I went with 61-70 , I have never had the chance but there have been some that class and bigger in the area. I like to stay positive about most things I do so I gave myself a little more percentage %%%%
No doubt all of the hunters you have In PA make your hunting much more tougher then mine In that regard. Problem here In Minnesota Is nothing gets age. Gun season during the prime of the rut has made my hunting tough on getting a chance at bucks I let go every year. Most seem to get shot. I know of 2 bucks last year that would've been decent bucks this year. Both were awesome 2.5's last year measuring out In that 115 to 120 Inch range. They got poped by the gun hunters, happens every year. We normally don't have good genetics here but these 2 bucks sure did. Those 15 to 20 mature bucks I've passed the last 20 years, I'd say a 1/3 were 4.5 year olds. If were calling 3.5 year olds mature bucks It comes out to about one mature buck a year on average I've passed on the last 20 years. Obviously It depends on where you compare that stat to but to me It Isn't that great of a stat. People hunting In good area's would frown on this stat and hope for better. Years ago hunting In my area was awesome. Man has It gone down hill but the last 2 to 3 years have looked much better and kind of remind me of the hunting we had when I 1st started hunting mature bucks only when I turned 17 years old back In 1992. The last 3 years have padded them stats quite well that I listed. Lets hope for my sake It keeps going In that direction. Last year I made a thread saying I felt spoiled. I had 3 and maybe even 4 mature bucks In the woods I hunt. 2 of these I passed on many times. One of them I had very close encounters with but just couldn't seal the deal. Rut sign everywhere, bucks chasing everywhere. The competition was awesome. Allot of people don't realize how good they have It when talking mature buck numbers. I lived It for a year. I couldn't Imagine having this kind of hunting every year. I know for a fact these mature bucks I passed on lost at least 50 to 60lbs In weight from the rut. I saw 2 of them the last 10 days of the season In which I passed on again. Both were lucky If they weighed 140lbs dressed. Earlier In the year they were pushing 190lbs. The big guy I was hunting easily would've dressed out In that 220lb range, biggest whitetail I've ever seen on foot. He was shot In our muzzleloader season late November while chasing a doe. He dressed out at 145lbs. He was skin and bones. He was a 5.5 year old buck. The hunter who shot him watched him breed a doe 1st. After he jumped off he plugged him. He died with a smile on his face. One thing you guys In PA have going for you Is the AR's. Not sure about where you hunt but I've heard good things from a few other hunters In PA that there seeing bigger bucks now. Best of luck fatsbucknut. No doubt you hunt a tough area.
I have less than a 0% chance.... Because if I saw a buck that big I would crap myself and there is not a sent killer strong enough for that mess.... Sigh....
I figure I've got about 2-3 years remaining to work up to that 180" mark. Every year since '07 have harvested bucks 10" larger (luck....yes!!!). 2007 was a 125", 130" in '08, 143" in '09 and 152" in '10. Hoping Cyclops (posted in trail cam forum) is in the 160" range when I get him this year so that would keep that trend going. Ok, back to reality...I just hope to get some venison for the freezer this year and worry about a 180" buck in my dreams even if they are a wet dream
A lot of what goes into having a chance to bag a buck that is 180"+ is either a) having them around or b) going to where they are. A 180" buck is pretty special, there's not doubt about that, but there are places that have the right combination of genetics, nutrition, and age structure that will allow bucks to get that big. A very select few of us are fortunate enough to live in an area like that. Those of you that are I will freely admit that I am envious of that opportunity. If you don't live close to an area like that and want to have a chance you have to give it to yourself by finding those places and hunting them. If killing a buck that big is not that high of a priority and killing the best buck in the given area you hunt is then that is totally respectable and each hunter's choice. I've been fortunate to find a couple of areas that there is a chance to find, hunt, and kill a buck that big. One is 3.5 hours by car from where I live, the other is a 3 hour plane ride. It is worth it for me to spend the money and time to hunt those areas when I can, so I do it. Others may decide or be unable to make that sacrifice, and it is a sacrifice. That is money that is pissed away on gas, time that I won't get back with my family, and added pressure on my job and marriage. Additionally, I may go the rest of my life and never get a chance at a buck that is 180". The way I look at it is at least this way I know I tried.
I put 41-50%, I have had 2 just out of bow range. We have taken bucks close to that on our lease, and I try to hunt one other mid west state each year to improve my chances.
I put 0-10%, in 30 years the biggest Ive managed to kill is 176" and thats gross. My biggest net score was 156". I'm 46 years old, I figure I have about another 20 years of hard hunting at the most, maybe 15 depending on if I stay healthy, so my odds arent good. Although Im hunting Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, MO and Kansas in the next few years, that may be my best chance.
A combine? Please. All this modern equipment is just making it too easy. Where's the challenge? Go traditional and use one of these instead. Get your traditional harvest/kill on public land and you'll be a living legend.
I'm guessing my chances are less than 10% and that's just because I'm trying to stay positive. Sometimes I feel like Lloyd in Dumb and Dumber "So you're telling me there's a chance! Yeah!
That a whole lot of horns. I hunted for close to 30 years and I've seen maybe 2 or 3 deer over 180, and one over 200 inches. I sure hope, that my chances are good that I will take a 180 plus.
I feel fairly confident saying that I will harvest a whitetail that large within the next ten years, lord knows I have seen some giant deer while in the tree but have yet been able to seal the deal. I do hunt in illinois the state that seems to produce record class whitetail every year I just hope I am the lucky guy in the picture behind a booner in the near future.
