What size buck do you shoot?

[USPENAMC]

any size and anything doe or buck. why? i will let you know.

usually the deer we see each year is what we have taken we usually dont see anything else besides what we harvest. although bow hunting has opened up alot of options i have seen a bit more deers just out of range so i have passed on some. Given the chance i will ethically take what i can when i can. my 2 cents

[spivak]

Sam Cook had an interesting article in the Duluth paper a week before the deer season. One of the statistics stated that 50-60% of the bucks registered (NE or whole state I'm not sure) were spike bucks.

[96trigger]

I always find it hard to determine a spike from a doe, If I can see small antlers, I almost always let it pass unless I am deerless or it is late in the bow season. I know that when if I haven't shot a deer with the bow yet on the morning of firearms opener, I harvest whats available and I don't feel ashamed of it. Throughout the fall, I will pass on numerous small bucks on both private and state land. Its QDM for all the wrong reasons, I pass on small bucks because I'm holding out for the big one, (worked great this year)not souly for the purpose of QDM. However, every little buck I pass on, might make it through to next year. As for the comment on Buffalo county, I worked in Buffalo county for years. The place was lousy with deer, too many for my liking. With all the deer in that county, there better be big bucks. However, its too bad that does often get slaughtered and sometimes wasted because people just want there earn a buck tag. I'd rather we keep doing what we have here, see a few deer here and there, knowing that if I hunt long enough, I'll get one. I don't need herds walking by me.

[Hammer Handle]

A trophy is in the eye of the beholder.

Some people search for that trouphy wife or husband, based only on looks.

The smart people find one that puts up with them and loves them no matter what!

Give me the small deer I can eat. I don't mount my big buck horns anyway.

[MNpurple]

I personally shoot whatever buck makes me happy and I do always strive to shoot bigger bucks each year. I have been fortunate enough to tage 3 bucks 3 years ina row with two making P&Y. I also have the extremely good fortune of being able to hunt on private property which is a luxury I am thankful for every day. Forunately many people aroudn me have chosen to let the little bucks grow which we are starting to see the results of. Bucks that will make me happy are usually 3.5 or older.

I do however think people should shoot whatever animal makes them happy or that they want, sure I'd like to see a young buck passed in favor of a doe, but I will never look down or criticize someone for taking whatever deer they want.

I do admit I grimace a little to myself when I see a 4, 6 or youg 8 point taken with the bow in December. I just think that if that young fella has made it through most of archery season, all of the rifle and shotgun season and muzzloader, then he deserves a pass until next year where he will be sporting a larger rack.