Would you shoot a 60" basket six-point?
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: Bowriter
31-May-18
Two young bucks approach. One is a hard-antlered, basket six-point. The other is a velvet-antlered, basket six-point. How many would shoot the velvet-antlered buck just because he is in velvet? Serious question.
From: Shawn
31-May-18
Depends where I was hunting, I may shoot them both. I have hunted areas where there are way too many deer and have killed everyone I saw, bucks, does, fawns sso I guess I would say yes if the situation called for it. Shawn
From: Bake
31-May-18
Neither.
From: Thornton
31-May-18
Why? I guess if you don't care about a buck getting bigger then go ahead.
From: APauls
31-May-18
This is such a weird question. Don't even know how to answer it. But if you said 160" 4x4 I'd shoot the hard horn one. A 60" 3x3 is a 1.5 year old buck. Only reason I'd shoot him is cause I was desperate for meat. I'm not usually feeling desperate in the last week of August.
I fully understand that people would want to shoot a 60" 3x3 because there are a lot of people that (supposedly) are meat hunters and (supposedly) don't care about the rack. But if they don't care, then why would they care.
From: elk yinzer
31-May-18
Never really cared for bucks in velvet. I think they are rather ugly at that point. But also neither, kinda past the point in my life where yearling and most 2.5 year old bucks are fair game. If I had 2 or 3 buck tags, was on high pressure land, and the freezer was pretty empty, I would maybe shoot whichever presented a better shot first. One buck tag makes it a lot harder to shoot the little guys.
From: Brotsky
31-May-18
Is he a Coues deer?
From: drycreek
31-May-18
I can't think of a reason unless I was starving.......
From: buzz mc
31-May-18
Neither
From: BullBuster
31-May-18
Velvet from a baby deer doesn't help my pecker. Maybe in China.....
From: Corn bore
31-May-18
Pass on both. See ya in three years.....hopefully.
From: Bowfreak
31-May-18
At this point in my life, neither. But I wouldn't shoot another velvet whitetail unless it was really big.
From: LINK
31-May-18
Neither if they were both young as you say. If they were deemed 3.5 or older and still six pointers I might fill the freezer with one. Velvet or no velvet makes no difference in this scenario, a small 6 point doesn’t even make the bone pile. The dog might like chewing on the velvet more I guess.
From: Burly
31-May-18
No pass.
From: elkmo
31-May-18
nope...
From: t-roy
31-May-18
The season is closed in Iowa when the bucks are in velvet.
From: stick n string
31-May-18
I really like deer meat. So depends on where im at and what my freezer situation is. Velvet doesnt do anything for me. Just more to have to skin...
From: PECO
31-May-18
I like horn porn but at the end of the day I wanna eat venison. I'd have no problem shooting the hard horn.
From: Ambush
31-May-18
If you were shooting one of them, it would be strictly to eat venison, so in that case why would anyone have a preference? Unless there is a chemical reason the meat may be better on one than the other?
From: joehunter
31-May-18
Neither one. But here in Michigan or anywhere in the mid west during hunting season a velvet buck is most likely a doe with antlers or a buck with issues with his male parts.
From: Bowriter
31-May-18
Here is the reason I asked the question. We, here in TN, now a have a three-day, archery only season, August 24-25-26, bucks only just so hunters can shoot a velvet buck. That is a full month before our regular season opens and the stated reason for doing this is to satisfy hunters desire to kill velvet antlered bucks. Personally, I think it is stupid.
From: sticksender
31-May-18
If we need dead deer meat, we can shoot up to 8 does in my county.
From: Treeline
31-May-18
Neither. Even if they were Coues deer in Arizona. Too young.
From: milnrick
31-May-18
Not at this point in time, because I'm pretty sure that basket 60" buck is only 1 1/2 years old.
If your question is rooted in TN's August 2018, "bucks only" hunt, I'm not entirely sure we'll participate. We've got a couple of nice 4 yr olds and I'd like to see them in hard antler and fully "necked up".
That said, I was stationed in SC for 6 years ('78-84) and hunted deer as early as 8/15. I shot a few bucks in velvet back then, mainly because I didn't know any better.
From: Stekewood
31-May-18
I wouldn’t shoot the six point because it was in velvet but if it was an area with liberal bag limits I would shoot one, or both, of them.
From: Buffalo1
31-May-18
Something to take into consideration is the soil content, food supply and local herd genetics. A "60" basket 6-pt" is a relative term where it is in velvet or not. In poor dirt/ bad food supply/poor genetics herd this could be a "whooper"; however, in rich soil, good food supply and good genetics this would be a definite "passer."
From: IdyllwildArcher
31-May-18
I've shot this deer before, but I needed the meat.
From: Michael
31-May-18
Neither for me
From: Genesis
31-May-18
I hope that Ol Tennessee boy or girl knows how to care for the velvet in that late August heat.....
From: ahunter55
31-May-18
When I started in 1956, 1st one down the shoot. As years & bowhunting experience's became several my "selection" on Bucks changed even though I was never a horn hunter. Now, I no longer shoot Does & I haven't killed a Buck in several years as I have set a personal goal on my next Whitetail Buck (only biggame animal I have put a personal goal on for head gear). Only because I have been blessed with a pretty decent number of Whitetails in 60+ years of bowhunting. I think many of todays NOVICE bowhunters loose a lot of the enjoyment of bowhunting because of all the hype on antlers & management. I was at full draw on this guy a few years back under 15 yds & let down.
From: Feedjake
31-May-18
Bucks in velvet just really don’t get me excited at all.
From: Shawn
31-May-18
Obviously a lot of the folks posting have never hunted where there was 60-70 deer per square mile and were actually dying from disease and over population or where nuisance permits had to be given out like candy to help control the herd. Shawn
From: elk yinzer
31-May-18
This is still in my top 5 favorite bucks. If it were my boy shooting his first deer I would tell him to shoot whichever one made him happy. Who give a flying fish what anyone else thinks. Interested to see how you spin this based on your prior inquiries related to Tennessee wildlife managment and your deer farming background.
From: lewis
31-May-18
John I knew exactly where you were going with this as I too live in Tn I personally think it’s a stupid rule but I guess to each his own.Twra thru the appointed commissioners because of political favors also makes no sense Lewis
From: oldgoat
31-May-18
I'll shoot a spike from the end of the second split on here in Colorado, hunting on SWA!
From: elk yinzer
31-May-18
Yes, correct, there is no biological basis to kill velvet bucks. Nor is there a biological basis not to kill velvet bucks. It doesn't matter! You don't say? Then what is the biological basis for archery season? How about mountain lions and wolves? There is indeed a biological basis for their very existence. Respectfully, John, let's get to the cohesive thesis let alone facts and citations and the emotional shit. Some retarded hypothetical poll of a community of mostly trophy hunters is supposed to prove your point before you even state it? That is just insulting our intelligence. #bringbacktbm.
From: Bowriter
01-Jun-18
I guess I assumed the point was obvious. That being, would you shoot a buck, using one of your two buck tags, just because it was in velvet? If you would pass a hard antlered buck, if you had the chance, would you shoot that same buck just because it was in velvet?
From: APauls
01-Jun-18
First of all your point isn’t obvious. Second of all a ton of us come from areas where we can only kill 1 buck, so being able to use 1 of 2 tags wasn’t obvious or in the question. And third, you limited the hypothetical case to 60” deer when it doesn’t sound like Tn has that stipulation on the velvet deer thing. So basically, I really have to wonder what use at all this is.
From: Genesis
01-Jun-18
The Department is attempting to increase interest thus harvests thus license sales.MOST of the bowhunters I know in my neck of the woods would shoot the velvet buck EVERY TIME.
The only problem is this new found novelty will become a yawner in a decade or so but at least it kept the coffee shops on task with their usual local hunting updates/rumors.
I really don’t see a problem except the luxury of law enforcement having a velvet “time stamp” in regards to starting the season early being done away with.Probably biologically neutral and a couple of kids will make the paper until it becomes old hat.
For me,two thumbs up for people management and one thumb down for creating enforcement issues.
To answer John though,I would not but the bow hunting masses would.
From: Rut Nut
01-Jun-18
I've always had a "thing" for unique bucks/racks. If I had the chance to shoot a velvet buck, I probably would. But 60"? It would probably have to be bigger than that.
But I agree that IF that Tenn. early buck season had nothing to do with biology and was simply to allow hunters to shoot a velvet buck, then I would not agree with it.
From: 12yards
01-Jun-18
Probably neither.
From: steve
01-Jun-18
I Passed on a young 8 in velvet last year opening day watched him thru the season and then thought about it .latter in the season he came buy with 1 side broken off .this year he gets it .LOL
From: SteveBNY
01-Jun-18
Biggest body 1st. If equal, the best shot opportunity.
From: Bake
01-Jun-18
Like Apauls said, your point is far from obvious.
Personally, I would love it if Missouri did something similar. I would try pretty dang hard every year to kill a whopper in velvet. However, I wouldn’t shoot anything in velvet, that I wouldn’t shoot in hard horn. In fact, being so early in the year and a lot of season left, I’d probably be pickier than I would be in December
From: Jack Harris
01-Jun-18
my personal choice would be neither, as neither would get my blood pumping and that's just because I have many years and bucks under my belt, but I would be happy for the hunter that took great pride and thrill in harvesting either one legally and put their tag on it and enjoyed the venison. Turn back clock to age 21 and first time hunting with bow, I would have been on adrenaline overload at such a site and consider it the greatest thing I ever saw (not knowing all the great hunts that lay ahead for the next 33 years).
From: SD BuckBuster
01-Jun-18
Weird question. SO weird.
From: Boreal
01-Jun-18
No but I'd shoot an aging narcissist.
From: bigswivle
01-Jun-18
Me, no. My hunting partner, yes
Me, no. My hunting partner, yes
From: DTala
01-Jun-18
neither one for me
From: Too Many Bows Bob
01-Jun-18
In my experience there's two type of deer. "Braggin deer" and "eatin deer". I prefer the eating type. So yes I would shoot either one of them, though probably the hard horned one first if he offered the best shot. If not,........
TMBB
From: APauls
01-Jun-18
I imagine it's a niche thing. Prob not hurting anything and people that want velvet deer can get one. Prob have influx of some guys from neighbouring states that otherwise have no reason to hunt Tn. With too many deer why is it a bad thing?
From: Grunter
01-Jun-18
Why would I shoot a 6pt?? Umm no thanks I'll leave that for the kids. And velvet does nothing for me
From: KsRancher
01-Jun-18
In ks. we only get one buck tag. I generally hold out for a big buck. But both of my boys were with me on this morning hunt. And I shot it because I was having fun hunting with my boys. We were still walking in to the blind, and this deer came by. We seen in coming so we knelt down. My boys were knelt down right behind me. When it was about 20 yards away I heard my oldest say shoot it dad. So I did. So to answer the question, it all depends on this scenario for me. And I know, sorry for the picture with the tongue hanging out and blood still on the deer
From: njbuck
01-Jun-18
Personally I would not shoot.
From: BoggsBowhunts
01-Jun-18
I wouldn't shoot a basket racked deer regardless. BUT, if we were talking about two 125" deer, I would shoot the deer in velvet even though I would pass on the hard horned deer just because it would be unique to kill a deer in velvet.
From: Fuzzy
01-Jun-18
which one is fatter?
From: ACB
01-Jun-18
If I had a TV show I would shoot the mature velvet buck , but sense I don’t I would have to pass . :)
From: Two Feathers
01-Jun-18
...the velvet one.
From: Daff
02-Jun-18
The question relates to the new August bow season in Tennessee. 3 days in late august for private land only so people have a shot at a velvet buck. Personally, I'm not sure I'm going to participate. I'm just not crazy about hunting in humid 90 degree weather. The good part of it is many people will shoot small velvet bucks! Which is great since the QDM crowd got our limit reduced a couple years ago! I'll stick to my own self imposed size limits and let others do as they please. The other positive is there will be many who will limit out early letting others enjoy a lower hunter density during prime time.
From: Michael
02-Jun-18
I really don’t care whether a buck is in velvet or not. However it seems to me they are easier to pattern when they still have velvet. So it’s a perfect time to catch a buck you have been watching all August.
As for the 60” part. I don’t need to shoot small deer. There are enough young hunters and hunters that prefer to shoot for meat that can shoot them deer. No need for me to take away an opurtunity for them.
From: ELKMAN
03-Jun-18
Depends on how full my freezer is, the shot offered, other hunts I have going on, time I will have to hunt whitetails going forward, but I have zero issue with shooting a 60 inch buck if it is the right thing for me to do at the time. As for the "which one" question: Which ever one gives me the best shot opportunity, or looks the largest/most tender on the hoof...
From: bad karma
03-Jun-18
Which one is broadside? That's the one I'll shoot.
From: Slate
03-Jun-18
Neither for me. Rather shoot a doe in this case
From: lv2bohunt
03-Jun-18
No I wouldn’t, I have no problem with those that would.
From: TrapperKayak
03-Jun-18
I wouldnt shoot a velvet antlered deer period. Alone or given an option.
From: Kurt in Memphis
03-Jun-18
Of course I am in Tennessee, and thought this new 'special hunt' was a joke. I may or may not go....you know it'll be about 100 degrees and off the chart humidity. I plan for deer season starting when it always does, the 4th Saturday in September.
I am not shooting any small buck, velvet or not. Any chance these deer could be full-hard horn on those dates?
From: kentuckbowhnter
03-Jun-18
i have luckily killed a nice velvet buck so i would not shoot a basket six now unless i was real hungry and out of money.
From: PoudreCanyon
03-Jun-18
If I was filling the freezer, whichever gave me a good shot. The older I get, the meat becomes more important than the horns.
From: Errorhead
03-Jun-18
I would never shoot a velveted buck, it stinks! Just wait a couple weeks. I never understood the want to get a buck in velvet, it's not finished yet.
From: ahunter55
03-Jun-18
I have 2 velvet animal mounts. 1, A 4x3 Mule Deer. Lots of Velvet Bucks taken out west as many bow seasons open in Aug. & A Caribou taken the end of Aug. a couple weeks b/4 they started rubbing it off. Both are getting pretty old now but still in great shape.
From: LBshooter
03-Jun-18
I have a a six point within my shooting distance it gets the wood, don't care how many points it has or doesn't have. It's all about the meat, not the horns.
From: SILVERADO
03-Jun-18
I killed him as he was in velvet. No not my biggest, but cool trophy to take as by the time our opener hits 90% or more of our bucks are out of velvet already. This was the first one i had seen in 18 years of hunting.
From: Fuzzy
04-Jun-18
Michael, I appreciate your position on the smaller bucks/meat hunters/young hunters. I feel the same way about yearling bucks and "trophy" bucks. I don't need or want the antlers so I will select a doe or 2.5 year or older basket rack over a button, forked horn yearling, or "nice" buck.
From: stick n string
04-Jun-18
Reminds me of last night..... I am walking to the kitchen, i hear my 7 and 4 year old daughters giving eachother attitude in the living room. I go in to find out whats up and to calm them down. Turns out, my 7 year old walks into the room where her younger sister is on the floor watching one of her "shows" on youtube. She goes over, sits down and after seeing what her younger sister is watching says, "that show is stupid". The younger gets upset and tells her that she likes the show and is again told that it is stupid. I told the older, "You don't have to like it. She didn't make you sit down to watch it with her, in fact you went out of your way to look down upon her and then verbally attack her by saying something that didn't make a difference in the world other than to hurt someone's feelings. Not everybody is going to like what you like and may think it is stupid. But if it isn't hurting anybody, including you and you dont have to partake in it, what does it matter. If you have so much time and energy that you need to find things to complain about, maybe you need more chores..."
Ahhhhhhhhh, the joys of raising children......
From: Fuzzy
04-Jun-18
stick n string, yes indeedy :)
From: Firsty
04-Jun-18
Well I just wasted 5 minutes of my life that I won't get back......btw both bucks will be in velvet last week of August.
From: Firsty
04-Jun-18
Also almost every western state has a deer season in August what's the big deal
