Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Login / Join

1023's 2018 Trail Cam Pics

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
Got a message from one of the locals this week and he's getting lots of pics of this buck. I'm hoping he shoots him since he's piling the corn and also drawing in a 3.5 year old that a few of us would like to pass, but this guy and a few others won't. So I'd be thrilled to see him shoot this one early so the young super star can get another year.

received_2186084851466420.jpeg
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
I agree. I'd like to see him get another year. I'm not as picky as I used to be, but I still want the good bucks to get to 4, preferably 5, so we get to see their true potential. A buck like this is appealing and without seeing his body, he might be 4+, but I can't help but wonder what he'd be like with another full year.
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
Oh, I'm still killing a buck out there one way or another. But I'd rather shoot one of the 5 basket racked 2.5-year-olds than the one 150" 3-year-old. Given a spike or a genetically superior 3-year old, I'll shoot the spike. I discussed this with one of the NC boys and he agrees we could kill a couple of the young, basic 8s and not hurt a damn thing from a management standpoint. I literally had 5 different 2.5-year-old 8s on the last cam check. So I stand by what I said earlier, I'm killing a buck out there this year (unless I kill a legit shooter somewhere else) but I'd rather it be one of the generic 8s than Lebron or this funky buck (assuming he's only 3). I'm still good with making exceptions for the rarities that sometimes wander in front of my cams.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MoonLab and giles

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
To expound a little further on the topic, I'd never pass a 4-year-old in hopes he becomes a 5-year-old. That's just nuts for 80 acres in a heavily hunted area. I also plan to pass the 2.5s that show something more than just basic genetics. My new philosophy is to hunt hard until gun season and hold myself to 4.5 or older. Come gun season, I'm flipping over to Mr. "Fill my buck tag every season" guy. They're made of meat and other than having fun, putting meat in the freezer/jar is what matters most these days. I've had enough tag soup to last a lifetime.

Small buck "grip and grins" to come from this guy! 😎
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
To expound a little further on the topic, I'd never pass a 4-year-old in hopes he becomes a 5-year-old. That's just nuts for 80 acres in a heavily hunted area. I also plan to pass the 2.5s that show something more than just basic genetics. My new philosophy is to hunt hard until hun season and hold myself to 4.5 or older. Come gun season, I'm flipping over to Mr. "Fill my buck tag every season" guy. They're made of meat and other than having fun, putting meat in the freezer/jar is what matters most these days. I've had enough tag soup to last a lifetime.

Small buck "grip and grins" to come from this guy! 😎
Sounds pretty close to the same “rules” I hold myself to anymore. I passed on a fine mature buck a couple of years ago because I was after a different one (just reread that thread the other day, Giles Den)...still upset with myself and that was opening hunt of 2015. I don’t plan on learning that lesson again. They’re all targets and trophies.