Would you shoot this deer?

Never killed a mule deer.
So
He would be my first one.
You would be seeing how he looked in the back of my truck.
He has sired numerous offspring.

Nice deer.

If thats the typical quality of the area I'd probably want to see his fronts and left side better, his right front looks a little shallow but if his left is strong and not crabby I'd wait till he hits the top of the little dirt mound on the right then bounce him of it! I my area I would't need to see more it would be all about the shot!

I don't know what some of these guys have done to ruin a mule deer but that's some fine eating on the hoof right there, the finest eating animal we had from last year was my daughter's rutting Thanksgiving buck, just melts in your mouth goodness! I don't find whitetail all that great, just grind them up into sausage!!

Meat hunting, I pass all antlered deer. Trophy hunting I would plan on taking him to my taxidermist.

Hespco said:

Would you shoot this deer or consider leaving it for seed for more like him in the future
? No right or wrong answer. I realize it could be a trophy of a lifetime. Just wondering what others might consider?

Click to expand...

No I wouldn't shoot the one on the left

Yes.

Taco John said:

Doesn't look very fat or delicious.

Click to expand...

Hespco said:

Would you shoot this deer or consider leaving it for seed for more like him in the future
? No right or wrong answer. I realize it could be a trophy of a lifetime. Just wondering what others might consider?

Click to expand...

He can't be more than 100 yards away. I'd hit him in the neck just above the shoulders. Easy shot.

>Is it land I would have permission to hunt?
>Distance to game?
>Temperature, elevation, angle, direction, wind near me- mid- at game.
>Any other game spooking these two?
>Are the calm or fidgety? (getting ready to bed in morning)
>Am I 99.5% positive I can make a good hit at this distance?
>What is beyond the deer? thicket, drop off, campground, Hi-way.
***Maybe only 2 of these questions will be a factor, Have an answer for all of them for every hunting shot.

As a addendum to my previous post: "only once"! I'd shoot him "only" once! memtb

greenejc said:

He can't be more than 100 yards away. I'd hit him in the neck just above the shoulders. Easy shot.

Click to expand...

That was my wife's call, also! I've always opposed neck or head shots, as the head or neck can move much quicker (something alerted the animal at the time of shot) than mid-body. A small movement of head or neck can produce an "ugly", debilitating injury, rather than an instant kill! Slip the bullet in, just forward of the left ham, you'll take out the diaphragm, one lung, and possibly the liver. He'll bleed-out pretty quickly! memtb

Hespco said:

Would you shoot this deer or consider leaving it for seed for more like him in the future
? No right or wrong answer. I realize it could be a trophy of a lifetime. Just wondering what others might consider?

Click to expand...

I don't think so...I would take the smaller rack to the left.

Lenny Foffa said:

YES!!!! Im 71 years old, and have never seen one that big in the field. Yes, my .270 would go BANG

Click to expand...

Old timer to old timer, I'm right there with you except mine is not a 270.

This picture was taken on public land about 3 weeks ago. I was on a scouting trip looking for deer for my up coming hunt later this month. Well away from where the crowds would be. I was using a telephoto lens & the range was about 150yds. Other bucks I've seen lately are well out of velvet so I would assume this buck would be also. These deer were totally unaware of my presence on a ledge above them. O ya I'm 75 & still well able to hunt & pack out my meat.

Hespco said:

This picture was taken on public land about 3 weeks ago. I was on a scouting trip looking for deer for my up coming hunt later this month. Well away from where the crowds would be. I was using a telephoto lens & the range was about 150yds. Other bucks I've seen lately are well out of velvet so I would assume this buck would be also. These deer were totally unaware of my presence on a ledge above them. O ya I'm 75 & still well able to hunt & pack out my meat.

Click to expand...

At 75 you're old enough to know better and young enough to do it again. Kill him!!!!