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Need some advice!

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Wt150

New Member
I have a wide 4 year old with 3 years of history. He looks to have gained some mass but lost his extras this year. Probably gonna be hard to pass if he steps in front of my stand but I like the idea of seeing how he turns out next year if he survives. What’s been your best advice given to you on a situation like this? Thanks!

I apologize in advance if pics are blurry. This is my first post!

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2025
2 below is 2024
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You win some you lose some. Stick to the plan and hope for the best. Don’t get mad if he gets shot by the neighbor. Everyone has their own goals and ideas of a trophy. In the grand scheme of life it’s just a deer. I’ve heard stories of guys getting depressed after “their” buck gets shot and then they go out and shoot one even bigger they had no idea it existed. Enjoy every sit you get and don’t get anxious or upset if you don’t connect and be happy for ones that do.
 
Too many measure success by inches. I would ask.. what makes you happy?

In the end- those inches don't matter, but the memory of the hunt will. My buddy gets very excited if he gets to shoot a 120" 10pt with a bow. Because he is thankful he gets the opportunity:
1: To hunt
2: The ability to harvest such a great creature.

We tend to take 1 and 2 for granted because of all the socials...but it can be taken away in the snap of a finger.
 
Have you shot a buck like that before? Would u be completely thrilled to shoot him?
No right or wrong but I usually ask my buddies this. If it’s their biggest buck & they be thrilled- for sure!!!. If it’s not & they “Eah” - on fence or wouldn’t thrill em to get it…. Then I personally would pass.
 
Personally…
Regret - every buck I thought about passing
Don’t regret - every buck I let walk
Good luck and remember, if you shoot it, it never gets bigger…
 
Kill him if YOU like him!.

Hell, I'll pass on multiple bucks many years waiting on a big one only to get burned out late season/ cold and just wanna burn my tag so I don't have to grind it out anymore and shoot/ tag a doe.
 
Sligh1 said:
Have you shot a buck like that before? Would u be completely thrilled to shoot him?
No right or wrong but I usually ask my buddies this. If it’s their biggest buck & they be thrilled- for sure!!!. If it’s not & they “Eah” - on fence or wouldn’t thrill em to get it…. Then I personally would pass.
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I have only shot 2 bucks with my bow so far. I wanna say 140-150inch 10 pointers. I’ve never seen a buck this wide nonetheless hunt one. I do think I would be thrilled to shoot him. I just don’t want to ruin an opportunity to see him at 6 or 7. It’s a hard balance I’m trying to figure out with my experience!
 
Wt150 said:
I have only shot 2 bucks with my bow so far. I wanna say 140-150inch 10 pointers. I’ve never seen a buck this wide nonetheless hunt one. I do think I would be thrilled to shoot him. I just don’t want to ruin an opportunity to see him at 6 or 7. It’s a hard balance I’m trying to figure out with my experience!
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As the great Mortal Combat announcer would say: Finish Him!
 
After some self reflection and help of some discussions here and talking to some buddies I’ve decided to pull off this buck for this year. He’s 4.5 and if I want to start to make a difference in the area I’m gonna have to start passing till they get mature. He’s a dandy 8! Hope he makes it through! Here are some extra pics I’ve gotten of him this year.
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Got a real nice 8, very tall at my brother that we're doing the same thing. If he makes it a couple more years, going to be a stud.
 
I’d shoot him but it sure seems like the older they get the more likely they are to make it to next year. I swear I see more go from 4 to 5 than I do from 3 to 4. Getting them to 4 seems like the hardest part
 
Bucksnbears said:
Remember wt150, chime in on others people's posts occasionally.
It's what makes great sites great ;)
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I do appreciate all the info/experience here. I’m learning tons, just lots of conversations I’m inexperienced in so I’m absorbing as much as I can!
 
booneriverbucks said:
I’d shoot him but it sure seems like the older they get the more likely they are to make it to next year. I swear I see more go from 4 to 5 than I do from 3 to 4. Getting them to 4 seems like the hardest part
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I do agree, he looked good at 3.5. Surprised to see him this year at 4.5. This is my first year betting on the deer. Could go either way!
 
His body looks like a 3.5 year old to me. Usually 4 year olds have a bigger neck than he does in your 11-1 picture and overall body looks small. I think you are wise waiting a year.
 
tall@wide said:
His body looks like a 3.5 year old to me. Usually 4 year olds have a bigger neck than he does in your 11-1 picture and overall body looks small. I think you are wise waiting a year.
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Since I figured out how to properly post pictures, I’ll post this and let me know what you think. It very well could be a different deer but I thought it was similar enough to think it is the same. My thinking was in 2023(left side) he was 2.5 and so on. IMG_3609.jpg
 
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