That's a good point. Here in NY I'll always see at least one and I'd say on average 3 a year? It's only because #1 I hunt EVERYDAY of the season morning, afternoon and all day rut sits. I honestly think I have more time on stand than probably every hunter in my county. I have to do it like that to give myself a chance at a big mature buck. Take your "average joe" hunter that gets out like the average NY hunter does and he probably is seeing 0 a year. If he's lucky get a glimpse of one "sometime". #2 there are big bucks in NY somewhere. You just HAVE to be in the right situation and on the right land. Land that produces basket 6's and 1.5 year olds all year long can be completely different 2 miles down the road where it's managed better. I've worked my butt off to be on a piece that we let some big ones grow and ALL the neighbors have to. We actually meet every year to talk about it and make sure we are all on the same page. Big bucks are there to be had anywhere. Do you have to work harder in some states/areas than others? Absolutely. Just the way I like it though.
I share the farm with 3 cousins, and they don't report seeing as many bucks as me, but I also put in way more effort into it than they even think about. I've hunted 34 days this year, and probably spent 30-35 days last winter scouting/shed hunting, over many different ares (public and private). I feel if someone puts in the work and time on the stand, then one should get a crack at a P&Y buck. I am a LONG ways from being a "big buck hunter", as seeing and killing them are 2 completely different things.
ahhh....yes Scott, but you have to see em before you can kill em...you already have the work cut down to 50% now!
Honestly, I'm not sure how many 125+ bucks I've seen this year. Seven or eight. None close enough. I see them every year in IL. Even when I was hunting really, super duper high pressure public land I'd see at least one per year. (but again.. out of range) When I hunted in Northern WI... I never saw one while I was hunting. A small 2.5 year old six pointer was the biggest buck I saw in the woods up there. Everybody kills off the yearling bucks so a mature buck is as rare as hens teeth up there. wait... can I answer if I'm not one of the 'boys'???
