Formula for Succes.

[finelyshedded]

There was a thread over on another forum that was started somewhat like this but it really got out of hand just because the the OPer put the number "150 inch" deer into the discussion and it got ugly in a hurry! Pretty sad seeing all the mud slinging but what happened basically was those hunters in areas where deer that size were either very few or non-existent started saying if they lived anywhere in the Midwest they'd have walls full of big deer as well.

So before we go any further can we use "mature" deer instead of 140-200"? Mature deer are everywhere and can sport 120" at 7.5 years old which IMO is just as impressive as 4.5 year old 170" deer. If a hunter in any place in the country can kill a mature deer thats 3.5 and up every year I'd say he's pretty accomplished. Some areas just lack good numbers of deer in the 140" and up class but should have several in mature age classes.

 

[Bigslam51]

This forum has members with access to property all over the state, some are obviously better than others. For me, personally, my best property is a 7 acre chunk of woods that borders a thicket that was clear cut some years back. I also have permission on the 200 acre farm on the other side. I can't go 150 yards in either direction without running into someone else's stand. I only have the 7 acres to myself and even there I have someone else's stand on the property line. The thicket is also hunted, mostly by gun though. The 200 acre farm is only bow hunted by one other guy but it gets hammered during gun. Somehow throughout all that pressure, there's always at least one buck around the 150" range that hangs around. There are several others in the 130" class. After gun season, the big farm is pretty much vacant of any decent bucks. So I have to scout hard, hunt smart, and try to get it done before gun if I want any chance of killing a nice buck. That's the best I got and I have to work with it.

 

[bowhunter1023]

There was a thread over on another forum that was started somewhat like this but it really got out of hand just because the the OPer put the number "150 inch" deer into the discussion and it got ugly in a hurry! Pretty sad seeing all the mud slinging but what happened basically was those hunters in areas where deer that size were either very few or non-existent started saying if they lived anywhere in the Midwest they'd have walls full of big deer as well.

So before we go any further can we use "mature" deer instead of 140-200"? Mature deer are everywhere and can sport 120" at 7.5 years old which IMO is just as impressive as 4.5 year old 170" deer. If a hunter in any place in the country can kill a mature deer thats 3.5 and up every year I'd say he's pretty accomplished. Some areas just lack good numbers of deer in the 140" and up class but should have several in mature age classes.

I've always said "mature" mattered more than score. But even some don't agree on what defines "mature". You say 3.5 and up, I say 4.5 and up. Maybe because that's the standard I've tried to adhere to. There's nothing wrong with a 3.5 year old, I just think they "switch" is thrown between 3 and 4 as to how much harder they are to kill.

 

[Bigslam51]

On the properties I hunt, I'd have to say that a 3.5 year old would be considered mature. Alot of pressure around me.

 

[Jackalope]

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.

You can absolutely do things to improve success. And 90% of that improvement starts with an awesome property and time to hunt it. If those two things are present a hunters skill can still be shit and he be successful. If you live in the playboy mansion you're gonna fuck hot bitches. Has nothing to do with looks, game, or ability to seduce a woman. The vast majority of it hsd to do with the location and time. Think 90 year old heff is pulling model ass because he's got smooth moves? Hardly.

 

[bowhunter1023]

I should have added that going in to next season, I've recalibrated what constitutes a shooter to me. Bucks 3.5 and 130 that I have on camera are now fair game. There are no guarantees out there and it does me little good to pass those bucks when at 4+ they get killed by others. It's happened enough that I'm done watching it happen. If/When I get tired of shooting deer of that caliber, I'll rethink things again.

 

[finelyshedded]

I've always said "mature" mattered more than score. But even some don't agree on what defines "mature". You say 3.5 and up, I say 4.5 and up. Maybe because that's the standard I try to adhere to. There's nothing wrong with a 3.5 year old, I just think they "switch" is thrown between 3 and 4 as to how much harder they are to kill.

I agree Jesse and almost put 4.5 and up but I just know there's more 3.5 deer out there than 4.5 and trying to keep more hunters in the scope of things but 4.5 is my goal as well.

I will also add that we as hunters(at least me) have been drawn to the antlers "first" before sizing up his age structure! When opportunity comes knocking and i have seconds to decide if I'm going to shoot or not, if I see a big set of antlers I'm in my zone and how old he is ain't even in my register! Lol. If he happens to be an old bastard then great! Lmao

 

[giles]

I am very upset with myself this year for passing on mature bucks...every deer I passed on was killed by someone else. I proved to myself this year that I am a meat hunter. Letting those bucks pass has really ate me up. All because I was hooked on one particular deer, that I've only seen ONCE this year. I will not let another mature buck walk past me. Hell, it's been so long since I've even seen a buck I might get my rocks off seeing a spike!

 

[finelyshedded]

I am very upset with myself this year for passing on mature bucks...every deer I passed on was killed by someone else. I proved to myself this year that I am a meat hunter. Letting those bucks pass has really ate me up. All because I was hooked on one particular deer, that I've only seen ONCE this year. I will not let another mature buck walk past me. Hell, it's been so long since I've even seen a buck I might get my rocks off seeing a spike!

Dave, there's nothing wrong with passing deer, even less desirable mature deer but just know this: If the average joe passes on 130" deer no matter how old they are....they will eat their buck tag more often than not! BANK ON IT!!! If that's okay to the individual then great! Enjoy the extra days chasing deer and the great outdoors!

 

[giles]

Trust me, it has nothing to do with eating a tag. It has everything to do with what I preach to my kids and then not doing the same...

I was so wrapped up into one deer that it made me forget the basics. My basics! The reasons I hunt! I didn't like it, so I won't do it again. Lesson learned...K.I.S.S.

 

[hickslawns]

Trust me, it has nothing to do with eating a tag. It has everything to do with what I preach to my kids and then not doing the same...

I was so wrapped up into one deer that it made me forget the basics. My basics! The reasons I hunt! I didn't like it, so I won't do it again. Lesson learned...K.I.S.S.

At the end of the day. . . That is all that matters. YOU need to be happy with your season. Nobody else.

 

[giles]

At the end of the day. . . That is all that matters. YOU need to be happy with your season. Nobody else.

Amen reverend Phil.

 

[Jackalope]

Get a room you two.

 

[Mike]

Trust me, it has nothing to do with eating a tag. It has everything to do with what I preach to my kids and then not doing the same...

I was so wrapped up into one deer that it made me forget the basics. My basics! The reasons I hunt! I didn't like it, so I won't do it again. Lesson learned...K.I.S.S.

Been there bro.

 

[at1010]

I don't know about y'all but I am hunting this snow front coming in this weekend to try to kill a buck. I am ONE of the unsuccessful ones. Bad thing is, I do hunt a lot, have decent properties and still haven't killed a good one. I think I am just a SHIT hunter, still love it though!

Aint to worried about the scoreboard.

Got to much respect for the guys on this forum to get to into this one. ROLL ON!

 

[Carpn]

I think a lot of times it easy to get jealous of others opportunities . From the outside looking in I think a lot of us look at property other people are hunting and think they have it better when in reality if we actually got to hunt that property we'd realize its not much better than other places .

 

[Bigslam51]

I think a lot of times it easy to get jealous of others opportunities . From the outside looking in I think a lot of us look at property other people are hunting and think they have it better when in reality if we actually got to hunt that property we'd realize its not much better than other places .

I don't, I'm fortunate to have any land to hunt on the way things are these days. I'm happy for everyone when I see trail cam pics of studs, and better yet, pics of dead stud bucks.

 

[giles]

Only time I get jealous is when I'm on the dead side of the boat, and the other side is on fire! Seriously fish, my bait is 5' away...

 

[Fullbore]

Very interesting discussion. I base my success on age more than score. As far as what's the biggest factors involved in me getting it done each season. Is good access to mature bucks, time( at least 3 weeks) to hunt pre rut or rut, and practice with the bow and guns I intend in using.
As of right now, I still have a buck tag and don't have anything on TC that meets my standards yet. So it looks like I might eat my buck tag this season. However, I had a great season and I am alright with that

 

[Carpn]

I wasn't meaning anyone in particular ....I just see that a lot on various sportsman message boards