Should this be my first bow kill buck?

[Mudshack]

Cheri, I would say he is a PERFECT 1st buck. Only problem would be if you are in a 13" county. He is not outside the ears, and therefore must be close to the 13" mark. (personally I think he looks 16"+ inside spread, but the rules say outside the ears is the guide for 13").

[djc]

Take him!

What Jason said

[billfromtx]

go for it, it would be a great first

I whack him..

[Branham]

He looks 5.5 to me. I would let one fly on that for sure!!

[Legdog]

It's a coin toss.

If your goal is to only shoot pope and young deer, you might not shoot a lot of deer in your life (depending on what kind of ranches you have access to). Of course, sacrifice is part of the game.

Will that left side fill out next year? Hard to say but the odds are against it. Will he survive to next year? Probably. Will he learn to be nocturnal and die of old age? Who knows!? Point is, this is hunting, there are tons of variables to consider.

Bottom line... as a new female archer with one doe in the ice chest the chioce is easy for me.

He's a tremendous deer. Take him.

[TXJon]

I'd take him, but I'm not horn hunter and it doesn't take much to impress me!

[James]

I say he would be an awesome first bow kill, especially for a low fence in your area.... I say 3.5 years

[Reckless Cheri]

Y'all have been great. I can't wait to get back out there tomorrow and give it a shot. Pardon the pun. I kind of agree with MC on the age. I was thinkin' he is at least 4.5 or older just judging by his body. God willing I always eat what I kill so I like the fact that he has allot of meat on him too. Thanks for all the advice and hopefully I will have LDP's of him soon.

[Smart]

I kind of agree with MC

Rule #5.......don't agree with MC he's never right......

[dcbrown]

I'd let the air out of him....

[Peta-hata]

Nothing wrong with that buck. Practicing deer management does not make you a good bow hunter, it makes you a good trophy hunter. Nothing wrong with being either one. Shoot him if you want to then try and top him next year and so on....

[Dale Moser]

If it feels good.......do it!


That would be a FINE 1st buck!

[texag93]

That is your call. I say he is 4yrs old, nice buck. Don't let the 41lbs scare you. A sharp broadhead right behind the shoulder will kill him as dead as a 70lb would. If he makes you happy, take him. Good luck.

[TENRMORE]

I would shoot him, especially for your first bow kill, like other people said don't let the poundage scare you. My son shot his first deer, a spike last year w/40 pounds and it ran about 100 yards. Shoot it!!!

[DaveC]

Here's the way I look at it when dealing with firsts.....

#1 he would be a first.

#2 he is a fine buck..especially for a first.

#3 there are no guarantees he will be back next year so you might as well make the first one a nice one.

#4 you can obviously grow another.

#5 there is no reason to jump into "trophy hunter" right off the bat. Put the trophy deer manager mentality on hold for awhile. Enjoy the firsts, enjoy the hunting, enjoy the excitement..... There will be plenty of time to start the "trophies or nothing mentality" later (like right after you shoot this one) Right now just enjoy the fact that you have deer like that to stick...I'd be proud of it for sure had it been my first....and yes it is way bigger than my first.... Good Luck and stick 'em.....

Great post.

Smoke that bad bow and mount him. He is a trophy already IMHO.