I am not a Trophy Hunter, but....

[don]

if nothing else, just a glimpse of this guy this season would make me very happy !!

 

[Baker]

Looks great and hey...all things being equal its fun and exciting to see big bucks.

 

[Bill]

Knowing he’s around would make it much easier for me to get out of a warm bed.

 

[Peplin Creek]

This is how it starts.. you get a big buck on camera. Next you’ll see him.. almost get crack at him, decide your only going to wait for him from that point forward. Pass smaller bucks and then big buck addiction sets in for years to come.

 

[j-bird]

I'm not a coyote hunter either, but when opportunity knocks....you might as well answer!

Like was mentioned....if anything...it gives you a little more motivation.

 

[JLemon]

I had this one on camera last year but never during the day until opening morning when he was out running does.

 

[don]

This is how it starts.. you get a big buck on camera. Next you’ll see him.. almost get crack at him, decide your only going to wait for him from that point forward. Pass smaller bucks and then big buck addiction sets in for years to come.

I spent an entire season holding out for this buck in 2009 after getting daytime pictures of him regularly during the entire spring/summer period. I hunted him only when the conditions were favorable, practiced extreme scent control, and never disturbed the area I knew he was bedding in.
As a result, "big buck addiction" was responsible for the most frustrating season I have ever had in over 50 years of deer hunting and I have no desire to repeat it, ever. I saw him twice during archery season and as things sometimes go, he ended up being arrowed by a rather inexperienced archer who was in the right place at the right time a mile away from his home range during the pre-rut/early rut period.
While I have my minimum standards my goal at 70 years old is to enjoy the hunt and cherish the remaining time I have left, if the big boy happens by, he does. If he doesn't, so be it. Time will tell.

 

[Someday isle]

Beautiful deer no matter how you look at it or what your goals may be. It certainly opens up the door for interesting conversation and differing viewpoints. I have a good friend (my old neighbor) who is relatively new to hunting but hunts a property with lots of big deer and no pressure in a semi residential area. He can pass on a lot of deer and still see a bunch and have more opportunities. I’m a small property owner with two newer young adult hunters who are just developing the passion for both hunting and being a steward of the land. I consider any deer with a bow a trophy and any deer my kids harvest as a success for them. We’ve got a couple nice bucks on camera right now and we”d love to take one, but those tasty young deer are worth it too. I love your perspective Don. I also support and respect every hunter and/or landowner’s right to make their own choices. Shoot, I get excited looking at the deer outside my window in the subdivision knowing I’ll never get to hunt them. That first crunch of leaves in the fall still puts a lump in my throat and makes my heart beat a little faster even after I realize it’s just a squirrel.

 

[IkemanTx]

I had 4 separate shooters on the same piece of public land last summer, they all disappeared right at bow opener. The hunter traffic in the area was CRAZY after they spent the summer on everyone’s cameras!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Peplin Creek]

I spent an entire season holding out for this buck in 2009 after getting daytime pictures of him regularly during the entire spring/summer period. I hunted him only when the conditions were favorable, practiced extreme scent control, and never disturbed the area I knew he was bedding in.
As a result, "big buck addiction" was responsible for the most frustrating season I have ever had in over 50 years of deer hunting and I have no desire to repeat it, ever. I saw him twice during archery season and as things sometimes go, he ended up being arrowed by a rather inexperienced archer who was in the right place at the right time a mile away from his home range during the pre-rut/early rut period.
While I have my minimum standards my goal at 70 years old is to enjoy the hunt and cherish the remaining time I have left, if the big boy happens by, he does. If he doesn't, so be it. Time will tell.

Good luck to you, hope you have a successful season and achieve whatever goals you have set for yourself.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Don - At 70, I can't think of a better way to spend time in the fall than sitting in a tree stand patiently waiting for Mr. Big to show up. No rush …….... relaxing ……….. fresh, crisp air …………. great fall foliage ………….. and maybe a shot at a trophy. I'd buy into that scenario !!! Good luck this fall with him.

 

[Tree Spud]

1

 

[Tree Spud]

Don - At 70, I can't think of a better way to spend time in the fall than sitting in a tree stand patiently waiting for Mr. Big to show up. No rush …….... relaxing ……….. fresh, crisp air …………. great fall foliage ………….. and maybe a shot at a trophy. I'd buy into that scenario !!! Good luck this fall with him.

Sounds like an ad for a nursing home ... ... go kill something!

 

[JLemon]

Don - At 70, I can't think of a better way to spend time in the fall than sitting in a tree stand patiently waiting for Mr. Big to show up. No rush …….... relaxing ……….. fresh, crisp air …………. great fall foliage ………….. and maybe a shot at a trophy. I'd buy into that scenario !!! Good luck this fall with him.

Ditto

 

[don]

Exactly my intentions this season, gonna enjoy every minute I am out there because I can, anything else would just be an unexpected plus.

 

[swat1018]

Nice. What County are you in? My buddy bought a lake house in Branch County. I am impressed at the number of deer, been wondering what a trophy size deer is in that area?

 

[don]

I hunt both Montcalm and Isabella counties, both have a very healthy population of whitetails but Branch county with a reported 45 deer per square mile population is approximately 1/2 again higher than my area.
I suspect because Branch county being a shotgun/muzzle loading only area, located farther south in the state, probably also benefits from a two to three week longer crop growing season.
In theory bucks in general should both weigh more and grow larger racks in Branch and the surrounding counties compared to areas located farther to the north, such as both Isabella and Montcalm counties where centerfire rifles are allowed.
I have never had the pleasure to hunt Branch County but the entire area is known for it's abnormally larger racked animals so you and your buddy should have some very memorable experiences down there. Best of luck to you...