Guys, it's not all that impressive. I've bowhunted for 41 seasons and didn't see my first mature buck until my 18th season. So in the last 23 seasons, 17 of which I've exclusively hunted for mature bucks in two different states, that averages out to 2.2 mature bucks per season. There's guys on here that are averaging more than that.

Getting them in range and then capitalizing on the situation is a different story.

I will say I've been lucky, in my 17 years of hunting for mature bucksI have killed 17 bucks 3 1/2 and older that scored from 120-180. 16 with a bow and 1 with a gun. There's been years when I've been skunked and years when I've taken 2 P&Ys. The main reason for my success is the major amount of time that I've invested into hunting them. This includes all the reading, scouting, shed hunting and permission seeking that I've done along with taking the month of Nov. off of work for the last 12 or more years. Another big thing is that I really am lucky. I can't explain it, but it's like if I get lost on my way to my stand in the morning and in a panick decide to sit until light next to a big tree, a big buck comes along and I kill it. It really pisses off my brother and my friends, but I can't help it. I'll take luck any day.[:-]