Do you ever try to gently educate forky hunter friends or just let it be?

[noharleyyet]

I've winked at a 3 1/2 year old 5x whitetail that's bumping 140 a couple times this season...be a heckuva buck in a year or two with a little rain & doesn't get shot.

 

[rogerthat]

I passed a 180 3 year public land muley one year. My buddy shot him 3 days later. I don’t regret my decision one bit. Being fired up for your harvest is what it is about and I wasn’t

 

[cgasner1]

And somebody else would have shot him.

Ya maybe me this year hard to say

 

[DFS]

Ya maybe me this year hard to say

If you pass a buck on public it’s because you don’t want to shoot him, the buck has almost zero chance of making it through Montana general season.

 

[cgasner1]

If you pass a buck on public it’s because you don’t want to shoot him, the buck has almost zero chance of making it through Montana general season.

He had made it so far. I do agree for the most part but I’ve seen some big bucks killed this year they made it…. Until the didn’t I guess.

 

[johnnybow]

You can approach him only if you offer to buy his deer tag for him. His tag his choice. Move on.

 

[TheTone]

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So happy an influencer needed to shoot this dink for content and to plug his sponsors

 

[mtmuley]

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So happy an influencer needed to shoot this dink for content and to plug his sponsors

I guess I am naive here, but do guys like him get money for that stuff? mtmuley

 

[Waspocrew]

Unless you have private ground where deer stay year round, trying to "manage" your unit by not shooting small deer really isn't going to accomplish much at all. It's public ground and those bucks may likely get shot by the next hunter they encounter.

It's fine to have your own reasons for holding out for a bigger buck, but "educating" your friend isn't going to do anything. Shoot what you want as long as it's legal.

 

[sclancy27]

And yes people can be educated. Deer are incredibly stupid right now, toeing the line of fair chase with rifles.

I think that final statement requires some thoughtful discussion, given where technology has gone in the last 10 yrs. The number of guys shooting 5-600 yards, UTVs, backpacking gear, clothes, etc., at some point we need to consider whether there is a reasonable chance that a deer can escape, especially during peak rut.

 

[mtmuley]

I think that final statement requires some thoughtful discussion, given where technology has gone in the last 10 yrs. The number of guys shooting 5-600 yards, UTVs, backpacking gear, clothes, etc., at some point we need to consider whether there is a reasonable chance that a deer can escape, especially during peak rut.

I used to think tech and other available tools like SxS's didn't make a difference. I am changing my mind. mtmuley

 

[sclancy27]

Curious - if an animal lives longer and avoids predation, starvation, and freezing to death isnt a better deer to be in the breeding pool? Doesn't it have a better set of genetics?

Better only in current conditions.

We think about wild game genetics in the same way that ranchers think of livestock genetics, as managing towards a specific goal and honing in on the genetics that support that goal. This tactic works well for livestock. However, narrowing the genetic range in a wildlife (lack of genetic diversity) population, where conditions change, is not good. Lack of genetic diversity generally pushes total population numbers down over time due to an inability to adapt to wide ranging conditions.

 

[steveshuntn1]

I have an uncle who 74 and has access to 40 acres in one of the best big deer areas around. They routinely kill 160” whitetail bucks all around him. Just this past Thanksgiving morning a 189” and change was killed about 600 yards from his shooting house.
So far my Uncle Robert has killed a doe and three spikes. First one out gets the bullet. He just likes to see them drop he says! I have passed bucks on public hoping my daughter or wife gets a crack at him, but it’s definitely not so he’ll get bigger. Not much of a chance he makes it through the season here.

 

[MS 9x56]

To each his own but my Dad always taught me them horns don’t even make good soup. With that said I pass young deer and any does with fawns. Nowadays in my late 60’s I only shoot when the mood strikes me. My son is trying to manage for bigger bucks shooting only 8points or better but here in the southern tier on NY it is a fools errand.

 

[Fire_9]

I guess I am naive here, but do guys like him get money for that stuff? mtmuley

They do. In my opinion Clay is as legit as they come though. He’s not your typical influencer and I honestly wouldn’t even call him an “influencer”

 

[mtmuley]

They do. In my opinion Clay is as legit as they come though. He’s not your typical influencer and I honestly wouldn’t even call him an “influencer”

I don't keep up on that stuff. Thanks. mtmuley

 

[WanderWoman]

They do. In my opinion Clay is as legit as they come though. He’s not your typical influencer and I honestly wouldn’t even call him an “influencer”

I never heard of the guy before today but my first thought was, “damn, I wish I was man enough to hunt with a flintlock.”

 

[Fire_9]

I don't keep up on that stuff. Thanks. mtmuley

He’s been a primitive weapon guy for a long time and actually won ‘Alone’ a few years ago

 

[mtmuley]

He’s been a primitive weapon guy for a long time and actually won ‘Alone’ a few years ago

Don't watch much TV. mtmuley

 

[Fire_9]

Don't watch much TV. mtmuley

Nor do I. I’ve seen come clips of the show is all. Killed a buck with his self bow and preserved it to get him through the show. Tougher and a better woodsman than 99% of us here