Where i hunt, I could kill a deer 2 out of every 3 sits. And many sits, multiple deer. An 18 month old buck is not a challenge. They're probably 25% of the deer herd. And Probably 40% of the buck herd.
Man don’t sell yourself short. You can do it too. It just takes a little bit of restraint. Obviously land plays a role in it but it’s not the only factor. But don’t take what I was saying as a knock on anyone who wants to do it different. Hunting for me is a personal challenge. Your challenge may be entirely different.
I think your land has a lot to do with your goals. In 5 years I don't think I've ever seen the same buck two years in a row. I know I can't "grow" them on my property. I'm not sure that I've personally seen a 4 year old buck while hunting or even got a picture of one on my property. My dad shot one the other year that I believe was fairly old, but it was the first time we ever saw it and I'm pretty sure it got pushed over from the neighbors. My biggest buck ever is about a 100" 8 pt. That's my goal, beat that one. I see buck as big or bigger now so I know it's a realistic goal. If my shooting were better I would've realized that goal already but that's another story.
The thing is I seriously dont get into the horn porn end. If i had a 150 lb 10 point in front of me along with a 150 pound doe im probably shooting the doe, the meats better ( i know,i know a 150 lb buck os probably 2 or 3 anyway so either way im doing it your way!). Don't get me wrong dig the horns but its not what drives me.
Awesome…you don’t have to justify your reasons to anyone but yourself. The meat is awesome I get it!
I'm blessed to be within 45 minutes of my place. Had a buddy who went gunning yesterday at another farm and had 2+ hours to get to and from it. No thanks.
100% agree. What I said in post #160 was just about MY thoughts, and how my goals have changed over the years. I never blast on anyone who has different goals. I love venison as much as the next guy - but I also don't need it to survive. I think you said in a post here that your biggest is about a 130". That's about my biggest also - a 10 pt. Here in the mountains of Pa. - any buck 120" or better is a pretty good buck. A buck bigger than 130" to 140" in the mountains is a "buck-of-a-lifetime" - you better shoot it - or hate yourself the rest of your days !! Some areas of the country, a 130" buck is OK - but not a big fuss.
3 hours almost to the minute to camp for me. 45 minutes would be a dream.
I got you both beat. Less than a 5 minute walk to my furthest stand from my garage.
More power to the old man, I aint far off. My biggest problem with baiting is it allows the small property owners, who grow and foster few, if any deer, the opportunity to kill them at an elevated rate. I have one 15 acre adjacent landowner on who’s land has been killed one ten pt and four does. On my 350 acres, we have killed three bucks. On the adjacent 1200 acres, they have killed one buck. My fifteen acre neighbor, and he isnt the only one, I just know for a fact what they have killed - has killed more deer off his 15 acres than me and my neighbor have off 1550 acres. The 15 acre neighbor is killing a deer per three acres. It is not that us larger landowners dont want to put some does in the freezer, also - but we have very poor fawn recruitment in this area - and dont feel the doe herd can stand anymore harvest than what is already occurring. I have seven neighboring properties of less than 20 acres - and most of the owners deer hunt. Most of the deer they kill come off my property or my 1200 neighbor’s property. Those of us who grow the deer dont kill them so that those who do not grow the deer can kill them. The small property landowners feel there is no benefit to pass deer because they own so little land, they know they cannot afford them any protection. And why should they, when the larger landowner next door neighbors keep providing them deer.
from my front door, fully dressed, I can be in the stand and ready to shoot in 6 minutes....it was a lifelong dream of mine and it is now only going to get better!
