Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

When one talks of killing mature bucks consistently.... What do you consider consistent?

Every year, every other year, every three years, every five years?

What do you define as consistent?
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RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

To define consistent of killing mature bucks..

I take it on a personal level. And define it by the man.. not the masses.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

Your PM box is full ;)

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

my bad.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I agree for the most part,..... Also to have a "true" answer, if there is such a thing many things would have to be taken into account.... Herd size and age structure, local hunting pressure etc etc...

Just looking for a generic definition from the "masses".
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RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I just go by the rack period. Here a three year old can have a dandy rack. I don't consider 3 mature by any means.
I think if a guy can put a brusier on the ground every few years he is doing really good.I have had a couple of back to back seasons with nice bucks but I have also had several year droughts on bucks over 150.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I would say every yr or two.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

Personally, every 3 years is great consistency on true mature bucks, 4 yrs or older. They just don't roam that freely, anywhere IMO.

I'd be happy to take one every 3-4, although i've been luckier.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I would say every couple years for extended period of time. To the point that the guys you hunt with are always quizing you an wanting to know where you hunt all the time.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I would say every year if you spend about the same amount of time hunting and nothing changes or alters your hunting area.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

That's a tuff one to answer. But I will say you don't have to kill one every year to be consistant. Because you will most likely have sightings or opportunities almost every year. There is just sooooo much that has to go right to actually kill one every year. Just being in the position to do it every year is being consistent enough.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

Generally speaking, more often than not. Every other year or 2 out of 3.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I think it depends more on the population being hunted as well as the hunter. If the area is highly 'managed' and 1 in 6 or so deer is a mature buck, a decent hunter will get oportunities every year. If however 1 in 60 deer is a mature buck I think the odds drop by a lot to be able to accomplish it every year.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

Same here.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I agree. Id say every 1-3 years....

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

This is really a question that is nearly impossible for me to answer. I hate to say this but hunting here in Illinois is not nearly as challenging as say Northern Arkansas. I base consistancy relative to the area one is hunting and the deer density of the area. There are some guys in this forum that have to bust their butts to get a decent buck while some of us are spoiled and live in areas that are easy to hunt.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

:eek:[X(]

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I would guess for "MY" area it's every 5 years to kill a 130-140" or above deer

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

i would say every other year(with exceptions like if they missed a shot )

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

every few years would be good here.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

One of Webster's definitions of "consistent" is "reliable, steady." When I think of someone who consistently kills mature bucks I think of someone who kills one at least every other year. Because, in all honesty.....someone who can kill one every 2 years most likely had a chance on the "off" year. Someone who can reliably kill one has their opportunities every year. Just because they didn't connect on a given year could be a lot of things. Perhaps they just didn't see one that met their standards, or....perhaps they had a shoulder injury. ;)

Anyway, the short answer would be every 2 or 3 years.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

This is a great question, Scott.

I don't feel qualified to answer, intelligently. I have been blessed, lucky or a combination of the two. My outlook "may" be a little rosy.

I feel like (again) hunting is very personal. What one man passes on......another may be seen as "successful" for taking. There are guys who would have passed on both deer I've taken (that some would call "mature").

I feel like you and Gary had great seasons in '07......and I don't think they represent anything short of "successful" years. I see plenty of those in my future.

If I had to pose an opinion, though......I'd have to say a "successful" "mature buck" hunter would harvest a mature buck at least once every 3-4 years. That doesn't make the "off" years "unsuccessful", though. Those years are a vital part of the overall makeup of said hunter. I think you'd have to look at the overall......and less at the single year outcome(s).

Just my .02.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

Very well thought through and put Jeff,one of the best responses yet.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

Buckeye your on a role lately with your threads, I like your threads though, keep them coming!!;);) Everyone is different I guess on what they call a mature buck. Some say 3.5 and some say 4.5. I've only taken one 4.5 year old buck, I wish there was more then that but I see it getting better in the future. I've passed on easily a couple of handful's of 3.5 year old bucks that were in that 125" to 130" range, I won't take a 3.5 unless he's easily in the books. Every 4 to 5 years would impress me with someone taking mature bucks, anything under that is outstanding to me!!

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I agree a lot with what Kelly had to say... honest consistency is probably a bruiser every 2-3 years, though I think we mostly think of "every year"... though that's probably unrealistic. EVERY year at free-ranging, fair-chase animals puts someone into the elite of the elite ranks as far as I'm concerned. Even as successful a hunter as a GregH is has quite a few years between his first mature deer and his latest... though you'd be hard-pressed to not label him as consistent.

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I consider a 4.5 year old and older mature. Where I live and hunt, a few bucks will get old due the big country and plentiful feed. With that being said I think a guy is consistent when he averages at least one mature buck kill every year, especially guys like myself that have "two" tags. I've had a couple seasons I killed two mature bucks making up for a season I didnt kill one. I want to end each decade from here on out with at least 10 mature buck kills per decade. I think its reasonable for where I live and hunt. Hunting free ranging wild whitetails in Idaho, public and private land either way..

When Rybo or Fran or anyone elsehunting undertheir type of equation,kills a 3.5 year old in PA.. where the pressure is so great the access is limited, I look at that as every bit as an accomplishment as me killing an 8 year old mountain buck...

RE: Consistent? Re: Mature bucks.
 

I agree with Kelly