What's more important to you?

The only way to shoot a really big buck is to not shoot a small one. A 150 buck is not huge. I'd rather hunt more, and I would rather not use a tag, than shoot a deer that I knew I didn't really want.

It's about hunting (especially in neat country with friends) not just killing stuff.
 
If using up your tag means you're not going on the trip with your dad for whatever reason, that'd be an easy decision for me: don't shoot.

If you can still manage to go without a tag and hunt grouse, be camp cook or accompany your dad without a gun, then I'd say go ahead and use up the tag.
 
Shoot it..don't shoot it...that's an impossible question to answer until you're in the situation. Don't even bother trying to decide until you're looking at the deer. If it's what you consider a trophy, whatever that means, by all means shoot. BUT...whatever you decide...make ABSOLUTELY sure that you go on the trip with your dad. Those of us who cannot do that anymore know exactly what I mean.
 
Take the one at home if it's your biggest!!! Party hunt on Manitoulin with the Understanding you will only shoot big bucks, let them tell you how big it has to be.
 
Interesting range of responses. To clarify a bit, although I basically meat hunt, I really don't "need" any more meat in the freezer, and yes I could still go on the hunt to Manitoulin without a tag, our camp up there does not party hunt, but my Dad and I still could. On our property on the island, if you leave the cabin for more than a few hours, you will have a shot opportunity to put one in the freezer, so its not really a matter of "if" you will have an opportunity to take a deer home, so passing on deer here at home isn't an issue. The only times I have returned home from the island empty handed was by choice of not shooting up there.

I was just interested to see the different opinions, of what was more important to different hunters, taking a deer (nice buck or other), or holding onto a tag for more hunting opportunities.
 
Back in the good old days of 2 doe tags and an either ### tag we used skewer a couple of does each on opening day to cover the need for meat and hunt right through rifle season waiting on the big fella to show. Passed on some big bucks waiting for that special one and learned a pile about deer in the process...
More about being out there than the kill...I've ended more than one season with my buck tag unfilled, but thoroughly enjoyed every second...right til the last one!
Whatever you decide, have a great time with your Pa enjoying nature.
 
Lead Loader said:
why would you let one walk while your out to hunt deer, if you didnt want to fill it, you wouldn't be sitting in that stand now would ya.
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Hunting deer to me is so much more than filling a tag. Just watching deer and/or other wildlife while in the stand is exciting to me. Plus, camp life with friends far outweighs taking an animal.
That said, holding off on filling my tag for our local hunt, kept my tag for the "island" hunt with my father. We had a great week away, great time in camp, tons of laughs. I took one of my employees for the hunt, as a bonus for completing his Automotive Service Technician license earlier this year. He has never taken a buck, and hasn't even seen a deer for the last 3 years of hunting. On Tuesday, he took a decent 8 pointer, and on Thursday, he took a 10 pointer, to fill my fathers tag. To see the excitement in him (a relatively new hunter) is worth passing up deer all season long.
I did fill my tag with a nice doe to put some meat in the freezer. Between the 3 of us in 3.5 days of hunting, we seen over 75 deer.

Thanks to all for your responses, it's nice to see the different opinions. Nobody is right, or wrong, its just your personal preference. I totally understand hunters taking the first worthy animal to fill their tags, especially in areas where you may only have a limited number of chances to take an animal. For me, my preference is to put off filling the tag as long as possible, (unless a giant presents himself) simply to spend more time hunting, with friends, with nature.
 
Take the big buck, and go hunting with your dad. Just take a camera if you like. You said that you enjoy just seeing deer. This would give you an extra opportunity.

Once you shoot a buck of a life time, you will encounter all kinds of other emotions and memories! Dont limit yourself. Do both!

I was lucky enough to hunt Manitoulin back in the early 90's.
I managed to take a nice doe with my bow! It was a great time!
 
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BrotherRockeye said:
kill the big fella if he shows, go on the week long hunt with yer Pa...take extra liquor in place of yer shootin iron.
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X2 Big bucks don't walk by every day. If the one you were watching shows up take him you won't regret it. I've found hunting with friends and not carrying a gun because I already filled my tag was very enjoyable. All the fun and excitement with zero pressure to fill a tag.
 
the spank said:
If you fill your tag you can still hunt on Manitoulin with your buddies. Party hunting for deer in Ontario is legal.
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I know party hunting in Ontario is legal, but in our camp we hunt our own tags, mainly because it is very unlikely that you won't have an opportunity to fill your own tag. Sometimes, later in the week if someone hasn't filled their own tag, they can ask for help. Saying that Dad and I almost always party hunt, but the general rule is only fill the other guys tag with a monster.
 
Hunting isnt killing so why not Shoot one while you can in the short season you have but if you love hunting, why didnt you do a whole lot of 'scouting' prior to your short season.

Its hard for me to understand, I couldnt imagine only being allowed a Week to kill a deer..

wl
 
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