rather harvest a 130"+ buck seasonally or a 145" buck every 5+ seasons? No letting the 130" grow, just the hypothetical scenario posed. Thanks for playing and just maybe we can pull some attention from the HF vs. LF ethical hunting thread that is raging on!

Trophy, every few years, doe yearly for meat

At this point in my hunting lifespan, I would also elect for a 145" buck every 5+ seasons vs a mature 130"+ every season. Twenty years ago maybe not so much...

145

I wouldn't want to know. The anticipation is a big part of the excitement for me.

130 just because you said 5 plus years I would rather get one every year rather than wait 5 years for 15 more inches. Don't think its worth it. now you go 155-160 different story

Our goal is to grow mature deer. If they top out at 130, as long as they're mature, then I will take one and be proud, even if its every year.

x3

145

Really would not matter if i am out in the woods hunting that good is enough for me even if i dont shoot anything i just enjoy watching the deer and wildwife.

At this point in my life, I would say 145" every few years. I have several 130's on the wall and I want to get em bigger.

Don't confuse my hypothetical with my excitement of hunting and the unexpected, a button buck still excites me when coming out of the woods. Was simply posing the scenario of harvesting a mature buck every year or a trophy every 5+ years, that's all.

I can tell you now that I have gone 6 years without harvesting a buck until this year (in Tx) waiting on a "trophy". It kinda sucks. You spend $10K over five years on lease fees, feed, gas and time off of work to take one buck of a meager 145"? Not me. No mas. Trophy hunting is no fun when there are no trophies on your lease.

Id rather shoot a 4yr old+ buck every year... rather than a 145 every 5... don't care if hes 100,130,200

A buck that's bigger than one already taken

Likewise

To stick with your OP, I would answer a mature deer every year. I have hunted many seasons without taking a trophy and some that I couldn't find one. On the years I couldn't find one, I would pick a mature deer and hunt that deer. Sometimes it was 130" and sometimes it was 105", but the excitement of hunting that one deer made it worth it.

That is one of the reasons I never understood the mentality of not shooting a buck that isn't as big as my biggest to date. I enjoy the hunt either way, doesn't matter if I was unsuccessful, succeeded on a getting a trophy or succeeded on getting a mature buck I had set my sights on. Also, I hunt in different areas with different opportunities. I have no problem letting a 140" deer walk on one and going to my other lease and hunting hard for a 135"

If someone is willing to wait 5 years to shoot a 145" deer why not wait another year or two longer and shoot a 155" or 160?"
Just sayin, you wait that long what's another year or two?

I go to deer hunt. For does, I want a mature doe. For bucks I want a mature buck. If I am lucky enough to get a 140/150 class, great. But I want a deer that is 4 years or better. Just me and will never criticize anyone taking a younger deer. Just follow the game laws, whether you believe in them or not. We are blessed to be able to do this.

Not all deer get that big and not all areas offer that size, no matter how long you wait

Exactly what Tom said - I have no desire to just shoot a buck because...I can take a doe for meat.

Say you hunt a place that has bucks that top out at 130". You get the chance to go somewhere else, one shot deal, and you kill a 180". Would you still hunt your old place or just hunt does for meat?