View Full Version : what does it take?
creekchub
10-27-2006, 06:57 PM
seems to me that " the he's got it going on post" has gotten a tad off track, anyhow what does it take to consitently score on big whitetails. to me it takes a ton of dedication and sacrafice to spend time in the field 24/7 365 searching and evaluating deer. i do know of one man who in the past has done this and it payed off for him. the 6 yrs that i worked with him at his 9-5 job, during his off time he was scouting and locating bucks right here in franklin co. needless to say that during that 6yr. streach he took 5 very respectible bucks here in franklin co. the smallest being 165" typical!
so maybe we can chew on this one a while and see what we come up with on what it takes to score on a mature trophy whitetail yr. in and yr. out.
buckbacks
10-27-2006, 07:01 PM
I think it got off because we are disgusted with the pro hunters. there are numbers of people that kill big bucks every year that you never hear about and they are the true hunters. all the others are paid actors as far as I'm concerned.
It takes 2 things
right place
right time
nuff said
Big H
10-27-2006, 07:12 PM
It takes 2 things
right place
right time
nuff said
I think you have oversimplified it. I will name only a few things that you are leaving out.
1. Patience
2. The dedication to pass on lesser bucks
3. Lots of time spent scouting
4. Consistently hunting areas that hold big bucks
5. Being smart enough and woods wise enough to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together, and then having the shooting ability to not screw up the opportunity.
These are a few things that I can spit out right now, I am sure there are more. I guess my point is that, hunters who make a practice out of killing mature bucks year in and year out are very dedicated individuals.
buckbacks
10-27-2006, 07:18 PM
bill jordan says he'll number four
hunters who make a practice out of killing mature bucks year in and year out are very dedicated individuals.
BINGO! There is no substitution for dedication. You put yourself in a position to be "lucky".
And when you do get lucky, the less dedicated tell you how lucky you are.;)
deerhunt45
10-27-2006, 07:26 PM
I think you have oversimplified it. I will name only a few things that you are leaving out.
1. Patience
2. The dedication to pass on lesser bucks
3. Lots of time spent scouting
4. Consistently hunting areas that hold big bucks
5. Being smart enough and woods wise enough to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together, and then having the shooting ability to not screw up the opportunity.
These are a few things that I can spit out right now, I am sure there are more. I guess my point is that, hunters who make a practice out of killing mature bucks year in and year out are very dedicated individuals.
no truer words were ever spoken. thank you.
numbers 3 & 4 above will get some debate going.
the cream always rises to the top.
45 :coolgleamA:
Tufelhundin
10-27-2006, 09:43 PM
I agree #4 is a going to be the kicker here. I can hunt here in Ohio and have an excellent chance at a 140+ which where I come from is considered a true trophy. So, yeah, if you can hunt in a place that has big bucks than there you go you just upped your pot. Now having said that, this is my first year to hunt Ohio, I have not gone a whole bunch but I have been and I have yet to get within bow range of a deer except for a small 18"er "no mass, not much tine length". Will, I kill a good deer this year? All I can say is that if I don't it wont be because I didn't try, this place is unique for me, never hunted hills, big woods, I hunt swamps, water ways and fields are frequent. We will see.
OLDHAT
10-27-2006, 10:09 PM
Same as realestate, location, location, location.
To me every ones hunting spot has that "One spot" to hunt that can be the spot to take a mature buck. It's that one spot where "everything can come together" at. For a true hunter, on 200-500 acres he should be able to find that in 2-3 trips once he 1st steps onto the property and starts scouting.
Second, you must let the little bucks walk.
3rd, it's not only patience, but instead discipline, these 2 go hand and foot!
I think the 4th is something called private property and to go about it right you would need at least 200 acres in which to create a haven from losing your bucks during gun season to the neighboring properties. Smack dab in the middle of this private property haven would be a nasty clearcut of at least 25 acres.
Throw all of this into the hands of someone who is a hunter, and it's only a matter of time.
Oldhat
10Gauge
10-27-2006, 11:44 PM
1.) good spot light
2.) 22 magnum rifle
3.) some really bad coon dogs so when you are caught trespassing you can say, "I'm just looking for my coon dog"
:D
Ross Co. Bowhunter
10-28-2006, 05:08 AM
Words of experience 10ga? Just kiddin, pretty funny.
Right place, right time is right. Sometimes theres a little luck involved but you need a some knowldge to get yourself in those positions.
bowhuntinoh
10-28-2006, 06:17 AM
every year i scout and spend a lot of time outside 90 percent on public land and every year i see mature deer 3-4 years old and every year i see at least one cow deer it is verry possable to take a really nice deer on public land i see it done almost every year and even missed a nice p&y a couple weeks ago and found another one that should go 140 or better you just have to have or take the time to find the biguns now all i need is to refine some of what ive learned to score on these big bucks
Bird33
10-28-2006, 09:10 AM
Big H said it well. Being willing to eat your deer tag every once in a while is important, but that ties in to #2. Out west it has a lot to do with packing into remote areas but I think in Ohio #4 (hunt areas with big deer) is essential if you expect to shoot big deer every year.
But even those of us who hunt mediocre areas can harvest great deer if we do the other stuff right. Alot of it comes down to 1) Obeying the basic rules of wind, scent, noise, movement and 2) getting out enough so that your knowledge grows and you make your own luck and the odds then turn in your favor. I notice when I've blown opportunities it's been when I've gotten lazy for a few moments or in a certain aspect. You've got to be sharp at all times when you're out there.
traphunter
10-28-2006, 03:23 PM
90% of those of those people who consistently kill big bucks, like mentioned, are hunting areas that always hold big bucks. Thus, private land mangaged for big bucks. I think if you let us "average hunters" on in these lands, most of us could kill them jsut as consistently as the "pros". I know I have alot to learn yet, but I honestly believe that if I hunted these propertys that people talk about that I would be getting a big one every year too. So in my opionion its not nessesarily jsut the skill of the hunter, but rather the land they hunt. Cant kill a big buck every year if your property dont hold them. Simple as that. Also like mentioned and I do agree, right place and right time.
Big H
10-28-2006, 04:11 PM
90% of those of those people who consistently kill big bucks, like mentioned, are hunting areas that always hold big bucks. Thus, private land mangaged for big bucks. I think if you let us "average hunters" on in these lands, most of us could kill them jsut as consistently as the "pros". I know I have alot to learn yet, but I honestly believe that if I hunted these propertys that people talk about that I would be getting a big one every year too. So in my opionion its not nessesarily jsut the skill of the hunter, but rather the land they hunt. Cant kill a big buck every year if your property dont hold them. Simple as that. Also like mentioned and I do agree, right place and right time.
Your definition of big may not be the same as this type of hunter, because if it was, you would not have made the above statement. What you fail to understand, is that some these guys go find the deer first, then go about securing permission to hunt the property. Then they try to kill the biggest buck on that property. I do NOT believe that most "average" hunters will take the time, dedication, and did I mention time and decication to accomplish what these guys do. I am NOT refering to guided hunts, or pros. I am talking about normal Joe's, that make a habit out of killing MATURE bucks everyyear. And if they don't kill the buck they are after, they have NO problem eating their tag. The truly dedicated ones are actually nomads, even if they only hunt within their home state. There are many hunters out there that none of us have never heard of, and may never will that are big buck killing machines, and could care less about scores or notoriety.
ncboman
10-28-2006, 04:52 PM
a little luck never hurts. :)
traphunter
10-28-2006, 05:21 PM
maybe you are right, maybe most average hunters would not take the time and dedication to kill big bucks consistently. But I think many would. I know I would. Heck I hunt mostly public land and small tracks of private land. I know every year that my chances of a big buck is very slim, and I also know that I will be passing up small bucks. I scout my a$$ of every year also, to strive to learn every inch of the property I can. I can say that If I knew of a supier buck was using my property, then I would also have alot more confidence in my location which equals more stand time. What Im trying to say is there are also many great hunters out there who dont kill huge bucks every year, or maybe never in their lives, yet they have a passion for huge deer and devote as much tiem as the ones who do kill big ones.
Big H
10-28-2006, 06:03 PM
Traphunter, I agree with some of your points, however, the biggest thing that I think you are not seeing is that this type of hunter will not spend time hunting ground that is not holding the type buck that they are hunting. I believe, if you read my last post I mentioned these guys being nomads. They scout, scout, and scout some more. I should have clarified that, they will go find a buck to hunt, they do not sit in a tree and HOPE a big buck shows up. Take the time and read the link that I put in "This guy has got it going on". Andrae does not hunt like an average guy. While you are in that website, check out Adam Hayes, look at the buck he just killed in Ohio. He has killed 3 deer over 200"! When I lived in Coshocton, I worked with a guy like this, if you were to go into his house, your mouth would drop like mine did. He consistently found where a large buck was living, learned as much as he could about THAT DEER, and only when the time was RIGHT, would he slip in and kill him. I learned a lot from this guy, but I cannot apply it at this time of my life because of family and job. He did not marry until he was in his 40's, and never had any children. He actually did not do much else except deer hunt year round, always scouting, glassing, talking to landowners, mail carriers, UPS drivers etc...
Maudib
10-28-2006, 07:14 PM
For most of the season you need property that is relatively unpressured and contains the right combination of cover, bedding areas, food and water. (Exactly why the lease guys have it made... they lease these sweet spots and more than one so they don't have all their eggs in one basket)
In other words you have to have property that will attract big bucks to live there. After all deer are where you find them.
During the rut however... all bets are off. These same bucks that lounge around in their core area are off and about traversing a good bit of area in search of hot does. And this is like the lottery for many... as if you have does... you will have bucks... BUT perhaps not the biggest if they've been driven off of "more attractive" areas by the biggun's.
ALl the other suggestions are very true... dedication, passing smaller bucks, etc.
But NONE of them mean a darn thing if there aren't any big bucks in YOUR woods.
The best thing to do is to locate as many places to hunt as you can... scout them, gamecam 'em, and glass them early. When you find evidence of a big boy... then apply the dedication and knowledge to setup on him.
And NEVER... NEVER hunt a set with the wind wrong. When you only have one piece of land with one or two stands on it, thats hard to do... Don't assume if you didn't see deer, that there weren't any. I have had many deer get within 20 yards of me unanounced... how many scented me at 60 yards and simply turned away?
Big bucks got that way by remembering where they scented human and avoiding that spot altogether... (And you thought you just picked a bad stand location?)
I don't care if you have all the scent elimination goodies you can get on... it only take a little. I hear guys say "I've had deer just 20 yards downwind of me and they never knew I was there"... Just because they were downwind, doesn't mean they air carried your scent to them... swirls, thermals, currents, etc... can do some really wierd things with wind. But for sure... IF they smell you, they go into guard or flee mode.
My goal next year is to have a dozen sets out on 3-4 properties ( a pretty big goal considering I only have one spot this year with 3 sets (that I've only hunted 4-5 times) so that I have ample sets to choose from based on the wind direction.
Well... anyway... that's my take...
OhioHunter88
10-28-2006, 08:08 PM
Im young, but we or sometimes just me scout all the time, like some have said before, to be serious at deer huntin' you have to make it a 365 day job. We do that, plant plots, scout,hang cameras, hang stands,gain lots of permisson talk to landowners see what there hunting, and i feel that a big thing in killing mature bucks is being friends with everyone in your area, that way you know what has been seen...also Theres two propertys that i gained permisson to hunt this year and i have not "scouted" one yet, i do have stands there now but, i located from the road which tree i wanted to be in by watching the deer, i do plan on scouting this properties by shed hunting, also some here do not realize how much work it takes to film a deer being killed let alone a mature smart buck....
Kaleb
Right place Right time I can agree with but, you still have to make the Shot.
It all comes down to, can you make the shot?:D
For most of the season you need property that is relatively unpressured and contains the right combination of cover, bedding areas, food and water. (Exactly why the lease guys have it made... they lease these sweet spots and more than one so they don't have all their eggs in one basket)
In other words you have to have property that will attract big bucks to live there. After all deer are where you find them.
During the rut however... all bets are off. These same bucks that lounge around in their core area are off and about traversing a good bit of area in search of hot does. And this is like the lottery for many... as if you have does... you will have bucks... BUT perhaps not the biggest if they've been driven off of "more attractive" areas by the biggun's.
ALl the other suggestions are very true... dedication, passing smaller bucks, etc.
But NONE of them mean a darn thing if there aren't any big bucks in YOUR woods.
The best thing to do is to locate as many places to hunt as you can... scout them, gamecam 'em, and glass them early. When you find evidence of a big boy... then apply the dedication and knowledge to setup on him.
And NEVER... NEVER hunt a set with the wind wrong. When you only have one piece of land with one or two stands on it, thats hard to do... Don't assume if you didn't see deer, that there weren't any. I have had many deer get within 20 yards of me unanounced... how many scented me at 60 yards and simply turned away?
Big bucks got that way by remembering where they scented human and avoiding that spot altogether... (And you thought you just picked a bad stand location?)
I don't care if you have all the scent elimination goodies you can get on... it only take a little. I hear guys say "I've had deer just 20 yards downwind of me and they never knew I was there"... Just because they were downwind, doesn't mean they air carried your scent to them... swirls, thermals, currents, etc... can do some really wierd things with wind. But for sure... IF they smell you, they go into guard or flee mode.
My goal next year is to have a dozen sets out on 3-4 properties ( a pretty big goal considering I only have one spot this year with 3 sets (that I've only hunted 4-5 times) so that I have ample sets to choose from based on the wind direction.
Well... anyway... that's my take...
IMO, this post is pretty accurate except for the “Big bucks got that way by remembering where they scented human and avoiding that spot altogether...” comment. If big bucks avoided every spot they’ve ever encountered a human, their home range would consist of about 2 square inches. I give them a lot of credit but not that much.
It is true, the greatest hunter in the woods won’t kill a big buck in a woods that doesn’t have any. My wife and I attend a small country church here in rural Athens County. One day after the service I asked a fellow church member for permission to hunt their property. My wife asks “why do you need another place to hunt”. I say sweet heart, it’s like saying “her breasts are too big”. She didn’t appreciate that either!
Big H - You and I are definately on the same page. Thanks for saving me the effort!;)
ohiobowhunter55
10-29-2006, 12:00 AM
We live in O H I O there are trophy class deer in almost every county, city or township in this state if we were to really try public land or not there is a potential to see a world class deer just about anywhere.but thats just my opinion though what do I know
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