Originally Posted by
HatchieLuvr
Not that I believe a word of that but IF so, that proves my point that today's "hunting industry" & most of the shows filmed on high fence operations with genetically manipulated deer has done more harm than good for hunting. ESPECIALLY amongst younger or newer hunters as they think that's the way it supposed to be. Whenever a 150 class animal is snubbed, something is wrong. I realize the posters location IS in central Iowa & that IS one of THE greatest monster producers around but it's a simple biological fact that in 90%+ of the whitetails natural range, 150class represents the beginning of the top end of most bucks genetic potential even under ideal conditions! 170+ is a genetic rarity & equal to the rarity of 7ft tall humans! When you start talking about 200+ class then you are essentially "off the charts" as far as odds & predictability are concerned. When you consider all the natural variables like natural selection, genetic variability, natural mortality/survivability, hunter harvests, weather, food, environmental conditions etc... the odds of MONSTER bucks is a very small & fragile proposition to begin with. There's ALOT more involved than just giving bucks decent food & 5+ yrs of age!
pretty much nailed it right there.
the goal i'm trying to accomplish is to harvest a mature buck and put some meat in the freezer. antlers are just a bonus but because of media have become the biggest male anatomy measuring competition in hunting today.
that being said though, if a person we're to edge out the hanson buck it really isn't about the delicious sausage anymore. i can only imagine the paycheck that accompanies the attention it would bring.