What to do... what to do

[Seldom Drawn]

When I was younger, I didn't care about antler size once in a 12 year period I shot 12 bucks and 12 javelina i never shot a spike but

if you aren't looking for a buck to mount and just want meat smoke him but, on the other hand with that much time if you kill him early what are

you going to do with all that free time.there is nothing like stick and string in the rut.it's funny how old i feel i use to shoot anything with my bow

but now in the last 15 years i have passed on over 250 animals with my bow, go with what your heart says.good luck.

and if you haven't already get off the base, there are some great bucks less then a couple of miles from there,

 

Seldom Drawn

[az_shooter]

Pm sent

[AverageJoe]

hold out for a bigger one...pm sent

[archerman]

Best philosophy I ever heard...."if you would shoot it on the last day, shoot it on the first day". Just sayin, there have been so many times when I didn't see more than 1 buck on a hunt if any at all. My daughter and I both shot spike bucks and were done by the 4th day this year. Talk about GREAT meat! And we still had a fantastic hunt and had never both tagged on the same hunt before. Now.....with a December rifle tag? And still having half days the rest of the month? Hmmmmmmm.....tough choice my friend.

[Seldom Drawn]

Best philosophy I ever heard...."if you would shoot it on the last day, shoot it on the first day". Just sayin, there have been so many times when I didn't see more than 1 buck on a hunt if any at all. My daughter and I both shot spike bucks and were done by the 4th day this year. Talk about GREAT meat! And we still had a fantastic hunt and had never both tagged on the same hunt before. Now.....with a December rifle tag? And still having half days the rest of the month? Hmmmmmmm.....tough choice my friend.

Archerman no dis respect,but I hate this saying so many people say it, what about the expeirance of a elk hunt in the rut for 13 days the bonding you can have with your family and friends

all the up close calls with rutting deer or bugling bulls you don't have to harvest to have a great hunt,.you pass it on the first day to learn more about how to hunt the days away from home the time with friends or if your solo that can tell you what your made of a lot of hunters can't camp on there own then if you don't get anything shoot a meat buck the last day or 2.this has to be the dumbiest saying i have ever heard most people that say are newbies or long time hunters that have a hard time killing.if you are a meat hunter shoot whatever on the first day.if you have shot a lot of animals you can get tired of killing i have thats why i don't shoot much anymore.

[Lucafu1]

thats tough. im sure you would like to take back something nice but its tough when you might go home skunked. i wish i would have hunted when i was stationed in NC. i would have been happy to get anything if i did. so in the end its whatever makes you happy.

[Yoshi]

If I was you I would shoot !!

[PRDATR]

Best philosophy I ever heard...."if you would shoot it on the last day, shoot it on the first day".

I'm pretty sure that was first coined by a young guide that wanted to get home early to be with his wife. I've let lots of smaller bucks walk, and some decent ones too hoping for a bigger one only to shoot a meat buck on the last day.

[Elkhunter1]

I know from working on post that there is some good bucks there. I also know good bucks off post. Take a few days look at different areas if nothing pops up then go back the last few days and take the spike.

[elkaholic]

tough call - I've taken spikes and I've got antlers and mounts - I dropped a fatboy on the second day of my dec hunt- we had 1/2 dozen trail cams up for a month - this was most likely the biggest buck in the basin - not to say that a bigger buck wouldn't show - the rut is just starting -

 

Are you seeing lots of does - if yes - then give it another couple days - if its an easy drag to the road - go a little deeper into the hills.

 

I've been passing on little bucks for quite a few yrs and it's nice to have some venison in the freezer.

I passed on 5 little basket bucks opening day - didn't even give them a second glance but when you see a mature dark antler deer walkin less than 200 yrds - I really didn't look to count the points -- the safety is off and the gun goes boom - the rest doesn't matter !

[Scooter]

I took that spike tonight at 198yds heart shot with my home-built Mosin Nagant sporter. Thanks for all the advice guys. I know that I should have hunted harder and for a few more days- but I have Christmas family stuff on the back burner, a wife who has not seen me before noon for several months, and a full freezer!

[Scooter]

Not to mention grinding meat and making jerky and sausage!!!

[sherman]

Congratulations on your deer you have harvested one of the hardest animals to get. So where are the pictures

[Scooter]

I'll get to them tomorrow... After I get the meat all boned out. A very very big thanks to Big Browns for helping me get him skinned and quartered this evening! I learned the absolute necessity of getting one of them Havalons very well tonight!

[CouesPursuit]

Well done, Scooter.

Aside from the chosen and most important, family and freezer matters - you can come back with one under your belt and only progress ahead. Thank you for your service as well.