Opening Day Decisions - Shoot Your One Buck?

[BowVista]

The small (30ish acres) place I hunt is somewhat of a strange situation. I have a group of everyday deer. Each year, I choose the best deer out of the group, and set my sights on him. This year, however, I've had a few visits from unfamiliar bucks, some of whom have been pretty nice deer. Once rifle season starts, I see significantly less deer, and my regulars stop being regular. I have rifle hunters on the 2 open sides of the property I hunt, and I'm pretty sure they shoot anything good they see.

My hard decision is:

Do I shoot my one nice buck right away (a bird in the hand...), or do I wait a little while to see if I see something better, but risk losing my one good for sure buck?

What do you guys do in situations like this?

[Sippy]

if your happy, shoot it

i have yet to see a daytime deer this season so id pee myself if i saw a deer this weekend

[Mayhem]

i would shoot, before the shooting starts.

[slayer]

I always say why pass on opening day what you would shoot the last day, if you like the way he looks, drop him.

[Rockpit TX]

Pull the Trigger. Would you shoot him on the last day, then you should shoot him on the first day.

[WCB]

On 30 acres I'd shoot if he's good...

[jerp]

I'm hoping the first deer I see in range Saturday morning is a mature doe or a mutant spike. I'd rather not have to make the shoot/don't shoot decision on a marginal buck on the first weekend. Ours is now a 2 buck county with no AR's so that makes it a little easier. That being said, a shooter is a shooter - I'd take him

[jpbruni]

I made that mistake last year! Should have taken him, should have taken him, over and over in my mind. I say bird in the hand...

J.P.

[JMG]

Shoot your nice one now and hope the unfamiliar ones make it thru the season.

[bowhunterhelm]

Hat is a hard one. I have done just that. I shot an OK 8 one year in a one buck county and had to sit and watch a much better deer a few weeks later. I wanted to scare him off I was so sick to have to just sit there and watch.

Tough choice

[LoneWolf 333]

Depends on how many "Buck Tags" you have.

[BoneDigger]

Depends on how many "Buck Tags" you have.

Yep.

But, in general if it's a good buck I shoot. When the rut moves in there may be other bucks to consider if you have more tags.

Todd

[Speedgoat]

Take the mature one of the bunch. Horns are nice, but age is better. Just my .02!!! Good luck whatever you decide.

[Wood Rat]

Dude do you know how many years i said I will let him walk and end up at the wrong end of the stick, if you like him take him

[BowVista]

Depends on how many "Buck Tags" you have.

It's an antler restriction county, so this will be my only good buck. I've also got a regular visiting spike I'm going to try to kill with my recurve.