Would you shoot him????

[tomcbigbucks]

Been after this buck since late Oct.. well Monday of buck week he was on pile at 6:40 pm with both sides of rack....2:20 am he was back on the pile with only right side.. left side busted off..
so the question is would you shoot him with half a rack?

[338winner]

if your land is posted and he is safe hold off til next year.

[KOKEMAN]

Find his other antlers then shoot him.:razz::D

[tomcbigbucks]

heavily hunted state land and not private, thus the issue. If private land would not think twice would let him go..:huh:

[squidly]

looks like he shed that antler :confused: :huh:

[tomcbigbucks]

I thought that at first but have numerous pictures and you can see a hole and no base left. Monday a new 8 pointer just a touch narrower showed up and my guess is the had a battle to see whot the boss was. :naughty: The 8 hasn't been back on camera since.
I have a lot of pictures of the big 9 pointer with other bucks and that show that they gave him his space and he doesn't appear threatened by them.

[squidly]

well thats what would be there. a hole and no base. it should look red too.

[tomcbigbucks]

yep and have one that you can see what appears to be blood on that side towards his eye.

[bassassassin8]

I'd shoot him I think. He looks like a mature enough deer. That or I'd give him one more year.

[buckiller2009]

shoot him and make salami

[Dirtypenny725]

If he walked in on me I'd make him pay for his mistake by having him for dinner next week.

[ridgerunnerron]

I'd let him walk. Take a doe if you want meat.

I let a much bigger long beamed buck walk away on state land that already shed one side 3 yrs back. The side that was left had 4 pts.

Half an eight point rack did nothing for me, but with both sides he would have made a nice mount. Had him standing in my shooting lane at 40 yds before him and a small 5 pt dove into the mountain laurel hiilside.

Saw him the year before as a smaller 8 pt with a 6 pt and spike folowing him. And haven't been back to this spot since.

[bambam]

i would shot him but im young

[DV1]

Looks to me like he shed already. My brother killed a buck the first day of buck week, and it had already dropped one side, and that was in Pittsgrove Twsp.

[37 Shooter]

Nice Deer - I say BANG!!

[R & R]

Shoot a doe if you need meat but save that deer for next year.

[mini blaster]

I would let him walk:naughty: It would be a shame to see an animal get to its prime and get shot like that.

[tomcbigbucks]

Thank you all for your replies!

Here's the story, like I said I have been after him since late Oct. never had on camera in daylight till Sunday before buck week and then at 11 am.... He was always there right till a couple minutes before first light and usually middle of night. Buck week till Friday Sunday was still only time he was there in daylight.. I got pictures showing the wound ozzing blood. :eek:
I decieded that if he would show I would shot him and look hard to find his broken half. Remeber he was only gone for 5 hours and came back without it..Well Friday afternoon at 4:45 Pm I saw his horn coming thru the laurels:bow:.
The hole from breaking his horn was very deep and ozzzing nasty thick black blood and smelled HORRIBLE:eek::eek:. I have harvested many deer and seen deer survive some nasty wounds but I perosnally do not think he woulld have made it, it was infected, deep, and nasty.

If it was not heavily hunted state land I would have lefft him go without thinking twice.

Details: 145+ 20 inch beam, 4 " brow, 9 " G2, 7 " G3, 1 /12" kicker off G2, mass 4 1/2, 4, 3 1/2.

Thanks again for all opinions!!!:wave:

[rocky]

Let him grow. Just think of the difference it will make next year having a full rack, a trip to the taxidermist for sure!

[Ole 20 Point]

Um, hey Rocky...see the post ABOVE yours...:o

[KOKEMAN]

Good decision.Good luck in finding the other antlers.

[tomcbigbucks]

Thank you Kokeman!