Mule Deer over Money

[Ralphie]

Makes perfect sense...



We'd rather eat game we kill than buy beef(except the occasional ribeye), regardless of the cost of either.

The reason it does make sense for shooting immature males or females of the other species is they aren’t struggling as a species.

 

[Garrett Soper]

Depends on the tag and what state and how many critters you’ve Killed.
I’ve hunted mule deer twice, Montana 2021 which was my first mule deer hunt at 28. Missed a 3 point and ate my tag. Didn’t want to kill a fork n horn knowing that deer numbers are low.
Hunted for the second time with a muzzleloader in my home state of Oregon killed a 4 year old fork n horn. Hunted hard for 6 days before I had an opportunity to kill a buck. Doing so with a smoke pole was awesome Up close and personal.
Elk I’m shooting first legal bull I see. I’ve killed 5 elk in 12 years of archery hunting. Some years I only got out 2-3 days due to work and family. With the limited time I have I don’t pass elk up. As I get more and more time I may become more selective but I doubt it. I like the meat.

 

[ReddingArcher]

For me it depends on the hunt. I’ve eaten more tags than I’ve filled on out of state hunts. I usually go into the hunt telling myself what kind of buck I’m willing to take and won’t shoot something just to shoot something. It just doesn’t mean much to me to shoot little deer anymore.

 

[CMF]

The reason it does make sense for shooting immature males or females of the other species is they aren’t struggling as a species.

Mule deer don't appear to struggle in the areas I've hunted them.

The state has objectives. The more people that pass on deer the more tags the state will issue to keep herds in objective.

 

[manitou1]

Mule deer don't appear to struggle in the areas I've hunted them.

The state has objectives. The more people that pass on deer the more tags the state will issue to keep herds in objective.

Mule deer are in decline nationwide.

 

[JackButler]

To each their own, no judgement. I’ve killed enough deer that a Muley that scores below 160 doesn’t interest me much. Yes this does mean I eat some tags lol.

 

[CNEdeer307]

I'll Happily eat a tag. If I don't love the critter I'm going to shoot I feel guilty taking it. the Mule deer numbers are in dramatic decline in our neck of the woods and out of frustration its becoming more an more common for hunters (resident and nonresident) to settle on immature deer to fill a tag. This only amplifies the issue. my rule of thumb while hunting out of state is to treat their game as if it was my own. if I wouldn't harvest it in my state, I won't in yours. that said, it seems the demographic of hunters that are harvesting smaller bucks and does out of frustration are pretty casual and have a pre determined idea of what a western hunt should be because they saw a Mule deer hunt on TV that takes place on a 15,000 acre private ranch and expect 150 inch bucks in every other draw. They don't seem to be the type of hunters who put their time in, and frequent forums like Rokslide...

 

[treydfoster]

Out of state hunting is for horns, fun, and a new experience. If I don't find the horns I am looking for, then I eat tag soup. I would rather do that, then explain why I shot a dink.

I ain't explaining anything to anybody who doesn't have a badge.

 

[S.Clancy]

I'm always curious what people mean when the say "looking for a mature deer"....Like, is 4.5 yrs old mature enough? Or is it just another way of saying, "I'm waiting for a big deer", cause age doesn't mean big and big doesn't mean old.

 

[PathFinder]

4.5 is a generally accepted value. Antler size data suggests the majority of bucks peak at 4-5.
This is a good example of an old buck that isn't big. And I'd happily shoot him on most hunts. The 2 yr old 3x4 (not pictured) in the same group looks like a puppy next to him.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Hnthrdr]

4.5 is a generally accepted value. Antler size data suggests the majority of bucks peak at 4-5.
This is a good example of an old buck that isn't big. And I'd happily shoot him on most hunts. The 2 yr old 3x4 (not pictured) in the same group looks like a puppy next to him.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

Holy antler bases Batman!!!

 

[Firestone]

I'll eat the tag. I don't have a problem with people filling the freezer though. To each their own.

"Never shoot something on the last day that you would pass up on the first day"

 

[Customweld]

I'll eat the tag. I don't have a problem with people filling the freezer though. To each their own.

"Never shoot something on the last day that you would pass up on the first day"

I thought it was never pass something on the first day that you'd shoot on the last day. Apparently I've gotten this whole hunting thing wrong!

 

[LostWapiti]

I'll eat the tag. I don't have a problem with people filling the freezer though. To each their own.

"Never shoot something on the last day that you would pass up on the first day"

Why eat the tag though? If you shoot that deer who won’t ever be any bigger then you make room for another deer in the herd.

I guess you could figure maybe someone else may shoot him and you are saving a young deer they would have shot but that’s hopeful.

Either way, if the deer isn’t bigger than ones I have shot before then there isn’t that much interest in it for me so I get it.

 

[Fatcamp]

I'm not sure I want to kill any mule deer much less a young one. And 100% we don't kill mule deer does in my house.

Wife and kid can shoot any buck they want, as can anyone else, but I certainly judge when people shoot does with our population struggling like it is. Makes no sense to me, but this isn't a once every ten years thing for me.

 

[JackButler]

I thought it was never pass something on the first day that you'd shoot on the last day. Apparently I've gotten this whole hunting thing wrong!

I actually agree with your thought process on this one. I had to make this decision myself this year. I had a hard to get tag in a great area. Was hunting without a guide. 2nd morning of a 14 day hunt I have a 250 yard shot on a 370 bull. I took him and was thrilled. I’m much more of a mule deer hunter so this was the first “real” bull I’ve taken. Previously just shot first legal elk , bull or cow, on general otc tags. That said, could I have gotten a bigger one if I’d held out?

 

[Firestone]

I actually agree with your thought process on this one. I had to make this decision myself this year. I had a hard to get tag in a great area. Was hunting without a guide. 2nd morning of a 14 day hunt I have a 250 yard shot on a 370 bull. I took him and was thrilled. I’m much more of a mule deer hunter so this was the first “real” bull I’ve taken. Previously just shot first legal elk , bull or cow, on general otc tags. That said, could I have gotten a bigger one if I’d held out?

Haha that's a stud bull in any unit. Nice work

 

[S.Clancy]

I actually agree with your thought process on this one. I had to make this decision myself this year. I had a hard to get tag in a great area. Was hunting without a guide. 2nd morning of a 14 day hunt I have a 250 yard shot on a 370 bull. I took him and was thrilled. I’m much more of a mule deer hunter so this was the first “real” bull I’ve taken. Previously just shot first legal elk , bull or cow, on general otc tags. That said, could I have gotten a bigger one if I’d held out?

The only person passing that bull is Papa John

 

[KurtR]

I'm not sure I want to kill any mule deer much less a young one. And 100% we don't kill mule deer does in my house.

Wife and kid can shoot any buck they want, as can anyone else, but I certainly judge when people shoot does with our population struggling like it is. Makes no sense to me, but this isn't a once every ten years thing for me.

Thats how it works in my house now also. The mule deer are so down no sense in shooting does. My wife is only interested in big deer and my kid when it comes to mule deer isnt interested in shooting any young dinks to just fill a tag plenty of whitetails around for that

 

[TripleJ]

When I travel out of state on a mule deer hunt, it's all or nothing on a mature buck. So far, I have eaten my tag on 3 out of state MD hunts (2 archery, 1 rifle) but that's alright. I have seen a few bucks I would put my tag on but never had a shot opportunity. I have passed on some younger bucks. It's just not worth it to me to shoot a dink when it costs so much to do those hunts. Between elk and deer, I fill my freezer on hunts in my home state.