Another TN Whopper!!!
- Thread starter churly
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Bassallday
Well-known member
thats a nice buck!
G
Guest
Guest
I agree, having deer like that is nice, but then again, I am not looking for antlers...............I am looking for meat. The "trophy" craze has gone a little too far, in my opinion. You can't cook antlers, and honestly, any buck that I did shoot, the antlers would become stoppers for hide bags, buttons for shirts, and beads for necklaces and bracelets.
Shoot a monster if you want, but if I see a spike, a 4 pt., or a 10 pt., walk by, it's going to the house. Does are included, as well.
Shoot a monster if you want, but if I see a spike, a 4 pt., or a 10 pt., walk by, it's going to the house. Does are included, as well.
Fishing machine
Well-known member
Great deer, what did it score?
By letting little bucks walk, you promote heard health as a whole. Yeah, I like to see monsters and I like to eat venison, but if you are going to shoot a deer for food do the heard a favor and take a doe. Find anywhere within 100 miles of your home in North Georgia that has a balanced buck to doe ratio and I'll back down. I cant stand seeing small bucks harvested, its the same as seeing 10" bass on a stringer. I want to kill 200" bucks but probably never will around here, but you sure wont see any mature bucks if all the 1.5 year olds get shot. Wake up nwgabassmaster, its a "qdma" craze not a "trophy" craze. I wont shoot a buck unless he is mature and large enough to mount, if I want to eat or watch something die its does for me bud! Look at the antler restrictions for the state of Georgia, Alabama, etc. these state agencies think the same way that I do," lets cut down on the number of 1.5 year old bucks harvested in order to promote HEARD HEALTH!" The only exception is kids and first timers. the only reason i am so fired up is because i have seen areas that are properly managed. and pass up tons of small bucks every year. Sorry, but my 2 cents!
G
Guest
Guest
You are only looking at one end of the spectrum, though. Saying that letting a small buck walk in order to promote the herd health is a little wayward in thinking. If you truly want to promote the health of the herd, plant several food plots and keep them up. If you keep the plots up, then the overall health of the herd will be improved. Yes, a balanced herd of both does and bucks is necessary in order to promote herd health. Around my house, I know of at least 5 deer, 2 of which are older, mature does, 3 are yearlings. So, take that 5 deer, 3 which are yearlings, and you have the chance of having 1 to 2 bucks come from those 3. I would lean more toward just 1. However, in order to have yearlings, you must have a mature buck. So, 6 deer, at least, 4 does to 2 bucks. Seems balanced to me, since I last remember hearing that 2-1, does to bucks, is ideal.
Another thing that determines the size of the bucks are genetics. You can not have bucks of that nature without first having a good genetic pool. So, if I let a buck that is a spike this year walk this year, and next year, without the genetics to produce a quality 200 gross buck, you will only have a poor looking buck.
So, it's three fold. It's not the idea of QM that I am against. It's the way that you stated your position on it. Letting a small buck walk may indeed lead to quality bucks down the road. However, it's a three-legged stand in which this whole cycle is produced. You stated that letting a small buck walk would lead to deer like that pictured, but without the proper food source and without the good genetic pool to pull from, you will just have a buck with semi-decent results.
Also, around my house, 3 years ago, our mature buck was taken. I did let him walk for 3 years. He was a 2 year old deer when I first saw him, and he was a symetric 8, the next year, he was a 10, and the following, he was a 12. After that, when my neighbor harvested him, he was a 14 pt. I know that he was close to 200 gross score, but we never did get an accurate measurement of him. Honestly, I am not interested in size of antlers. It's meaningless to me. I would rather take a deer, buck or doe, of any age, to put meat on the table and meat in the freezer.
Another thing that determines the size of the bucks are genetics. You can not have bucks of that nature without first having a good genetic pool. So, if I let a buck that is a spike this year walk this year, and next year, without the genetics to produce a quality 200 gross buck, you will only have a poor looking buck.
So, it's three fold. It's not the idea of QM that I am against. It's the way that you stated your position on it. Letting a small buck walk may indeed lead to quality bucks down the road. However, it's a three-legged stand in which this whole cycle is produced. You stated that letting a small buck walk would lead to deer like that pictured, but without the proper food source and without the good genetic pool to pull from, you will just have a buck with semi-decent results.
Also, around my house, 3 years ago, our mature buck was taken. I did let him walk for 3 years. He was a 2 year old deer when I first saw him, and he was a symetric 8, the next year, he was a 10, and the following, he was a 12. After that, when my neighbor harvested him, he was a 14 pt. I know that he was close to 200 gross score, but we never did get an accurate measurement of him. Honestly, I am not interested in size of antlers. It's meaningless to me. I would rather take a deer, buck or doe, of any age, to put meat on the table and meat in the freezer.
SpurHunter
Well-known member
It came out of Big South Fork, in Fentres Co. Green scored 180 and change.
SpurHunter
Well-known member
Churly, and NWG both make good points, and I agree with both of you on some of your thoughts. I have absolutly no problem with someone killing small bucks, if that is what they want. If they pass does to shoot small bucks, I have a problem. If they complain about never getting a shot at a big buck, and kill small bucks, and dont shoot does....I dont want to talk to them. </p>
If you use the meat of the deer you harvest, and you are having fun...do it! Just dont complain about lack of qauilty deer. Thats my .02.</p>
Oh yea, and this too......</p>
http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=14152&posts=4</p>
If you use the meat of the deer you harvest, and you are having fun...do it! Just dont complain about lack of qauilty deer. Thats my .02.</p>
Oh yea, and this too......</p>
http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=14152&posts=4</p>
G
Guest
Guest
Sorry John but someone has grossly mislead you. There are not now nor has there ever been a 200 inch buck in Northwest GA. Not even close.
Please take no offense, but the above mentality is what state agencies are fighting against. In order to improve the heard health at a state or even county level takes a change in attitude in the stakeholders (i.e. the hunters and residents of the area). Alot of times, quality managment means going a few seasons without killing many bucks at first but the results can be awsome in any area. Yes, there are many variables that control how things turn out: food, genetics, and population. I have a lease alongside family land on the plateau. I plant tons of winter and summer time food plots, shoot the crap out of does, and Only allow bucks of 2.5 years or older to be taken, I wish it was 3.5 but it wouldn't be fair to my co-leasers. I have been QDMing the place for 3 years now and our average body weights for does has increased by at-least 30lbs. and our bucks even more. Your area is alot like mine I bet (too many does). That creates a late rut, therefore many of your fawns are late-born and end up as spikes at 1.5 years.
I had a spike I let walk in west TN. a few years ago, he had a ear that was injured and looked like a cotton ball. The next year, He came by my stand with his weird ear and he was sporting a nice 8 point basket as a 2.5 year old. Bad genetics-NO! A late born Fawn. Now a 160lb spike with bananas on his head is a different story. i'll agree to disagree with you on that conversation, but would invite you to come check out the talk forum on TNdeer.com to see how many hunters across the state are seeing great results for micro-managment of their properties. Also, You can check out a TN hunting regs. guide (found in any tackle shop) and read about how our harvest has drastically changed in the past few years as our hunters have adopted a QDM managment mindset. Also, I know that GA only allows 2 bucks; one can be your choice, the other has to have 4 antler points on a side. I wonder what they are trying to accomplish?
I'll drop it after that! Good luck to all, and be safe!
BTW- the harvest count on my lease is: 5 does, 0 bucks. We are seeing more young bucks than ever! We have been taking does like this for 3 years and I found not one deer dead due to EHD all summer and fall! I agree with your earlier post about EHD, population, and responsibility!
If you ever want to see what deer look like in an over populated area drive through the battlefield and count the number of bucks you see that wont make 100lbs on the hoof!
G
Guest
Guest
Cheez, yes, there was. I saw the deer with my own eyes. I actually had the deer walk past me 2 times, but I was unable to shoot. Just because the news doesn't cross your ears doesn't mean that it hasn't happened. I wish that I could have taken this buck, because he was a good deer.
There was another buck that Dad had called up for me, several years back on a lease, that was shot on its way to our location. The best we reckon was that it was shot 40 yds. from where we were sitting. Dad was nailing the doe bleats, and he was coming hot and heavy. It was a nice 9 pointer, and it pushed the low 150's. Massive buck.
Churly, the rut around my place usually starts around late October. At least, on my grandmother's place, they do. I haven't been in the woods this year, since I do not have a rifle at this point in time. However, this weekend I am going to scout the places I have hunted in the past and seen bucks, and see what is going on.
About two years ago, I shot at 4 dogs that had pinned down a basket-rack 8 pointer. I got the dogs away from the buck, who was breathing heavily. He looked at me, and I lowered the .410, and told him that he was free to go. He nodded (honest as I am sitting here), got up and ran away.
I go along the lines that my ancestors had. Take what you need, leave the rest. My ancestors? Native Americans. Did they know anything about "trophy" management? Nope. All they knew was survival and thanking the Great Spirit for allowing them to put food on the table. Seems they had it right, and now that white man has come close to destroying the natural resources that once flourished, they have grown a conscience.
So, I will shoot what is legal, whether it be a doe, small buck, button buck, or monster buck.
There was another buck that Dad had called up for me, several years back on a lease, that was shot on its way to our location. The best we reckon was that it was shot 40 yds. from where we were sitting. Dad was nailing the doe bleats, and he was coming hot and heavy. It was a nice 9 pointer, and it pushed the low 150's. Massive buck.
Churly, the rut around my place usually starts around late October. At least, on my grandmother's place, they do. I haven't been in the woods this year, since I do not have a rifle at this point in time. However, this weekend I am going to scout the places I have hunted in the past and seen bucks, and see what is going on.
About two years ago, I shot at 4 dogs that had pinned down a basket-rack 8 pointer. I got the dogs away from the buck, who was breathing heavily. He looked at me, and I lowered the .410, and told him that he was free to go. He nodded (honest as I am sitting here), got up and ran away.
I go along the lines that my ancestors had. Take what you need, leave the rest. My ancestors? Native Americans. Did they know anything about "trophy" management? Nope. All they knew was survival and thanking the Great Spirit for allowing them to put food on the table. Seems they had it right, and now that white man has come close to destroying the natural resources that once flourished, they have grown a conscience.
So, I will shoot what is legal, whether it be a doe, small buck, button buck, or monster buck.
G
Guest
Guest
OK John a buck with 200 inches of antler would not only have "crossed my ears" he would be in every deer hunting publication and hunting show and magazine article in the country. You stated that this buck was harvested by your neighbor. I assume you can prove this story. I have hunted and studied records of deer in our area for half again longer than you have been alive and I will say it once more. There are no 200 inch bucks in northwest Georgia. Not now not ever. We simply do not have the genetics nor the nutrition for deer to reach this size. Say nothing about age which plays a major role as well. 150 class is possible in our area but even that is as rare as a 15 pound bass.
G
Guest
Guest
The way i see it is if someone wants meat, get the does, you see a ton more does that any size buck. If the doe population is as big as it is where I live, you could fill up a pick up bed full of them everyday, that's a lot of meat, more tender too.
SpurHunter
Well-known member
The Boone & Crocket GA recods shows the largest Typical deer in realative years as 178 5/8" killed in 1999. Anything larger than that has been 20 or more years ago. Here is the complete list. http://webapp.dnr.state.ga.us/wrd/showbc.php
G
Guest
Guest
Georgia has lots of big deer records. One KEY FACTOR is the vast majority of the counties they were killed in are more than 200 miles from our area.
SpurHunter
Well-known member
You are 100% right Cheez
hoggerhead
Well-known member
What about the double drop-tine buck hanging on the wall over at the deer master processors in rossville? The lady in there said her husband got it on lookout mountain years ago, and it looks like it would score around 160 or maybe more. I know for a fact, if hes still alive, There is a 160 class buck in nw ga. He was a solid 12 point last year, and was sporting a chocolate rack.
G
Guest
Guest
Well Jeremy if the buck hanging on the wall at the deer cooler scored 160 or better they should get it scored. It would be the biggest buck ever recorded from Walker or Chattooga county. I have seen bucks that were killed that guys thought were booners in the 160 -170 class but when they were officially scored they only made the 130-140 class. I really don't think guys are necessarily lying about these big deer but rather don't know exactly what it takes to make the "book" A great way to see what it takes is to go to the Buckarama and look at the B & C display. They have a huge number of bucks of all sizes and shapes along with their respective scores. They will even score a buck for you for free. I have watched the process and seen guys leave after finding out there trophy was nowhere close to what they thought it was scorewise.
