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If you could get a pretty good estimate of how many bucks were killed over 190 last year in Iowa,how many of those farms were managed to the level of the Lakoskys,Drurys,Kiskys?I would be willing to say 75% of those bucks were killed on farms that didn't have PRESSURE,,,,Remember these TV hunters,that's how they make a living with them holding bags of seeds and equipment in commercials.Think about that,not saying it doesn't contribute to GROWING BIG DEER, but I think unpressured bucks makes more of a difference. Just my opinion.Huge bucks anywhere is just incredibly hard. There’s not as many as perception would have u believe. Any folks u think knock down tons of giants- it’s not as many as u think...... I can promise you there’s multiple whole seasons where there isn’t a 190”+ to hunt. I know multiple large land owners... countless farms where there’s whole seasons without a deer XYZ person really wants to chase.
In general- the ONLY way to have giants every year.... u better have like 5-8 “big farms” that have been managed right. That way- on a rough year- 3-4 of them may have nothing big but u still have a few farms with big ones. The amount of people who do have this or are capable of it: .001% of hunters I bet. Very few.
The next best thing..... a guy who can put the work in for years to have 10-20 “good farms to hunt”. Again- very few will do this. The amount of time & headaches & work is staggering. If a guy is willing to do this- I hope they are rewarded. No one, including myself, would want to deal with all this. But it would result in giants. No ? in my mind.
so - guys who own, lease, have permission- ETC, ETC on “tons of farms”..... now u have to spend time on all of em.... pinpoint some shooters- takes tons of time. Then u gotta set up on em... get to 20-30 yards or whatever. Hope they don’t vanish. Hope there’s a food source that maybe u can pattern in October. Or roll the dice u find em during rut. Still neighbors, poaching, ehd, bucks that leave, u name it.
The guys who “shoot tons of big bucks” - they don’t shoot as many big bucks as u think. It’s ridiculously hard. When u get over 190-200” - it’s just so few deer have those genetics & reach an old age. IMO - most deer need to get to 6-7-ish to hit 200”. Some do younger but it’s more rare. To get that age and genetic combo to work out & seal the deal at 20 yards- so hard!!!! To do with consistency- at BIG deer- either: doesn’t really happen with consistency or it’s so much land, time, work, travel - it’s mind boggling.
When u talk 200” deer..... I mean, I know some guys that have hunted 20-35 years that I think are “top notch”.... maybe 3-4 200” deer is most I can think of????
100% agree- u can have best hunting skills but not be around giant deer. I know guys from MI or MN or WI who are incredible hunters.... usually shoot 120-140” deer at biggest - cause that’s what their area produces at the peak or best for their area. Hunting skills and big deer have some overlap but u still have to add elements that are huge obstacles... it really means only a tiny tiny tiny amount of guys can be successful at or or even want to do what that entails.
Well come on man, now your leaving us hanging.......
Ha- yeah, I don’t necessarily plan on “outing” them. I guess in mentioning it- it may be more than just their practices or food plots, pressure, etc to grow big deer. On their farms if they haul in does with ear tags and tell people don’t shoot- the chances of pen deer staying in one area is fairly high (especially with the food they provide) and could very quickly swing genetics on the up side. If they hauled in even 5 does a year, twins the following year of 200” genetic fawns on these hundred(s) acre farms will add up to superior genetics in an area. Aka- Decatur County. I know the ones I’m talking about ended up there
THIS is the way I would do it if I had a large enough chunk of private land. Best and cheapest way to manually introduce premium genetics into an area. Borderline genius, I'd say.
Understood, and I thought I covered that with stating 'if I had a large enough chunk of private land', but without good genetics to begin with, bucks won't get giant, no matter how long they live. Not saying good genetics aren't already present, or can't wonder in naturally, but introducing fertile pedigree does is a great way to establish premium genetics right out of the gate. Not an absolute guarantee, but a great strategic action. Especially if they have ear tags and there is standing instruction not to shoot them.
No question that age is one of the top 2 or 3 must haves to kill a big one but I would just add that I hunt in an area where the soil is as good as just about anywhere in the Midwest, habitat is insanely good, and age structure is fantastic. Very well managed area in general, large chunks of land. We send the teeth in on pretty much everything we shoot and in 5 years we’ve averaged 3 bucks per year all of which were a minimum of 4.5 yrs old with half being 6 to 8 yrs old (yes, my buddy killed a buck that aged at 8.5, it was pretty cool).
your not thinking about this correctly tho. How many acres in that area are you hunting? 100, 200, 500?.....These guys own THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of acres and they also have these farms in several different areas so they are continuously hunting different deer herds. They stay out of areas and let these deer get old and big, feed mineral out of season, have optimal food year round. Your not comparing them equally. And what most of these guys your talking about and even guys here on this forum have found is that 5 yrs old still isn't old enough. I know of managers that wont shoot them under 7.5....
Splitting hairs a little I guess and maybe our experiences are just different.
I definitely agree w you though as far as casting a wide net/having tons of ground to hunt.
I definitely agree with you that any given say 1000 acre farm, no matter where it is, is not guaranteed to have 200"er on it every year. BUT...I do also disagree with you to the extent that some places, and they aren't just 1000 acres normally, nearly always have a buck, or even more than one, on them each year that if it isn't 200"+, it is darn close to that.
