RE: Big Buck Barometer
What was the question again?
My realistic upper end buck is 130” class. I have seen a few pushing the 150” mark, but they are very few and seen only on locked up lands. But I also contend with the “X” factor that some REAL monsters come from the one county I hunt, although I have personally never seen a living deer over 160”, 2 were shot relatively close to me that scared the 200” mark. Those were statistical anomalies. But they did exist.
The only way I get a ball park estimate of the top end bucks in my areas is with a spotlight. Riding around before dark, doesn’t cut it. You may see one or 2 all summer (on the locked up land) that show their faces while the sun is still shining. But to really see what’s around, you need to spot after dark. And then, you need to time it right, because after a short while, they get shy of going near any field within beam reach. Spotting is a very popular past time. Hopefully gas prices will knock it down some.