Hunting in AR zones

[the blur]

What kind of optics do you use, to ensure the buck meets the AR requirements?

Obviously can't shoot a running deer, but now I need to be very selective, as all I have left is a buck tag, and I'm going to an AR zone.

[Doc]

Just tell the deer to stop and pose with a right hand profile, then a left hand profile and then a frontal shot. If the deer passes, shoot it.

[the blur]

Just tell the deer to stop and pose with a right hand profile, then a left hand profile and then a frontal shot. If the deer passes, shoot it.

Maybe you can count points at 150 yards.   I'm trying to be realistic.

[waterweasle]

I carry binoculars, or I look at it through my scope, not much science more than that

[Doc]

I carry binoculars, or I look at it through my scope, not much science more than that

I'm thinking binoculars are the answer. Get a good pair and then you can check them out up close and personal.

[nyantler]

If you're concerned more about meeting the objective of the restriction ( yearling buck protection) selecting a buck to take isn't a problem at all even without bino's...if you're just trying to kill any buck that has 3 on a side (like a yearling 6 point), YES, you will probably have to wait until you can get a better look at the rack, hopefully by then that yearling 6-point will have found safety somewhere out of the line of fire

 

[Doc]

I'm thinking that even the truly die-hard "trophy hunters" are concerned with the actual quality of the rack such that they too will find optics useful.

[Doewhacker]

I just wait till the rack is big enough to see all the points, serioulsy though its not all that hard and if there is any question don't shoot!

[dbHunterNY]

Nikon monarch 10X40mm binos and Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40mm are what I use.  you just have to check the buck out with decent glass.  like what was said make no assumptions and if you've got any doubts then pass.  it wouldn't be the end of the world if you passed a barely legal deer because others will be put in the same situation with that buck.

[the blur]

I passed on a big buck this morning.  Broad shoulders, but his head was in the laurel, 10 yards away.  I saw horns, but he would not pick up his head.   He had a rack that curved forward.  Perfect broadside shot.    I looked at him for 4 minutes, he knew I was there, and he thought he was under cover of the laurel.

 

If he only lifted his head, and showed me 3 points, I'd be at the butcher now.   Then I heard shots close by an hour later, so somebody got him.

[nyantler]

I'm thinking that even the truly die-hard "trophy hunters" are concerned with the actual quality of the rack such that they too will find optics useful.

I use them for viewing smaller bucks at a distance.. although I may not want to kill them.. I love watching them 

[JFB]

For anyone not using bino's, give it a try and you will enjoy it so much. Wether it's a doe or buck I always have a small pair of bino's on my neck and the first thing I do is determine the quality of the deer. It also helps a great deal in that rather than just seeing an unknown deers body from 100 to 200 yards away in the brush, you can actually see what the deer is and more importantly how it's behaving (is it alert to you, is it making a scrape, is it about to bed?, etc). 

 

One of the main side perks of something like AR is that it should force guys to know what they are shooting at and that eliminates a lot of running (bad) shots that just end up wounding deer so many times. 

[Doc]

For anyone not using bino's, give it a try and you will enjoy it so much. Wether it's a doe or buck I always have a small pair of bino's on my neck and the first thing I do is determine the quality of the deer. It also helps a great deal in that rather than just seeing an unknown deers body from 100 to 200 yards away in the brush, you can actually see what the deer is and more importantly how it's behaving (is it alert to you, is it making a scrape, is it about to bed?, etc). 

 

One of the main side perks of something like AR is that it should force guys to know what they are shooting at and that eliminates a lot of running (bad) shots that just end up wounding deer so many times. 

Well, if for no other reason, I use binoculars to slow down my still-hunting pace. Few slow steps - glass the whole area, a few more steps - glass the whole area.