Hunting an antlerless buck..

[wooly]

As some here know, I already picked up a fresh match set of sheds from a nice 8pt earlier in the week.

That just got me thinking....... this is only for the sake of conversation and curiosity for me and not a decision I need to make.

Wondering who would purposely target a buck like this with no antlers if you still had an antlerless tag and already had his horns?

.....OR

Who would continue to hunt doe knowing some bucks may already be antlerless and mistaken for doe?

I know it's not a dillema we're faced with every day, so I thought the responces might be interesting.

[ny hunter]

To be honest I shot a spike this year thinking it was a doe,Did not do it on purpose if I had seen the tiny antlers I would not have shot it,I had a doe tag.And I did put in on the deer.But no if I saw it was an buck that dropped his antlers I would let it walk.

[TreeGuy]

If i had the sheds, i would shoot... but that might get sticky if the good ole dec showed up.... hmmm what do u suppose happens then?! I sure would be disappointed to kill a mature buck that had shed though

[G-Man]

my neighbor does it all the time, big mature bucks with no horns. bigger body means more meat.will not fill his doe tag on a doe must be anterless buck.. dissapointing for me cause 3-4 in pedicals just leave me wondering what it was...

[Four Season Whitetail's]

Funny this post came up! I saw a buck last night on the farm, Outside letchworth on the highbanks road and looked as though he just dropped his the last day of two! Would not shoot a big blockheaded doe even if i had his rack!!

[cwhite]

Guess its what you value. Do you value the rack or the challenge of taking a mature buck? I think I would pass on the antlerless bucks. If I'm going to chew on a venison flavored rubber boot I better have a set of antlers to look at.

[Doc]

So, what are the possibilities of a poacher knowingly shooting a big buck this time of year (with only an antlerless tag left) and then knocking the antlers off (to be picked up later). This time of the season, they probably would come off rather quickly and easily.

[SteveB]

I'm sure the buck doesn't care if he was shot for the rack or for meat.

Result is the same - dead deer.

[sampotter]

Guess its what you value. Do you value the rack or the challenge of taking a mature buck? I think I would pass on the antlerless bucks. If I'm going to chew on a venison flavored rubber boot I better have a set of antlers to look at.

Exactly. If they shed, then I would pass. If I already had his antlers why not let him grow new ones?

[WNY Bowhunter]

Exactly. If they shed, then I would pass. If I already had his antlers why not let him grow new ones?

I wait for next year too...

[tughillhunter]

How many green hunters out there dont know the diff. between a shed buck and doe? i bet thats shocking. id wait.

[fishuntrapper]

found this while hunting asp on m/l friday Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

[ny hunter]

Would love to see the deer that dropped it.Way to go.

[wooly]

Now that's my kinda Christmas present! Great find!

[genesee_mohican]

I'd want to see him with his bigger rack next year. It would be a shame not too.

PS: Is it normal for deer to drop this early? I've seen mature bucks with a full sets well into march.