Dilemma

[hammer4reel]

Been watching a buck for 4 years now. 

He gets heavier every year, but is very tight racked, more than likely only a 13-14" spread each year.

He currently has bases that will push over 5  1/2"  G2 are about 9  1/2

G3 are 7 1/2 and brows are pushing 7 and carry's his mass all the way through to what started to be G4 .

IM pretty sure if I leave him go he would be be a tight racked 10 next year as a 5 year old but I doubt he will be any wider ever.

 

He is running with a  3 1/2 year old 8 point that is pushing over 20 " spread.

G2 are about 8. G3 are about 7  with  5" brows but he is thinner racked , probably 4" bases

 

as I tried to decide which deer I was going to take last night I was pretty torn.

 

Looking at the mass of the tight  racked buck knowing he isn't going to change much has me thinking its time to get him out of the gene pool..

 

The wider rack buck I think next year could turn into a bruiser .

 

BUT I just really like wider racks.

 

Thinking I may just pass them both and shoot a doe 

[Tarhunt]

I don't have that problem.

[3Blade]

I would shoot the older one. Give the 3.5 year old another year if you think he has a good shot of surviving till next season. 

Edited January 2, 2018 by 3Blade

[Russ 11]

Dan , i agree with 3Blade . If you want to kill a buck take the older deer . He's never going to be wide and no guarantee he's going to have 10 points next year . The 3 year old has more potential . Better yet , take the doe and I will come kill the old boy lol . Good luck !

[Haskell_Hunter]

Nice problem to have!  I would shoot the bigger of the bucks, mass-wise.  I am more meat than rack, so that's how I'd make my decision.  Plus, you get to take him out of the gene pool like you said.

[BHC]

Take the 5.5 yr old

[Lunatic]

Nice problem to have:-)

I would go after the older deer, unless your thing is a wide spread. There is a great degree of satisfaction from kill a mature buck, regardless of what he has on top. I also prefer mass over any other aspect of bucks rack.

[rocky]

 You already know the answer. 

[Rusty]

 You already know the answer. 

 

   

[mattg1500]

I had the same issue with a 1yr old spike and a nice mature squirrel. Id get the same amount of meat from both but the spike would make 2 knife handles. Man decisions decisions

[Woodsman416]

I like mass a lot more than air.

[JHbowhunter]

older buck for sure no brainer

[tcook8296]

Shoot the heavy one this year and hope the wide 8 makes it to next year. Its a nice problem to have

[Gobblengrunt]

I think you answered yourself. Hunt the older one which will most likely be very close to the same next year. If the 8pt has possible potential for something really great, let him grow! Good luck with which ever buck you hunt

[SPEARFISH]

Shoot 1 with the bow and 1 with the gun.