Lifetime odds on harvesting a 180+ whitetail?

i'm 19 i just started to deer hunt, to be correct this season will be my first. i live in northern illinois 3-4 hours from iowa. there are nice deer here in IL too. i could shoot one in iowa or my home state. i'm young and have a lot of years ahead of me. only bad thing is i plan on enlisting to the marine corps this December so 4-5 years will be hunt free... :'(

 

I would say my odds are pretty slim of ever even seeing a 180+ buck much less killing one. MN has a rifle season that usually starts the first weekend of November and lasts between 9-16 days depending on which zone you are in...so many bucks get killed at a young age around here...makes it tough to see many mature bucks unless you own a large chunk of land that can be managed. I don't know of anyone in my area that has killed a 180+ buck with bow....I know of one that went 170.

 

It's about

1. age
2. nutrition
3. genetics

according to most biologists

 

Not sure how far from LBL you are LittleChief....there are multiple 180's there every year. If you hunt right and scout hard, you would have a realistic chance to take one off public land. At least one buck a year that size gets killed at Fort Campbell also.

 

I just looked it up.....a 190 3/8 net non-typical bow kill was taken off LBL last year!!!

 

I found the differences in your replies interesting. Two buds who have hunted together since day one, have such a different outlook on their odds to be in line to take down a giant.

Curious to understand why you guys feel so differently about hitting the big buck lotto.

 

I finally get to say " Been There Done That "

 

Being that I live in Alabama, i chose 0-10 percent chance. I have traveled to Indiana the last 2 years and am going to Illinois this year, so I guess there is an outside chance. It sure is fun to go try!