Jeff I hear you. Our overall deer numbers are down on the place I hunt. 45,000 huntable acres. 300 bucks were killed last year. That is a buck every 150 acres. If 80% of those bucks were 2.5 year old or younger, that means that a 3.5+ year old buck was killed every 900 acres. And I might be very gracious in assuming that 80% of the bucks that were killed were 2.5 years old and younger. It might actually be 90%. That means only 30 deer or less over 45,000 acres that were killed were 3.5+ years old or older, or one buck at that age every 1,500 acres. I have looked at pictures of the kills and see that maybe, just maybe 1 buck out 4 at 3.5 year old or older was killed with a bow. That means that a 3.5+ year old buck was killed with a bow every 4,500 acres or approximately 8 square miles. All the statistics aside, a 100 inch deer where I hunt is a very nice deer. A 110+ inch buck would get you into the top 5% or so of all bucks taken. I am lucky to hunt a place that keeps statistics. I see them and know my task is hard, but I love it. They are in there, it is my job to find them.
That is what I am talking about Duke! I am very excited and thanks to many of you, I have been slowly armed with the tools to actually compete and find the bigger bucks.
Umm not exactly. I'm probably one of the least pot stirring guys around here. I just found it strange that you're asking people what they think a big buck is according to them in this thread and at the same time saying people don't have a clue what a big buck is when they tell you what they think one is.
Brett, I honestly cant wait to follow your next season You are working your nads off and I believe it will pay off for you. even if its just close calls and no arrow flung,,,Im betting your going to find more and bigger mature Bucks I have learned very very much from this sight from the way I used to hunt and I had to throw lazy out the window. When I started all the off season scouting combined with the shedding and getting back in those places where most dont like to hike things changed. I have alot of years of very close calls with the biguns and didnt bring any home.. this is the area I need work on, better johnny on the spot stand placement Keep us updated, I love what your doing!! very interesting!!
Thanks! We all develop our own style I suppose. Things that seemed foreign to me just years ago are starting to make sense to me now. Topo maps, staging areas, bedding areas, wind and stand placement, when to hunt specific areas, hunting pressure, time ofyear, off-season scouting....the list goes on and on for me. I am going to be back in the woods this Sunday or Monday again for another go around. The military base on which I hunt really starts going on lockdown around February and the ability to scout becomes difficult. January is really the month to hit the woods. Like I told Jmbuckhunter this morning, all we can really do is give it our all, and whatever happens, happens. Blood, good luck to you as well, I can't wait to see what next season brings for you!
Steve, I am not sure I would consider 130" bucks big but that is the size I try to target, 130 and above. Probably anything 145" to 150" above I consider big. I think that depends a lot on where a guy hunts and what he has access to though. :-) Dan
100'' in MI gri22ly. Just sitting here thinking, my (bio) Father, Grandfather and Uncles have never shot a buck over a 100'' At my club the 124'' nine I shot was the biggest buck this year for bow or gun.
130" is a big buck to me. When 150" and above start getting talked about, then I consider that buck to be stud of a buck.
In PA we're not concerned about inches as long as it has at least 8 points has some width, tine length and maybe some mass I'd say its a big buck.
4 pt ( 4x4 ) 110 - 120 is a decent buck 120 - 130 is a good buck 130 - 140 is a big buck 140 - 150+ is a slob 5pt ( 5x5 ) or plus tines 120 - 130 is a decent buck 130 - 140 is a good buck 140 - 150 is a big buck 150 - 160 is a slob
