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RE: Big Buck Barometer
Dan You start to realize these things when you hunt in an area that has a huge range of rack sizes in all age classes.... I have seen 5.5 yr old bucks up here that would score 80" and others that would score 160"+. Now, and I'll admit it, because I'm an antler hunter I won't shoot the 80"....I'll hold out. Does that mean the 160" buck is more of a challenge to kill? Hell no.....he was just belssed with better genetics. But one thing to consider, and yes it is still relative to a particular area,, is that the bigger racked buck has probably been hunted much harder in years past, as I am sure he was probably ahead of his age class the year before and possibly even the year before that as well. Could it be possible (sure its possible-anything is possible), could it be plausible that the 160" deer is also ahead of the learning curve for his age in the"wood savvy" department as compared to the 80" m deer. If you passed the 80", most likley others have as well, if not in that particular year butcertainly in prior years.He has probably been a "dink" all of his life and has not been subjected to all of the "hunting" as his bigger racked contemporary. At the very least, it would seem that he had a better opportunity to reach this age as compared to others. |
RE: Big Buck Barometer
Scott - Davies Ford, a local truck dealership - two years ago - gave away a Brand New Pickup truck to the guy who killed the biggest buck in Fayette County in rifle seasonthat year. The deer had to be killed in the county, tagged and verified accordingly. The website is now down, but the biggest buck turned in would've been lucky to score 135. "Kill a Buck, Win a Truck." No entry fee. Just shoot your big buck and bring it down. Huge publicity stunt. Advertised all over Froggy radio.
Nothing turned in that would've even scared 150. Gary: No. I shoot the first good 2.5 I see, and start hunting other states immediately. I have hunted full seasons in PA in the past, going all the way to the last day - and I average sighting aboutone 3.5+ per year from the stand.I've hunted here long enoughto know what is realistic and what isn't. |
RE: Big Buck Barometer
To use you asan example ( and my memory may be wrong), i believe that you mentioned that the only 2 mature bucks you have seen in your area were the 2 you shot. I think you also mentioned that you only saw 1 and a half year olds this past year except for the second mature buck. Does that mean that next year the top end buck for your area is a 2 and a half year old fork horn? Why would a 2.5 yr old be a forkhorn? Also....with displacement/relocation/travelers....I have no idea of what my woodsmay see come through them this fall. None. You guys take what I say in too broad a sense. I speak ONLY of the woods I'm hunting. Adjacent properties are unknowns.....for sure. |
RE: Big Buck Barometer
This is a respectable buck in my neck of the woods....
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RE: Big Buck Barometer
ORIGINAL: 07tomkat I would have to say 110-125 up in Northwest Pennsylvania Erie County. That is about the biggest i have ever seen in my years of hunting. |
RE: Big Buck Barometer
Fran... Are you seriously trying to tell me there is only one 140 class buck in your whole township? How could you even determine this? So Ryan must have killed the biggest buck inthetownship he hunts in back to back years..... What's the odds on that one? Honestly, I know some of the general areas Fran hunts, and he does get screwed in the big buck department. They are fewer & farther bewteen than in the areas I hunt. If I hunted there, my standards probably would not be as high. My main hunting area consists of a 6 mile rectangular loop that I drive. If I see 2-3 "shooters" (3.5+) in that whole area, I'm tickled. Rarely, if ever are they spotted on the land I have access to over the summer, but they do show up as the rut nears.In that same loop I'll probably see 8-10 2.5 yr olds. |
RE: Big Buck Barometer
ORIGINAL: GMMAT To use you asan example ( and my memory may be wrong), i believe that you mentioned that the only 2 mature bucks you have seen in your area were the 2 you shot. I think you also mentioned that you only saw 1 and a half year olds this past year except for the second mature buck. Does that mean that next year the top end buck for your area is a 2 and a half year old fork horn? Why would a 2.5 yr old be a forkhorn? Also....with displacement/relocation/travelers....I have no idea of what my woodsmay see come through them this fall. None. You guys take what I say in too broad a sense. I speak ONLY of the woods I'm hunting. Adjacent properties are unknowns.....for sure. What you just said though is what i have been trying to say. IMO a top end deer for any given area might not be and probably isnt what you are seeing and probably even have access to, but there is that very small chance he could walk by one day. Now if this discussion was what is the largest caliber deer that you have an expectation to shoot each year, thats a whole different story. |
RE: Big Buck Barometer
So you're saying I'm a statistical anomaly? Or that am I just that dang good? [8D] |
RE: Big Buck Barometer
Gary: No. I shoot the first good 2.5 I see, and start hunting other states immediately. I have hunted full seasons in PA in the past, going all the way to the last day - and I average sighting aboutone 3.5+ per year from the stand.I've hunted here long enoughto know what is realistic and what isn't. Like you I see 1 maybe two 3.5 or older deer a year the last ten years. When I first started hunting in SLP it was way different, everyone hunted in the NLP or UP. Now 60% hunting is in the SLP. Just be honest, Until you are willing to execpt eating tag suit, your odds are at just about zero |
RE: Big Buck Barometer
You WERE that dang good.... You lost big time "points" by leaving your ratchet strap at home though.... :D I bought 4 spares for this season. One in every pair of hunting pants I have, and one for the glove box of the truck. ;) |
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