I hunt in a very hard pressured area in south Jersey. Now I know heavy pressure means different things to everyone, If I take 1 sq mile where I hunt I have to figure 16-25 other people are in that same block as well as hoarse riders bikers and duck hunters mixed through out and around the edges.
The question is a bird in the hand.
I have let 5 different spike bucks walk by that I could have easily killed, This was in hope of getting a bigger buck walking with the spike. Now the riff. I have NEVER had this work out favorably for me. Not once did I pass the spike and get the bigger deer. What usually happens is the deer walk about 65 yards apart and the spike closes into 15 yds and the buck is out at 75. The spike gets your wind or busts your movement when you try for a shot. NOTE every time I let the spike go I ate the buck tag. So now I think I am going to start shooting the first buck I can and take what I can get. What are your thoughts? Do any of you have success in letting smaller bucks pass? J.Michael

me, I just want a clean kill and a good hunt.

--
Of the Troops & For the Troops

Then again, it doesn't hurt me to pass on a shot. I am old enough that I don't feel such a need to kill and fat enough that I'm not that hungry.

--
Sincerely,

Hobie

It sounds like with the pressure you are dealing with I would fill your tag with any legal buck. Not that a big buck won't get bumped by you but more than Likely they have found a good spot to hole up and become nocturnal. I'm not a horn hunter. Mainly just a meat hunter. So I shoot as many does as I can because nothing eats as good as a nice mature doe. Better than any mature buck. Do you have doe tags? You could always fill a doe tag and keep the buck tag just in case. Thats what I do on my property. In my state doe tags are pretty much unlimited. So I kill a lot of does and we are still over run with deer. Getting to be a reL problem. Just hit one on Christmas Eve with my truck.

I hunt for meat, not antlers. I'm very happy with a younger deer in the freezer. They usually taste better. Antlers are merely a bonus.

Sage advice given to me decades ago by a wise old timer.

Murphy

I would suggest harvesting the first legal deer that comes by. And then you can wait out a big buck...I have friends that let the smaller bucks go and they all say a bigger buck will come by later if there is one there. I myself just hunt driven game style so I have to rely on others experience. (But I might suggest some game cameras and see what is actually in there.) Best of Luck.

This has never worked for me either. I will tag the first buck I see.

.

If it is a one deer per season state, I'd tag the first one I saw. If it was a two or more state, I'd tag the first one and hold out as the season wore on. Toward the end of season, I'd go back to the tag the first deer scheme.

I only see deer every couple of years now. I can count the bucks I've seen the last 28 years (hunting) on my fingers with room to spare.

So, if we can, we take whatever comes along. In MN, we have areas of "intensive harvest", "wildlife management" and "restrictions". What one can take varies by the year and the region you select.

That said, I'd sure like a nice set of antlers for the wall. If I were in an area where such critters dwelt, I'd sure be tempted to go about getting one.

But, back to the point, I have never seen a bigger buck following a spike. Does, yep but not other bucks.

FWIW

I would say it is all about the quality of the hunt, but really it is all about the quality of the hunt for me, so long as I am ultimately successful and get what I set out for ;). But I can hunt big country and get out 30 days or more in a season. If I had a weekend ... I would have no qualms or regrets at taking first available meat and hope for the best.

My buck this year produced a heck of a lot more meat than the younger deer.

Here in Indiana we get one buck per year. Multiple does, the number depending on the county. This year, I lite a doe pass on opening morning, thinking a buck was following her. She ended up being the only deer I had a shot on all year! I resolved to shoot the. First thing that walks by next year! I've eaten older bucks and yearling does, the younger ones don't give as much meat, but they sure are tasty! My biggest was a good sized 9 pointer and I was thrilled to get it. I'd love to get a big rack, but it'd rather have a freezer full of meat!

If I hunted your area I'd take the first shootable deer.

Woody, I've noticed that deer taste just as delicious whether they are killed with a 308 Winchester or a 305 Chevy.
January last year I was privileged to get a doe that got in front of my neighbor's vehicle and didn't survive the collision. My daughter and I butchered the doe and we had many lovely meals from that meat.