Genetic Anomaly - To shoot or not to shoot?

herc · #1 02-23-2011, 03:24 PM

Hey guys,

Just thought i'd try to get some opinions on this one buck where i hunt. Seen him throughout the past 2 years. He only has one antler on his right side. Very nice size on the one he has and thought to myself that he'll regrow the other but another season and still only one.

The thing now is i just checked my trail cams and have pics of smaller bucks with the same thing. One horn on the right side and "seems" that the antler is growing in the same pattern. So i'm led to believe he won't regrow the left side and this genetic anomaly is passed down.

Question is: If its close to the end of the season and i still have a WT tag in my pocket; and the opportunity arises; do you take the big unicorn? Euro mount would be a conversation piece for sure and meat on a big buck is always a crap shoot. Plus it stops him from further spreading his genetics. Last thing i want is a bunch of unicorns running around my hunting area!

vantheman · #2 02-23-2011, 03:27 PM

Yes

buckbrushoutdoors · #3 02-23-2011, 03:27 PM

Maybe the young buck you have on trail camera recently already shed one of his antlers??

herc · #4 02-23-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

Maybe the young buck you have on trail camera recently already shed one of his antlers??

I thought of that but the pic was from early december. So i'm thinking no but i have been wrong in the past.

diamonddave · #5 02-23-2011, 03:37 PM

Take him out of the pool.....

#6 02-23-2011, 03:42 PM

defiantly take him.

pope · #7 02-23-2011, 06:29 PM

It's more common to lose one antler during the rut, than to just grow one.

H380 · #8 02-23-2011, 07:37 PM

Got any photos to share ?

HunterDave · #9 02-23-2011, 07:55 PM

Yeah, shoot him. There's nothing wrong with buck meat. IMHO it tastes as good as a doe and you usually get more meat from a buck. Better yet, shoot the antler off and use one of your supplemental doe tags.

bowhunter9841 · #10 02-23-2011, 10:43 PM

If you don't want him, then let me in there during bow season, and I'll take him out for you! It's always easier to talk up a small or abnormal buck if you get him up close and personal! Lol!

hayseed · #11 02-23-2011, 11:11 PM

I'd make him into steaks and jerky, and sausage, and hamburger, and stewmeat, and shortribs, and roasts, and........ you get the picture....

Big Racks · #12 02-23-2011, 11:16 PM

BOOM goes the thunder stick!!

RumRugby · #13 02-24-2011, 03:08 PM

Reminds me of the show Open Season. Elliot only had one antler, half doe half buck, he's a duck!!

fish_e_o · #14 02-24-2011, 03:10 PM

invite a new hunter out to shoot it or i'll come out and eat him

Grouse Assassin · #15 02-24-2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunterdave

yeah, shoot him. There's nothing wrong with buck meat. Imho it tastes as good as a doe and you usually get more meat from a buck. Better yet, shoot the antler off and use one of your supplemental doe tags.

rofl

herc · #16 02-24-2011, 10:39 PM

Great answers guys!

Yeah i'll probably take him if its end of the season and all. Just wanted to see what others thought. If i do end up taking him i'll definitely post the pic!

Sorry no pics... i never got a pic of the big "one" and just deleted the ones of the smaller bucks. Only keep really good pics or else would have thousands on the computer. One cam took about 2400 pics from july through december.