Opinions...

[bowhunter1023]

Still no Moe. I did find out the local hell raiser road a 250 dirt bike all over Hippie Ridge this week. Reckon that won't help me any...

Had pics of four big does in a group down in the bottom and not a single buck showed up. More pics of Boss and pics of a HUGE bodied 9-point. Lucky for him, he won't got 135...

 

[hickslawns]

That sucks. I think I would be giving him a little longer than the 12th. Just me though.

 

[5Cent]

I guess it depends if you consider yourself a trophy hunter or not. I say if your a trophy hunter then I say stick with Moe. If deep down you don't think that you can swallow shooting something smaller/non target then by all means don't. Why let yourself down twice?

I had a buck I have been after for two years. Trophy. I now realize I don't have it in me. I am a deer hunter without the passion to be a trophy hunter. I just wanna enjoy my time and not be bummed about ANY deer I take.

The only limitations I have if it tickles my pickle. One bad thing about a site like this for me...comparing myself, land, abilities, deer, etc against others. Not doing it anymore and I am a much happier hunter.

I hope this is making sense. Lol. Basically do what makes you happy and don't let peer influence, or an artificial/outside influence change your perspective.

Don't worry be happy, and shoot what tickles the pickle!

My enjoyment comes from the act not the size of the rack. Sure, if I kill a slunger it will add to the enjoyment.

Jesse, this is what it is all about (well said Been!). I know you're attached to the story and watching these guys grow, but there are just to many variables in your area to allow the stories to unfold like you want/predict everytime. I honestly believe at this point you would not be bummed killing Boss. Moe may or may not be out there, and until you see him on camera or in person, you will be left wondering. For me, I can't handle that and you and I are very much alike. Killing Boss or any other deer is an acomplishment in itself, nothing to be ashamed of. The beautiful thing is there is always next year, but remember the amount of buck tags you have in a lifetime are limited. It's like Rodney Carrington says....GET EM OUT HERE, I WANNA SEE EVERYONE OF THEM SUM DA BITCHES!!

 

[Beentown]

Jesse, this is what it is all about (well said Been!). I know you're attached to the story and watching these guys grow, but there are just to many variables in your area to allow the stories to unfold like you want/predict everytime. I honestly believe at this point you would not be bummed killing Boss. Moe may or may not be out there, and until you see him on camera or in person, you will be left wondering. For me, I can't handle that and you and I are very much alike. Killing Boss or any other deer is an acomplishment in itself, nothing to be ashamed of. The beautiful thing is there is always next year, but remember the amount of buck tags you have in a lifetime are limited. It's like Rodney Carrington says....GET EM OUT HERE, I WANNA SEE EVERYONE OF THEM SUM DA BITCHES!!

I can see how we agree but for some Deer Hunting is competition. Either with the deer or with comparing to other hunters. That is what drives them. Used to be a bit of what drove me until I started to not like hunting as much. I have made the decision to focus on the parts I enjoy:

Time with the Lord and prayer
Seeing his creation and its beauty (heck I even think squirrels are cool)
The scouting
Time to myself
Checking cams
The harvest and venison
Processing (doing it myself is satisfying)

My largest buck is 146" and then a few close to that for background. In three years I may be back for going after just trophies (140+ mature deer). Who knows? Going for one deer and accomplishing it would be major. I just don't want that kind of pressure while hunting right now. I have pressure to get work every week being self employed. That is enough for now.

 

[finelyshedded]

Just saw this thread. I guessed him right at 135 gross which is a real good 8. He'd be a real good bowkill. I just hope Moe gives you a shot before he does.

 

[Big H]

Jesse, here is my input, take it for what it is worth. I honestly think you waited TOO long. From what I have read about your history with this buck, you had him patterned pretty well and should have went out and killed him when he was still in his summer pattern. Now anything can happen, shit, he may get killed by someone else a couple miles from your place during the rut. If he survives and makes it to late season, that will be your next best opportunity to kill him. That being said, he may be all broken up from fighting by that time, and if you have him in front of you, then you will have to make another decision. Let him go until next year and hope he stays around, or shoot him. I hope I am wrong, but that is what I have been thinking when I read your stories. JMHO

 

[Jackalope]

Jesse, here is my input, take it for what it is worth. I honestly think you waited TOO long. From what I have read about your history with this buck, you had him patterned pretty well and should have went out and killed him when he was still in his summer pattern. Now anything can happen, shit, he may get killed by someone else a couple miles from your place during the rut. If he survives and makes it to late season, that will be your next best opportunity to kill him. That being said, he may be all broken up from fighting by that time, and if you have him in front of you, then you will have to make another decision. Let him go until next year and hope he stays around, or shoot him. I hope I am wrong, but that is what I have been thinking when I read your stories. JMHO

Hindsight is always 20/20... He also said he has blown out some stellar deer and spots hunting them too much too early..

 

[Big H]

Hindsight is always 20/20... He also said he has blown out some stellar deer and spots hunting them too much too early..

Agree with your statement too, and I sincerely hope he kills him. If anyone deserves that buck, it is Jesse.

 

[Schu72]

Hindsight is always 20/20... He also said he has blown out some stellar deer and spots hunting them too much too early..

Were they blown out or did the just change patterns like this year? Probably a tough question to answer. This is kind of the opposite of what I see in a couple of my locations. I don't see jack in the early season. Even with cameras running, I wasn't seeing diddly squat. Then they start to appear on my places and someone, somewhere a few propertiers over is probably thinking "Where did my deer go?" Is it pressure or food or cover? Not sure but it happens every year where I hunt. For me its almost pointless to hunt the early season.

 

[brock ratcliff]

Jesse, seems we've had this chat before. There is a chance you can kill Moe. There is a better chance you won't. Why would you let your goals suck the fun out of your hobby? I no longer try to hunt one deer- it took the fun out of hunting for me. The deer I killed last week made his own story. I had pics of him all last summer until October, then he vanished. I didn't care, because I had more than one that made my list and some new ones showed up that I would have been happy to kill. Tuesday morning was the first time I ever saw this deer in the flesh. He hadn't grown an inch over the last year, but it is funny how he just re-appeared - he wrote his own story and I was happy to write the last chapter. Having said that, I wish I still had my tag. I have felt that way every time, regardless of how big a deer I killed. I'd rather hunt than kill, but if you never killed why would you hunt. Find yourself in a situation that makes you grab your bow without thinking and have no regrets....it's just for fun! Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Jesse, seems we've had this chat before. There is a chance you can kill Moe. There is a better chance you won't. Why would you let your goals suck the fun out of your hobby? I no longer try to hunt one deer- it took the fun out of hunting for me. The deer I killed last week made his own story. I had pics of him all last summer until October, then he vanished. I didn't care, because I had more than one that made my list and some new ones showed up that I would have been happy to kill. Tuesday morning was the first time I ever saw this deer in the flesh. He hadn't grown an inch over the last year, but it is funny how he just re-appeared - he wrote his own story and I was happy to write the last chapter. Having said that, I wish I still had my tag. I have felt that way every time, regardless of how big a deer I killed. I'd rather hunt than kill, but if you never killed why would you hunt. Find yourself in a situation that makes you grab your bow without thinking and have no regrets....it's just for fun! Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Thanks Brock. Great words of advice. Taken to heart...

 

[cotty16]

Brock, those are good bits of advice.

Jesse, all the cam pics of Moe, Jack, etc... Just serve to give us hope. At least that's the way I look at it. I just hope to see some of my target bucks. However, as Brock said, you never know what other buck may enter your kill zone and get you fired up.
I express frustration frequently too. You know that, but remember... This is a sport we do for a great challenge and for fun.

Go out everytime with hopes of seeing a shooter... Any shooter.
If its a target? Icing on the cake.

 

[hickslawns]

great advice Brock. Jesse- I saw 2 different shooters in 2 days last weekend. No option to seal the deal, but both within 50 yds. One at under 20yds when I was half way up the tree. I had 2 amazing adrenaline rushes. This is why I bow hunt. I am not sure if I will take the gun or bow during gun season this year. If I take the gun it will be simply to thin some does out and get some blood on the muzzle loader. I am okay with eating my tag. It is for the rush and the opportunity. Knowing you have put yourself in position to kill a mature deer and to figure out some of their patterns tells me I have been doing the right thing. There is still the need for a little luck to seal the deal. I have never seen anyone cover a mature deer like you have with Moe. You have been on him like stink on poop. That is an amazing accomplishment. If the rut comes and goes, he should settle back into a more predictable pattern. Kill that hog!

 

[finelyshedded]

There has been some great advise here in this thread for Jesse to chew on. Just know this buddy, we all have shared the same frustrations in our pasts when we get locked onto one particular deer. It comes with the territory.

I can't really add much more to what the other guys have said but just let your gut feeling take the lead if another 130 and up buck other than Moe comes strolling by. Sometimes what we want just isn't in the cards. Goodluck Jesse! We're all pulling for you.