What's more important to you?

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Fire306

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Tonight while sitting on stand trying to fill my antlerless only tag I was pondering a scenario, and I still don't know what I would do given the scenario did arise.
It is our 6 day rifle season here in South Western Ontario, for the last several years I haven't hunted this week much due to the fact that my main hunt, is in two weeks on Manitoulin Island, so I want to keep my tag to be able to hunt there. For several years now, I have obtained a antlerless only tag for my home area, so it allows me some bow hunting and a bit of rifle hunting here at home, but I always have my main tag in the event a big buck comes along, but filling it would basically end my hunting for the year.

So here's the scenario, I'm hunting tonight hoping to fill my antlerless only (doe) additional tag, but if a monster buck came out and presented a shot, I could take it and use my regular tag, but that would mean giving up on a week away hunt at my favourite property that I hunt.
The property I was hunting tonight, has a couple of 150 class bucks on it, that we have trail camera photos of, so there's a real possibility of a good buck presenting itself.

Generally I meat hunt, but like most hunters, I crave that big buck. Saying that, I have never shot a "big" buck, although I have seen many over the years, but have never shot due for one reason or another. As much as I would like to take a great buck, I'm not sure it would be worth it to me to give up on more hunting time. Seeing deer, and especially bucks is the best part of hunting to me, shooting them is secondary. (don't take that wrong, I love shooting deer)

So, what would you do? Take the big buck, fill your tag and give up on a week hunt that you thoroughly enjoy every year, or watch a great buck, enjoy the presence of him, and let him pass, so you can hunt some more?


This is just curiosity sakes, to see the way others think. Is the hunt and time in the bush worth as much or more than taking a great buck?
 
Man, that's a toughie. What do you enjoy about the Manitoulin trip? Hunting with buddies? Time away from home in the bush? Better chances at big deer? Could you go to Manitoulin for a week even if you were tagged out (hang out with buddies or just camp and relax)? If it's just about putting a deer in the freezer then I'd clobber one if given the chance and take the wife camping to Manitoulin or go there to hang out with your hunting buddies (the two aren't always exclusive but most often).

Good luck either way.
 
The manitoulin hunt is all of the above. Great group of guys, great property, tons of deer, with lots of opportunity for a big bucks. Most important though is its a week away hunting with my farther. Though, he's not an old man by any means, with each year that passes, I wonder how many more hunts we will get together.
Yes I could still go on the trip, without a tag, but it's the hunting part of the trip that is the greatest part. Putting a deer in the freezer is always nice, but really not a necessity.
 
Fire306 said:
The manitoulin hunt is all of the above. Great group of guys, great property, tons of deer, with lots of opportunity for a big bucks. Most important though is its a week away hunting with my farther. Though, he's not an old man by any means, with each year that passes, I wonder how many more hunts we will get together.
Yes I could still go on the trip, without a tag, but it's the hunting part of the trip that is the greatest part. Putting a deer in the freezer is always nice, but really not a necessity.
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Tough decision, but I would say watch the big bucks and go hunting with your Dad on the island. I sure wish I had a Dad to hunt with. That alone is worth it.
 
If grouse are open on the island then I would say take the early big boy and still do your week on the island but hunt grouse or bunnies if they are open. Best of both worlds !!! Maybe some migratory bird hunting....................
 
Take the bird in hand and goon the trip. Hunt whatever is open (grouse?Bear?) or just be camp cook. Would you shoot the buck if you saw it on the trip? If so,then what's the difference.
 
Second vote for take the one you want early and take a camera with on the big trip. If hunting is about filling the freezer, I would take the first opportunity that came along. Even if I had a big hunt planned, just go anyway and try to get some good pictures.
Kristian
 
Why can't you take the big buck at home if it presents, and then party hunt with your Dad and friends at Manitoulin. Your tag is technically filled but you can if I read the regs correctly party hunt with your gang in Manitoulin and help them fill there vacant tags.
 
A friend who has given me a lot of good advice, particularly about hunting, says, "If you wouldn't pass up that deer on the last day of the season, don't pass it up today, because this may be the last day of your season."

I agree with him (see my sig. line.)

If I were in your situation and I used my tag before the big trip away, I'd still go on that trip just to be in camp and in the woods with my friends. If you get your big buck on the first day of that trip, you won't leave them and go home early, will you?
 
If 150 is big to you or your area don't let it go by. Same thing for a 130 if the same thing applies. You can always go along on the other hunt and hang out, play cards, wash dishes, push bush, drink whiskey, pack deer or whatever anyone that tagged out on the first day would do.
 
Take the local boy. Sacrifice the other hunt and take your significant other on an equal value trip of their choosing. Meat in the freezer, brownie points in the bank.
 
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