I hunt near Reagan Wells, Tx.

We have what I call "Vampire Deer". They only come out at night.

I have pix of the same deer 3 and 4 seasons on game cam that I've never seen in the day.

So with that in mind, which of these would you shoot if it came out during legal shooting hours, either bow or rifle season?

This guy?





or

This guy?










And, as an aside, if you'd already taken a decent buck, would that influence your decision?


Quien Sabe,

GWB

I'd shoot the scrub to get him out of the gene pool.

On our deer hunting property, I let a nice but young 7 walk Friday afternoon to give him a couple years( if he doesn't get taken by adjacent property owners). Meanwhile there is a scruffy 3 pointer that will get whacked after the rut if seen.
There are a few more that we've seen that are going to be good if they make it. My buddy passed on a nice 8 yesterday afternoon. Gonna let him hopefully grow.

We do not use trail cameras. We like the surprise when ol' big steps out.

I would shoot both of them. And if I had access to three buck tags, I'd still shoot both of them if I'd already killed a decent buck. Whack 'em and stack 'em. It's always been about piling up venison for me.

Whichever offered up a good shot first... I'm not picky 🤷‍♂️

Just looking at the photos body wise they seem to be the about the same age, so I would shoot the spike and pass on the 8 point.

No problem, it's always about, meat for us !!

hey!!!!!!! that looks like the first buck i shot!!!!


meat for us too.

In this hypothetical, do I have access to doe tags?

This. Unless the spike is for sure a cull that is 2.5 years old or older.

I'd shoot the 8 point. I try not to shoot anything with less than 8 points unless he's big and wide. We only get 3 buck tags, so I'm not wasting them on a spike. If I need meat, I can shoot all of the does that I want (no limit). There's too many 8+ pointers running around. The only time I'll shoot a dink would be in the beginning of January right before they lose their horns and I'm in a mood. That would be the case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time for him. I've already passed on about 5 or 6 of those so far.

We also have an antler restriction where you can only shoot 1 dink and the other two have to have at least 3 points on one side. Let'em get bigger.

It will have no effect on the genetics of the herd either way.

I mean zero disrespect and I don't want to seem like I am judging anyone. It is about having fun. But, if it is only about meat, why not just shoot a few does every year and let the young bucks walk unless provided a unique opportunity?

Or are you in a low density deer area and you shoot what you can? Again, no judgement, just curious.

I hunt for meat so the first one to give me a clean shot is going to catch a bullet

I’ll shoot the bigger one. Shot enough dinks when I was younger and won’t shoot anything, anywhere, that wouldn’t be legal here now in PA. I’ve passed on many like the smaller one in New York. Just me being greedy, and me wanting “the juice to be worth the squeeze” so to speak. To each their own though. All are trophies, and I’ll throw no shade.😎

Either is a target during bow.
But with rifle, the spike gets a pass.

Thanx guys.

I appreciate the comments.

I plan to shoot the spike........

Uvalde county, north of IH-10 is a 2 buck county. I've been on this lease for over 17 years. We've had drought, and anthrax and at least two deer die-offs during that time. I've invested a lot of time and effort doing things to improve the quality of our deer. If all works out I hope to be here until I assume room temperature.

I took a big bodied mature buck opening weekend, so that leaves me one buck.

I/m basically a meat hunter rather than a horn hunter.

The spike is 3 yrs old at minimum.

I want him out of the gene pool.

ya!

GWB

Shoot that spike.

Spike if you don’t have neighbors that are going to shoot the other on sight.

According to this article, doesn't matter.

https://deerassociation.com/strike-3-for-the-myth-of-the-genetic-cull-buck/

None taken, at all.

Some background;

1 buck tag only - @ $50

Your buck tag, if purchased online, can be entered into a draw, to become an either or tag (both ours were)

Can buy 2 extra antlerless tags @ $50 each (none available this year)

Herd is not particularly strong.

Does build the herd.

We hunt on our own property 80+ acres.

30%+ more meat on a 1.5 year old buck, than a mature doe.

Deb did decide to shoot a large (DRY) nanny doe, Sunday evening.



You tell me which, is which ?



The good stuff !!

They have the area were our deer camp is so shot out that if you want to shoot a buck
then shoot the first one you see. He will most likely be the only one you see......if you
do see any bucks at all.
I prefer old cry does to eat, but they have them shot down pretty well too. With black bears,
coyotes and bob cats around the fawns have quite a gauntlet to run.
Last years buck was a 2 1/2 yr old and the chewiest I have ever taken.
Hunt on!!!!

GDub, you did not tell us that tidbit!

Yes. Drill the scrub!

That spike, if aged as you say, isn't ever likely to breed anyway - he's just eating food, with no effect on herd genetics either way.

That said, I'd shoot either one giving me first chance, but that's just me. I like to eat.

I like shooting culls, myself, regardless.

If you have low densities and trying to build the herd, or improve antler quality, let the 8 walk.

Correct!
But given a chance, if that spike was 2.5 he would go first.

Neither of them

I don't own any land to hunt on. So if I'm on public land, then I generally shoot the first available deer since I normally don't get the opportunity to be selective with a lot of choices. I'm also lucky to have several good friends who are generous enough to invite me to hunt on either their property or lease every year. At those locations as the guest, I avoid taking the prize buck so I'm often culling some of the more readily available does just to put venison in the freezer. My natural instinct is to shoot the spike since I'm more interested in the meat than the trophy. I just like the camaraderie & being in the woods...

Half the genetics are in the does and they all look the same. Shooting spikes does little to alter the population genetics. Shoot whatever deer makes you happy but don't believe that you have an effect on the future gene pool.

Personally I would shoot neither and shoot a doe to eat.

FWIW

I would shoot the 3 year old spike. We can't do that here but I would if I could.

In your situation I would shoot the spike. On the lease that I hunt on, we are allowed to shoot one six point (and it has to be a nice one) and any other Buck has to be seven or better. No opportunity to shoot anything less than a six point. We are allowed to take one doe.

I'd shoot the spike too.

That study was interesting. I wonder if the results were impacted by the size. Not enough deer harvested to have an impact based upon that large an area.

State programs have lunker share programs so trophy bass can reproduce. Big ranches buy and release breeding stock from deer farms known for antler size. Cattle ranchers pay large premiums for perceived higher quality breeding stock.

Same here.

I’d book a ticket to Montana and shoot this buck…

We are proud of you.

It looks as if only the doe is still kicking.

what caliber is the nice SAko?
Congrats on a nice Mule deer buck!

Gedub,
shoot the spike. wait on a bigger buck than that one if you can.

I will admit sometimes I can't. Ha HA