What's a shooter to you?

[DuckHunt]

I've taken plenty of small buck over the years and Lord knows I love me some doe. I've shot doe out from in front of small bucks.

What is a shooter buck to you, something you won't pass?

To me, 8 points will generally do it. Also, a spread outside the ears seldom walks either. So, I'm happy to fill my tags with sub-100" bucks.

I get 3 buck tags in Va, so my bar does raise once I've filled a couple tags. I imagine those with limited tags or opportunities have totally different perspectives.

DuckHunt

[mikej]

I'm in a 1 deer per year area , so for me it's a spread outside the ears and usually 8 or better however my biggest to date was a monster 6 pt

[xcaliber]

One buck only in Indiana unless you harvest a doe under the reduction program, then you earn a buck that only be taken on private land in the reduction zone. We do have some nice bucks since this started, but there is no limit on size, one antler 3" long, so a lot of the young bucks get hammered. I like to harvest doe too, and try to hold off for something past the ears, maybe 3 or older.

[vixenmaster]

I used to shoot small Bucks, then i stopped n jus shot more Doe's. As far as pt count a good 6 will get an arrow. Mostly i rather shoot 8's on up, now if'en a Buck has an extra tine or other character i am on it like a duck on a june bug

[bigbowman]

I fill my freezer on venison from mostly does. Made a few mistakes on button bucks but they still tasted good! A shooter buck for me is 4 years or older and the antler size doesn’t matter to me.

[robertyb]

I look for at least a 15" inside spread 8 point preferably 3 1/2 years old or older. I usually just shoot does for the freezer though.

[wabi]

Depends on how hungry I am.

When deer populations were higher here (EHD really reduced the numbers a few years ago) I took several young does for the freezer. We're only allowed one "antlered" deer per year, and I've never been too picky about what I take. Last year I decided to let the does live (and this year, too) in hopes numbers will increase some. Set my sights for something better as far as a buck, and ended up eating tag soup.

[Riflemanz]

We get 5 months of bow hunting here in Wis. I can wait for a nice buck and just shoot a lot of doe at $12 a pop.

[bigbowman]

Your lucky riflemanz! Here in central farmland zone there were only 82 extra doe tags available for Fondy county! I only got 1 buck and 1 doe for bow, 1 buck and 1 doe for gun and smokepole combined! Already took one huge doe and looking for one more for this season! I probably won’t get a buck again for the third straight season.

[Deaf jeff]

What is a shooter buck to you, something you won't pass?



DuckHunt

i hunt for meat so whatrver is legal in the area im hunting. one area is at least one antler 3" long. the other area i hunt is 3 points on at least one antler. have a doe tag for the APR area also

[mfh]

I am part of a county reduction program in the parks - I take as many doe that present themselves with an ethical shot. County encourages it, and the meat is spectacular.

As for buck...state limit to three per hunter, so I am a little picky prior to and during the rut, but after the rut and before the season closes, I am more willing to take any 2+ year bucks. Don't purpusvely take buttons (but it happens) and don't take spikes or pronghorns.

Im blessed with a deer flush area and usually get 6-8 point deer varying from 2-4 years in age as a matter of routine each season.

[BrotherRon]

I am a meat eater and as the season dwindles down, so does my classification of a shooter.
I have 3 doe tags this year and 2 buck tags combined for archery and rifle. I I may shoot a doe this coming weekend if the weather stays cold enough, and if a nice buck (nice 8 or 10 pt) walks past I will probably shoot him. Most years I pass on smaller bucks waiting for "Mr Big' but he never shows up and I end up shooting a small spike or fork for back straps, roasts, and venison burger. I can most of the bucks I shoot during the rut, as well as any older does. I generally try to shoot a 2 or 3 year old doe for freezer meat.

[longbow joe]

Outside the ears maby at least 120ish. Rack must be thick .many years l wait so long to kill a bigger buck l end up shooting a smaller one than the many bigger that l passed up. I will go all the way to the end of winter bow. Its all fun .

[Bcwn]

8 point or better for me here in NC. Its a real toss up as to the size of our bucks, you can go to different areas and find good sized bucks here in NC, you can also find real small bucks at 3-4 years of age. So 8 point or better for me, small or large doesn't matter. If its a small buck with 8 points it needs to come off the property.

Brad

[grouse]

The Missouri Department of Conservation has made the choice for me. The county where I hunt is an antler point restriction county, so all bucks with visible antlers over 3" must have at least 4 points over 1" on one side. I hate it, because it can be very hard to count points any time, much less in poor light or with brush in the background. I pass on bucks I want to shoot every year and I suspect some hunters shoot and hope for the best. Every buck I've shot since the regulation was put into place has been legal, but I am always relieved when I walk up to the deer and confirm that it's legal.