Don't shoot the dinks

[major]

Found this page on antler development kind of interesting. 

http://mnqdm.com/images/DeerAntler01.jpg

[Husky Jerk]

I agree with the simple fact that you should only harvest older deer, but I also want to point out that there are other factors that need to also be considered (genetics, food, hard winters, etc...). 

You can improve the herd a lot by planting food plots for the winter months.  You can also help the genetics by maintaining a good doe to buck ratio, which will keep the inferior bucks from breeding as many does and allow the dominant buck with the better genetics to do most of the breeding.

Again, I agree with letting the bucks get old enough before shooting them.  I would rather shoot a doe with my bow than an imature buck during any season.

Thanks,  HJ

[gunner]

10-4 good buddy.
There are way too many people that shoot basket racks and spikes just to say they got a buck. Most of the time they have less meat than a good doe, so why not shoot for the meat if your not going to shoot a nice buck.

[mn76]

I agree with you guys on letting the little ones go, but when you hunt public land you have to take what you can. I have let little ones come by me just to watch the guy next to me shoot it. So when i hunt public in east river i will shot it as long as it isn't babie.

[gunner]

Shoot the bambie not the spike they taste better.  but if you ca give all the little ones a chance, if somebody else chooses to shoot the one you let go,  it just go's to prove that they aren't hunters they are just shooters.

[mn76]

I don't agree with that statment that if someone shoots a small one they aren't hunters they are shooters. Some people don't care what they shoot they just want the meat, i am not going to spend a extra day just so i can shoot a doe if all i am seeing is small bucks i will shoot one, but if there is a buck and doe standing together the doe will drop, but i hunt for the meat not the horns, the horns are a bonus.

[gunner]

I'm talking about the guys that shoot a dink in the first two days mostly the first day just because they want to be able to say they got a buck or just to be done right away. Finding the deer you want is most of what hunting is, even when I'm done for the season I generally help friends and family with theirs, just because I love it so much.  My wife hunts deer w/me so I tend to do the majority of walking and pushing so she can have the good shots at everything.  I've hunted for 15 years now so I've shot my fair share of deer and have come to learn to appreciate the hunt.  Not just the quick kill.  This year was exactly what you stated for me. While We were out we couldn't have hardly bought a doe, just lots of small bucks and a few mounters, kinda sucked because we decided not to hunt for horns, just the meat so we only applied for antlerless.  Normally I see lots of nice does, but this year was just different.  I don't mean to step on any toes, sorry.

[littlecatches]

when i brought my deer to the locker this year, everything i saw was 2 by 2 or 3 by 3. really pyathitic! These guys then came in from iowa all happy and saying they shot a buck. they pulled it out of the truck and just a perfect little 3 by 3. Next year he would of been real nice, so i gave him my $.02 on his deer and left. Prolly wont be seeing him again.. haha. I heard by shotting the small fawns it good.. If they are that small (less than 100lbs or so) they only hurt the heard. They will get pregnant and give birth to other deer that have disorders. Like those little goofy bucks that will never grow up to be trophy's. I'm only 19 but have shot enough deer to know the difference between a nice buck and a trophy. Only time i shot, either bow or rifle or black powder, is if its a wall hanger.