The weather was brutal. After an unseasonably warm and rainy stretch to kick off the Pennsylvania firearms season, I was reminded how quickly Mother Nature’s mood can change in December. I don’t prefer hunting with the gun, but I can’t deny many of my fondest memories of hunting in my youth came from the excitement that the sound of shots echoing through the woods brought, and knowing that deer were on the move and possibly headed my way. Despite preferring the bow, the reality was I was still holding my buck tag, and the deer I had committed to was still out there. As an added bonus, a piebald doe I was hopeful to see was also still around, and I had a tag saved for her as well. It would be foolish to sit out a day like this when I predicted deer might move early to feed in the snowy, near-zero-windchill evening.
As light was fading, I caught movement to my right coming out of nearby bedding cover, and I glimpsed the body of a deer sneaking through the edge of a thicket on its way to a food plot situated about 150 yards behind me. Eventually I could see it was a nice-sized deer carrying a set of antlers, but I couldn’t make out the details. This deer was in no hurry, but finally after a couple painstaking minutes he moved into an open area where I could get a great look at him. He was a good buck for sure, but was he the one I had been pursuing all season?
Dedicating your season to one deer isn’t for everyone, and I’ve only done it a few times over my 37 years of hunting.
Counting points, I couldn’t find more than nine no matter how much I tried. The buck I was saving my tag for was a tall-tined 10-pointer with a chocolate rack, and this buck’s rack was both short a point and a bit lighter in color. His body was also a shade smaller, and I had no choice but to accept this wasn’t the deer I was hoping for. I estimated he was 3½ or possibly 4½ years old. Still, he was a good one, and my finger rested on the trigger as he moved cautiously from my left to right. Now just 45 yards away, the unknowing buck stopped to feed on browse, giving me a perfect shot opportunity.
I really wanted to pull that trigger. I was cold, it was late, and only once over the previous 22 seasons did I not take a buck at least 3½ years old. It’s hard to fathom how many thoughts were going through my head during that brief moment. Ultimately, I chose to lower my gun without taking the shot. Despite all of the reasons I had to justify taking that buck, I devoted my season to the heavy 10-pointer, and the deer in front of me wasn’t him. With every step he took while walking away, I questioned my decision. Although it took a little while to get over it that evening, by the time I got to my truck to head home I knew I had made the right call.
Risk vs. Reward
I never did fill my buck tag last season, and I also didn’t catch up with the piebald doe despite putting in a few days on stand during the late archery season. The good news was my trail-cameras revealed that both deer survived the season and with any luck would hang around and be in the area next season. As an added bonus, the 9-point that I passed also survived.
That singular hunt, and the decision I had to make, encapsulates the wide range of emotions a hunter can go through when deciding to target a singular deer. I had put in the time and dragged myself to the woods in the worst weather conditions of the season only to watch a great buck walk away when he offered me what would have been a chip shot. The risk is you might not fill your tag and end up frustrated, but the reward is either you kill the deer you were after, or it lives to be pursued again the next season and the story continues.
Dedicating your season to one deer isn’t for everyone, and I’ve only done it a few times over my 37 years of hunting. The last time was just four years ago when I was targeting an insanely large non-typical buck that was easily the biggest I ever pursued in Pennsylvania. As it turned out, the more than 180-inch buck was killed by another hunter in mid-October, so I expanded my horizons for the rest of that season. My typical approach is to identify a few different bucks that I’d be happy with and release an arrow toward whichever one gives me the first opportunity. There’s also the possibility of a buck I never saw before showing up that moves me to reach for my bow. Frankly, that approach is more fun than going all in on one deer.
When Is It Worth The Wait?
I know I’m going against what I’ve done myself on occasion, but I generally don’t recommend an all-or-nothing approach. It can be exhausting both mentally and physically. You’re possibly setting yourself up for great disappointment should you not succeed or if someone else does first. You might take some fun out of the sport because there’s bound to be a lot of failure on the journey, and not everyone handles that well. Saying all that, there are few reasons I believe targeting a single deer might be worth considering.
The first reason is the most obvious. There may be a buck in your hunting area that is larger than you ever shot before, or a particular deer may have antlers that are rare or unusually large for your area. Some people refer to these as once-in-a-lifetime deer. If there’s a buck in your area that meets that criteria, he’s probably worth waiting for because you may never have the opportunity again.
Another reason to hold out would be the deer is unique in some way. For example, I’ve never taken a buck with a double throat patch, and if I ever get the opportunity, it might be hard to pass up. Or in the case of another deer I’m targeting, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a buck. There’s an old piebald doe that has been living on my land for the last few years and she’s one of the smartest deer I’ve ever tried to match wits with. The first couple years I was aware of her I had shot opportunities that I passed up simply because of her uniqueness. Naturally, as soon as I decided she is a deer I’d like to take, getting it done has seemed impossible.
Finally, targeting a singular deer can lead to one of the most rewarding experiences of your hunting career, even if you don’t ultimately succeed. Some of the best hunting stories are the ones where someone chased a particular deer over the course of more than one season, even if they don’t ultimately hang a tag on it. I find it quite enjoyable to get to know a deer over a few years regardless of whether it’s one I am after. An old Ohio 8-point comes to mind as I followed him for five years and figured he was at least 8½ years old when I moved away. I never dedicated myself to hunting him because there were too many other great opportunities in the Buckeye State, and the buck was too unpredictable. He only showed up sporadically. He would disappear for weeks at a time only to show back up again when I assumed he had been shot. I only laid eyes on him once over the five years, but he’s a deer I’ll always remember.
The Rewards
If you do succeed, there’s nothing like the thrill of putting in the time and effort only to reap the rewards in the end. As I often tell people, it’s hard to see any deer and especially bucks more than a time or two during a season that offer a legitimate shot opportunity. I challenge you this season to pick out a couple bucks you get photos of on your trail-cameras and see how many times those deer end up within shooting range during the season. It wouldn’t surprise me if it doesn’t happen at all. The point I’m making is, it’s difficult to get any deer to come within harm’s way, let alone a singular deer that you’re focused on.
For example, last season I only saw the mature 10-pointer I was after two times, for a combined total of less than 10 seconds! To add insult to injury, I got dozens of trail-camera photos of him and sometimes during the same time I was hunting him. Halloween morning stands out because I chose a stand location deep in the woods only to get a video of the deer walking through my clover plot near where I parked the truck that morning. I’m convinced the deer knows me better than I know him.
Heading into this season it looks like I once again plan to limit myself to only pursuing the mature 10-point, which I’ve gotten a few photos of recently giving me confidence he’ll be following a familiar pattern. He’s at least 5½ years old and certainly won’t be easier to get close to than he was last year. Call me a glutton for punishment. I’ve reached the point in my hunting career where the journey has exceeded the value of the destination, so I’m mentally equipped to handle it should I not succeed. That’s not to say I won’t be tempted by another deer along the way, but I’ll cross that bridge if I come to it. I also plan to put a lot of effort into finally tagging the piebald doe. In addition to the many meals she’ll provide, I’d love to have her hide tanned and hung in my cabin to celebrate her life, and I’d also love to send her tooth to our new partners at Wildlife Analytical Labs to see how old she is.
Should you decide on an all-or-nothing approach this season, make a deal with yourself that you’ll be willing to endure the highs and lows, and that you can live with possibly not filling your tag. Love the process more than the outcome. More than anything, put a priority on enjoying the sport in the way that makes you happy. For many, simply putting a deer in the freezer or on someone’s table that needs it is the focus. That’s a big part of my plans as it always has been. Also consider helping a new hunter begin their journey this season, which is one of the most rewarding things you can do as an experienced hunter.
Best of luck this season!