Nice Wide 8 point

[sampotter]

I think you made the right call. That guy will pack on the mass and length next season. Probably a blessing you connected on the CT buck. Bet it made you think just enough to pass him.

I wish there were more bucks like that in the pipeline.

 

Yes, getting a little of the blood lust out early on makes it easier to let one like that walk..

 

Just to make it clear- this is definitely the biggest buck I ever let walk and he would been my third biggest by bow if I'd taken the shot, but at the same time I feel accomplished knowing I could've had him but let him go. As close to 'catch and release' as you'll ever get with hunting. I'm also finding that killing one is becoming a little less important to the quality of my hunt as it used to be.

[growalot]

out of likes...LIKE Sam

[Doewhacker]

According to the chart I had a minute or 2 to spare. There's a 24 minute difference between LI and Jamestown and I'm halfway.

Nice, I am right on the red line on the Dec chart in Saratoga County. Makes things easy for me.

[Terry]

I'm also finding that killing one is becoming a little less important to the quality of my hunt as it used to be.

I get that and feel it too. I just couldn't imagine that buck not being king where I hunt. I hunt all over, but at the main location I hunt that would be about as big as they get rack wise. That's after 20 years of hunting this area and seeing everyone's kills, trailcam pics, and spotting fields at night.

I do agree with your age estimate though. His body isn't overly impressive.

I think new hunting grounds are in my future.

[growalot]

You do know if push came to shove  and one said "I went by the chart" the ECO would probably say...ya and you should have gone by the weather station at your hunting zip code....

[landtracdeerhunter]

Kind of ironic that this deer be fronted you on 10-9.  Had a nice buck visit my nest the evening of 10-8, at 32 yards.  Maybe it's not ironic at all.

[greg54]

Nice buck

[WNYBuckHunter]

Kind of ironic that this deer be fronted you on 10-9.  Had a nice buck visit my nest the evening of 10-8, at 32 yards.  Maybe it's not ironic at all.

 

I was watching something the other day, might have been on growingdeer.tv or maybe I read it somewhere, about a supposed mini rut that occurs a month before the main rut. Ill have to see if I can find that.

[sampotter]

You do know if push came to shove  and one said "I went by the chart" the ECO would probably say...ya and you should have gone by the weather station at your hunting zip code....

 

I would like to think that the chart the DEC publishes would be the one used by the DEC officers... If I used my weather station sunset time I get another minute though. I would like to think no one would get a ticket for being off by a minute or two though. I can't imagine that any hunters have an alarm that goes off on the last minute of legal time or that they spend the last few valuable minutes staring at their watch....

[dbHunterNY]

thanks for sharing the video.  I'm thinking he's 3.5 years old.  really can't place him older.  legs look the right length for the body, not too heavy in chest but enough, slimming mid-section (race horse look).  if he was 4.5 I feel like he'd be more filled out even and have more mass in the hind quarters.  very respectable passing on a middle aged 3.5 yr old.  hope he makes it and hope you get a change at a mature buck.

[Four Season Whitetail's]

I would like to think that the chart the DEC publishes would be the one used by the DEC officers... If I used my weather station sunset time I get another minute though. I would like to think no one would get a ticket for being off by a minute or two though. I can't imagine that any hunters have an alarm that goes off on the last minute of legal time or that they spend the last few valuable minutes staring at their watch....

Yeah Really! I find it very hard to believe that some have it down to the minute and then climb down. To many things can be going on at the same time at that time of evening during a good sit. Even if you shot a minute before legal time and the econ wanted to be an a&&clown, he would say it was a minute after and a ticket you would get.  These times i believe could be revamped.

[Doewhacker]

I only mentioned it as another reason to pass him and didn't intend to start a hunting times thread. Sorry Sam hope this one doesn't get derailed.

[incognito]

I just downloaded and installed a free smart phone sun alarm app:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sunpartner.sunalarmsunrisesunset.free

Edited October 21, 2014 by incognito

[chiefbkt]

That is a great looking deer.  He looks like a stud of a 3 year old.  Good tine length, good mass, and some really good spread.  Kudos to you for making that decision.  If he makes it to next year he could end up as 140-150" stud.  Since I shot my biggest buck to date with my bow (which was last week 10/12) and after talking to my neighbor (who hunts ~500 acres adjoining my property) I will definitely be more selective in the future.  I would def let that deer walk if he wouldn't have been my biggest with bow.  Hope you get a crack at a monster!

[LuckyPickle123]

I would like to think that the chart the DEC publishes would be the one used by the DEC officers... If I used my weather station sunset time I get another minute though. I would like to think no one would get a ticket for being off by a minute or two though. I can't imagine that any hunters have an alarm that goes off on the last minute of legal time or that they spend the last few valuable minutes staring at their watch....

 

Exactly, who the H cares that much...  nice deer!

[martinhunter12]

That is a great buck, and good for you for passing him. I wish I could do that on the land I hunt, but like many of us we are very lucky to see a buck of that size. I would have been mounting him in fact if I shot him lol! I hope some day to have land where I can pass a buck like that. congrats and good luck the rest of the year!