But as for a buck of a lifetime, it has nothing to do with the antler size and everything to do with the trip/experience of killing it. Set up in a tree stand and a buck I have never seen before stroll by? World record or not, that isn't as neat to me as saving up for 2 years and heading out to Colorado mountains spotting a big buck from afar and stalking in close... or developing a history over several years of cat and mouse with a bruiser whitetail before finally bagging him. Hunting is a journey not a destination for this guy.
A buck of a lifetime is one that you wouldn't top, or have a chance at topping over the course of your life. I have no idea what size buck that would be for me. I haven't cracked 140" & I don't think I've ever seen a 150" while hunting, BUT the areas I hunt (as a whole) can contain some bucks that would got 160+, so I would say I'd need something pretty big. I killed a buck back in 06, that a guy said was a "buck of a lifetime". I remember thinking to myself that I sure hope not because I had a lot of years ahead of me. I have since topped that buck score wise. But I will consider the events and story surrounding that buck an experience of a life time, but not a buck of a lifetime.
It could mean various things....total inches could classify a buck as it...a long story behind the eventual harvest could classify it (see Clinton's post on Strict 9)....or it could be a sentimental buck like that first one after losing someone significant in your life. To merely state it's inches would not account for factors that can't be measured by tape and a calculator.
So Cole...do you set up with the fence behind you so you know the action is gonna come from in front of you? Just joking bud...you've got some prime real estate and prime ability bud!
I'd be thrilled to shoot one over 150" or even 180". It would give me more drive to top it. I hunt a small tract of private ground that is semi manageable and I don't have alot I can do with it. I have had three real nice bucks on cam this year and two promising bucks for the next couple years to come. I'd definately have to agree with some that the buck of a lifetime doesnt have to be a 200 incher, but rather maybe a buck thats gave you the slip a few times or a buck that you've watched grow on camera for a couple years. Alot of what would make a buck the buck of a lifetime would come from the experience or how exactly the hunt went. No matter what, I will always try to top what Ive done.
I agree that score has a limited amount to do with a buck of a lifetime for me. While there are some large deer running around these parts and it seems like the regular kill is 160s in these parts (with many under that and many over that) the history with the deer is the neat part to me. I would honestly pass on a 160" deer that I had only seen on cam a few times in the current year, to shoot a 140" buck I have had on camera for several years. To me the relationship, time, and effort you put into growing, attracting, and killing bucks you have names for and hundreds upon hundreds of trail cam photos just cannot be replaced. Ya, you might kill a bigger deer than him next year, and that is great, but to me without that history it just isn't as special and feels more just like strictly LUCK. ON a side note, I would rather be lucky than skilled any day
As a fellow Nebraskan I would say a deer over 150" with a bow is achievable several times in a "lifetime", at least I hope it is or I need to hang it up. A deer over 180" with a bow is probably a deer of a lifetime in my mind, 200" might be attainable in your area but the farms I'm on it is a stretch.
For me being in PA and hunting mostly hard hunted ,small woodlot ,and public deer I've definitely achieved a "Buck of a lifetime"........ In 2007 I managed by some miracle to kill a 150+" buck with a recurve bow on public land in PA. That's a tough 3 variables to get lined up in several lifetimes.
As many have said - it's all relative to where you hunt and how much you hunt. For me, I think any deer over 170 is probably going to be a buck of a lifetime. While I'm hoping to shoot a few of those before it's all said and done, one would certainly suffice. :D
I think every deer is the deer of a lifetime. Each deer you kill has its own story. Each deer to me is another memory of time well spent. Buck or doe. Makes it even better if I have good friends or family out there with me.
I guess its to each his own and the goals one sets for his or herself. I've killed deer over 150 and that maybe my person best buck of my lifetime and that's fine with me. But i will say even if i kill a deer over 200 inches it will never be my buck of a lifetime. My son that is 8 killed his first buck and first with a bow this last weekend, even though it was a six pointer that wouldn't even score 50 points probably seeing his eyes when we found it and the excitement of hearing him hyperventilate before he shoot and afterward makes that my buck of lifetime and nothing I will ever kill will replace it. Besides with me and him jumping around and high fiving and hugging and yelling i'm sure the deer we are hunting are in the next county now. lol
I've shot a 180, and he could very well be my "buck of a lifetime". I'd love to shoot bigger, and I've seen bigger on the hoof from stand, so I know the chance is there, but I still view him as a "buck of a lifetime" because I know 95% (or more) of guys around here, haven't seen or shot a deer as big as he is.
