Target Buck Down!

[Gman]

Unfortunately not by me.  I've been watching this deer for a few years and passed on him last year, I wanted to see how he would look this fall.

I've had a crazy work and life schedule this season and haven't been able to out, I have Halloween week off and that is when I planned to get after this buck.   I got a text Monday from my cousin, a friend of his son killed this deer over the weekend.  I really dont know how I feel, clearly disappointed, but I haven't put my time in to hunt, a bit upset because I thought I was the only person hunting this somewhat hidden gem of public property, and I'm happy for the young guy who put in the effort to kill this deer.  I also feel like I've lost my motivation to get out there...

How do you guys feel when someone else kills your target buck?  

Here he is last December.... this year he grew 7-8" brow tines. 

[3Blade]

That happened to me last season. It sucks but I was genuinely happy for the hunter. Nothing you could do but move on🤷🏽‍♂️ I also got a text to makes sure I wasn’t hunting a ghost , so that was nice of them . 

[Buck154]

Let’s see pictures of him this year? Kind of odd to grow that much on the brows alone. They are the part that changes the least most of the time year to year. 

[NJDeerNBeer]

Frustrating for sure!  Every piece of public has someone in it even if there isn't signs that someone is there.  A lot of guys are using saddles now.  I think a lot of these deer move more than we know especially at night so other people are getting hem on camera and know they are around.  The rut is right around the corner and you never know what will be cruising by one of your spots from here on out.

[Slayer1962]

I literally have never had  target buck. I have deer hunted over 45 years and i use cameras.

I hunt mostly public land and the private i get to hunt wants dead deer or they will get someone else.

I guess if i had great property and limited access i would give it a try. Public land if i like it I am shooting it. 

[Rusty]

Nice buck!   It sucks but congrats to the other hunter, I’m sure he’s very happy.   

[bushden]

1 hour ago, Gman said:

Unfortunately not by me.  I've been watching this deer for a few years and passed on him last year, I wanted to see how he would look this fall.

I've had a crazy work and life schedule this season and haven't been able to out, I have Halloween week off and that is when I planned to get after this buck.   I got a text Monday from my cousin, a friend of his son killed this deer over the weekend.  I really dont know how I feel, clearly disappointed, but I haven't put my time in to hunt, a bit upset because I thought I was the only person hunting this somewhat hidden gem of public property, and I'm happy for the young guy who put in the effort to kill this deer.  I also feel like I've lost my motivation to get out there...

How do you guys feel when someone else kills your target buck?  

Here he is last December.... this year he grew 7-8" brow tines. 

I would NEVER  let a deer like that go ON PUBLIC LAND no matter how secret you think your spot is there is always someone else in the area.

[Deerslayer21]

you cant eat the Horns !!!!!!   Who gives a crap !  Dont give up man .  Get out there and hunt ... Ive been out like 2 times this year and I cant wait to go even If i dont shoot something. I will end up shooting one eventually.   Pick your head up and go enjoy the day !!1

[megavites]

i've had some really  good bucks on cam and on a few occasions seem them in the field that ultimately disappeared on me. These deer will at some point pass under someone elses stand. All you can do is keep at. One day it will be your turn on the roulette wheel.

[chenrossi]

Precisely why I don’t obsess over targeting a particular deer I get on camera. If I get an opportunity at one sweet, but I won’t let myself lose sleep the fear of someone else getting to it before me. If they do, good for them. They were in the right place at the right time and I wasn’t. 

[Gman]

57 minutes ago, Buck154 said:

Let’s see pictures of him this year? Kind of odd to grow that much on the brows alone. They are the part that changes the least most of the time year to year. 

I don't have their permission to post the picture, I may have exaggerated a bit but the brows are more than double the length, looking at the text msg pic perhaps 5-6 inches.  I haven't put out any cameras this year so I guess I can hope that there were 2 bucks like this in the area.  Big rack for zone 2. 

[Michael Britt]

1 hour ago, Gman said:

Unfortunately not by me.  I've been watching this deer for a few years and passed on him last year, I wanted to see how he would look this fall.

I've had a crazy work and life schedule this season and haven't been able to out, I have Halloween week off and that is when I planned to get after this buck.   I got a text Monday from my cousin, a friend of his son killed this deer over the weekend.  I really dont know how I feel, clearly disappointed, but I haven't put my time in to hunt, a bit upset because I thought I was the only person hunting this somewhat hidden gem of public property, and I'm happy for the young guy who put in the effort to kill this deer.  I also feel like I've lost my motivation to get out there...

How do you guys feel when someone else kills your target buck?  

Here he is last December.... this year he grew 7-8" brow tines. 

It's better than the feeling you would have if you wounded him and didn't recover...

[Gman]

28 minutes ago, Michael Britt said:

It's better than the feeling you would have if you wounded him and didn't recover...

That's a very true statement!  Fortunately I have never experienced that with a rack buck, not that I've shot and recovered dozens of  big deer...  but I know how crappy it is to wound and lose any animal.

[Psehunter]

I only had it happen once to me where someone killed a buck I was after. Heart breaking but it ended up being someone that is a member on here who lives up the street from me and we have become good friends  because of it haha

[Greybeard]

Had that happen more times than I can count.  Just motivates me to try harder next time and take the first opportunity instead of waiting to see how big he'll get.  Get out and find another.  There's more someplace.