I don't really care about the numbers so much anymore. I used to be ate up by it. Now I take the philosophy, if i think he is big, I'm taking him. I'm at the point hunting wise now that it'll take 3.5 and mid 120s+ for me to think that. I had 2 deer on cam I would have shot opening day, one wasn't really a shooter (prolly mid teens 8 pointer, 3.5), the other was a mid 130s nine...They always ran together, and luckily the bigger of the two stepped out first so I didn't have to make the call....Now if the 8 can live another 4 months he will be a stud next year. I'll run cameras all year to see if any new deer cycle through during rut, but my antler hunting days are over for 2010.
I have no idea and can't put a number on age or score. When a buck comes in that I like and want to end my season on...I'll shoot. Monday I passed up a long beamed 5 point that was the second biggest buck I have photos of from that property.
Last few years I've kind of gotten fired up about figuring out & hunting only certain bucks I'm seeing on cams. 4 1/2 yr. old minimum, 10 point or better, this year I will hold out for 150 " or better. By the last 2 weeks,I'll settle for a 140 class . I do have an 8 point (130's?-going against the grain for me,but he sure is pretty) that been wanting to see-I sat on him this past weekend, didn't see him , but had a 12 point(main frame 10 with long split G2's) i've been seeing on cam come under 30 yrds-he hung around for prolly 20 minutes. He got within 3 yrds of my tree at one point. Problem is , still in summer coat-not sure if he's 3 1/2 or 4. Don't think he'll quite score 150 either. It was opening weekend....got time! Let the games continue.... Here's the 8 I'm talking about.... what do you think he'll score?? //[/IMG] [/IMG]
This summer I decided nothing under 173 4/8. Actually I try to stick to the below but will change the goal depending on the buck if we have history with him. 4.5 years old or older 150 or better 5x5 135 or better 4x4 Tim
This is why I hate trail cams lol. Makes you second guess your goals knowing what else is out there. That's what I did (slightly different scale) and yeah I went buckless for a couple years. First year I was kind of pissed. Second year didnt' bother me knowing I could have killed my previous goals a number of times. Third year I connected. Now I don't even second guess it. 3.5 + 130" + for me. Tag soup can be tasty if prepared right. I also have to be realistic and set my goals according to what's actually in my woods.
It's early Troy, trying to hold out for a 160 incher till mid Nov. Truth is I would drop the string on a 140'' 8pt! Hell, there is a 6pt (no brows) here by the house I would love to get a shot at, He is one heck of a 6.
130+ Net is the bar. I could give a frog flip about age. But I'll have a hard time passing up another mid 120's on my favorite public tract.
I'm looking for something bigger than a bread box. Last year I had a goal of a buck with a 16" or better spread. I did manage to get it done but it was tough. I was sorely tempted to shoot a 70?" buck that I managed to sneak up on. Just because it would have been my first buck that I've ever stalked and shot. But I let him go. I decided it wasn't so much that I was good at stalking but rather that he was stupid. I think I'll probably pass on anything less than 110" this year. But never say never.
Well due to health problems I'll be lucky to even hunt so I'll just go and have fun and see whats pops up. The largest I have ever got with bow was 141 2/8ths 8 pointer in 2008. It will be hard to beat that in the area I hunt.
I will not shoot any thing with a rack smaller than Bloodcrick's fingers, so we are talking a new world record here >>>Ka-Tow<<<
I've never met Bloodcrick, but from what I've read on this and other forums, you're talkin' some serious mass there...
I've got several bucks in my area that are 3.5 or older running around this year in PA. Any of those bucks will get it, but there is one buck in particular that I am chasing more than the others. I've been watching him since he was a 1.5 and now at 3.5 he has grown into a very nice buck. In MD we have two phenomenal bucks on trail camera. One 11 point that will gross 180"+ and a 9 point that is at least 165". Still anything that is 125" or better will have a projectile coming its way since I am limited on how much I can hunt down there. For my MN trip it will be the first buck that gets my heart racing. With the management on the properties we'll be hunting there is the potential for that to be an absolute giant, but I will shoot whatever charges me up. I hope everyone gets a chance at the buck(s) they are after. Best of luck all.
