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Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
I've been reading some of the "heated" posts that were made recently which got me wondering. Why do most hunters believe that there is a special "cure all" for their lack of tagging big bucks. I know much has been said about a few books lately and from responses, I gathered that some of the responders expected a step by step, hand holding guide to tagging the big one. I guess i would blame "the industry" for this. You can turn on the tv and see p&y's getting shot everyday and there are numerous mags. With picture after picture of successful hunters. I'm not saying that one should not read articles, books or watch shows to help hone their skills because not being willing to learn more is foolish and the best way to staying unsuccessful. I just think that one should take what he/she has learned and apply it to their areas and situations.
the expectation that tagging the big one should be easy leads to so many used and abused excuses. I get so tired of hearing or reading that there aren't very many good bucks where I live. Truth is there are P&Y deer almost everywhere. I believe that there are some bucks that live their whole lives and never get seen after they are 3 yrs old. Or this one "I only have public ground to hunt" This is probably my fav. excuse. I too hunt a lot of public ground and generally see better deer there than on the private ground I hunt. I also see several other hunters. This doesn't bother me. Makes me hunt harder and I put more effort into finding that overlooked spot. It just seems to me that most want a surefire method or call or scent that will ensure them filling that tag, when the truth of the matter is that it takes a ton of effort, (scouting, running trail cams, hunting in inclimate weather, etc) discipline,(you HAVE to pass on the smaller ones in order to shoot a bigger one, you HAVE to put a lot of hours in), and most importantly a positive attitude. If you go into the woods thinking that you are not going to get a shot at big buck, most likely you won't. If you expect to , you keep your senses much sharper and are not startled or stunned when the big guy comes strolling along. Also if you go in and axpect to get one, odds are, you've done the proper "homework" and are well prepared. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
 let the show begin:D i think there are goin to be alota differant views on this |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Yeah, I'll guess you'll run into that from time to time.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
I agree with you that there are a lot of big deer around and it does take a lot of HARD work (and good luck) to shoot big deer. Dedication is one thing that is very important. Of course your also going to have hunters who do all this stuff and put more time in the woods then most and still come home empty handed. Its part of hunting, but you cant get your head down. Just keep puttin in the time and effort and hopefully it will pay off
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
I agree, there are probably P& Y bucks everywhere, it's just that some places have a lot more of them. The proof of that is "The Books of records". That's why people from the TV shows flock to Iowa, Missouri, Illinois etc every year. It's why they don't flock to places like NY, Md etc. Your chances are considerably better in some places. It's not the hunters, it's genetics, hunting pressure or lack there of, etc. You know the old saying, "you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear". Well there are sows ears. How many big buck, big rack hunting shows do you see from Florida, or Md, or WVa. Check the books of some of these states. In decades they haven't scored the bucks some of these states produce in a year. So you can say there are book bucks everywhere(Florida would tell you you nuts) but in many states they only come along very rarely and then of lesser quality than the average in other places. So you can be as outspoken as you want about people crying no big bucks, but unless you've hunted these places you don't understand. Yes you hunt public land just like many of us do. If you're run over or seeing book bucks every year consider yourself fortunate. It's not that you're a better hunter than a lot of people, you're just fortunate to live in a big buck country.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
well, i don't think it matters what others excuses are as long as you know why YOU yourself didn't see or harvest that big buck. Everyone has opinions on what went wrong and why they didn't get their deer this fall, i just concentrate on what i did wrong and work to get better for next season. just my opinioin. thanks, KP
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Me too outdoor. I hunt for the fun of it, but I do have to speak up when I see someone talking down to others from on a perch in one of the big buck states. I get my share of decent bucks but have yet to measure one. It's not important to me. I usually saw them off and feed squirrels in the yard or tack them up on a plaque in the basement or hang them from a nail somewhere. I don't do trail cams and all that. I walk the woods, find a few spots and hunt.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Coming from someone in central Il. I can almost understand your point.I hear there are a lot of big deer up there.I challenge you to hunt my lease for one season. I'll pay the $500 fee. If you can show me a P&Y I'll kiss your butt on Main St. and give you an hour to draw a crowd.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
I havent killed a P&Y buck in two years, I have no excuses. I hunt 775 private acres in west central Illinois. The only reason I havent killed a P&Y in the last two years is because I decided not to shoot anything that wasnt at least 150inches. I had several opertunities at that size deer, just didnt work out for one reason or another. I am blessed to be able to hunt smack dab in the middle of some of the best big buckarea you can find. I will tell you one thing though, I dont care where you hunt it isnt ever easy. Bucks dont get big by being dumb, regardless of what state they're from. I personaly think they should make a hunting movie about all the guides and outfitters that put in all the time and effort patterning the big bucks they kill in the movies. It makes it alot easier when your paying someone else to do all the work for you and all you have to do is go sit in a tree.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
I agree that you are right on the money with your thoughts. People seem to be looking for that magic gadget or tactic that will fill there walls with big bucks. Funny thing about this topic is that just today I finished up a new article for North American Whitetail on what I believe sets apart those successful hunters from the rest of the pack. I wont get into the details of that article and cant tell you for sure which issue it will be in but probably not before September and maybe much later. Anyway, that one magic ingredient in my mind anyway is DESIRE. Hunters with a burning desire to tag monster bucks don't make excuses, they take action.
As for favorite excuses, mine is that a buck is "nocturnal". That is the excuse that a lot of hunters use for not being able to lay eyes on a big buck that they know is there. The fact is the buck probably is nocturnal in the places they are hunting; that is, if he is using those areas he is likely doing it after dark. Sure there are bucks that move very little during the daylight and they move even less in daylight around most hunters stands but if you get a stand on the edge of his bedding area and hunt it smart you have a chance to kill most mature bucks. It just blows my mind that guys spend so much time and effort hunting feeding areas and planting foodplots to hunt over. Think about it, lets say there are 12 hours of daylight in a single day. How many of those 12 hours is a buck going to be in that feeding area? Probably less than 15 minutes. How many of those 12 hours is he going to be in his bedding area? More than 11! So why are guys hunting field edges and foodplots and feeding areas???? Because they see does and little bucks and havent accepted the fact that a mature buck is a different animal. Sure they have heard it a hundred times and may even say that they realize it but yet they still try to kill them by hunting him as if he acted like a doe. As for the hunting industry, I agree with your thoughts on that as well. That is why I try to represent real world deer hunters hunting real world deer with my writing. THAT is how I try to set myself apart from the other writers. And for the record, there are some other writers out there that are excellent hunters and get it done in "the real world". |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Hm, that sounds as if it may have come from the one and only Mr. Higgins.......I've never thought of it that way before, but you make an aweful lot of sense.....So now I guess the problem becomes IDENTIFYING said bedding areas, huh? :eek:
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Yeah, you guys got that right...some states are just better for deer hunting than others and that has a lot to do with it. Not everyone can travel to Iowa or Illinois to hunt whitetail and they just have to deal with what they have...The harder you work for a deer the more of a trophy it is IMO
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
ORIGINAL: mobowhuntr So now I guess the problem becomes IDENTIFYING said bedding areas, huh? :eek: |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
The only reason I havent killed a P&Y in the last two years is because I decided not to shoot anything that wasnt at least 150inches. I had several opertunities at that size deer, just didnt work out for one reason or another. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Well david, Im glad to help drive home your point. I to hunt for fun, and the challenge, and lots of other reasons. I put in hours every year planting food plots, scouting, hanging stands, lots of work to go have fun come hunting season. Ill shoot does all year long, I just choose not to shoot small bucks. My reason for that is as I state earlier I am blessed to hunt some awsome ground, and part of having big bucks to shoot is not shooting the little ones.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
plhunts,
I am not going to say too much about what you've written. It probably seems simplistic to you. Coming from someone who lives in the P&Y catital of the U.S. , I suppose I can see your point of view. C'mon over to public land in PA. and I think you'll change your mind. We have 900,000 licensed hunters and 350,000 bowhunters. It's a different world. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
I agree about desire. I could pay for a $2500 lease instead of a $500 lease. To do so I would have to work more hours or take on a second job. That would take more time away from my wife and daughter. A $2500 lease would also be farther away. My lease is only 20 minutes from home. To hunt a property with more and larger deer I would have to travel farther, again taking more time from my family. I guess my desire is to spend more time with my family ratherthan to chase trophy deer. I truely love hunting but I love my family much, much more. ( that is NOT to say that anyone else doesn't.) I want to shoot a monster, what hunter doesn't? The place I hunt is not a midwest monster deer state. I also hunt public land. And quite honestly I have seen bigger deer on the public land than on my lease.
All that said, you won't hear me complain much about the place I hunt. I'm realistic about it. I know I'll probably never shoot a booner there. But, every deer I shoot out there is a trophy to me and isn't that all that really matters? My lease has way more hogs than deer. I hunt them year round too and enjoy the heck out of it. The place is 370 acres surrounded by a bunch of 20-50 acre properties, so there is plenty of pressure. So while the Drurys may never come and film a hunt there it is still one of my favorite places on earth. Sorry about being so long winded. The huntingdesires of some may be different than that of others on the priority scale. don't condemn me for that. Greg |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
I don'tthink anytrue hunter feels that tagging out on a big deer is/should be easy. True Hunters hunt, because we love the outdoors and love the challenge of getting those opportunities to kill a deer. I have yet to hear on this or any other hunting board that someone thought their hunt would be easy. If people who hunt want it easy, they'll go to a high fence ranch or sit at the computer and play hunting video games. Real Hunters know it will be hard, they know it may be a few seasons between kills, and they know they have to work hard just to get the chance to get a good buck in their sights. Just my .02.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
I said this on the thread that got locked.....and I think I'll say it, again.
Hunters shed hunt.....scout....set up trail cams....scout more....GAIN ACCESS TO GREAT HUNTING LANDS...practice........and pursue these magnificent creatures. Some just go to GREATER lengths......and we shouldn't be surprised by their results.....OR make light of their accomplishments. The lengths we're individually prepared to go to differ VASTLY. What we take from our efforts differs (not incoincidentally) vastly, as well. If you're happy with the path you've chosen......GREAT! It becomes VERY transparent when we make light of others' accomplishments ......because we're not willing to go to THEIR lengths, though. THAT beast rears its' ugly head WAY too often. Does that make them better at hunting mature deer? Are you kidding? Hell yes, it does. I'm not willing to move to KS to hunt full-time. Some are. I won't take a lesser paying job to be able to hunt more often. Some would. I won't sacrifice time away from my family. Some do. I won't diminish their accomplishments because I'm not willing to go down their path. It's SO transparent.....thatmonster that's rearing its' ugly head. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Yes, but you see, you don't have to necessarily shed hunt, hang cameras and all that to kill a big deer. Some scouting in late summer with the binos, scouting during your walks through the woods the year before, and just finding some food sources and bedding will do the same thing. It's not hard work. It's getting out doors. A lot of us do it but really never thought of it as a sacrifice or hard work or any of that. It's just getting out, whether we're hunting turkeys, rabbits, coyotes, partridge or deer. We always look for signs and put them away in our evidence bank. It's really not hard work at all. Stand selection and tactics are what seals the deal, not some hard work schedule. And really, is there any sacrifice to that. I don't think so. Some call it hard work.... some call it playing around. LOL
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Thats true david. To me haging four or five stands in the middle of summer when its 90 is hard physical work, do I mind doing it. Not one bit, because I know come October its all worth it. Do I feel that Im sacrificing something by being outdoors, no. I feel everyone who isnt out there enjoying it are the ones sacrificing something.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
ORIGINAL: mobowhuntr Hm, that sounds as if it may have come from the one and only Mr. Higgins.......I've never thought of it that way before, but you make an aweful lot of sense.....So now I guess the problem becomes IDENTIFYING said bedding areas, huh? :eek: Identifying bedding areas is certainly easier in some areas than others but DESIRE will get it done anywhere ....... and I am not suggesting that anyone take family time to hunt. Youneed to have your priorities in order but most hunters have other interests (fishing, motorcycles, beer, women etc etc etc) where they could find more time for hunting. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Just remember everybody; Iowa had a bad tick outbreak this last year and it really desimated the herd. I would try Kansas and Illinois if you want a big boy in the future. It could take years for our state to recover fromthe these darn ticks.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
ORIGINAL: Outdoor writer People seem to be looking for that magic gadget or tactic that will fill there walls with big bucks. j/k ;) Actually I was really hoping you were going to go into some good details about identifying these bedding areas and how to attack them along the outskirts without spooking everything within. That would have made a great chapter as I believe many (including myself) are less POSITIVE about their local bedding areas then they are willing to admit. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
ORIGINAL: atlasman ORIGINAL: Outdoor writer People seem to be looking for that magic gadget or tactic that will fill there walls with big bucks. j/k ;) Actually I was really hoping you were going to go into some good details about identifying these bedding areas and how to attack them along the outskirts without spooking everything within. That would have made a great chapter as I believe many (including myself) are less POSITIVE about their local bedding areas then they are willing to admit. The bedding areas won't be the same with all the different terrain thateveryone hunts.Bedding areasare more definedin some areas while not in others.While he sure could have gone into great detail of the bedding areashe hunts, it stillprobably wouldn't help you in your area. I know thatyour areaandhis area has nothing in common with mine. If you like I could go into great detail about my area but it wouldn't help you in the least. You need to find a hunter orAuthor that huntsin your area or the same type ofterrain to really be of much use to you.If I wrote a book I would not go into detail of my area but stick togeneralized principals/methods of hunting.Hopefully the reader would be able to apply that with his hunting area to benefit from the book. Plus...I would be looking to attracted a biggeraudience for my book then justthe few who hunt ND. :eek:  You are asking a lot of himwhich might be the reason you didn't like his book and others did.Tim |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
ORIGINAL: hardcorehunter Just remember everybody; Iowa had a bad tick outbreak this last year and it really desimated the herd. I would try Kansas and Illinois if you want a big boy in the future. It could take years for our state to recover fromthe these darn ticks. Its apparent you did not read the article in the January issue of Big Buck John's outdoor magazine. He said a new strain of Brain Wormpoped up in Kansas and all but wiped out their herd also. The DNR was lucky to stop the spread of this new strain of Brain Worm at the river, and managed to keep it from crossing the river into Missouri. So if it was me looking for a wall hanger, I would hunt Missouri or Illinois. BBJ |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
ORIGINAL: TJF ORIGINAL: atlasman ORIGINAL: Outdoor writer People seem to be looking for that magic gadget or tactic that will fill there walls with big bucks. j/k ;) Actually I was really hoping you were going to go into some good details about identifying these bedding areas and how to attack them along the outskirts without spooking everything within. That would have made a great chapter as I believe many (including myself) are less POSITIVE about their local bedding areas then they are willing to admit. The bedding areas won't be the same with all the different terrain thateveryone hunts.Bedding areasare more definedin some areas while not in others.While he sure could have gone into great detail of the bedding areashe hunts, it stillprobably wouldn't help you in your area. I know thatyour areaandhis area has nothing in common with mine. If you like I could go into great detail about my area but it wouldn't help you in the least. You need to find a hunter orAuthor that huntsin your area or the same type ofterrain to really be of much use to you.If I wrote a book I would not go into detail of my area but stick togeneralized principals/methods of hunting.Hopefully the reader would be able to apply that with his hunting area to benefit from the book. Plus...I would be looking to attracted a biggeraudience for my book then justthe few who hunt ND. :eek: You are asking a lot of himwhich might be the reason you didn't like his book and others did.Tim Tim is exactly right. I tried to lay out a plan or approach for each phase of the season and left it up to the reader to apply my "philosophies" to their area. For example I could use the term "feeding area" or I could have said "bean field". By saying "feeding area" a person anywhere can relate that to the point I am trying to make even if beans dont grow where they live.With the book I sorta just threw out the pieces of the puzzle as far as what has worked for me. The reader has to take those pieces and combine them with their knowledge of their own hunting area and decide which pieces to keep and use and which ones to kick to the side. About 20-25 years ago Gene Wensel wrote his first book and I devoured it. I was in my early 20s and eager to learn so I took what this veteran had to say and applied what I could to my personal situation even though he was hunting the river bottoms of Montana and I was hunting the woodlots of Illinois. Some things he said didnt make sense to me or didnt apply to my hunting but some of it could be used. More than anything certain things he said got my mind to working as I considered how to apply them to my own situation. I can't say that anything in his book directly made me a better hunter but a LOT of what he said got my mind to working and planted the seed for ideas that I took to the local woods. That made it a great book in my opinion. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Oh yeah, Don - I heard all about that outbreak in Iowa and how hard it was on the deer. The crazy thing is though that there are reports of huge herds of mature bucks swimming the Mississippi River from Illinois to get into Iowa. I guess they all heard about the greener pastures and less competition for does. Anyway I will be applying for Iowa this year, think you and Sarah can find a place for me to bunk? ...... in Iowa that is, I know you will probably tell me to stay in Illinois!! :^)
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
ORIGINAL: TJF ORIGINAL: atlasman ORIGINAL: Outdoor writer People seem to be looking for that magic gadget or tactic that will fill there walls with big bucks. j/k ;) Actually I was really hoping you were going to go into some good details about identifying these bedding areas and how to attack them along the outskirts without spooking everything within. That would have made a great chapter as I believe many (including myself) are less POSITIVE about their local bedding areas then they are willing to admit. The bedding areas won't be the same with all the different terrain thateveryone hunts.Bedding areasare more definedin some areas while not in others.While he sure could have gone into great detail of the bedding areashe hunts, it stillprobably wouldn't help you in your area. I know thatyour areaandhis area has nothing in common with mine. If you like I could go into great detail about my area but it wouldn't help you in the least. You need to find a hunter orAuthor that huntsin your area or the same type ofterrain to really be of much use to you.If I wrote a book I would not go into detail of my area but stick togeneralized principals/methods of hunting.Hopefully the reader would be able to apply that with his hunting area to benefit from the book. Plus...I would be looking to attracted a biggeraudience for my book then justthe few who hunt ND. :eek: You are asking a lot of himwhich might be the reason you didn't like his book and others did.Tim I didn't mean EXACTLY Tim...............just some SPECIFICS as to what he looks for and what he sees that makes him want to investigate an area further to confirm his theory. Where does he start??........on maps, on foot, glassing for deer movement that tells him where to go next??............stuff like that. No one can pick out your bedding areas for you but it would have been nice to get a little help..........especially when everything was about killing a BIG boy...........most guys can find bedding areas.........but are they the bedding area of the brute they are after or just a place deer like to flop down. As far as getting in to hunt them.........some helpful hints there would have been nice as well.......How close is too close?........what if you bump him??.........what is most important in that setup??.......wind, food, other deer, time of day or season??? Just something SPECIFIC would have been great. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Actually I was really hoping you were going to go into some good details about identifying these bedding areas and how to attack them along the outskirts without spooking everything within. Have you order Aerial or Topo maps? Look to see what is next to you? How the wind currents/thermal effect the area? There are so many varibles no one is going to know execpt you. It is going to be through trial and error. You will bust some deer, but you will learn and get better. For the record I do not use Game Camera's Scount in the Summer I hunt the terrain, I scout new area's in Jan, Feb, Mar I get all setup and do not go near a setup until I hunt it. I also carry my lone wolf climber in my boat. I may sneak over on a run & gun attack(Todd Lone Wolf saying) to try and suprise one. I tried this in 2003 at watching a big 8 for 3 hours. He than walk by where I just was:D So anybody who tries to tell you or anyone how to sneak into bedding area YOU are hunting without seeing the whole picture is blowing smoke up your arse:) |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
http://www.mytopo.com/searchgeo.cfm
Atlas here is a great site, I order the maps for KY from here. I got the Hybrid maps. They are topo/aerial map in one here is an example. I always start with a map and what is around the area I am looking at. What is next to the area is more important to me.   |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
This is a great thread. I only DISAGREE with Hardcore and Silverflicker;)Buy your tags for Iowa and Kansas. Illinois should be great this year too :D
Honestly, a lot of great posts here. For bedding areas... I say try toidentifythem and then STAY OUT. There is only one time a year that I will enter a known bedding area and that is when I am retrieving a dead deer. Although, I think that planting small tucked away food plots on the edges of bedding areas and hunting them can be very productive. More so than just hunting the edge of the bedding area. However, that is only based on my experiences. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Alot has to do with where you live and hunt . I live in south Florida , If I only hunted down here my chances are close to 0 of ever killing a buck over 90 - 100 inches .
Someone who lives in Illinois has a totally different perspective than myself . One thing is for sure you cant kill them if they don't live where you are hunting . |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Says the guy from Florida, how true, how true
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Some of us don't buy the "How to kill trophy buck" books because we want it to be easy to kill trophy bucks. Some of us don't really give a rat's ass about killing trophy bucks but we DO care about becoming better deer hunters. We buy these "trophy" books to gain insight into becoming better deer hunters because we think the author, if he can kill trophy bucks, can certainly give us the information to become better deer hunters.
For some of you to say we don't have the same desire or the same discipline as a trophy hunter is BS in my book. We have every bit as much desire and discipline as you "trophy" hunters but perhaps we are satisfied to be a good deer hunter. We sit in foul weather as long as you do, get up just as early, stay just as late,are just as patient as you and work just as hard as you do. To imply otherwise....:eek: As far as the derogatory public land statement, that just shows a lack of knowledge. To assume everyone's public land hunting is similar to yours in ILL is ignorant at best. |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Great post. I used to think that if i ever wanted to kill a P&Y book buck i was going to have to go out west, texas or canada. I never thought that it was possible to get one here in NJ without being extremely lucky. The largest buck that i have seen might have gone 135 here, which is a monster, but i thought that wasa 1-million. Actually i take that back, i have seen 2 book bucks. Anyhow, few and far between i thought. Last year before the season started, imet afriends buddy named Rick. Well for some reason Rich and i hit it off and he took me under his wing and showed me things i never even knew to look for and told me not only where and when to hunt a particular area, but also the reason behind it. Rich killed 3 pope and young bucks last year and another deer that would have been but killed it with a gun. (In NJ you can kill up to 6 Bucks if you have all the right tags.) When i questioned him on it, he mentioned that he only kills deer of that caliber now and has been for the last 4-5 years. I never even knew these deer lived in the area. Now i have higher goals, i havent killed one but atleast i know they are there.
My point is that like someone mentioned earlier, im sure there are a few "monster" deer where everyone hunts. By monster i mean by local standards, that might be a 100 deer of a booner, all depends. Just cause we arent seeing them doesnt mean they are there, i found that out and if i didnt meat my new pal, i would still think i had to pay for an expensive tripto the promised land. Also look at people who post trail camera pictures stating "Look at this monster, i never even knew there were deer like this in the area." They are out there, doesnt mean we will get them, but i do think they are more common than we think, no matter where we are. Likemany people mentioned,it all comesdown to desire. My friend Rich spends atleast 40 hours a week in the woods come deer season, i cant put that kind of time in cause of other priorities. Wish i could but thats life. Other things such asfamily and big game fishing aremore important and cut into my time. Do i want to kill the biggest buck out there- hells yeah, i just have to work alittle harder for him. Ps- Im going to get that monster this fall and the smile on my face will be from ear to ear!:D |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
ORIGINAL: njbuck22 Great post. I used to think that if i ever wanted to kill a P&Y book buck i was going to have to go out west, texas or canada. I never thought that it was possible to get one here in NJ without being extremely lucky. The largest buck that i have seen might have gone 135 here, which is a monster, but i thought that wasa 1-million. Actually i take that back, i have seen 2 book bucks. Anyhow, few and far between i thought. Last year before the season started, imet afriends buddy named Rick. Well for some reason Rich and i hit it off and he took me under his wing and showed me things i never even knew to look for and told me not only where and when to hunt a particular area, but also the reason behind it. Rich killed 3 pope and young bucks last year and another deer that would have been but killed it with a gun. (In NJ you can kill up to 6 Bucks if you have all the right tags.) When i questioned him on it, he mentioned that he only kills deer of that caliber now and has been for the last 4-5 years. I never even knew these deer lived in the area. Now i have higher goals, i havent killed one but atleast i know they are there. My point is that like someone mentioned earlier, im sure there are a few "monster" deer where everyone hunts. By monster i mean by local standards, that might be a 100 deer of a booner, all depends. Just cause we arent seeing them doesnt mean they are there, i found that out and if i didnt meat my new pal, i would still think i had to pay for an expensive tripto the promised land. Also look at people who post trail camera pictures stating "Look at this monster, i never even knew there were deer like this in the area." They are out there, doesnt mean we will get them, but i do think they are more common than we think, no matter where we are. Likemany people mentioned,it all comesdown to desire. My friend Rich spends atleast 40 hours a week in the woods come deer season, i cant put that kind of time in cause of other priorities. Wish i could but thats life. Other things such asfamily and big game fishing aremore important and cut into my time. Do i want to kill the biggest buck out there- hells yeah, i just have to work alittle harder for him. Ps- Im going to get that monster this fall and the smile on my face will be from ear to ear!:D |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
ORIGINAL: njbuck22 Likemany people mentioned,it all comesdown to desire. My friend Rich spends atleast 40 hours a week in the woods come deer season, |
RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
Brucelanthier, when you put it that way, you are 100% correct. I wish i could do it to buts its not possible for me at this point in my life.
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RE: Why do people think it's supposed to be so easy?
I think Desire might be the wrong word for this thread. Reason being: Don't we all desire to hunt as much as possible? Is there really oneus who wouldn't want to spend all day, everyday, the entire season in the woods. I know I sure would love to be able to that. Do I have the desire to do that, yep, can I, nope. Sothe word desire is probably a little misleading for this topic. NJ, You hit this right on the nose with that long post of yours. Deer are there, sometimes it just takes a little thing like a chance meeting with someone who knows a little more than yourself. I didn't think there were many big deer on the public land I hunt, until I found a little "sanctuary" (not really, but it sure seems like it since no one hunts it), now I KNOW there are big bucks in that area. I studied the maps I had of the area and was able to figure out what this spot had the rest of the land didn't. That chance drive-by I made on this tract during the season ended up making me into a better hunter.
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