This time of year we all get excited about what the coming archery will bring, people posting up trail cam pictures and speculating scores and building "hit lists". I catch myself wondering what percentage of bucks caught on camera and declared on a "hit list" actually get a tag put on them?
I've only killed one of my "hit list" bucks. Usually once those bucks start to shed their velvet they will disperse, not to be seen again the rest of the season. Usually one or two will stick around and they are the ones that I will target.
Ive killed 2 that I was hoping to kill. My last 2 bucks I had cam pictures of and hopes to see. Ive maybe had a total of 10-12 over 5 years.
I killed my #2 buck in 2013...#1 being the OMG buck that I had at 10 yards twice and passed due to dibbs being called on him. 2014, I had one (Bone-afied) that was in a tie with another buck for 1st place walk in to 50 yards and passed up a long shot on him. In years past I'd guesstimate probably one out of three or four. I recall several times that while hunting a specific buck, a totally new buck came through that I couldn't pass up so that's going to skew the averages.
Sure you can, I called dibbs on all the real estate on the moon way back in 2005 and no one has challenged me on that yet.
Never had a hit list buck so 0. My cams usually go out first hunt and pulled on the last. I still like the suspense of not knowing what's out there, but I throw a few cameras up now, mainly to see what moves through and when the mature bucks start to cruise a bit more.
It seems that almost every year my hitlist gets hammered by not just me, but everybody that hunts the property. We had 4 hitlisters hit the dirt last year. And if its not us that gets them, usually the neighbors do. That's not to say they are all bow kills. The vast majority are gun kills.
I've never made a hit list. I like to see what deer are on the land I hunt just to know. If I have a big one on camera, it gives me something to stay motivated for.
Never really made a "hitlist". I use a "see a big buck. Shoot a big buck" strategy. And I think it's weird to name deer. I understand it helps to identify a buck you have a long history with, but I see a lot of guys who have 1 picture @ 2am of a big buck and suddenly he's Bruno or some ****. Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk
Never made a hitlist or given names either although there are some cool names floating around that I find appropriate. We usually just describe a certain antler feature to identify the deer such as "the one with the long brows" or "the one that's messed up on the right side" or "the big 8", just stuff like that. Work with a guy that hunted 3 years for one single buck, all that time in the stand without drawing his bow back but he finally got it done, green scored 188. That's the definition and dedication to pursue a hitlist buck.
I too think its weird to name them. Im always trying to think of an alternative way to i.d. them. They need Social security numbers.
Ive only killed 1 buck that ive went after. Always end up shooting nice ones ive never seen before. Havent used a substantial amount of cameras and never over food. My cameras are always on travel routes so its hit or miss.
I have only ever went after one buck.. the wide buck my son and I got the vid of last year. I let him get to me and when I had the shot I hit him in the shoulder.
Never seen a hit lister in daylight in past 5 years. Don't have permission to hunt bedroom or near it.
