Like I said earlier the book wasOK but it did not cover my real world. I hunt public land and have to deal other hunters and the pressure they bring. Perhaps that is the difference in liking the book a lot and thinking it is just a good read.

That was also the reason I mentioned John Eberhart. His books help me to hunt in my real world and, if you look at some of his record book deer, they were taken on public land too. He also talks about the extra effort needed but it is in relation to what to do when other hunters are in the same woods or if you are near highways and other built up areas, etc. While Don's book was good reading and I did get some extra insight from it, it just didn't really pertain so much to my situation or go into the detail that I like. And, of course, the more a book or periodical pertains to our personal situation the "better" it is .

Here's a point Germ touched on earlier....but "I" think is often overlooked.

Germ and I both have read Joe Brooks' book(s).....and one thing touched on a LOT in there....is gaining permission to hunting spots. It's a HUGE part of what SOME people consider the entire "hunting" equation. HUGE!

I followed Joe's method for gaining access to hunting grounds WORD FOR WORD.....and I took my piebald and my best buck to date from land I gained access to using his method(s). I OWE THOSE SUCCESSES to him. The land hadn't changed ownership. It was/is still VERY NEAR my home......and I got in there when NO ONE ELSE could.

To say that one doesn't have access to GREAT (or even 'good') hunting land is .....in my eyes...SOMETIMES a cop-out. I won't make any friends in saying this......but it's the truth Note the emphasis on SOMETIMES).I would never make a blanket statement concerning ALL the time.

Gaining access to hunting land is A HUGE PART of whether or not one will be successful.

H U G E !

It is my opinion that there are many, many good/great bowhunters that are not recognized as such simply because of the particular property they hunt. And even the reverse situation; average hunters being 'great' based on the same theory.

I rank the land one hunts(not just saying 'IOWA' but at a micro level) to be the #1 factor in success.

Thanks to a recomendation from Germ I purchased the book and to date I have reada little more thanhalf of it. I hope to finish it up this week.

I approached the book in hopes of understanding it'srelevenceto where I hunt. No I don't hunt where monsters roam and the land/terrain is unlike the midwest, but some things IMO are consistent regardless of where you hunt.

If the biggest deer in my woods is a 125" 4.5 year old, I want to know how I can increase my chances of killing him and I think Don does a good job identifying ways to make this happen regardless of where you hunt.

In my woods, everyone (including me) kills 1.5 year old spikes, 4, 6 and 8 ponts.I knowthere are bigger deer in my area. I have seen them alive and dead in the bed of trucks last year. I was blown away that that size of buck roamed in the county I hunt and this revelation opened my eyes I guess you could say and made me start re-thinking of my approach.

Don's book only reinforces the factthat expecting different results without changing your approach is the definition of insanity. I think I have entered a new chapter in my hunting fun as a result of what I have seen and what I have read. I will be hunting for mature Bucks this fall. I will not leave it only to chance as I once did, but I will make plans and strategies that are geared to helping me succeed.

Don's book and methodshelp put more tools in my toolbox to use in the field where I hunt so for that reason I think the book is valuable and a must read for anyone who wants to hunt for mature whitetails.

GMMAT, not to detract from Don Higgins' book, but what are the books you are referring to from Joe Brooks. Here in PA, especially where I live, there is the potential for big bucks if they are able to mature. Many of these areas are private land and posted, but I'm sure if I approached the land owner properly I could get permission. I think some pointers would help to fine tune my efforts and give me a chance to gain access to some additional property.

Thanks in advance.

http://www.trophy-whitetails.com/

Joe is a good friend of mine. We worked together for 4.5 years.

I hunt pretty crappy Illinois land. Some say I was born under a bad sign. freakin' signs!!!

Thanks! I just ordered a copy. PayPal rocks!

+1

+ 2 , thanks guys. I really am enjoying Don's book also.