Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

How long did it take you?

G

Ghostkiller

Guest
I'm relatively new to bowhunting, (3rd year). I live in a pretty good area for trophy deer in Wisconsin. I harvested a buck my first year out (fork), last year I got skunked, and this year I'm putting it together alot more and am beginning to see some real trophy deer while passing up smaller bucks, and ALMOST getting shots at bigger deer, but it is really frustrating that I can't seem to get it done. I tend to think I put in WAY more time on stand and scouting than 99% of the people I talk to about deer hunting do, but they still seem to shoot big deer. When did your hard work and dedication start paying off when it comes to harvesting big deer consistently?
 
Still waiting for my first nice buck and this is my fifth year. Every year I see a few more but always manage to not quite get there. You're right about putting in the extra time. All the guys I know that consistently score big deer spend a majority of their free time getting ready for the hunt or hunting. Maggs
 
man Maggs, you'd think that scout'd help you out a bit since he's always seeming to be covered up in big deer.
busted.gif
 
I hear ya Muddy. I think he wants me to learn the hard way like he did:( We talk alot and he's willing to help me track anytime I manage to shoot one but I think we both know it means alot more when you accomplish it by yourself. I should probably lower my standards a little until I get a few more deer under my belt but when you see all those nice bucks he shoots it gets pretty hard to pull the trigger on a basket rack. I even got a doe tag this year so I could take the pressure off my "buck" tag but I haven't even had any luck with that! Even though my family is tired of me coming home empty handed I still enjoy my time out there and that's the most important thing. Maggs
 
I think some people have better spots for trophy deer than others. I also think some people seem to have more luck than others. This is my 13th year bowhunting. It is the first year I scored a P&Y. It is my first opportunity at a P&Y also. Have shot multiple deer about 10-15 inches short. I have bow hunted late season many years. So its not like I was taking the first basket rack 8 that I had an opportunity at. Just got to put all the time you can into sitting in your stand. Some days are long. Its not just about shooting something. Don't feel bad about coming home empty handed. This is my first year for owning a video cam and most of the time I come home with some footage to show all. Dad loves it and wants me to make him a copy all the time. I don't even have anything over 115 on film. Just some little dinks that muddy rattles in and brings back for more. It is great though. Keep it up and your time will come.
 
I think alot of the big deer success is due to location,but it also take's dedication and perserverance to take a big deer every year.You have to let the 2 1/2 year old's walk.Good luck if you decide to only shoot older deer because they are the toughest one's to harvest with a bow.


wall.gif
 
Question: "When did your hard work and dedication start paying off when it comes to harvesting big deer consistently?"

Answer: When I started hunting more than just on the weekends..."More time= more Deer" (and bigger deer)
 
To consistantly harvesting big deer you need equal parts of luck, determination, shooting profeciency, hunting savy, experience, and access to good land.

I would recommend to anyone that's in their first few years of hunting to harvest as many deer as they can legally and not worry about antler size.

Also remember . . .

. . . it will happen when you least expect it

. . . if you sleep in that buck will walk by your stand

. . . stay in your stand as long as legally possible

. . . Being in control of the situation is a must when face to face with a mature buck - experience/practice is your only means of consistantly coming out on top when presented with a rare opportunity to get a shot.
 
It took me a long time to find anything close to consistancy, and I wonder if I'll pull it off every year!

OneCam hit the nail on the head.

Here are some things I've come to realize. In no specific order.

* Have a stand close to home so you can hunt the 1-2 hours before or after work.
(early/late)
* If you have 1 1/2 hours of light left spend 10 min in the shower first.
* Never leave prior to dark.
* Set up with at least one "blocker bush" (a tree/bush between you and the deer to draw behind. This keeps you from drawing early)
* set up close 20 yards or less. (The bigger they are the harder they are to hit.)
*You MUST control your nerves. Think shooting form and sight picture and shoot at a tiny spot on the deer not at his lungs.
*Play the "6th sense" when he shows up think positive thoughts, not "he's gonna wind me, I better shoot" I actually think deer can sense tension.
*Like Rembrant said, hunt during the week, not just weekends. Better to hunt for a couple hours 3X during the week then 6 hours on Saturday.
*Pattern a good buck in the summer feeding pattern, Find where his rub line opens up and hunt it often.

Oh! almost forgot! Hang out with guys like Maggs and all your bucks look big!
jester.gif
bigshock.gif
jester.gif
 
HEY MUDDY, speaking of being covered up with big bucks, I was out your way Saturday.I had to drive my daughter to DesMoines. I was on 80 West @ Corralville and as I was telling my wife about how many deer had been just East of the river my eye caught a brute come out of the woods determined to cross the Interstate. It was very damp and you could see the steam errupt from his nostral. He ran right up to the apron after I passed. Don't know if he made it or not, lot's of traffic.

And they say theres to many deer! I say theres to many people going everywhere for no reason.
wtf.gif
 
good advice there scout, makes a lot of sense. as far as big deer near coralville...what are you talking about?? there's no big deer in iowa.
shrug[1].gif
 
Welcome to the whitetail woods! The longer it takes you the more you will appreciate it. (I'm a big beliver in paying your dues when it comes to bow hunting).
Onecam-you should advise new bow hunters to shoot all the does they can and let those small bucks reach their potential. there is enough slug hunters killing basket bucks. I would like to think we bow hunters are more aware of herd management than the rest.
Hunt on All4s
 
You're not alone, I've been bowhunting for 8 years and only shot one buck over 120 inches. It'll come for those of us that put in the time.
 
GhostKiller - When you find out how to do it consistently, please let me know.

I have been bowhunting for over 25 years and I've shot some good bucks but still none over 140. As others have said, I too believe the area you hunt and the time you are willing to put in(especially during the rut) are the 2 biggest factors.
My 1st 15 years I hunted private ground in a county with very few trophy deer, but I put in lots of time, learned lots and eventually got 1 dandy. The last 10 years I've had less time but I've hunted better counties(on public land), and I've seen much better deer. In recent years, twice I have been drawn on 160+ class bucks at under 20 yards but just been unable to get them in a shooting lane.

IaCraig
 
Thanks guys,

The respones lifted my spirits, so to speak, after a couple close calls this year.
 
The absolutely number one thing you can do to shoot a big buck is to not shoot a small one - ever.

Shoot a small one and your out of the woods. Shoot a small one and you possibly shot next year's big one. I've found that the big ones tend to follow the small ones. Almost every single big buck I've ever shot was either with or following smaller deer. Had I shot at one of them, he'd have heard the shot and never showed up. Passing on smaller ones helps you observe deer behavior and buck activity that you can use to your advantage.
And of course, you can't hunt something thats not there. So if your hunting area is devoid of big buck sign (sightings, camtrakker photos, tracks, rubs, etc.), then if you want a big one, you're going to have to find a different hunting spot.

Best wishes in accomplishing your goals.
 
I got lucky on my first p+Y buck after only three seasons of hunting and 14 years old. After that, it was slim pickins for a couple years with 5 years off from bowhunting due to shoulder a injury and the armed forces. I've read nearly every article in DDH and NAW mags, nearly every book published on modern trophy deer hunting, and spent as much time in the woods during the off season scouting. My tips to offer if they are worth anything would include Scout and OneCams lists plus but not limited to:

*pay attention to detail in the woods with deer sign, scent, hygene etc
*excessive movement on stand draws attention
*Only hunt a stand if the wind is in your favor
*Entry into your area undetected puts to odds in your favor, even from does
*LOCATION, if no big buck frequents your area, you are wasting time
*persistence-keep after a buck once you find him and adjust your hunting strategy to his changing habits
*patience-sooner or later he will make a mistake, you just need to have the patience to stick it out until he does
*Knowing how to keep your composure when the one you are after steps ito view. You practice all summer in a calm manner, shoot in a calm manner. If you can't get over the buck fever aspect, practice with your bow by running around the house once to get your heart and respiratory rate up and then shooting, it may help out with your shot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom