This is a question about what age to shoot low fence bucks at, but I want to set it up first so bear with me.
We have a small place in an original AR county bordered by a large ranch that doesn't hunt. Perfect situation other than some semi-management minded neighbors that seem to be a little trigger happy at times. I’ve tried to work with them but they do not seem to be interested. My plan is to try again, but I’m not real optimistic that something can be worked out. There are a couple of other places that are hunted around the same ranch within a couple of miles on either side that I have zero relationship with. I feed protein 9 months out of the year, plant a fairly sizeable winter food plot, and provide water in dry years. We have had our place for over 20 years and progressively have become more management minded and are to the point where we consistently kill above average deer for our area. Most of the deer we end up killing are “home bodies” that we watch year after year. We have had one of these “regulars” that had great potential go to the neighbors and get shot as a 3 or 4 year old, but that’s low fence hunting. We have had some others that have disappeared that I feel like I would have heard about had they been killed but I never did. Overall I think we have been fairly fortunate, but I’m a firm believer that the protein and food plots are a huge advantage to us and allows us to hold more deer.
So, herein lies the question. At what age would you try to let what you consider a “trophy” deer get to in this situation assuming that is a deer you see on a regular basis? Would you change this age if it was a deer that came around only a time or two a year? What if it was a deer you have never seen and/or had on cameras?
Just want to get your opinions.
We have a small place in an original AR county bordered by a large ranch that doesn't hunt. Perfect situation other than some semi-management minded neighbors that seem to be a little trigger happy at times. I’ve tried to work with them but they do not seem to be interested. My plan is to try again, but I’m not real optimistic that something can be worked out. There are a couple of other places that are hunted around the same ranch within a couple of miles on either side that I have zero relationship with. I feed protein 9 months out of the year, plant a fairly sizeable winter food plot, and provide water in dry years. We have had our place for over 20 years and progressively have become more management minded and are to the point where we consistently kill above average deer for our area. Most of the deer we end up killing are “home bodies” that we watch year after year. We have had one of these “regulars” that had great potential go to the neighbors and get shot as a 3 or 4 year old, but that’s low fence hunting. We have had some others that have disappeared that I feel like I would have heard about had they been killed but I never did. Overall I think we have been fairly fortunate, but I’m a firm believer that the protein and food plots are a huge advantage to us and allows us to hold more deer.
So, herein lies the question. At what age would you try to let what you consider a “trophy” deer get to in this situation assuming that is a deer you see on a regular basis? Would you change this age if it was a deer that came around only a time or two a year? What if it was a deer you have never seen and/or had on cameras?
Just want to get your opinions.
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