We had several pictures of this buck this fall. Tony(my son) had him at 30 yards Saturday feeding behind a doe, he let him walk!

Tony said he would score in the mid 130's, he has spit brow tines as well as the double drop tines. I asked Tony why would you let a double drop tine walk? He said, "he has too much potential, this late in the year he has a very good chance to make it to next year. He's a "homebody", we put cameras back out and watch him, look for his sheds and then watch how he turns out before next season."

That's my boy!

He's got three more weekends and a couple big 10's to hunt. He'll eat the tag before he will kill what he passed.

That is great. Takes a lot to let deer walk, let alone a double drop tine. Hopefully it pays off and he grows a bunch next year.

Great looking deer. I hope he stays home.

Attaboy tony!

Reminds me of a mid 160's buck we let walk last year cause we knew he was a 3 year old.

This year......one of the guys that helped in passing him last year got his MONSTER paycheck.

The toughest bucks in the woods to pass are 130-150.....but lead to GIANTS in upcoming years.

Congrats on your kid understanding that....

If he'd been 15 yards closer, Idda poked him full of holes with my long bow!!!!

Cool deer...looks like a youngster...good decision. From the very few drop tine bucks we've been lucky enough to have around in past years, we found out they don't necessarily grow drops the next year. We've got the sheds from 2 different bucks with big drops and in both cases their racks grew back as clean typicals the next year.

around here if someone passed on a deer like that in gun season, the guy sitting on the fence row next door would blast him in a second

76chevy....... if "someone" passes that deer, he has a 100% better chance at surviving another year.

This 136 acre tract we own is land locked, we own a mere 36 foot access to the pie shaped property. Anyone on the other 3 sides could harvest this deer. What we know is unless we let him grow...... we never know what he could become.

What we live by..... don't shoot what you pass early in the season. Early means before the last day......

Whats the + in the tree behind him ? or is it just a blur on the camera

That's the mouse pointer from the computer. Looks like this was a "picture of a picture" on a computer screen.

That's why we work/talk/have a good relationship with our neighbors. A few here say often "who cares about your neighbors"......

Negative tactics with your neighbors get negative results on what deer you want to make it. Don't blame your shot on that deer due to "what the neighbors will do". That's putting 100 percent blame on them for your choice.....when at best they may have had a much less of a chance in even seeing that buck.

Amazing what choices we make that we then "blame on the neighbors" .......

Weak....

That will be a nice trophy if he makes it through to next year, good luck.

Joe, that is a nice young buck, and I hope it makes through where one of you guys can harvest him one day. I can guarantee that he has a LOT better chance where you are at then where I am at. But, I am going to have to politely disagree with what you and Tim are saying. Under the RIGHT circumstances, it makes perfect sense to pass those 130" to 150" deer. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have those RIGHT circumstances. You are correct in saying he isn't going to get any bigger in the freezer. But, in areas where there are literally more hunters than deer (not just bucks), but ALL deer in an area, odds are he's not going to make it. I have worked my AZZ off to make a difference for the last 15 years. I've preached, tried to reason with, tried to SHOW to the neighbors what they are doing. Bottom line is, I can't, and shouldn't force my way of hunting on them. They are going to do what they want regardless. Time has proven that. I have passed deer after deer after deer, only to see their heads cut off and laying in the corner of some Amish's barn. I hunt the BEST deer available, and in the last 10 years, thats been a 135" deer on average. If that wasn't my "standard", I would NEVER kill a buck. A doe is still out of the question for me, as they get hammered just as bad. SO, if I want some venison, that's just what its going to be, that 135" buck. Now, I know you are going to say, "travel to where the deer are at", but that also is not an option. I'll just make due with what I have. I have come to the realization, that 160" deer is not in the cards. Just don't knock guys ("Weak" comment) for their decisions Tim........Even YOU couldn't kill a 160" deer down here Tim. And thats giving you 5 years to do it!

Exactly +1..... Every situation is different espicialy if your "neighbors " are folks that actually eat Deer meat on a regular basics !!!

Well said Yaz...

99% of the guys I've talked to that blame their choice to shoot "on the neighbors".......Have never actually talked or tried to work with the neighbors.

That is WEAK......that is the context I'm coming from.

Does not apply to people like yourself Yaz that have done everything they can with their neighbors and those that hunt the area.

I feel your pain.....

Good luck hope he makes it for ya!

Cool deer, but if you have bigger let him walk. Even as a typical he will be bigger next year. For me it is about shooting the oldest deer in the woods, not the largest rack. That looks like a fairly young deer; I think you are right to pass it. If it would be your biggest buck then shoot him. The double drops would be make it harder, but for me I have three eights that look just like that. I'm looking for my first HRB buck now, but I still want him to be 3.5 or older.