Took me 3 years I was 15 First buck I saw that year, just peer luck. It would have been 14, but I shot a bush That too was dumb luck
It took 6 seasons before I tagged my first trophy class whitetail. However, that was the very first season I made up my mind that I simply wasn't going to settle for anything less. I was 20 years old
I started bow hunting at about 14, so 5 years later at 19 I killed my first mature buck. he was a 3.5, 8 point, nothing huge. Then, between college and starting my career I didn't bow hunt again until I was twenty six. I lived in an area that wasn't appealling to me for bow hunting having been raised in the Midwest. I just didn't know how to hunt it. (AZ) Then last year I shot my first P&Y and it was the second season I had held out for a mature buck. After passing three other bucks, one of which was about 120-125, I finaly shot my buck. I will hold out every year from now on, I just never gave myself a chance to see a mature buck most of the time in previous years.
I've not taken a mature buck with a bow. This is my 2nd full season bowhunting. I turn 30 next Friday. I had 1 mature buck come by stand last year within bow range but I did not have a clear shot. During my first full season of bowhunting I took a doe and a 1.5 year old buck.
I've been bow hunting seriously for 25 years. I killed a mature buck my very first year and have killed many more since then (mule deer). I became addicted to whities in 2002. Since then, I have killed around ten mature white-tailed bucks from various states. I have never had the pleasure of knowing exactly what I am looking for-I dive in head first and shoot them as they're sent-I have never ever thought it to be coincidence. I was 23 when I shot my first mature deer.
Took me 15 minutes of my first bowhunt when I was 16. Please no respect or impressive compliments lol. It was 110% absolute pure dumb luck. I had no clue what I was doing. But didn't take long to get addicted after that. After that I took my share of does, 1.5, and 2.5's. I went on a killing spree for a number of years and had a blast doing it. Killed a few more 3.5+ along the way that just happened by (wasn't really holding out for them). This will be my 6th season strictly mature buck hunting. Have killed 2 in that period but currently in a 2 year drought.
I killed a mature buck my 2nd year of bowhunting and I was 23 years old. I wasn't holding out for a buck that size...I was just fortunate to get a shot at him.
I shot my first mature buck when I was 26 which would be my 14th year hunting and my 11th year bowhunting. I was not going for a mature deer, nor was he very impressive. He was an old buck with a deformed rack from a severe skull injury. I started trying to focus on bigger deer in 2006. Since then I have one 3.5 year old to my credit and he was taken this year.
I figured mine last season was a mature deer figured he was about 3.5 he dressed185. It was my fourth season before that i had killed a button and a 4 point. I hadnt held out at all lol he just came cruisin in, I haved to kinda attribute it luck. but this season im tryin to get a mature buck of course that is if i see any bucks at all.
Actually I should correct myself. I'm jumping the gun a bit. No I haven't. I'm assuming he's a 3.5 (I guess 3.5 to me is mature, maybe that's also a bit inaccurate, but in PA, 3.5 is still mature in the sense that he's lived this long) simply by body size and facial structure. I would be REALLY surprised if he's 2.5, but heck, what do I know?
i have been shooting a bow since thae age of 7 bowhunting since i was 9. I believe i was 14 when i got my first bowkill it was a mature 8 point, pure luck. That was a lot of bucks ago. I got this one last night.
The story just makes me hurt inside. He came in last night at 5:30 moving pretty quick i grunt stopped him at 25 yards, i shot, he went 25 yards and fell over. The reason he was moving so quick was becuase there was a giant 11 point chasing him. If i only waited 20 more seconds i would have seen him he was a 5+ year old deer 150" minimum. To rub salt in the wound he stood at 20 yards for a half hour stareing at the dead 9 point.
on one hand that definitly sucks but on the other for all of us who would love to even see that 9, thats an awesome buck you got
I've only taken 1 mature buck with a bow, and honestly...I wasn't holding out for a mature deer, just a "nice one". It just happened to come by. Didn't have a real big rack either, about 90", 3.5yr old. Semi-mature I guess. It was my 12th year actually bowhunting, and that was 11yrs ago - I was 31. I'm still holding out for my 2nd mature buck. I've passed a ton of small/young bucks since then...just haven't been able to make it happen - yet.
