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Here is my dilemma. I have a sickness.. Anywhere else I hunted for the past 5 years i would have shot one of these deer dead right there if given the opportunity..... Reason being is they would have been the largest buck on the property beyond any doubt. However, on this property, and in this area, nothing could be further from the truth.. Tank. The big 160 class 10 is still here somewhere. I mean i love big 8s as much as the next guy. But i love big 10s too....
And knowing that deer and bigger deer are roaming the surrounding hills. It makes no sense for me to "settle" on a nice 8 opening day...
I don't want to settle for a deer when i know there is a bigger one out there. And not only one. But more than that. What am i gonna do? Doe hunt the whole season. I mean. I haven't moved cams over scraped and rubs yet..
This buck was about 2 miles away in a distant woodlot from the one I'm hunting.
Reminds me of the part in Crocodile Dundee when he said. "That's not a knife, this is a knife."
We'll, that's not a big 8, THIS is a big 8.... Keep in mind. That is Mid July.. He still had a bunch of growing to do..
See my sickness is knowing deer like this are out there. And i have a whole season to pursue and arrow one....
And knowing that deer and bigger deer are roaming the surrounding hills. It makes no sense for me to "settle" on a nice 8 opening day...
I don't want to settle for a deer when i know there is a bigger one out there. And not only one. But more than that. What am i gonna do? Doe hunt the whole season. I mean. I haven't moved cams over scraped and rubs yet..
This buck was about 2 miles away in a distant woodlot from the one I'm hunting.
Reminds me of the part in Crocodile Dundee when he said. "That's not a knife, this is a knife."
We'll, that's not a big 8, THIS is a big 8.... Keep in mind. That is Mid July.. He still had a bunch of growing to do..
See my sickness is knowing deer like this are out there. And i have a whole season to pursue and arrow one....
Rutin
Senior Member
No way in hell I would pass that 8pt up! Sure there may be bigger deer in the area but this dude is showing during daylight and is def mature. I know what its like to always go after the biggest deer on the property and usual it results in tag soup when I could of killed a dandy early on! This is your call but I would stick that tall 8!
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Cam check last night revealed he has visited during the daylight the last 3 days in a row. Sometimes hanging out for an hour or more. :smiley_blackeye:
HAHA, I could imagine me in the stand with him hanging around for an hour trying to hold off. That is akin to having Sofia Vergara in the room with me naked, wife and Gods full permission to hit it and not doing it... lol
Beentown
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..
I think he's faking you guys out... Look at this.
What does he have...
Mass? Nope...
Width? Nope...
Brows? Nope..
Long main beams.. Nope
Tall g2s. Check..
That's it......
Now Look at tank
Brows? Nope...
Mass? Check!
Width? Check!
Long main beams? Check..
Tall g2s? Check..
Tall G3s? Check.
Even has some G4s.
If nothing else I'll find the tall 8s sheds this spring and mount em on a euro mount.
I think he's faking you guys out... Look at this.
What does he have...
Mass? Nope...
Width? Nope...
Brows? Nope..
Long main beams.. Nope
Tall g2s. Check..
That's it......
Now Look at tank
Brows? Nope...
Mass? Check!
Width? Check!
Long main beams? Check..
Tall g2s? Check..
Tall G3s? Check.
Even has some G4s.
If nothing else I'll find the tall 8s sheds this spring and mount em on a euro mount.
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And.... He'll be some nice sheds to find in the spring... If i eat tag soup for the 4th year so be it... :smiley_blackeye: He's not mature and only has 1 thing going for him.. Tank on the other hand has it all... And I have a whole season to get it done. Providing he's around. If not. Something will be along shortly... If not. I have a even bigger 8 or 10 to look forward to next year... I should be kicked in the balls... But i just can't bear myself to settle when there are better and bigger deer out there. What am I gonna put on the brass plaque on his mount... "The Tall 8".. AKA "The Settlement"...
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I would not have the self control to hold out on the Tall 8, but best of Joe, hopefully ole' tank comes strolling in tomorrow!
Joe I get it. BUT, I have been two years without one and I have a twitch. That tall 8 is a bit spindly on the tines but he has good bases. I still believe he is a great deer.
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I'll look at the deer on the wall for the rest of my life and say.... I should have held out for the other one... He was a TANK.. Or when someone sees it and complements it.. The first thing in my mind will be "You should have seen the other one...... Just can't do it... I think as i hunter i have to push myself to the limit. Strive for the Maximum. And not settle for the 2nd highest peak on Everest. Climb that bitch to the very top or die trying... And if i succeed. It'll only make the victory that much sweeter... That much more of an accomplishment... And when tank is on the wall i can look at him and say... I got your ass mother fucker... I overcame temptation and smoked you.. And when someone complements him.. I can tell them the wonderful story about the one i almost settled for....
Everything i do in my life i have but one requirement....... No Regrets! Lord willing 50 years from now when i draw my last, the words "I wish i would have" will not cross my mind...
Everything i do in my life i have but one requirement....... No Regrets! Lord willing 50 years from now when i draw my last, the words "I wish i would have" will not cross my mind...
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I mean this with all due respect, but you've heard me use this term in regards to JD before and it is starting to apply to you brother...
Jaded.
It's just a different world up there and I think it takes a man out of normal boots and puts him in boots bigger than 99% of us could ever wear. It's not a bad thing per se; it just creates a view point that is hard for all of us to grasp ahold of. I think if you were seeing this deer in Vinton County, you'd never once question whether you should shoot him. There is zero guarantee that you will get a shot and another shooter, despite the potential the area has. At the end of the day, you gotta do what makes you happy. The only caution I offer, is don't over think it and leave yourself in a position where a good punch to the dick will seem like a welcome relief.
Is it time to kill yet?!? LOL!
Jaded.
It's just a different world up there and I think it takes a man out of normal boots and puts him in boots bigger than 99% of us could ever wear. It's not a bad thing per se; it just creates a view point that is hard for all of us to grasp ahold of. I think if you were seeing this deer in Vinton County, you'd never once question whether you should shoot him. There is zero guarantee that you will get a shot and another shooter, despite the potential the area has. At the end of the day, you gotta do what makes you happy. The only caution I offer, is don't over think it and leave yourself in a position where a good punch to the dick will seem like a welcome relief.
Is it time to kill yet?!? LOL!
Hey if your good with it Joe push for it!
The last two years I have been after the same couple hosses and it has actually made me enjoy it less. I was never a trophy hunter and I let status, accomplishment, pride goad me into pushing for "the best" in deer hunting, a Lifetime Buck. It sucked the fun out of it for me. I push myself in life for success. Hunting is a time of leisure for me and I am going to keep it that way. Am I still jacked about a big deer? Hell yeah! Will I pass on bucks if there is a biggun around? Yes. But I am no longer going to pass and fixate on a huge buck.
Hell Joe I know it won't affect you like it did me but that is the great thing about hunting though. It means different things to different people. It can mean different things, to different people at different times.
Damn, is it time to kill something yet? lol
Beentown
The last two years I have been after the same couple hosses and it has actually made me enjoy it less. I was never a trophy hunter and I let status, accomplishment, pride goad me into pushing for "the best" in deer hunting, a Lifetime Buck. It sucked the fun out of it for me. I push myself in life for success. Hunting is a time of leisure for me and I am going to keep it that way. Am I still jacked about a big deer? Hell yeah! Will I pass on bucks if there is a biggun around? Yes. But I am no longer going to pass and fixate on a huge buck.
Hell Joe I know it won't affect you like it did me but that is the great thing about hunting though. It means different things to different people. It can mean different things, to different people at different times.
Damn, is it time to kill something yet? lol
Beentown
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I go in cycles been... If I'm on a good one I will kill myself trying to kill it... One year I hunted with a 102 temp sick as a dog and did three all day sits. 2 in the rain.... But I also get out and have fun hunts.. My fun hunts are gun seasons, and late bow season. Then its pile the bait high and laugh as I burn through my tags....
You're right Jesse... A year ago in VC I would have shot that deer twice and tied his nuts to a tree in case he came back to life while I went to get the quad.... But aren't we all somewhat this way...... If were hunting a property where a 100 class buck is the biggest there, do we haul off and shoot a fork horn opening day..... Its the same principal I think. It does skew perception due to the size of these deer. But big deer do that , its their nature... Big is a relative term... I mean.. With Moe on the line which is a solid 160 class deer.. Would you haul off And shoot the deer you did last year but on opening day this year? While both are a trophy.. I don't think you would do it either... Know what I mean man.... And that can go right down the line to someone with a property that had a 120 class deer on it.. Will they shoot a 85 class deer opening day... Some might... But I bet they're few.....
Will I need kicked in the balls.... Probably... But its better than kicking myself in the balls all season settling for a deer..
You're right Jesse... A year ago in VC I would have shot that deer twice and tied his nuts to a tree in case he came back to life while I went to get the quad.... But aren't we all somewhat this way...... If were hunting a property where a 100 class buck is the biggest there, do we haul off and shoot a fork horn opening day..... Its the same principal I think. It does skew perception due to the size of these deer. But big deer do that , its their nature... Big is a relative term... I mean.. With Moe on the line which is a solid 160 class deer.. Would you haul off And shoot the deer you did last year but on opening day this year? While both are a trophy.. I don't think you would do it either... Know what I mean man.... And that can go right down the line to someone with a property that had a 120 class deer on it.. Will they shoot a 85 class deer opening day... Some might... But I bet they're few.....
Will I need kicked in the balls.... Probably... But its better than kicking myself in the balls all season settling for a deer..
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Rutin
Senior Member
I agree with alot of the statements above from everyone honestly.... that is why ive set a more realistic goal on score and age, rather than a particular buck. If a 140" buck walks by and theres a 160 on the same farm, im shooting the 140" bc thats my goal. If the deer is 4.5 yrs or older and only scores 130" I may be tempted to shoot as well due to age. Ive got a buck I think is old with inferior genetics that im contemplating myself right now. Im doing the exact same thing as you Joe.... Ive got a deer I call Titan and an average 8 pt but I think he is old an going down hill! I want more than anything to kill titan but I also have a wife & kid and two other states. Ive taken alot of the fun out of hunting by hunting a particular buck and kicking myself for not taking other mature deer. Either way this year is geared towards FUN for me.... and I hope you have the same bud!
The last couple of years I had a goal of getting something as big or bigger than my biggest (162 7/8 gross). Last year the itch to kill something with horns was getting to me. Well during second gun, I had a tall 8 come thru and instincts took over and I made my first gun kill on a buck. Very nice deer, but below what I was looking for. Well I went out during muzzy season, to killl a doe, and move deer for my cousin. So wouldnt you know I happen upon a 160+ buck, bedded down in the snow.. Watched him for over an hour. Had multiple shot chances on him. My cousin was putting a stock on him and his 8 pt buddy. They both get up and he comes and stands broadside at about 60 yards... Killed me not being able to blast him. That day showed me that I need to stick to my goals and not Settle... If you know what you want Jack, stick to it. You are the one that has to live with the "what if", not everyone else.