I'd go for 140 net as the line for "decent", but there's a lot of bucks that size or smaller that aren't going to get any bigger. Leaveing them isn't going to produce tomorrow's trophy, but might make some kid's day right now.
Passing on small bucks-opinion.
- Thread starter Kelly Timoffee
- Start date
I'd go for 140 net as the line for "decent", but there's a lot of bucks that size or smaller that aren't going to get any bigger. Leaveing them isn't going to produce tomorrow's trophy, but might make some kid's day right now.
just having some fun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
if you were a farmer and needed some meat to fill the freezer for the winter
and you went out to the back 40 and saw 3 cows (F) and saw 3 bulls (M)
which one would be taking to the barn (for dinner)
they are all tasty and look good on the BBQ
the 3 cows could have caves in the spring and increase the herd
you do not need the 3 bulls which one do you take
the old one
the middle one
or the small young one
or the one you catch first
On a side note when you see that great big buck and want to leave him running around the woods for another year
Take a picture and bring the picture home and put picture on the xmas
tree on the back (MAYBE NEXT YEAR)
and you went out to the back 40 and saw 3 cows (F) and saw 3 bulls (M)
which one would be taking to the barn (for dinner)
they are all tasty and look good on the BBQ
the 3 cows could have caves in the spring and increase the herd
you do not need the 3 bulls which one do you take
the old one
the middle one
or the small young one
or the one you catch first
On a side note when you see that great big buck and want to leave him running around the woods for another year
Take a picture and bring the picture home and put picture on the xmas
tree on the back (MAYBE NEXT YEAR)
Sad fact is that shooting all the "best" bucks just degenerates the genetic quality of the species.
Rather like modern war does to humans.
Some of the UK herds were so run down I think I read they had to stop shooting altogether or actually shoot the inferior bucks only.
A triumph of ego over common sense to shoot the best.
Rather like modern war does to humans.
Some of the UK herds were so run down I think I read they had to stop shooting altogether or actually shoot the inferior bucks only.
A triumph of ego over common sense to shoot the best.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Well................. you would have to shoot the one in the middle, maybe you had too much hooch the night before and where seeing triple!! 
SHoot what ever is legal and what you want.
We are allowed 3 deer in BC, plus 15 more if you want to go to the Queen Charlottes.
If I get a doe draw, I will shoot a doe, no worries.
I mostly hunt blacktail deer and if I am not desperate for the meat, I will hold out for a nice one. We get 2 tags in my region so it's not the end of the world if I pull the pin on a "marginally" good blacktail for the first one- But I don't know when the last time I shot a little young 2 point or spiker.
Don't let anyone tell you that your legal choice is wrong.
Good deer management includes shooting does, small bucks and big bucks. Just like nature intended...
We are allowed 3 deer in BC, plus 15 more if you want to go to the Queen Charlottes.
If I get a doe draw, I will shoot a doe, no worries.
I mostly hunt blacktail deer and if I am not desperate for the meat, I will hold out for a nice one. We get 2 tags in my region so it's not the end of the world if I pull the pin on a "marginally" good blacktail for the first one- But I don't know when the last time I shot a little young 2 point or spiker.
Don't let anyone tell you that your legal choice is wrong.
Good deer management includes shooting does, small bucks and big bucks. Just like nature intended...
When you get 1 buck tag and a handful of doe tags, something tells me that increaseing the population isn't the management goal.
There is the option to leave game management to the province.... 
I know what I want to shoot when I head out the door and last week I got it. Now to choose how to use my other two tags- definately a doe, maybe a big buck, maybe another spiker.
I know what I want to shoot when I head out the door and last week I got it. Now to choose how to use my other two tags- definately a doe, maybe a big buck, maybe another spiker.
Wonder why that is?
That's because in Ontario we don't have vast expanses of land to hunt on the average hunting property size in Ontario is 50acres and if your lucky your neighbors will let you hunt their 50acres.....No driving to scout for miles and miles or walking for hours and hours....It takes me roughly 1hr to stalk end to end my 114acres if there's no deer I'm hooped.
Its a well known fact Eastern Whitetail are the most elusive as they are pressured year round here.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Twice as big with a hell of a lot more people.
Hes exaggerating a little; much of Ontario is uninhabited, but not all of it supports deer populations. My family hunts 2300 acres, which I would say is fairly large for an Ontario hunt camp.
Stupid analogy. Farming is about business, and the cattle represent the future of it. You shoot the bull that shows the lesser potential to improve the blood you have on hand, whether that is the oldest, the middle, or the youngest bull.
Cows are not going to reappear in your field next year as a result of fortuitous luck, either. Deer may, or may not decide that your area suits them, regardless of the measures you take or attempt to get all your neighbours to take to suit your desires. Now, if you put up fences to keep your deer in...different business. Then you can start playing with "quality deer management" and other farming buzz phrases.
You keep the number of cattle, that your land can bear. Same with deer. Otherwise, you end up reading about how someone shot them from helicopters and buried them in pits, attempting to stop the spread of disease. True story from around here. True story from several places around the world.
The biologists locally, figure the deer population is about double what they would like to see. To me, that means that all the scrawn bucks are breeding as well as the big ones. That makes.....drumroll.... lots of new scrawn deer around. If someone decides to pass on the little ones, and only shoot the big ones, eventually, no more big ones at all.
Thanks for passing up the little ones! Better odds for me. But it's not really doing anything to improve the herd.
Cheers
Trev
Ya I'm exaggerating a bit but 2300acres is very uncommon for hunting properties in Ontario. I'm not exaggerating one bit when I said the average property size people hunt on in Ontario is 50acres and if your lucky you have a property bordering Crown or neighbors who let you hunt.....The huge amounts of uninhabited crown land in Ontario do not hold many White Tails as its too far north.
It just so happens Where white tail populations are the highest in Ontario most of the property is privately owned and ranges between 25-250acre farms or recreational land.
As I clicked on this thread I herd a brance crack and put my phone down out walks a 4 point not more then 10 yards away broadside. I just watched him shred a sappling that I recycled my morning cappachino on. Pretty lil bambi I let him go now for the 3rd time in 2weeks. I shoot fawns with my anterless tags I will take a doe but I usually fill the tags in the first week. I keep my buck tag for a nice mature buck. And the excuse to go hunting if. I don't use it oh well if I do awesome but I'd be bored stiff if I couldn't get out when I wanted how else can I hide from the wifey lol
