If you killed this type of buck every year...

If you killed this type of buck every year or every 2 years, would you be considered a "great buck hunter" for your area? Is this type of buck (117 inches) a "slammer" for your hunting area or would it just be considered "average".

 

That would be considered an average run of the mill buck for the area I hunt in MN. That said, its still a darn fine buck!

 

It would definately be a big deer here.

 

that would be considered below average for my area but i also live in illinois whole different world here but congrats man

 

Jeff,

Is your '07 buck still your biggest? What did he score? Wasn't it around 105?

 

A 117" buck in my area would be considered a 2.5 y/o buck with good genetics, which is the kind of deer we would really like to pass on so that we have nice bucks in a couple years. I don't think people would necessarily consider you a great hunter being as they're only 2.5 y/o. I don't really care though what people think about what I kill. The beauty of the buck is in the person that kills it, and if you're happy with it.... I'm happy for you.

 

I consider you a great hunter... You never put people down, you never talk poorly of anyone on here for that matter, you help out people with legitimate questions, and from what I know of on here (having never met you in person), you hunt honestly, and have a certain degree of Integrity.

That's what a "Great Hunter" is to me.

If I killed one deer that big, and put the time and effort into actually going for that deer, I would consider myself a good hunter. lol.

Around here...that is a big deer. Of course the only deer I ever see are along the road, "taking naps"...

 

anyone that takes game fairly and cleanly is a good hunter. what one guy thinks is a great buck, others may pass on. i personally am a meat hunter, but i prefer to harvest bucks. that being said i've shot alot of does, but i still go out with intentions of killing a buck, any buck of reasonable size. i like every hunter want to shoot a big buck, but i've only passed on bucks a few times in my years of hunting. so to answer your ? directly, yes if you shoot something like that yearly or whatever, yes, in my opinion your a good hunter

 

in my woods, I dont know anyone other than myself that even attempts to kill a buck every year with a bow, I am sure there are a few around the state but not many.. So yeah if you could kill a buck like that or better every year with your bow out here in these big woods I would say yes, you are accomplishing something.. personally I like to hold out for the older bucks.. which usually means 1-3 shot opportunities max a season.. with a bow. Gotta make em count when they come.. My goal every year is to kill 4 year old bucks and older.. at least one with my bow.. its tough. When I have killed two in one season I considered that an excellent season of work.

 

A good hunter is someone who puts venision on the table year after year legally on a consistent basis. Plain and simple. How big the horns are does not reflect on how "great" of a hunter you are. If it is I welcome any "great hunter" to hunt some of the lands where big bucks aren't common. There are more places like this, then the handful of destinations where hunters pass 125" deer and up. It's all relative to the area or land you are on. It is about the ability to identify and put yourself close enough to the game to offer a ethical shot.

 

A 117" buck where I hunt is not a slammer by any means. HOWEVER, if someone shot one of that caliber every year, that is certainly something I think they should be quite proud of. There are a few "honey hole" type areas around here where that wouldn't be a big deal, but for the average fellow, hunting average land it would be rather impressive.

 

Tribal, I understand all of those things.....

 

Killing a buck like that on a regular basis in NY with a bow would make it VERY difficult to find someone else in this state to share hunting stories with.

How's that for PC

 

In my area, if you did that every year....you'd likely be the best hunter around. That's a REAL good one where I am....for gun or bow. Heck, even seeing a 110" deer every season is doing pretty good. Sucks, but its the reality of where I hunt.

 

A 117" in buck like that is about what you would expect from a healthy 3 year old around here.

So if you take a buck that size every year with your bow- your doing something.

 

I would be happy w/ a deer of that caliber, but I don't think it would be a "slammer" for the area. Around here I think anything 150ish would be a "slammer".

 

"Great Hunters" are not the ones going out, and shooting ONLY big bucks. They are the hunters out there, for the fun, excitment, and challenge of the hunt. They abide by the rules, and regs. They do it for them. Not for decor around their house (not that it isn't nice to have, just an added bonus). Not just for the meat either, Its about the experience, and challenges, like I said. Now, if I could just get my wife to understand that, I would be a lot better off. lol.

I wish I could get out as much as some of you guys. But with the new job, I only get Saturdays...This Sat, I am hoping to get out. There is a guy on AT that has invited me to go to some property that he has... I hope it works out...


THREADJACK OVER: Sorry.

 

Average around here, I'd say. Nice camo :p

 

Be happy with your harvest every year and don't qualify yourself by others' standards, just your own. Different areas have different sizes of bucks due to the amount of harvesting and genetics. I'll leave it at that.

Congratulations on the harvest!!!

 

If I took a buck like that every year, I would be considered a good hunter by most around here. Nice buck again Matt.