Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

Before I start, I don't want this to boil down into a QDM vs. brown it's down match, or to be a thread about location.

I was just watching a video from one of our favorite local HNI producers and scratching my head at some of the bucks that were being passed up on because there is no way in hell they'd get past my stand. Then something occured to me. It is obvious that the person passing up those bucks wanted to hunt and kill the top tier bucks in his area, and those he was passing were not it. They would have been the top tier bucks in my area which is why I would be taking a shot at them.

So, this makes me think while a buck of a certain age or class is a top tier buck in some areas it is one that will be passed in another. As a result, taking the best class of deer in your area is commendable in my view.

With that said, what is the top class of deer in your area. That is the size in inches AND age that you can expect to have a couple of in your area that will be the creme of the crop for the spots you hunt, not the state, county, or region, but in YOUR spots.

In my spots the very best deer that I see are 3.5-4.5 year olds in the 140"-150" range. There aren't many of them, but they are there.

EDIT: Buckeye added a nice twist to this. Thanks!

What are the top end bucks in your spots and what are you looking to shoot?

As I said above top end are 140-150, but at this point in time I'm shooting at 110" or bigger.

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

I enjoyed your thoughts and agree with much you wrote.

Abuck I field judge as 140 class (gross score) is what it takes for me to want to take the shot.... Although this is not a "top end buck" for my area, it is plenty enough to trip my trigger.....

Top tier for my area is 160+... They do get bigger however, much bigger in some instances but are ratherrare.

Top end bucks are usually 4.5 + years old here.

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

I too agree with what you have said. I hunt two different ranches, on one ranch we can expect a top tier buck to be 4.5+ and 145+. On our family land 3.5-4.5 140 is top tier

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

3.5-4.5-- 140-145".

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

I know we have 170" bucks in the area. Do I see them? Very rarely do I. I've seen 2 that would make that. My goals are 130" and up. I've passed on allot of bucks that were between 120" and 130" knowing there is bigger and better. I've got allot of learning to do yet to get these bigger guys in closer but its getting better.;)

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

A good buck in NH is 120"+ and probably 3.5-4.5. There certainly are bigger deer and here's proof 2006 record buck 20 minutes from the largest city in NH.

Excerpt from the press...
"He actual gross green score was 200 inches with a net green score of 187 5/8 inches. The buck's field dressed weight was 167 pounds and Fish and Game estimated the age to be between 5 and 6 years old."

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

Thats a pig of a buck!!!!!

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

One of my friends knows this guy.
I SURE WISH THAT WAS ME!

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

I passed on a decent six pointer this past season because I knew that there was a monster still walking around. Next year I am thinking I will take him because he should be a real nice 8 point.

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

Anything that is a nice 2.5 yr old or better is good around this area. So I would shoot one if given the oppourtunity late in the season. Early on I may pass. Then there are some 3.5yr old plus that show up on occasion. There are a few nice ones shot every year. A 10 pointer is typically a wall hanger, never seen anything with any non-typical points around here though. Something with a spread over 18" is a pretty nice sight.

This guy is nice, but I would hope for another year. I can put money on any other hunter in our area shooting him though.

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

The two largest bucks I've seen on my hunting land are in my avatar. I've seen....in 3 yrs hunting there (besides the two I've taken):

3ea 2.5yr olds (1 on game cam)
1ea 3.5yr old (gamecam, only)
0 older deer.

A 100" deer is a FINE representative deer for the land I hunt.

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

My goals are based on the area I hunt. I set my goals at a size that is realistic if I work very hard, and get a little lucky. There have been deer that score into the 180's and I know of one that went over 200". Most average bucks given a chance to mature are capable of obtaining 140's maybe a little bigger. I will settle for something in the 130's +. I consider myself a mature buck hunter more than a trophy hunter. That being said, rack score plays only a part in my decision to shoot or not. Another thing: I love to hunt so if I would tag out early it would kinda suck!

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

The potential for my general areas I would put at 160-170". Those are the kinds of bucks you only hear about or see in a local newspaper. I've never seen one that big in person.

Real life top end bucks in my area might top out at 150" but they are still very few and far between. If you shoot a 130" class around here, that's pretty good, as I feel that's about as big a buck one has a realistic chance at. My personal goals are 3.5 + and what I field judge to be over 120" maybe a little higher, but I don't want to lay down absolutes when it comes to my field judging skill.

RE: Taking the Top Tier Bucks
 

Rybo, it sounds like your spots are very much like mine. I know that the 3.5 and up deer exist, but once the season starts their daytime activity is limited to several minutes per day if that until the rut. Even during the rut some bucks just don't show themselves.

Magicman, that is the way I hunt my areas as well.I have a lot of little spots that differ in quality due to food sources, pressure, etc. Some spots if I see a 100" buck I'm pulling the trigger because he may be the big dog on that property. Other spots I know I have a chance at some better bucks in the 120" + range and older deerso I'll hold out for one of them.

Good info. Keep it coming.