Formula for Succes.

[Gern186]

Put a 200 inch deer in front of 100 guys....I bet your ass 70 percent of them would fugg up the shot just because of the wow factor of the presence of the animal alone. I know a local guy that hunts by me...very well known target archer that has shelves and walls full of plaques and trophies from bow shoots...who can hit the 10 ring with his eyes closed on a target...who totally fuggs up when a buck comes within range...same guy just missed a 150 class 2 weeks ago with his bow from 25 yards. Not everyone is cut out for killing any animal consistently, let alone good bucks.

I can think of many reasons that guys that should kill good deer, dont. Here are a few reasons....

1) They hunt the wrong wind.
2) They use the wrong access into and out of stands.
3) Their scent control sucks.
4) They park their vehicle in the wrong place or drive too far into their stands because they are just plain lazy.
5) They don't hunt the right times or hunt during rough weather...fair weather hunters.
6) They move too much while in the stand.
7) They make little noises that they don't feel bother the deer.
8) They call too much.
9) They leave the stand too early in the evening and arrive in the stand too late in the morning.
10) They get discouraged because of lack of sightings.
11) They get down out of their treestands at 9 am on a Saturday morning because they haven't seen anything yet.
12) They only hunt the first and last 2 hours of the day during the pre rut and rut.
13) They hunt the wrong property at the wrong time.
14) They hunt over corn piles and educate deer when walking into and out of treestand.
15) They don't practice enough with their weapon.
16) They are more worried about what their neighbors are doing than what they are doing.
17) They go in and check cameras every other day.
18) They hunt in the wrong location on the property.
19) They scout bedding areas during the season and blow deer out of their hideouts.
20) They don't trim shooting lanes.


I can come up with lots of other reasons why guys aren't successful as they would like to be. I have found out that it can be something as simple as where you park your truck as to whether you may be killing a good buck or going home empty handed. Don't overlook the obvious things.

 

[Jackalope]

Put a 200 inch deer in front of 100 guys....I bet your ass 70 percent of them would fugg up the shot just because of the wow factor of the presence of the animal alone. I know a local guy that hunts by me...very well known target archer that has shelves and walls full of plaques and trophies from bow shoots...who can hit the 10 ring with his eyes closed on a target...who totally fuggs up when a buck comes within range...same guy just missed a 150 class 2 weeks ago with his bow from 25 yards. Not everyone is cut out for killing any animal consistently, let alone good bucks.

I can think of many reasons that guys that should kill good deer, dont. Here are a few reasons....

1) They hunt the wrong wind.
2) They use the wrong access into and out of stands.
3) Their scent control sucks.
4) They park their vehicle in the wrong place or drive too far into their stands because they are just plain lazy.
5) They don't hunt the right times or hunt during rough weather...fair weather hunters.
6) They move too much while in the stand.
7) They make little noises that they don't feel bother the deer.
8) They call too much.
9) They leave the stand too early in the evening and arrive in the stand too late in the morning.
10) They get discouraged because of lack of sightings.
11) They get down out of their treestands at 9 am on a Saturday morning because they haven't seen anything yet.
12) They only hunt the first and last 2 hours of the day during the pre rut and rut.
13) They hunt the wrong property at the wrong time.
14) They hunt over corn piles and educate deer when walking into and out of treestand.
15) They don't practice enough with their weapon.
16) They are more worried about what their neighbors are doing than what they are doing.
17) They go in and check cameras every other day.
18) They hunt in the wrong location on the property.
19) They scout bedding areas during the season and blow deer out of their hideouts.
20) They don't trim shooting lanes.


I can come up with lots of other reasons why guys aren't successful as they would like to be. I have found out that it can be something as simple as where you park your truck as to whether you may be killing a good buck or going home empty handed. Don't overlook the obvious things.

But if they're on a property with 5,6,7 shooters and enough time to hunt even they will kill a good one. Happens every year. More big bucks fall to idiots who have time to hunt a good property than ever will to self described super hunters.

 

[giles]

I had a 200" deer walk in front of me last year and stand broadside at 30 yards...I closed my eyes and locked myself in the stand. I thought I was gonna pass the hell out! Grabbing my crossbow was never even a thought.

 

[Gern186]

But if they're on a property with 5,6,7 shooters and enough time to hunt even they will kill a good one. Happens every year. More big bucks fall to idiots who have time to hunt a good property than ever will to self described super hunters.

Well I would hope so Joe.....but let's be real. Most guys that kill a good one consistently arent hunting properties with 7 shooters running loose. You of all people should know dominant bucks won't tolerate each other being in the same area...especially during the breeding season!...

Your best hunters will have 1 or possibly 2 target bucks picked out in a given year, hunt smart, hunt right, and do what it takes to kill that 1 animal.

 

[hickslawns]

I am fortunate. I have access to some good property. It isn't "good" every year, but generally fairly solid. I have some flexibility in my schedule. This gives me time and access. Chris Mullins? Pete Rose? Yep. That is me. Heart. It takes some heart and it takes some hustle. I could add to Chad's list. Why? I have time. I have made mistakes. With time in stand and mistakes (assuming we learn from our mistakes). . . one acquires skill. Maybe "skill" isn't the right word. Experience might be better. Skill is gained when one takes their experiences/poor choices, and learns from them and applies them in future hunts.

I have no desire to get into a silly pissing match based on opinions. That said, there is merit to what Jesse has said and what Gern has said. It is the late season. We aren't in the woods as much. We are sitting around digesting why we were successful or unsuccessful this season. To those still getting after it? Kudos to you and good luck.

 

[bowhunter1023]

I don't disagree with anything you posted below. The only thing I'll say to this is that without access, there is no 200" deer to miss. You are arguablely the most successful hunter here on an annual basis. I lump you in the small percentage of hunters that are natural born killers. You have the "it factor" that Steph Curry has. Call it talent. Call it skill. Call it what you will, but you have that little something extra that makes you more successful than 99% of hunters. That said, how many 200" deer have you shot? To my knowledge, the answer is zero. Is that due to lack of skill or lack of access to an area that has a 200" deer? Your track record says you don't lack skill. So that means access to a 200" deer outweighs your ability to kill it.

I'm in no way saying it doesn't take skill to kill big deer consistently. It's part of the equation. However I place more weight on access and time, than I do skill. If you have neither access nor time, skill matters not.

Put a 200 inch deer in front of 100 guys....I bet your ass 70 percent of them would fugg up the shot just because of the wow factor of the presence of the animal alone. I know a local guy that hunts by me...very well known target archer that has shelves and walls full of plaques and trophies from bow shoots...who can hit the 10 ring with his eyes closed on a target...who totally fuggs up when a buck comes within range...same guy just missed a 150 class 2 weeks ago with his bow from 25 yards. Not everyone is cut out for killing any animal consistently, let alone good bucks.

I can think of many reasons that guys that should kill good deer, dont. Here are a few reasons....

1) They hunt the wrong wind.
2) They use the wrong access into and out of stands.
3) Their scent control sucks.
4) They park their vehicle in the wrong place or drive too far into their stands because they are just plain lazy.
5) They don't hunt the right times or hunt during rough weather...fair weather hunters.
6) They move too much while in the stand.
7) They make little noises that they don't feel bother the deer.
8) They call too much.
9) They leave the stand too early in the evening and arrive in the stand too late in the morning.
10) They get discouraged because of lack of sightings.
11) They get down out of their treestands at 9 am on a Saturday morning because they haven't seen anything yet.
12) They only hunt the first and last 2 hours of the day during the pre rut and rut.
13) They hunt the wrong property at the wrong time.
14) They hunt over corn piles and educate deer when walking into and out of treestand.
15) They don't practice enough with their weapon.
16) They are more worried about what their neighbors are doing than what they are doing.
17) They go in and check cameras every other day.
18) They hunt in the wrong location on the property.
19) They scout bedding areas during the season and blow deer out of their hideouts.
20) They don't trim shooting lanes.


I can come up with lots of other reasons why guys aren't successful as they would like to be. I have found out that it can be something as simple as where you park your truck as to whether you may be killing a good buck or going home empty handed. Don't overlook the obvious things.

 

[Gern186]

There's never been a 200 inch deer killed in my county.....EVER.

 

[bowhunter1023]

There's never been a 200 inch deer killed in my county.....EVER.

So then it's fair to say that it's not your lack of skill as to why you've never killed a 200" deer. I've never seen one or had one on camera in 11 years of running them. That said, there is one or two killed every year in this county. Is it my lack of skill that explains why I have never killed one? I don't think so. Neither of us has access to one and until we do, we have no way of knowing what our skill set means in regards to killing the elusive 200-incher. I acknowledge the fact that you are far more skillful a hunter than I. If we each had one to hunt, my money is on you succeeding. But we need Factor #1 first... Access to him.

 

[Gern186]

Theres a exponential difference between a 200 inch deer and a 140 inch deer....theres plenty of 140 inch deer running around Washington county....don't tell me there isn't.

 

[Bigcountry40]

Well I would hope so Joe.....but let's be real. Most guys that kill a good one consistently arent hunting properties with 7 shooters running loose. You of all people should know dominant bucks won't tolerate each other being in the same area...especially during the breeding season!...

Your best hunters will have 1 or possibly 2 target bucks picked out in a given year, hunt smart, hunt right, and do what it takes to kill that 1 animal.

Some people hunt a # of different properties, I have a buddy that has permission to hunt like 10 different properties and he successfully fucks up every single one, on a annual basis. Sort of sad, he is almost 70 and won't listen to nobody and just romps and stomps checking cameras and baiting.

 

[Bigcountry40]

There's never been a 200 inch deer killed in my county.....EVER.

where in NW OHIo you hunting? That deer picture in your avatar is a heck of a deer especially if taken in NW Ohio.

 

[Mike]

Gern, post your living room wall.

 

[Gern186]

Nope. Not worth arguing over anymore. Just like anything in life be it golf, the lottery, academics, hunting for big deer, having good looking girlfriends, or anything else...some people are more successful at it than others. There are reasons..there are things you can do in life at everything to improve your odds of making your success rates go up. Some people are lucky..just like the guy at the legion who wins the 50/50 drawing 4 times in the same year...lol

All anybody can really control is themselves and how they go about their hunting. If they aren't happy with their success or what theyve killed...then they need to change something. It's simple.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Theres a exponential difference between a 200 inch deer and a 140 inch deer....theres plenty of 140 inch deer running around Washington county....don't tell me there isn't.

Point? Are you insinuating I have no right to discuss this topic because I'm not successful? At least successful in terms of inches since that seems to be the measure of success to some. Never mind the fact I've only been hunting seriously for 11 years and have taken 4 mature bucks in heavily pressured areas. I feel like I've been successful, albeit not to the level I'd like to be, nor to the level I expected to be. But I'm far from a failure...

 

[Gern186]

Not at all Jesse. I think from your post you make it sound like you are unsatisfied with your success in those 11 years and are giving the reasons as to why you haven't been as successful as you want to be...or your reasons why others have been more successful.

 

[hickslawns]

Point? Are you insinuating I have no right to discuss this topic because I'm not successful? At least successful in terms of inches since that seems to be the measure of success to some. Never mind the fact I've only been hunting seriously for 11 years and have taken 4 mature bucks in heavily pressured areas. I feel like I've been successful, albeit not to the level I'd like to be, nor to the level I expected to be. But I'm far from a failure...

200" is a unicorn for better than 99% of us. I would think access to 130-140-150-160" deer would be what most of us see as "good access". 130-140" deer access more realistic, with a chance at a 150+ every so often. Maybe we need to set smaller parameters as to what "good access" is before the other variables are related to it? I don't know. This really sounds like a good way to make guys who like each other on TOO get pissed at each other. Truly sounds like a bad thread to continue.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Not at all Jesse. I think from your post you make it sound like you are unsatisfied with your success in those 11 years and are giving the reasons as to why you haven't been as successful as you want to be...or your reasons why others have been more successful.

Not sure which post you are referencing, but this is not the case for anything I posted. I haven't been as successful as I've wanted to be for a host of reasons. Some I can or could control, others I can't or couldn't. As to why others have been more successful, it's because they possess something I don't in regards to Access, Time, Skill, Money and/or Luck. I simply shared my opinions on the subject. You seem to have taken my post(s) personally, which was not the intent. I gave credit where credit was due. I'm debating this in generalities and there is always an exception(s) to the rule(s).

 

[bowhunter1023]

200" is a unicorn for better than 99% of us. I would think access to 130-140-150-160" deer would be what most of us see as "good access". 130-140" deer access more realistic, with a chance at a 150+ every so often. Maybe we need to set smaller parameters as to what "good access" is before the other variables are related to it? I don't know. This really sounds like a good way to make guys who like each other on TOO get pissed at each other. Truly sounds like a bad thread to continue.

If they can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

I just had this discussion with my cousin the other day. If I had shot every 3 year old, 130" deer I've had a chance to shoot in the last decade, I'd have tagged out (assuming a kill shot) every year since my first wall hanger in 2004. I don't want to shoot 3 year old, 130" deer. That's not what I'm after. Of the four 5+ year old deer I have killed, only one flirts with 140. However they are trophies and I'm happy with them. There are some guys on here who take exception to me speaking out on topics like this because I'm a failure in regards to THEIR guidelines as to what makes a successful hunter. To those guys, go back and read my first post in this thread. If anyone wants to show their ass and attack me for my lack of "success" because I don't have an OBB on the wall, feel free. You are not going to hurt my feelings. It took a lot of soul searching, but I'm finally at peace with who I am as a hunter. So if someone feels the need to dress me down, have at it. I'm not the one who will look bad...

 

[hickslawns]

Good deal. "Success" is an entirely different thread. (Pretty sure we have a thread on it somewhere.) Success is different for all of us.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Good deal. "Success" is an entirely different thread. (Pretty sure we have a thread on it somewhere.) Success is different for all of us.

100%. Hence how I closed my initial post on this topic. The intent on this thread, was the consistent harvest of mature bucks. That only defines success for some people. For others, success is one deer in the freezer. More time on stand than the previous season. More deer seen than in past seasons. And the list goes on. But for the sake of this thread, we're talking about buck tags getting punched annually or at least bi-annually. Joe can speak otherwise if he had a different intent, but I believe this is what he was after...