Are the glory days of deer hunting coming to a close?

[MN Slick]

Have you thought about moving to a new location or a place you can control more ground?

Yeah, I've jumped around a number of times. The first two were significant improvements, but the last ones have been lateral.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Yeah, I've jumped around a number of times. The first two were significant improvements, but the last ones have been lateral.

Same. I think I’m done moving unless a true unicorn were to ever come available. I don’t necessarily want to settle for chasing 150” deer for the top end but it seems that is the “new normal”.

 

[Brian662]

Same. I think I’m done moving unless a true unicorn were to ever come available. I don’t necessarily want to settle for chasing 150” deer for the top end but it seems that is the “new normal”.

The way I look at it, if you have 3-5 150" around, there will almost always be some around or some with potential to be 170.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

The way I look at it, if you have 3-5 150" around, there will almost always be some around or some with potential to be 170.

I agree but hasn’t happened in 8 years of being in this neighborhood so it’s definitely a lottery type odds.

 

[Brian662]

I agree but hasn’t happened in 8 years of being in this neighborhood so it’s definitely a lottery type odds.

I know you like your setup but if it doesn't fulfill what you want...

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I know you like your setup but if it doesn't fulfill what you want...

Yeah but I scratched and clawed to put something together, if I’m blessed to shoot 20 150’s then it was a good life!

 

[homerj]

You guys are funny. "If I have to shoot 150s, I guess I will, if I have to"
Lol

 

[Hoytvectrix]

I feel like if you have multiple 150's around that it will only be a matter of time before you have a booner to chase. I haven't read Strategic Harvest System yet, but I believe the statistical distribution of buck classes is discussed in there. In the last 10 years or so, we have typically had 1-2 150's type deer to chase and have only killed one of them and he ended up being a 4.5 year old. Last year, we had a buck that was in the high 160's (supposedly) that the new neighbors took (I had him in bow range after legal shooting light once). Our two newest farms haven't produced any 150's yet, but we did have a 200 incher the year we bought one of them and I have found a few dead heads in the 150s. One of our bigger landowner neighbors has consistently had bucks in the 180s when everyone else has seen the high end bucks decline. Despite the lack of prospects lately, I am confident we will get back there eventually once we recover from EHD.

 

[BenA]

One of our bigger landowner neighbors has consistently had bucks in the 180s when everyone else has seen the high end bucks decline.

Does he do any supplemental feeding?

 

[Brian662]

Yeah but I scratched and clawed to put something together, if I’m blessed to shoot 20 150’s then it was a good life!

No doubt buddy, I completely agree. A wall of 150s is a hell of a wall.

 

[MN Slick]

Same. I think I’m done moving unless a true unicorn were to ever come available. I don’t necessarily want to settle for chasing 150” deer for the top end but it seems that is the “new normal”.

Unfortunately, I will lose interest if my ceiling is 150. It's just the way I'm wired. I need to have upside or the perception that there is an upside to stay engaged.

 

[BenA]

Unfortunately, I will lose interest if my ceiling is 150. It's just the way I'm wired. I need to have upside or the perception that there is an upside to stay engaged.

I'm with you, but my number would be closer to lost interest at 120. I'd be elated with 150's until they're expectable every year.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

Does he do any supplemental feeding?

Zero. He just has an absolutely perfect setup where deer do not need to leave his place and cannot be poached from the road. He also plants between 25-30 acres of food plots each year. His really big advantage is that he has great trigger discipline and bucks actually age. He had really bad EHD last year as well, so I will be curious to see what he has around this year. He typically doesn't share photos until after he finds sheds in the spring or if he gets one of his targets.

Interestingly enough, my Dad and older brothers used to hunt this neighbor's properties back in the "glory days of hunting". In the 10-15 years or so it was hunted, nobody took a buck that sniffed 150 on that farm.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Zero. He just has an absolutely perfect setup where deer do not need to leave his place and cannot be poached from the road. He also plants between 25-30 acres of food plots each year. His really big advantage is that he has great trigger discipline and bucks actually age. He had really bad EHD last year as well, so I will be curious to see what he has around this year. He typically doesn't share photos until after he finds sheds in the spring or if he gets one of his targets.

Interestingly enough, my Dad and older brothers used to hunt this neighbor's properties back in the "glory days of hunting". In the 10-15 years or so it was hunted, nobody took a buck that sniffed 150 on that farm.

How much land? Any time I hear about someone beating the trend the first thing I look at is scale.

 

[PatinPA]

You guys are funny. "If I have to shoot 150s, I guess I will, if I have to"
Lol

I know right? I have my sights set on a 110" 7 pt. or a probably 80" 4 pt.