This year out of the 30+ bucks i saw, 3 of them were probably 3 1/2. One was in range but no shot offered, the other two were out of range on posted ground.
This season, I have seen 6 shooter bucks. Two of which may have been the same deer. So far I haven't drawn a bow on one. I'm not used to those odds. It used to be if I saw a good buck they came into range. Either they are getting smarter or I'm getting dumber. #1---110 yards across my food plot #2---80 yards across my food plot #3---60 yards away thru the woods cruising #4---30 yards away going 100 mph thru the woods #5---25 yards away at my water hole 10 minutes after dark #6---120 yards away across my food plot
This season for me has been unbelieveable for big bucks. I am 1 for 1 in opportunities. In Wisconsin we saw probably 10 different shooter bucks 100-400 yards away including one absolute giant. He felt like a 200 incher (probably wasn't... but it was crazy!). In Minnesota I have only seen one shooter 3 1/2 year old 11 point which I passed and totally regret.
This year 0 for 2. Both in the same spot about 70 yards out. Moved my stand into position and nothing since. HA
This year Colorado, 1 sighting...hit and didn't recover South Dakota, 1 sighting at ten yards...too cold, I couldn't draw my bow. Illinois, 3 sightings (54 yards, 100 yards, and 40 yards)...killed one Nebraska, 1 sighting at 12 yards...killed him with my mind (I was tagged out helping the farmer with his doe population).
I break mine down to "encounters" with mature bucks. I'm usually 1-3 within bow range each season. Sightings in general that I've spotted from stand? Probably around 8 or 10.
In regards to shooters seen from stand PA I am 1 of 1. In Ohio I am 0-1, with 2 "tweeners" that never came in range, not sure if I'd have shot. But I have had a really good year with regards to bucks of all size seen and shot opportunities at them. I bet I am over 80%.
I saw what I would call 3 year olds, could have been big 2's? don't know, but I saw 6 3 year olds from 30 yards out to 210 yards, not a good shot at any of the 'closer' ones, one of the 7 was a nice 150ish that I saw 5 times, but couldn't get him to close the distance. The buck I took, I am still waiting on the jaw back from the taxi, but from the horn mass, and the body size, I am leaning towards a really nice 2 year old.
This year...1 sighting, closest he got was 43 yards. Career (5 years), maybe 5 sightings? 1 in range....
All 2010 sightings here. 15 mature buck sightings (some the same buck). 9 shot opportunities. 120 Inch 3.5 year old 8 point- One shot opportunity with him at 15 yards but passed. 115 to 120 Inch 3.5 year old 8 point- 8+ different sightings with this buck. Every sighting but one time I could've shot but passed. All 7 shot opportunity's I had him with In 10 to 15 yards. This last weekend the neighbors shot him during our gun season that just ended finally. 115 to 120 Inch 3.5 year old 7 point- 2 different sightings with this buck. One shot opportunity with him but passed. Shot was 15 yards. 155+ Inch 5.5 year old- 4 sightings with this buck- 1st sighting- 30 yards- too far and passed. 2nd sighting- 40 yards away bedded with a doe. Too far and passed. 3rd sighting- 11 yards and 15 yards for 5 minutes but had to pass. Too much **** In the way to shoot through. 4th sighting- 60 yards, wayyyyyy to far away.
Not interested in the 3.5 year olds so skippng them... Seen a 5.5 year old buck twice. I ended up shooting him. 150 yards and killed him at 15 yards ( 8 yards but couldn't shoot ) 4.5 year old buck. Ran into him on the walk out from my first hunt. Too far, getting dark and busted. 60 - 70 yards. 5.5 year old buck last week. Huge body but didn't have the rack to match it. 140ish. 50 yards. Too far for bow and passed him with rifle. Hunting with both. 4 total sightings... 1 in range for bow = 25% Tim
hahah, alright I am gonna try to reduce this info better, I just read my own post and it gave me a headache.. sorry guys.. 7 total sightings of 3.5 year old bucks, 3 were in bow range, I've passed on every 3.5 this year. After screwing up last year on aging a buck, I made a concerted effort this year to really pass on 3.5s (125-130ish bucks) 4 total sightings of big mature bucks over 4.5 with only 1 in bowrange, the big droptine buck I missed, I believe wholeheartedly that I got a deflection on him. I know I didnt hit him. (droptine buck was mid 150s, big 5x5 pushing 160 best deer so far this year, Big massy 4x4 with kickers, very old buck! poor score/short tines but a true old buck, I would have shot him if given the chance, then finally the big 6x5 my cousin filmed me hunting in early season was probably 145-150) so 11 total sightings so far with 4 total shot opportunities and only elected to take 1 shot so far on these bucks.
End of the year. That's If he's still alive anyway, gun season just finished up. Sounded like world war 3 starting up around here during the 9 day gun season.
ive seen three one was on the way to class yesterday and he was up browsing in my food plot that i took my stand down from because it grew to about 1 inch and he was 400 yards away but huge and the other two have been around 50 yards but on the way to the stand
3 mature bucks, only 1 close enough to shoot. I drew on him but he would not cooperate always stopping behind trees. No shot. The other farm I hunt is a great late season place. So its getting ready to pick up there. Ratio 3:1
