Years before you notice?
Contributors to this thread:West Virginia
From: sundaynwv
22-Aug-14
For those of you that made the decision to let small bucks walk; how long was it before you noticed better bucks?
I firmly believe that a hunter notices it the very next year. As evidence, notice how many big bucks are killed in WV the year after a low harvest.
I know variables such as size of land and ajoining landowners make a huge difference, but it all starts with one individual.
From: gobbler
22-Aug-14
For an overall improvement of all bucks, size and numbers it took me about 4-5 years.
From: WVM&M
22-Aug-14
2009 let him walk
From: WVM&M
22-Aug-14
2010 let him walk
From: WVM&M
22-Aug-14
2011 didn't see him until first Friday of gun season. Letting them walk pays off. (I know this isn't a Booner but in my neck of the woods a good buck)
From: grizzlys61
23-Aug-14
I dont know how long it takes, but this is kind of deer you cant get by letting them walk,
From: grizzlys61
23-Aug-14
Letting them walk does pay off, but that is hard to do in wv .
From: Bennett2012
23-Aug-14
I notice it every year when I let one walk when the neighbors show it to me in the back of there truck
From: babysaph
23-Aug-14
Same with me Bennett.
From: JayD
23-Aug-14
Some times even when you don't let them walk they end up in the back of your neighbor's truck! Last year the first Wednesday of the season I shot a very nice buck - started tracking him after about a 30 to 40 minute wait. When I got to him about 220 yards away - all I found was a gut pile!
