Thread: Shooting velvet, & this is how it played out...

In reference to the thread about shooting hinds with fawns.
This is how it played out - he got a deer in the end (pic below).

But that raises another dilemma. Shooting good velvet stags or ones with potential? I never shoot good velvet stags although am not really a trophy hunter.
We all have a moral compass-it's just that the needle points in different directions for different people. And varies depending on the situation and context.

I was in 2 minds about this spiker 'cos they are good spikes with a bit of potential. That was balanced by there being 14 deer in the basin and a high population And wanting to share in the pleasure of him shooting one. And my guiding ego.

What do you think?

I’d shoot that for sure, he’ll be delicious!

Originally Posted by dvk-kp

I’d shoot that for sure, he’ll be delicious!

I left this guy the same evening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnDLuxQbywI

Originally Posted by dvk-kp

I’d shoot that for sure, he’ll be delicious!

x 2 and I would feel better shooting it rather than a hind who may or may not leave behind a fawn to starve at this time of year.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I left this guy the same evening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnDLuxQbywI

I woulda left that one too, the spiker is perfect freezer filler this time of year.

Last week's
Prefer to shoots these for sure
Great taste and texture with a well grown spiker

Originally Posted by Tahr

In reference to the thread about shooting hinds with fawns.
This is how it played out - he got a deer in the end (pic below).

But that raises another dilemma. Shooting good velvet stags or ones with potential? I never shoot good velvet stags although am not really a trophy hunter.
We all have a moral compass-it's just that the needle points in different directions for different people. And varies depending on the situation and context.

I was in 2 minds about this spiker 'cos they are good spikes with a bit of potential. That was balanced by there being 14 deer in the basin and a high population And wanting to share in the pleasure of him shooting one. And my guiding ego.

What do you think?

Attachment 266824

I would have left it. Easy to say for me having a decent amount of venison in the freezer presently. But for a novice hunter having this as a first opportunity animal I would encourage him to shoot. And the same to anyone who really needed meat.
Whenever poosible I will take a hind over a stag unless the stag is an obvious cull. I have unintentionally shot some spiker Sika that I thought were hinds. Long shots, low light and antler buds so small I couldn't see them.

It is 100% about context.

Example. A new hunter on his first deer-first 10 deer- Shoot it every time would be my advice. Why? Because the success and reward, plus the learnt experience from it is worth every bit as much as a trophy head on the wall.

Other context example for the rest of us. Where was it? It's a different story to shoot a potential trophy animal for meat from a known herd of trophy potential or significance.

And of course as with the other discussion, at this time of year there should be some leeway given the decision of Hinds with fawns or stags.


Its actually not that hard to make a decent decision in most cases I think.

New hunter 100% it would get shot. Freezer low 100% it would get shot. In fact it's a spiker so unless yearlings,fawns or crappy unicorn stag around,damn straight it's going home to be warmed up piece by piece in my fry pan.

I shot this guy last night made sure he was hard underneath.

Personally if it had been me then I would of let that spiker walk assuming there's good head potential where you hunt.
If on the other hand the trophy potential for mature stags in that area is nil then no.
As you said its a high population area so the chance of getting a genetically inferior one or a yearling hind would still be high on the cards.
Now because it wasn't me and you were guiding a new hunter, then you've made the call to shoot and that's all that matters.
Congratulations to the young fella on his first deer.

His smile sez it all.62 years on my file still plays.

I try to take it easy on the spikers.never seem to have fat on them anyway worst of the lot in my opinion