How picky are you on public land when chasing whitetails

[Keep on]

We kill more deer per square mile in PA than any other state. If you're holding out for a trophy on public you're probably going to be waiting a while. It's better in the Western end of the state, but in the populated South East, I will usually shoot the first legal buck I see, 3 pts to a side, private or public. It was a new experience going out West the first couple times, passing on smaller deer.

 

[Beignet]

Johnny 75 wanted to come home with you! I had a young Mule Deer buck I named Lucky Strike do the same thing for me one complete season. Archery thru the rut, he was always in my way and blowing out other deer! So annoying, but now that I think about it, pretty fun memories too.

Half surprised he wasn’t waiting back at the truck for me.

But yeah, like you and Lucky, it was a fun day all in all!

 

[Wolfshead]

The public I hunt is very pressured (whitetail).
If you’re not a resident then your possibility of getting a Doe tag is extremely limited to not possible.
If it’s legal and I have an opportunity to take it I’m happy with that.
There was a time when, if you got a deer, it was a trophy. Whether it was a spike or six point.

 

[TexanSam]

Wow... Hearing everyone's testimony has me rethinking how lucky I am.

I'm still not shooting a 2 year old though lol

 

[TheGrayRider]

You can’t eat antlers.

 

[TheTone]

You can’t eat antlers.

But you can look at them for the rest of your life

I try to be picky but at the same time I’m a pretty crummy whitetail hunter. If I’m hunting an area where I can glass and see then I’m holding out for a mature deer

 

[TexanSam]

You can’t eat antlers.

No but I can share pictures of them here to stroke my ego

 

[crock239]

I archery hunt whitetails on public in IA. I've gone multiple seasons without harvesting a buck, and like you I don't shoot bucks less than 3.5yrs old.

But when I lived and hunted in SC...I shot the first buck I'd see.

I don't spend nearly as much time whitetail hunting now as I did before I was doing an annual out of state hunting trip, and owned a bird dog.

 

[Pucky Freak]

This is my 11th consecutive year hunting public land WT bucks in Iowa. In 2017 I shot my first antlered animal on public, a yearling. In 2021 I shot a 2-yr-old antlered buck. That’s it. I’ve passed on dozens of bucks 3 yrs old and younger. I much prefer filling the freezer with does and fawns. My walls are full.

I’m shooting a 4-yr-old if I get an opportunity. I’ve so far missed 3 of them (buck fever). I can count on one hand the # of 5+ year-old bucks I’ve ever seen on public.

Bowhunting this year I’ve seen four 3-yr-olds in the same spot, one will probably crack 150” next year. I’m planning to put in some concerted scouting and try and connect next season.

 

[Flynarrow]

Hunting with a longbow and relying on wholesome whitetail every year any close sure shot will do until our meat for the year is secure. Closer to the truck is even better.