antlerradar
Well-known member
On four of the last five mule deer I have shot and the last three whitetails, the decision to shoot was made before the season opened.
Do Not Pass On First Day What You Would Be Happy To Shoot On The Last: A Refutation
- Thread starter Nameless Range
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Gerald Martin
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- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
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- 9,359
I’ve been thinking about this off and on today. I don’t think I pass up anything. I have an idea of what I am looking for and if a buck I see isn’t what I am looking for then I haven’t found the animal I want to shoot.
I am hunting until I find what I want to shoot and then I try to shoot it. What I want to shoot is highly subjective and apt to change based on many factors. I have had days where the buck I wanted to shoot that day was much smaller than bucks I didn’t want to shoot on other days, but I don’t think of them as missed opportunities.
I can identify with several of you who said you don’t regret passing animals but have regretted shooting animals and not having a tag anymore when you saw a larger one later. I did that for several years with my deer tag. Somewhere in the past decade I realized I end up with an unfilled buck tag more often than a filled tag at seasons end and I figured out that I like hunting deer at least as much as shooting them and when I shoot a buck my hunting is over.
I am hunting until I find what I want to shoot and then I try to shoot it. What I want to shoot is highly subjective and apt to change based on many factors. I have had days where the buck I wanted to shoot that day was much smaller than bucks I didn’t want to shoot on other days, but I don’t think of them as missed opportunities.
I can identify with several of you who said you don’t regret passing animals but have regretted shooting animals and not having a tag anymore when you saw a larger one later. I did that for several years with my deer tag. Somewhere in the past decade I realized I end up with an unfilled buck tag more often than a filled tag at seasons end and I figured out that I like hunting deer at least as much as shooting them and when I shoot a buck my hunting is over.
Nick87
Well-known member
mechanic1908
New member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2025
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- 12
I passed on 2 deer yesterday. One was a decent forkhorn and the other was a fairly nice doe.
I just didn't want to fill my tag yet.
I may or may not get a deer this year but I'm ok with that.
My success rate has dropped off since having to switch to archery from rifle hunting.
Peace.
I just didn't want to fill my tag yet.
I may or may not get a deer this year but I'm ok with that.
My success rate has dropped off since having to switch to archery from rifle hunting.
Peace.
belshawelk
Well-known member
On elk I shoot the first mature cow I see. With Mule deer and since I am not a deer freak I will hold out for a older buck. Don't care about horns but look for age, same with pronghorn.
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