imo--have you had this done any other time? Are you aware of anywhere outside of the DNR where it can be done? I'd definitely be interested in getting some more info on where I can get this done, costs, etc, if anyone has any.

When I was in college we did this in my Wildlife Ecology class. My professor went to the local deer processing plant to get deer heads for us to practice on. My suggestion would be to contact some local colleges that offer classes like that and see if the professor has that as part of the curriculum.

[Grasshopper]

Are you aware of anywhere outside of the DNR where it can be done? I'd definitely be interested in getting some more info on where I can get this done, costs, etc, if anyone has any.

There's a place you can send in teeth/jawbones for aging. I'll look it up and post it when I find it.

[bmxer18]

i would mount him if i figured it was him i mean wouoldn't be the same by no means, but after all you put all that hard work in and time to get him and when you do he dropped his antlers, if i had the cape and antlers i would mount him just cause more mounts are always better lol, but wouldn't be the same as killing him with that big rack walking threw the woods at ya.