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Percentage of success question

moosehunter

moosehunter

PMA Member
Last year I went deerless because I had my eyes on one buck. This year the same so far although I've had a couple opportunities at 140 inch deer. So I thought I'd propose these questions to ya'll.

1. If you target one buck, what is your success rate on shot opportunities on him whether or not you connect?

2. If you set a goal of shooting a buck bigger than (doesn't matter), what is your success rate for shot opportunities?

I'm starting to think I'm being a bit unrealistic in my goals.
 
Question... Don't you get two tags? If you do, take the 140, continue to hunt for big guy?
 
Can't shoot a great one if you shoot all of the good ones. It is tough but it will pay off in the end! At least I hope so because that is what I am doing.
 
Shoot what makes you happy. Too many times people get hung up on score...who gives a shit. Don't forget why you started hunting in the first place. If it takes a 170 to make you happy then wait, but you might be missing the bigger picture. Good luck. JMO

Nug
 
A form of this discussion came up last night with some friends. For me, I usually get one, sometimes two chances per year at a nice buck. Not always a target buck, but a nice buck. Those opportunities are not an automatic harvest either. Some years I am able to make it happen, and some years not. If you were to try to put a percentage number on my rate of success, it would be pretty low.
 
Score to me is not what makes a great buck I am after a buck that is 5+ years old so a mature deer is what I meant by great buck.
 
Nug said:
Shoot what makes you happy. Too many times people get hung up on score...who gives a shit. Don't forget why you started hunting in the first place. If it takes a 170 to make you happy then wait, but you might be missing the bigger picture. Good luck. JMO

Nug
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Bingo!!!!!!!!!
 
Looking back in my journal, I shoot a deer every 25-30 sits... which seems about right where I wanna be. My standards are on a sliding scale based on many factors.
 
If you are hunting one buck and a higher scoring or one with equally appealing characteristics walks by then do you still pass? I usually put a score minimum so I was curious to that.
 
I have been challenging myself the past two years and to date haven't released an arrow for 2011-2012. Passed one today that was old but not the target for the property. Have 2-3 on two different farms I am waiting for and so far have only laid eyes on 1 of the 3 just outside of range on Tuesday.
 
Passed a 150" 4yr old 10pt this morning. First what I would call shooter I've seen. Part of me regrets it but for the most part I was happy with the encounter. I'm looking for the big guys still and if I eat a tag then I do. It just wouldn't have done it for me if I'd have killed him. It really wasn't because of his score it was more his rack. He's wide and short and I HATE short tined racks. The encounter was great so that's good enough.
 
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To answer the original questions, I have no idea what the percentage of success would be. It all depends on how much time and effort the hunter can put in to locating, patterning and hunting that particular buck and then a little luck on top. I have a couple bucks that I know of on properties I hunt that I would love to get a crack at. If an equally mature buck would walk by me then yes I will take him. I'm score conscious but I will take a crappy scoring old (5+) buck any day.
 
1. I have had several "target" bucks over the years and my success rate on them is extremely low. So, they are not target bucks, just bucks I am aware of.

2. My goals work for me, they are mine for me and me only. To each his own. I have become accustomed to "tag soup", which I have actually taken a liking too. I would rather tag a big one every year if I could and pass on the tag soup but if I cannot, I will not lower my goals. They are the same on the first day of season as the last. If I cannot shoot what I am after, I feel better about the tag soup (and probably a doe too) rather than putting any buck less than "my" goal on the ground.

If you're questioning "your" goals or not having fun, you need to change your goals. JMHO.
 
moosehunter said:
Last year I went deerless because I had my eyes on one buck. This year the same so far although I've had a couple opportunities at 140 inch deer. So I thought I'd propose these questions to ya'll.

1. If you target one buck, what is your success rate on shot opportunities on him whether or not you connect?

2. If you set a goal of shooting a buck bigger than (doesn't matter), what is your success rate for shot opportunities?

I'm starting to think I'm being a bit unrealistic in my goals.
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This might be my 3rd year in a row being deerless w/ a bow. To me, archery hunting is about getting the biggest set of antlers that I can. Not very many deer where I hunt. The trail cam has ruined me. I get a pic of a nice one & then that's all I can think about. Even if I only have one pic of a nice buck all season - he's the one I wait for. And it is the most frustrating hunting I have ever done. But when that opportunity comes along to harvest that one buck w/ your heart pounding in your head & the realization that your goal was met - it makes it all worth it.
 
this damn wind

LYON said:
To answer the original questions, I have no idea what the percentage of success would be. It all depends on how much time and effort the hunter can put in to locating, patterning and hunting that particular buck and then a little luck on top. I have a couple bucks that I know of on properties I hunt that I would love to get a crack at. If an equally mature buck would walk by me then yes I will take him. I'm score conscious but I will take a crappy scoring old (5+) buck any day.
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im not seeing any deer moving last three days.i believe due to high winds.but all my set ups are on field edges.sat in timber one day same thing.300 acres i dont get it!dallas co.
 
To answer your question...I bet the success rate on target bucks is brutally low, especially with archery equipment. I honestly think late season is when you can really take down a target buck because the game becomes all about food and these bucks become much easier to pattern.

As far as passing other bucks and such...there is no answer to that. That is up to individual hunter and to each their own. Personally, I am less concerned about tagging out and more into enjoying the experience of pursuing these amazing animals. I hunt whitetails because the rush I experience while up close and personal is unlike any other, whether I am harvesting the animal or not.
 
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