It's kind of funny. I was sitting at my desk today thinking of this very same topic. I just logged on to start a similar thread, but since this is going already...I will just continue on. I was just curiuos to see how many peopleactually kill abuck every year? And lets say 125" since that is P&Y.The last few years I have moved around a bit....living in three different states in 4 years. It kind of makes things tough finding land and then patterning the deer that live there. I feel that I have done pretty good with what I have had to work with...however, it has been a few years now since I have harvested a buck. I have been pretty dang close, but haven't been successful. As with what other people said, it really helps to have access to good land. I know a few people that really aren't that knowledgable when it comes to bowhunting deer, but have killed good bucks the last three years. Each year, they call me up continuosly throughout the season asking, "what should I do now...where should I go...etc." I know that if I was able to hunt that same land each year...I would score too.I think when it all comes down to it there is being lucky and having a little bit of luck.Having some luck is when abuck chases a doe right past your stand and you are able to get a shot off.Just because you had some particularluck that night, it doesn't mean that you aren'ta smart, dedicated hunter. Being lucky is walking into the woods and sitting downat the first open spot you see and then killing a big buck that you have never seen before.

Remember that big is a very relative term and can hold far different value if you are in Northern Minnesota, or if you are in Central Florida.

There is some level of skill involved in consistently taking deer, period. However, the really skilled guys are the ones that are regularly killing the biggest bucks in their areas. If you have a lot of bucks ranging from 120"-160" on your property and you consistently take a 140" deer, you've got some skill and luck on your side. However, if you're on the same property and regularly take a 160"-170" buck you have some elite skill. There are some guys on this forum like that and most of us know who they are. Otherwise, as the othes have said it is a combination of both luck and skill (oh, and those skilled guys have got some luck on their side too.)

I'm just looking at the thread header, James. It says 130".

I'm fully aware of the the wording in the initial post.

If it is luck - why do some consistently kill big deer and others not? You make you're luck in the woods!

it takes both. You have got to be in the right place at the right time. Is there skill involved? Certianly. Is there some luck involved? sometimes. luck I think tends to favor a lot of scouting and a lot of practice wiht you archery equipment. It is true that people stumble into the woods and kill great big bucks all the time however few of them do it with a stick and string.

It's hard to say luck isn't a huge factor. While it takes luck to get him in the right spot at the right time, you have to hold your composure and close the deal. Skill is necessary to kill mature deer regardless of a buck or a doe. From knowing how to react in the stand as he's coming in to making sure you place the arrow in the right spot to ensurethey wont get away.

I agree with most here, patience, dedication, luck and skill are all required. I tend to agree that dedication and patience are the two largest factors.

Location is THE #1 factor by a long shot. Nothing else even comes close.


A belowaverage skilled hunter with a decent amount of free time to hunt in the heart of big buck country will drop more large bucks in a couple years then the best skilled hunter could ever do in a lifetime of hunting in places where big bucks are rare.

I think that a succuessful hunter makes his own luck. Yes, somebody can stumble out the back door and climb any old tree and shoot one or two big deer, but to do it consistently takes many different skills.