How Many Years Without Filling Your Genral Whitetail Tag.
 

This will be my third year. Not from the lack of trying. And have past up many over the years. I think I just love being out in the field. Maybe next year.

Two. Freezers full with other animals the last two years so I let em grow. I love the chess match but no reason to kill more than I can use.

This year would have been 8yrs but an amazing twist of fate changed it all.

I guide and I also have a 17yr old son who hunts, between that and having my moose archery or elk tags, I don’t have the need to fill my whitetail tag.

I know people who HAVE to shoot something just to fill the tag..... and why? For years I have passed on deer most would be ecstatic to shoot, but for me a 150-160 class deer is not what I’m after. As a matter of fact, since finally pulling the trigger it seems a 180-190 class whitetail is about where it starts for me if I’m shooting a whitetail buck. I have piles of deer in the 150-170 range and in their time they were the trophy I was looking for, today not so much though.

I started out shooting anything with horns, then it had to be a 4x4, then a 5x5, then I shot my first 154” buck and the obsession set in. That’s how my journey set out and the course it’s taken, many others have totally different goals and experiences and I’m totally ok with whatever they may choose as an animal worthy of harvest. If your happy with your harvest, all I can say is congrats on your success!!!

How many years
 

Im in pretty much the same boat as you, and feel the same way. It’s been 5 years since my last whitetail tag has been filled up until a couple weeks ago, when I finally found a dandy buck. Wish I knew how to post pictures, but I’m not the best techie by any means.

I am 2/4 for alternating years. Nothing this year, one in 2018, none in 2017, one 5x5 in 2016.

I could have shot a couple smaller bucks or does this year, and I was on a hunt where we took a smaller buck, but the GF had a mule deer draw and she tagged out on that so we didn’t need the meat.

First year for me but I have 2 boys 14 and 21 so I don’t shoot anything until they fill their tags. This year we didn’t shoot a thing. Past up a bunch of little ones and had a blast rattling in a one antlered buck to 12 yards. The quality and number of deer in my area is way down

Now that I think about it. The last 3 years the freezer was full. Elk, moose and mule deer. Definitely plays a factor.

I’ve been lucky enough to fill my tag on a great buck every year same with mule deer. This was my first year not archery hunting them out east and first tag not used

This is my third year but I couldn't hunt this year. My wife just thinks I like to walk in the bush with a rifle but I am always looking for that special buck to cross my path. I am not in a rush...

I haven't purchased a whitetail license in five years, and it's likely been fifteen years since I have killed a whitetail. If I don't see a deer that I really want, I don't shoot one, I passed over thirty whitetail bucks one year. I am not expecting to draw any special licenses next year, so I may purchase the license , just to get out for a few days.

I buy a tag every year I shoot one about every 7 years looking for that elusive Boone and Crockett this year I took one to fill the freezer.

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Yup. My tag goes unfilled this year. 24 great days hunting whitetails, passed on some that were close but never saw one that made my heart flutter. Watched the buck in the picture for about 2.5 hours last Monday, just not what I was after. Another terrific season in the books.

Craighttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3ccae93ed3.jpg

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2 years in a row I didn’t kill a whitetail. I had many legal opportunities on does and small bucks but I just couldn’t. Not because I couldn’t use the meat but because I always have this voice on my shoulder saying “Hey don’t shoot! The next one will be bigger!” Lots of deer have walked and lived because of that voice. My wife hates that voice

My biggest stint for no general WT harvest was 2010-2015. Shot one in 2016 and then another one a few days ago.

0. I buy my tag to fill it every year. Meat is always needed.

About 8 counting this year. With just two of us at home now I watch what we have in the freezer and if we do not need meat leave bucks waiting for one bigger than what are down stairs (160's). A moose lasts us 2 to 3 years and now with an elk this year I can be picky again next fall.

This really made me laugh. I think most wives hate that voice.

I've been hunting for 3 years now, and last year I got my first whitetail buck. Passed on a couple this year to let them grow.

Two seasons now without folding my WT tag. I think I've shot three in the last 10 years between using some priority and Mrs. buckbrush usually filling her tags I have be able to hold out for the right ones.

Edit - Just looked on the computer it was actually 2008-2015. No lack of trying but I refuse to take an immature buck.

Took my last deer in 2010.
He's not that big but I have not seen a bigger one since.

https://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g...pszwmasyqh.jpg

Shot a WT in BC this year with my fiance's opa, didn't fill my AB tag.

seems like every other year...
 

One year I get one, next one I don't. Not for lack of trying; hunting with the kids this year so many a whitetail saved by long conversations of 'is it too far should I shoot or not I can't get steady.....wait safety's on...oh no it's gone.' At least we saw lots, and called one in, which was fun. I find the crown land deer are almost an entirely different breed; really difficult to hunt; the ones near farmland you can spot a lot farther and they don't seem to spook easily.

This will be the first year that I didn't fill any tags, but that was because of surgery. But I usually fill my whitetail tag every year. I just hunt them for meat. Will take a doe if I feel like it. Now muley tags, those I hold on to. I have only ever seen one true brute of a mule deer. Ridiculous size. Until i see something like that again I won't pull the trigger on one

5 years since I filled a whitetail tag.

I average 3-4 years between it seems. Has a lot to do with this target buck thing I’ve gotten myself into. For myself anyway.

It's been five years for me, not because I haven't seen any but because I have been concentrating a larger game and couldn't make use of two animals.

If I really wanted to I could harvest a Deer without leaving my yard.

I've bought tags for Deer every year for the past 35+ years but only harvested a dozen at most. I don't keep track though so it may be less then that.

I buy tags as much to support conservation as I do for hunting opportunities.
The Deer tags are more for a backup plan if I can't get out to hunt Moose.

2014
 

2014 was the last year that I didn’t shoot a buck....lol

Same here. When they go on sale I buy everything available, even though I never fill out more than two tags. I wish november wasn’t my busiest month of the year with work.

Last WT was 2018, freezer meat.

That looks like quite some deer you passed up there!