RE: How many mature bucks?
 

Where I hunt in Northern Michigan you might see one in your whole life, I've been hunting for 4 years and never seen one nor has anyone in my family, I have one 2.5 year old on camera from 2 years ago, that just shows how rare even 2.5 year old bucks are, the poaching is terrible and there havent been doe permits for about 5 years the ratios are way screwed up, yet I still hunt every weekend.

RE: How many mature bucks?
 

You must live near me!

RE: How many mature bucks?
 

4/0 Early this year I had a bachelor group of 5 bucks get kicked up by another hunter and go running by me , and 2 of those bucks were mature. Had a big 10 point come out right at dark, drew down on him twice and couldn't see my pin threw my peep. Had an encounter with that buck last year too. Pretty sure he is 4.5. Then I had a 3.5 pass by just out of range.

In the areas I hunt (public land in northern Mn) this is one of the best years I have had for seeing mature bucks. For an average year I'm lucky if I see 1 or 2.

RE: How many mature bucks?
 

Saw proabably 11-12 mature ones this year. Didn't shoot any though. I only hunted with a bow, but if it doesn't beat my biggest one to date, I don't shoot.

RE: How many mature bucks?
 

I've seen 5 mature bucks (on 3 different properties). Couple of them on more than one occasion. One of them I should have killed but I'm an idiot and passed on what I thought was a lot smaller than he turned out to be. Tinkering on slightly lowering my standards next year.

RE: How many mature bucks?
 

Good luck to you, Preacher!

I'll be waiting for th epics, MOHO!

I didn't count the one I saw in PA Matt/Rob. I was just talking about the ones I saw (excuse me.....ONE) here.;)

Congrats to all you guys that got 'em......let 'em grow.....and just got to SEE 'em. I'm sure there is more to come on this subject, yet!;)

RE: How many mature bucks?
 

3 in NY.........but your statement still holds true.

RE: How many mature bucks?
 

A 3.5 or older - Seen 1 Killed 0 Mich The one I got was aged at 2.5.

RE: How many mature bucks?
 

1/1 bowhunting for me. 4.5 yearsminimum.That was the first BUCK i saw this year, period.

After that, I went out a few times with a camera and saw three more (3.5+) in four sits. One 125" 8pnt, one 130" eight, and one 135" nine. Rather odd not seeing any monsters actually (besides the one I took:))

That does not do it justice really, as my brother(first year bowhunter) has been using some of my stands also and has seen probably around 8 additional mature bucks. So that would be about 12 individual mature bucks in a 1.5 mile diameter circle (four properties). Granted a lot of that was the chase and breeding phase of the rut so most of those were not on their core range.

RE: How many mature bucks?
 

In 16 years of deer hunting in Michigan: 0 and 0.

In 4 days of hunting in Illinois: 4 and 1.