If the animal is more important than the hunt, use a modern scoped rifle
If the hunt is more important than the animal use a lever gun and cast bullets. Way more satisfying no matter how big the antlers.
I let a lot of deer walk most years. With the kids gone I only need a couple deer a year. Yet I love to hunt and want to hunt the entire season. When I see a deer coming I get ready and excited. The moment I can close the deal for sure I just quietly say bang but don’t pull the trigger. Ive now had all the fun of the hunt but don’t have to clean another deer that I don’t need.
This year I killed two antelope in Wyoming. Hence I don’t need anymore meat. Ive been in deer camp since Oct 15 hunting with my homemade longbow. Wow! That has a learning curve. Saw lots of deer but beyond my limit of 15 yds, had a very pretty 12 yd shot at a very small button buck but passed it up. He an I had built a relationship over the last month. I hope he survives.
Some people live and learn but I mostly just live
Have not shot a buck in over 10 yrs. but I sure do like to see them. Have passed them up for the son-in-law to get. When it comes time for meat I try to pick an old doe. Have got lots of horns on the wall, don't need any more. Let them big ones do some breeding.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |