Button bucks
- Thread starter dac12
- Start date
Barber2678
New member
I think a kid should be able to shoot what ever they want.
Boris Bush
Moderator
There are soooo many deer in MI where I hunt that I will shoot the first meat deer I see in the 100-120 pound range with one of my antlerless tags.
If it is legal and the meat will be eaten then go for it..
If it is legal and the meat will be eaten then go for it..
Kreyzhorse
New member
Trophy bucks are nice, but I eat what I kill. I'd rather have a freezer full of meat that rack on the wall. If a button buck is my only legal, ethical shot, I have no problem taking him.
Ok I was just checking.
I live in New Jersey and I’m 15 and I’ve bin hunting deer for a couple years, about 4 years now actual. All that time I never hit a deer. Then last year just after deer season ended I discovered I needed glasses. So this year first day of the season I got to go deer hunting (youth day) after sitting in my regular spot, a pile of rocks/dirt on a dirt road that is never used, after two hours or so my uncle went to try and flush the deer towards me from the side. I saw the deer running but it wasn't a clear shot so I started to look to see if there were any other deer coming when the deer stopped dead in front of me give me a clear broad side shot, I put it down with one shot. I was standing on the pilled of rocks/dirt and I was so happy I was shaking a nearly fell off. O and if anyone has ever considered killing one but let it go/or never thought about it the meat was delicious and tender. Sorry if this story was confusing.
I live in New Jersey and I’m 15 and I’ve bin hunting deer for a couple years, about 4 years now actual. All that time I never hit a deer. Then last year just after deer season ended I discovered I needed glasses. So this year first day of the season I got to go deer hunting (youth day) after sitting in my regular spot, a pile of rocks/dirt on a dirt road that is never used, after two hours or so my uncle went to try and flush the deer towards me from the side. I saw the deer running but it wasn't a clear shot so I started to look to see if there were any other deer coming when the deer stopped dead in front of me give me a clear broad side shot, I put it down with one shot. I was standing on the pilled of rocks/dirt and I was so happy I was shaking a nearly fell off. O and if anyone has ever considered killing one but let it go/or never thought about it the meat was delicious and tender. Sorry if this story was confusing.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
No problem, dac12, no problem. And welcome to TFL.
Nobody, repeat, nobody was ever born an expert anything.
, Art
Nobody, repeat, nobody was ever born an expert anything.
, Artrantingredneck
New member
After I broke my back last year during bow season and had to sit the first half of our season out, I killed a small doe in December, 11 weeks after breaking my back and having surgery to repair my spine. If I'd waited for a wallhanger I'd still be waiting.
Like others have said, I eat what I kill and I've not seen a recipe yet that called for an 8pt or bigger set of horns.........
Like others have said, I eat what I kill and I've not seen a recipe yet that called for an 8pt or bigger set of horns.........
davlandrum
New member
First deer I ever killed (bowhunting) I thought was a doe when I shot it. Came walking up to it and lo-and-behold, it was a little buck.
Sounds like you did good.
Sounds like you did good.
dac,
When there's meat in the freezer, you can wait for a buck with bigger horns
What you killed is called an "Ice-breaker-deer". You got your first one.....you know whot it feels like....you kow what to do next time......don;t sweat the comments made by others if it was a good clean "fair chase" kill.....
I have a beautiful 8-pointer on the wall....been there for a number of years. I've only killed one other buck since then because I'm waiting on something bigger....but I will fill the feeezer with Does.
When there's meat in the freezer, you can wait for a buck with bigger horns
What you killed is called an "Ice-breaker-deer". You got your first one.....you know whot it feels like....you kow what to do next time......don;t sweat the comments made by others if it was a good clean "fair chase" kill.....
I have a beautiful 8-pointer on the wall....been there for a number of years. I've only killed one other buck since then because I'm waiting on something bigger....but I will fill the feeezer with Does.
davlandrum
New member
dac - are you in an area where you can get more than one deer a year? That was one reason I loved hunting back east, I could put food in the freezer, then get more selective. In Oregon, it is mainly 1 deer per year (there are some exceptions, but not many).
Every year, after we have tagged out, my buddy and I swear "next year, we will hold out for Big Lou". But the next year, when the freezer is bare, the first legal deer is fair game.
Good luck and good hunting.
Every year, after we have tagged out, my buddy and I swear "next year, we will hold out for Big Lou". But the next year, when the freezer is bare, the first legal deer is fair game.
Good luck and good hunting.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Generally speaking about what deer to shoot, little bucks and does are better eating. A tad more tender, and much less likely to be gamey.
Back some forty years ago, I got in on a deer lease with my father and some of his cronies and their own sons. We'd kill one or two little bucks as "camp meat". One of those things that's illegal but traditional since long before I was born. My father's comment, when the cook wanted camp meat, was, "Camp meat is a spike buck, shot in the neck."
Some people have a way of saying things in a voice that adds the message, "Don't screw up."
Nuthin' wrong with a button buck...
Art
Back some forty years ago, I got in on a deer lease with my father and some of his cronies and their own sons. We'd kill one or two little bucks as "camp meat". One of those things that's illegal but traditional since long before I was born. My father's comment, when the cook wanted camp meat, was, "Camp meat is a spike buck, shot in the neck."
Some people have a way of saying things in a voice that adds the message, "Don't screw up."
Nuthin' wrong with a button buck...
Art
Pretty sure one per type of hunting license
I have shotgun and muzzleloader.
I harvested my button buck with a 12g.
I have a inline 50.cal muzzleloader but since my dad is deceased I can't get to the gun range allot since my uncle is a busy allot.(yet he goes hunting more then me)so I was not able to get it sited in since .I got it year before my dad got sick. Then the next Christmas my uncle got me the scope then the next year he got it put on since my dad had died the summer i got the scope. Now all that needs to be done is sighting it in.
So hopefully next year I’ll be able to take two deer, unless it still isn't sighted in.
I have shotgun and muzzleloader.
I harvested my button buck with a 12g.
I have a inline 50.cal muzzleloader but since my dad is deceased I can't get to the gun range allot since my uncle is a busy allot.(yet he goes hunting more then me)so I was not able to get it sited in since .I got it year before my dad got sick. Then the next Christmas my uncle got me the scope then the next year he got it put on since my dad had died the summer i got the scope. Now all that needs to be done is sighting it in.
So hopefully next year I’ll be able to take two deer, unless it still isn't sighted in.
I try not to shoot button bucks, but I have shot several thinking they were a doe. Hey they taste real good, so don't worry about shooting one. Sometimes its hard to see the top of the head if those ears are sticking up. I have shot them before thinking it was a doe and walked up to the deer and thought ought oh this one has a set of balls, thats no doe. Things happen.
Like several others above, the first deer I ever shot (at 16) was a button buck that I originally thought was a doe. I try to be a bit more selective now but it isn't that my father and I haven't taken young deer near the end of the season to put in the freezer. No button bucks since then, but we've definitely made use of our anterless permits.
Mav
Mav
I try not to shoot them because I don't want to burn my any sex tag on one and I love to see them grow and develop. That being said, not everyone has the luxury of a family farm that no one in the family hunts anymore.
When my 14 y/o brother goes out next season for the first time, I will be just as excited as he will be if he shoots a wall-hanger or a doe. First deer are special.
Sorry to hear about your dad. I know how hard it is growing up without one. On the bright side, you have an uncle that takes you hunting. Nobody in my family hunts anymore and I had to teach myself.
When my 14 y/o brother goes out next season for the first time, I will be just as excited as he will be if he shoots a wall-hanger or a doe. First deer are special.
Sorry to hear about your dad. I know how hard it is growing up without one. On the bright side, you have an uncle that takes you hunting. Nobody in my family hunts anymore and I had to teach myself.