[deerhunter61]

I went to the lease for the last time before season to fill up my feeders. AGH! What a mess! At one feeder I found a ton of corn beneath the feeder that had not been touched. After I cleaned up the mess I looked at everything and realized somehow the Motor/timer box had slid down so the gap had increased a ton. I guess I did that without realizing it the last time I messed with the battery. Anyway after I repaired it I filled it with corn and then I went to check the game cam to see if anything had come to the feeder. This is the best buck on the game cam.

What do you think? is he a shooter?

What do you think the spread is?

I figure he will score about 125...your thoughts?

He also looks to be about 3 1/2, your thoughts?

[wyohome]

I would feed him for another year if I were raising deer.

[IdahoLT1]

Youre not hunting for meat? Hell, i'd take a spike if i was guaranteed something. A trophy buck would be a plus, but thats not the main reaso I hunt.

[seniordep2010]

I know I posted on the other website, but if I were hunting for meat, which is the main the reason I hunt I'd shoot it, but even as a trophy I shoot it, but I dont shoot anything just for a trophy, personal preference.

[deerhunter61]

Wyohome,

And perhaps if I had the op to hunt in Wyoming I would hunt the way people in Wyoming hunt...I guess it is always more fun taking pot shots at folks and situations you are not in...hum....funny how that works.

[BigMustard]

The second I saw that buck I knew it was a Texas buck, I'd take it!

[bowman1962]

If that weld wire fence is an 8 X 8 than he looks to be about 16" inside. Depending on what the deer in your area are like I'd say he's a shooter in most of the country, not alot of mass but given the option of shooting him or waiting on something better, I would put him in the freezer. But I'm awful fond of Grilled Venison Backstrap.

[Tim the student]

Normally I say if it's brown it's down, but since this is on your lease I would wait another year. Any other bucks with potiential on cam?

[bad_aim_billy]

It's a mature buck, right? Why not shoot it? I'm confused...

[AKElroy]

If you are high fenced & all alone, I would see what he looks like next year. If you are sharing this lease, I would not count on your hunter neighbors being that patient. I would take him---

[schlockinz]

Personally, unless you want the meat, I'd let it go another year for the horns and shoot the does for meat.

[blackops]

The buck is a shooter and I don't care what part of the country you are in. Whether to shoot him or not is up to the hunter. What are you looking for, a rack or meat? Sounds to me with your questions regarding spread you're looking for a rack and with that question I would put his spread 16-18in. Regarding points I would put him in the 115-130 range. I would give him another year because I shoot for racks first and meat second (even though I love the meat). I can buy plenty of meat from the store, they don't sell 5 x 5 30in spread muley racks there. One more year should put that deer (physically) in his prime. Another year will also give him another chance to pass his seed along for the upcoming years.

[chevyforlife21]

why wouldnt you shoot it? as long as its legal.

[chas08]

why wouldnt you shoot it? as long as its legal.
Because here in Texas we really don't "Deer Hunt" anymore. We "Deer Ranch" and slaughter. We raise them up till they are of a sufficient trophy size then we kill them. And we pay huge amounts of money to do this. (well, I don't anymore) As to the OP's original question; He's probably about 18 inches outside spred and kind of pencil horned. I would give him another year to see if he developes the tenth point (I could only see nine) As to age, its hard to judge from a photo but I'd go along with your guess. Some ranches, the fact he has an odd number of points makes him a cull at 3 1/2 years. I ascribe to the belief that trophy's come in all shapes and sizes. Just because I might pass him doesn't mean you have to. As long as he is legal in the eyes of the law and by all lease agreements, there would be nothing wrong with taking that animal. I just want to add; I'm a native Texan and have hunted here all my life except for the years I spent in the military.
I would feed him for another year if I were raising deer.
We hunt this way because of the lack of other opportunities in our state. I'd much rather be roaming where I pleased, shooting what I pleased but in Texas, that could get you killed.

[deerhunter61]

Chas08,

THANK YOU! I could not have said it better! Here in Texas we get a lot of grief for using feeders etc but you hit the nail on the head about getting killed in this state hunting in other ways. I hunted on public land for years and after having a couple of bullets zing past my head and then hear what sounded like a fully automatic rifle going off I retired from hunting for a couple of years. But I simply missed it and finally decided to get on a lease and cave in to the Texas way. For those who live in a wide open state where you have the op to spot and stalk I envy you! You are very fortunate!

[chas08]

deerhunter61
If you don't mind my asking. What county do you hunt in? That other Buck in the night photo looks like he has potential also. I lost my lease last year to "big money" out of Houston. I'm of sufficient age that it doesn't mean as much to me as it once did. I am however going to miss the "camp life" and commaraderie. I still have Ducks, Geese and Saltwater Fishing.

[deerhunter61]

I hunt in Mason County. I got on it last year and did not know a single person on the lease when I got on it. I am very fortunate that the other guys are all pretty good guys.

[freakshow10mm]

Looks like he's made of meat. I'd kill him.

[MCgunner]

On my place, if it walks, it dies. :D Really, there's no trophy possible down there. LOL

[nathan]

Primary is meat . Trophy rack would be secondary . Either way i want to bring some venison home to enjoy for my family .

[okierifleman]

Depends on what your lease is capable of producing. If thats as good as it gets, by all means. If it isnt, than let him walk.

[chas08]

Mason County

Ahh.. the heart of the "Hill Country". You have to always remember where you are hunting and not expect more than the land and/or your management program can produce. For your average hill country lease I'd say that buck is definitely a shooter. I never got into B&C scores and all that. If it didn't make my heart go pitty..pat when I first seen it... It got a walk. Of course it took a few Deer and a few years to mature to that point. :D

[ms6852]

Personally, unless you want the meat, I'd let it go another year for the horns and shoot the does for meat.
Have to agree with schlockinz. The buck is to young figure about 3 to 4 years. I would wait for the horns, kill now for the meet, but if possible kill does for the meet. This buck needs to be allowed to produce more off spring.

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Depends. Archery, yes. ML or gun, tough call. Depends on whether you think he'd survive another year from other hunters. If yes, then I'd wait.

[deerhunter61]

Hey Dr. I was wondering when you were going to weigh in. Thanks. I think I am going to wait perhaps toward the end of the season things might change but for now I will let him walk. Perhaps i will simply shoot him with the 35mm.

[d2wing]

When I was in Texas it suprised me to find out there is almost no public hunting land. Lot's of deer in the hill country but to hunt you need a deer lease. Don't look for the wide open spaces because someone owns them and has them posted. Not much is open to the general public.
In Sweden they have what is called everyman's land. Someplaces you cannot be denied access, privately owned or not. But then you don't want squatters all over like some places either. I dunno that taxpayers want to buy up land for hunting like they do in some states.