Honestly, I think you guys are a little on the LOW side. Now i dont know your areas well obviously, but i consider where i live quite average, not a well known "big buck" county by the stats, and i know of 7-8 deer over the years that went over 180" here.
I put 50% Last year there were 14 known buck kills of over 170 within 10 miles of where I hunt, so there are those bucks around. 4 years ago I watched a legit 180 all summer long feed on my oats field. He disappeared two weeks before bow season and I never saw him again til he was riding in my neighbors truck. 186' 13 point that was 19 wide. I believe the G2's were 13-14 inches? Tremendous deer regardless, but that year really showed me that even if the nearby landowners don't practice strict quality management, the deer can still grow that big
If that's average then my area Is WELL below average. I know of 2 180+ bucks that were shot with In 5 miles of where I hunt In the last 26 years. One was a NT, he went 227 Inches I believe. He was the Mn state record for bow for a long time. The other was another NT, this one was shot with a gun. High 190's I believe he was. I'm stubborn, very stubborn. When I say I'm sticking to a goal I stick to It. I'm not afraid to go without a buck, done It MANY times. I've passed up I bet 15 to 20 125 to 130 Inch bucks the last 20 years. One of these years I'm going to get rewarded for It. I've never saw a 180 Inch class buck but I'll say my chances are In that 11 to 20 percent range of getting one. I don't live In a big buck area either but I feel my hard work will give me a possible chance at a 180 Inch buck here where I hunt. Anything Is possible.
I personally know of 9 within 10 miles in the last 5 years that were alive or harvested. One is hanging in my living room.
My point is, if you look at a map of registered bucks, deer harvested, that kinda info. My area isnt even mentioned, and places pretty low in the state. Im just a good gossiper
Several of my friends have gotten it done. Me? I suck too much. I had a 190+ stand around at 40 yards for what seemed like a lifetime. 40 yards is too far a shot for me. I figure even if I did get one within my pathetic 25 yard range, something would happen that would bar me getting the deer. I'd fall out of the tree, aliens would abduct the deer, locusts... floods... something.
Duke and quick made some great points, and got me thinking. I live in what most would consider a target rich area, and I know quite a few people who hunt around here. I don't hunt the Golden Triangle, but I can be there in about an hour. Looking back, I am trying to remember all of the 180"+ deer taken by people I know, or the bucks that I know have been taken in my county. These are bow kills only, and I'm sure there are some that I am missing here. About 10 years ago, a guy from Louisiana came up and killed a giant 190 class non-typical on puplic land. I was there when he checked it in, and when they rough scored him. Not far from this, a Georgia man killed a 180" non-typical last season. Also, about a mile from our farm, a guy killed a buck that went over 180" 6 or 7 years ago. Just a few years ago, I think a guy killed a giant that went over 180" at a hunting club around here. Some guy that used to come down and turkey hunt with my dad named Mel Johnson killed a pretty good one too back in the day too:p, but he wasn't anywhere close to our area when he killed it. Our farm has been hunted for 30+ years. Out of literally HUNDREDS of deer taken over that time span on this land, only 1 has went over 180", and my cousin jumped him up while walking into his stand during gun season. While those aren't impossible odds, they certaintly aren't in our favor. I would have a hard time saying there is greater than a 10% chance our farm produces another 180+. Another group of guys I know have owned some the greatest whitetail hunting land for several years. It is parked right in the middle of one of the top counties in Illinois, and borders one of the largest outfitters in the state. They have never taken a 180 off there. A few 170's, but never a 180. I believe they will get one to fall victim to a hunter eventually, but in nearly 20 years of hunting they have not done it yet. I like my odds better than some on our farm, and the potential is definantly there, but I still don't see how I could be any higher than 10%. But if it was easy, it wouldn't be so much fun would it?
A guy just a few miles out of town killed a 26 point that scored in that area so that's got my hopes up but really I'm just praying for a 130!
About the same as Vito going 3 posts in a row and NOT being sarcastic or Poorman going half a dozen bow seasons in a row without breaking SOMETHING or Little Chief Beating me this year in the head to head buck contest or Crik getting a finger reduction surgery or Christine not shooting anymore carp for the rest of her life or Sliver turning Conservative or Tineacious not repeating as champs this year or Iowa Veteran actually killing ANYTHING with his bow or MoDoe not ever wearing pink or sporting it in some way or another or Duckharvesterclyde admitting he is wrong or Buckeye beating me in arm wrestling so it's pretty small odds, to say the least :D
46% of the people polled believe they have a 10% or better chance at KILLING a 180 inch Whitetail. I have hunted the past 20 years in various parts of Virginia and have never seen a 180 inch buck in the woods, nor have I ever heard of anyone killing a 180 inch whitetail anywhere around where I hunt.
After 44 years of bowhunting the odds dont look good, but that could change in a matter of seconds if your in the right area!
51-60%. I have photo's of deer of that size in my hunting areas (mostly during non-hunting hours). A few of them pass through only once during the roaming weeks of rut. I 'm holding on to the dream that one might just maybe .... maybe make a mistake and give me the shot but they don't get that big around here if they mistakes.
Those are impressive stats for passing on deer. If your area is well below average I'm not sure what you would consider central PA!
Been there, done that. And in all honestly, I feel I have a good chance to do it again. Hopefully this doesn't JINX me. I killed Muley last year, and he grossed 180 on the nose. The guy hunting the land next me killed a 186" buck during shotgun season last year as well. So most of you are familiar with Muley, but here he is incase you aren't: Also, I've seen this buck from stand, and this picture was taken last January. I killed Muley in my 3rd season, and I hope to have another 40+ years to bowhunt atleast!
It depends where you hunt. Straight-up its about genetics. Your not gonna kill a monster in a mountain-fully wooded area. UNLESS all the wood is oak but maybe.
Not yet but I've been real close a few times.....I'll kill a 180+ someday and he will come from public land.
Grizz, I hear you. It wouldn't surprise me if my next 180 doesn't come from public land either, I just recently infultrated a new Unit here in Idaho that does not allow a rifle season during the rut, only Muzzle Loader and its huge mountainous logging country. Meaning bucks get real old. Its all public land, I have been scouting and I know I have a chance to find old old bucks in there and possibly a giant. I personally know of four 200plus inch NT's that have been shot in this unit in the last 15 years.
