What do you consider to be top end bucks in your area?
I've seen a total of 5 B&C bucks in my areas. 3 typical and 2 non-typical. They ranged from the 170s into the 200s.
For the areas that I hunt, anything starting at the 160 level on up is what I consider to be a top end buck.
For the record, I don't see a 160+ buck every season, but I see 140 to 150+ bucks every season. The avg. big buck where I hunt is upper 130s to mid 140s, after that the air gets much thinner. For big bucks 120s to low 130s is fairly common.
This is my second season hunting for a top end buck and last year I missed 1 of 3 that I had seen. This season I shot the #1 buck that I saw last season, which was the #2 buck that I saw this season.
They're out there, but like I said the air gets thin at the top.
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So there I was, Nov 12th 1996, flying down the highway, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee, windows down for scent control.
I keep a trail cam out all Summer.....and I'm in the woods a lot (48 sits, this year). I have never seen a deer that would go 110" inthe woods I hunt. No one in the immediate area of me has killed one that size (110"+), either (past 3 seasons).
I would say 125-145 are common kills around here in South East Va, with a few 150-160 killed every year and maybe one or two in 170-190 range every year. But I don't know about the 200's, we have some I guess but not too common.
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The ability to get close to game remains the essence of all bowhunting today.
Seriously I hunt all over and not many places twice. I used to hunt piece with regularity in northen Illinois.. it was a 140 acre farm with about 10 acres of woods if you put every tree on it together. A top end buck was only about 130" here. And anything over 115" was great.
Much of the public land I hunt has a very very few bucks that will hit the 140"-145" mark. These areas again... a good 115-120" is a great buck. These are all heavily pressured spots.
When I hunt in west-central Illinois it goes a bit higher. A great buck is a 140"-150" and a top end will easily go 160"+.
And I am refering to age groups of 3 1/2 or above. Too often hunters believe every mature buck is a P&Y deer or greater. It is not often the case in poorer genetic area's which many of us hunt. I've seen many 4 yr. olds who would not net P&Y..
GregH, I want to know where in Lake County you're hunting. Spots around here are faaaaaar and few between anymore and it looks like you're in a good one. Can you at least give me a direction like North, West, East, South, etc?
I will tell you that I hunt Lake Co just outside of Wauconda and while I see some good deer from time to time, it's been awhile since I've seen anything in the 170+ range. And by "awhile" I mean "never".
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I don't have a lot of experience with vampires, but I have hunted werewolves. I shot one once, but by the time I got to it, it had turned back into my neighbor's dog.
well....book for p&y for CA starts at like 120 or so i think.....i have seen a couple of 140-150 deer (which would be very big for where i hunt...
they break it up into to classes...the coastal deer (true blacktails) and non-coastals that are considered hybrids of muley and blackatail crosses (these get much bigger) ... a true blacktail does not get too big antler wise....
i have taken a deer forked horne..or a 6 pointer your guys standards...that was ancient..don't know his age (regret not aging him) but his teeth were worn down almost to his gums...very old and a very goofy rack (tasted just fine though )...
Top end bucks in your area
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