Given a pass

[gunshow420]

First deer I've seen this year. Turned out to be a 7. Looked a little young so I let him pass. Had fun with him for about 30 minutes. I hope I didn't make a mistake letting him go but I've seen bigger on my cameras. Thoughts?

 

[Crappieaddict]

I think you made the right call.

 

[megalomaniac]

You dont need anyone's else 'opinions' to satisfy you. You dont get medals for passing deer, you dont get medals for killing deer...

I DO think its important to set goals for YOURSELF (not what others would approve of or disapprove of).

That buck is 2.5...

Have you killed a bunch of 2.5yo bucks in the past with a bow? If so would you like to kill older bucks? If you dont care about killing older bucks, you screwed up and should have shot him. If your goals are to kill older bucks even if it means you eat tag soup the rest of the year, you did GREAT!

If you need meat, shoot a doe, you cant eat the antlers.

Everybody goes through an evolution in their hunting career... its OK to grow past the stage where you just want to massacre every deer that comes into range (been there, done that).

 

[deerhunter10]

Up to you as mega said its you and you only.

 

[TN Larry]

@megalomaniac is spot on.

I've always asked my son, "Did it excite you?" I've never told either of my kids not to shoot a buck. I told them it's your buck tags so use them as you please.

 

[cbhunter]

loved his body language! I suspect he was looking for that rattling sound but could have been grunts or bleats I suspect. He was on the hunt for sure

 

[gunshow420]

loved his body language! I suspect he was looking for that rattling sound but could have been grunts or bleats I suspect. He was on the hunt for sure

Came in to rattling and I brought him back twice with low grunts.