Passed on a solid one today.

[Dbllunger]

Went out this afternoon and with a southern wind had a good spot in mind. I call it my chinkapin spot. Sure enough fresh sign so I climbed a tree about 2pm. Bout 4 a 2.5 year old 10 pt showed up. Fed and bedded 20 yards from me for about 15 minutes then got up and walked away. Spindly and no mass but maybe good in a few years.

About 6pm here comes a bigger deer. Walking straight to me I could see he was outside the ears and more mass. Good body size. I'm thinking a 3.5 year old. Lot of years I wouldn't have hesitated but did decide to give him a pass. Hopefully next year. When I climbed down you could smell him at the base of my tree. He had walked right up to it and sniffed a little then went back to munching acorns. He's stnking already. Fun hunt this afternoon for sure. Just need something a little bigger.

 

[GOODWIN]

Lawd have mercy don't let him walk under me.

 

[cbhunter]

Pretty deer. I couldn't pass him with a bow but kudos to you, that's awesome

 

[Snake]

Better man than me he'd been shot at for sure . Course I ain't shot a buck in three or four years now .

 

[Volbuck777]

Good restraint, congratulations on a good hunt

 

[cbhunter]

You won the battle, very successful hunt

 

[Dbllunger]

Better man than me he'd been shot at for sure . Course I ain't shot a buck in three or four years now .

Most any year I would have shot this deer but I'm holding out for something better this year. I know the property has some serious bruisers and this was my first trip out this year.

 

[ImThere]

Nice!

 

[redblood]

nice pass. Its just starting to get good

 

[WilcoKen]

Went out this afternoon and with a southern wind had a good spot in mind. I call it my chinkapin spot. Sure enough fresh sign so I climbed a tree about 2pm. Bout 4 a 2.5 year old 10 pt showed up. Fed and bedded 20 yards from me for about 15 minutes then got up and walked away. Spindly and no mass but maybe good in a few years.

About 6pm here comes a bigger deer. Walking straight to me I could see he was outside the ears and more mass. Good body size. I'm thinking a 3.5 year old. Lot of years I wouldn't have hesitated but did decide to give him a pass. Hopefully next year. When I climbed down you could smell him at the base of my tree. He had walked right up to it and sniffed a little then went back to munching acorns. He's stnking already. Fun hunt this afternoon for sure. Just need something a little bigger.

View attachment 116037

Big ole body on that deer too. That buck I shot was rutty as well. Acting like late October.

 

[recurve60#]

I kill some good deer, but would have had a hard time letting that one go. Its all the state of mind at the time. He will be a real bruiser in time and you will be there to get him.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Smart pass

 

[Dbllunger]

I kill some good deer, but would have had a hard time letting that one go. Its all the state of mind at the time. He will be a real bruiser in time and you will be there to get him.

State of mind at the time is exactly it. I asked myself if I wanted to stay out till midnight tracking, gutting, dragging and eventually hauling to a processor for a deer I've killed several times before. Plus, he's got tremendous potential I thought but needs one more year.

Two years ago in the exact same spot I had a bachelor group of six really young small bucks walk right past me. I like to think this dude today was one of them.

 

[Ski]

I've hunted a few hundred acre farm with corn, beans, regrowth, and a river here in Manchester for 6yrs, and I've not seen a deer like that yet on the hoof or on camera. You're blessed to have such good stock to hunt.

 

[Dbllunger]

Better man than me he'd been shot at for sure . Course I ain't shot a buck in three or four years now .

Understand Snake. I was able to kill a 8 pt. last year but in reality was much smaller than this one. Told myself I wanted to be more selective and less trigger happy this season. I like my decision.

 

[Dbllunger]

I've hunted a few hundred acre farm with corn, beans, regrowth, and a river here in Manchester for 6yrs, and I've not seen a deer like that yet on the hoof or on camera. You're blessed to have such good stock to hunt.

I've been on this 1,300 acre lease for 13 years and as manager for last 10. We cut membership to 8 from 13 when I took over and its hung in with 7-9 people every year. Many have killed 140 plus deer and a few over 150. Think we had a 154 last year. Time, not overhunted, and trying to let young deer walk.

 

[Andy S.]

Sounds like a great hunt, and kudos to you for passing him for another day because that is what you wanted to do. Like you and others stated, you beat him at his game, you "shot" him with your camera, but you just did not want to mess with him late at night as you have killed several in the past just like him. It's just a phase that many go through and as you stated, it's a "game time" decision when the moment of truth presents itself, and you went with your heart. We all can learn a lot by watching older deer as much as possible and taking it all in. They are unique animals for sure. Great hunt that I know you will remember forever, thanks for sharing.

 

[Wrangler95]

Good restraint for sure

 

[BLOODTRAIL]

That's a nice buck. I hope you get rewarded next year for letting him walk.

 

[backyardtndeer]

You have much better self control than I. That is a nice buck.