Buck I let walk

[Mac7]

I shot alittle buck the other day so I have meat in the freezer and I bought a extra non resident tag before they sold out.Plus I have an extra whitetail doe tag I hope I get time to go try and fill.So I went out hunting today with the intent of only shooting if it was a big buck.Now I have never killed a big buck because ussually I shoot the first buck I see.I've shot alot of spikes,forks mostly blacktails and one 4x3 muley.This would have been my biggest buck if I would have shot.He was a 3x3 with a little kicker and he was with a smaller 3x3.I also really want to get a deer with my recurve in the late archery season and have no problem shooting a doe if I get the chance.Tell me what you think of this buck the pic isn't the best.

 

[sreekers]

Got any bigger pics?

 

[Mac7]

Ya I resized these down will see if I can make them alittle bigger.Gotta eat and get the kids ready for bed will try later tonight.

 

[Mac7]

Ok I tried to crop the pics and make them bigger lets see if this works.

 

[sreekers]

Thats a bit easier. I think you made the right decision letting him walk, give a year or two.

 

[IDHunters]

I think he looks alot like the buck I shot this year:

http://www.hunttalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32755

With meat in the freezer and a couple days to hunt you probably made the right call.

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Me too. The landowner where I hunted in Colorado this year stated that he didn't want me to shoot any forky "button" bucks and to try and hold out for an older-class animal. I followed his wishes the best I could and settled on a 180lb 3X3. The landowner was happy and so was I. He was the least-skankyest smelling critter taken that week. I figure he'll taste just fine.

 

[Jaeger22]

I think I would have done just what you did. There were years when I was only going to shoot the next world record; didn't shoot often then. In other times, I usually "want a big one", but sometimes the urge just strikes and......then you have to work the rest of the day for that one moment of lost self control!

 

[Mac7]

K bored and looking at old posts/pics. Wish I would have shot this buck.

 

[Gr8bawana]

He was the least-skankyest smelling critter taken that week. I figure he'll taste just fine.

I hope you're right.
If you've never tried to eat a rutty buck you're in for a surprise and not a good one. They smell skunky when you walk up to them, their blood is skunky and the smell stays on your hands, and the meat is skunky no matter what you try to do with it. It's pretty much inedible. After having a couple like that I decided if I'm ever able to hunt during the rut I will only shoot a monster knowing that the meat is going to be nasty.