2 this year-none in bow range

2-3 here lately past three years before that i did not know what a mature buck was

2 in my career out of 10. Shot one, never found it, the other one got wind. One in NC and the other in Ill.

Guys, it's not all that impressive. I've bowhunted for 41 seasons and didn't see my first mature buck until my 18th season. So in the last 23 seasons, 17 of which I've exclusively hunted for mature bucks in two different states, that averages out to 2.2 mature bucks per season. There's guys on here that are averaging more than that.

Getting them in range and then capitalizing on the situation is a different story.

I will say I've been lucky, in my 17 years of hunting for mature bucksI have killed 17 bucks 3 1/2 and older that scored from 120-180. 16 with a bow and 1 with a gun. There's been years when I've been skunked and years when I've taken 2 P&Ys. The main reason for my success is the major amount of time that I've invested into hunting them. This includes all the reading, scouting, shed hunting and permission seeking that I've done along with taking the month of Nov. off of work for the last 12 or more years. Another big thing is that I really am lucky. I can't explain it, but it's like if I get lost on my way to my stand in the morning and in a panick decide to sit until light next to a big tree, a big buck comes along and I kill it. It really pisses off my brother and my friends, but I can't help it. I'll take luck any day.[:-]

Jeff what about the 130" deer you saw at Robs? Or was that not a mature deer?
Anyways to answer the questions.
1. 3
2. 1
3. 5

some of you guys really need to consider a trip to Ohio

How many Mature bucks did you see in your last season afield?

3.5 year olds...13 -15wasn't keeping track but safe to say.
4.5 year olds...6 andwith one being seen 3 times and one being seen twice

How many mature bucks do you average seeing in a normal season?
3.5 year olds I can usually get 2-3 in bow range every year ( pass ). Safe to say I see at least 10 a yearfor the last7 years.

4.5 year olds...Gotten 1 in range every year for the last 7 years. I've passed3 hoping for bigger.Got busted on2 while stalking. []1 busted me willstillhunting( this year ). [] I killed one. Safe to say usually I see 2 - 3 a year. Safe to say most live to see another day after I see them. [:'(]


How many mature bucks have you had in range in your BOWhunting career?


Not enough !!!

Tim

How many Mature bucks did you see in your last season afield?

1

How many mature bucks do you average seeing in a normal season?

0-1

How many mature bucks have you had in range in your BOWhunting career?

6. I have killed 2 with my bow.

Twil....

I didn't think of that deer.....because I thought we were taking about where we hunt (Normally).

Imagine your skewed numbers if you hunted 3 days at tecomate.

How many Mature bucks did you see in your last season afield?

Two.

How many mature bucks do you average seeing in a normal season?

Its dwindled the last few seasons. Up until a few years ago 3-4. Now if I see 1-2 each season I feel lucky. I anwsered this question by seeing them, not if they were in range.


How many mature bucks have you had in range in your BOWhunting career?

At least 15-16. Took 5, missed a couple and the rest I just could not get a shot at. The ones I could not or did not get a shot at will always stay with me. Hindsight is 20/20 but still..................

How many Mature bucks did you see in your last season afield?

2 bucks that were 3.5 or older.

How many mature bucks do you average seeing in a normal season?

Between 2-4. There just aren't a lot of mature bucks around, but it is getting better.

How many mature bucks have you had in range in your BOWhunting career?

2 One was this season on a 140" buck that chased a doe past my stand, but I couldn't get him stopped.[:@]

I'm only gonna talk Whitetails here because if I get into Mule Deer that's a whole different ball game. Last season I saw over 60 bucks. Of those at least 6 were Mature bucks and that is pretty average if I hunt hard. I agree with what Greg says about time put in it really is relative to what you see. There is usually a 2 to 2 1/2 week time frame every year that I am in a tree pretty much daylight til dark. most of the Big Bucks I saw this year I saw between 10am and 3pm.

Dan