Big Buck Barometer
07-03-2008 | 12:16 PM
#181
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Big Buck Barometer
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
Many people say that age determines the trophy. Why do these people then complain that their area doesn't produce inches?
Most I see in this thread talking about it....aren't complaining. Pointing out something thats simply "the way it is" isn't a complaint, at all. It stating a point of view (and most likely...a fact).
Why do they suppliment with minerals? Minerals don't increase age.
Minerals aid not only bucks....but does, alike. Does use the minerals to aid them during lactating. Mineral sites are also good spots to put up trail cams to get an inventory of the herd one is hunting. It serves a valuable service to the hunter and the herd, in triplicate.
Why do they plant food plots?
See above.
Why don't people look at a deer mount or picture and ask "how old was he"?
I do. First thing I wanna know is: 1. Where was he shot? 2. HOW was he taken (what weapon)? 3. How old was he? & 4. What did he score?
People come in the forums all the time and ask opinions on a deer's age v. what he might score.
Why do people ask "what did he score"?
Because they want to know what he might/did score???
Why does the deer contest on this forum go by score and not age?
Because it had to have SOME method of distinguishing a "winner". Ask the forum (via a poll)if the 5.5yr old the man from TN shot that scored 105" is a bigger "trophy" than the 110" 2.5yr old from IL that was entered. The contest, of course, notwithstanding
Many people say that age determines the trophy. Why do these people then complain that their area doesn't produce inches?
Most I see in this thread talking about it....aren't complaining. Pointing out something thats simply "the way it is" isn't a complaint, at all. It stating a point of view (and most likely...a fact).
Why do they suppliment with minerals? Minerals don't increase age.
Minerals aid not only bucks....but does, alike. Does use the minerals to aid them during lactating. Mineral sites are also good spots to put up trail cams to get an inventory of the herd one is hunting. It serves a valuable service to the hunter and the herd, in triplicate.
Why do they plant food plots?
See above.
Why don't people look at a deer mount or picture and ask "how old was he"?
I do. First thing I wanna know is: 1. Where was he shot? 2. HOW was he taken (what weapon)? 3. How old was he? & 4. What did he score?
People come in the forums all the time and ask opinions on a deer's age v. what he might score.
Why do people ask "what did he score"?
Because they want to know what he might/did score???
Why does the deer contest on this forum go by score and not age?
Because it had to have SOME method of distinguishing a "winner". Ask the forum (via a poll)if the 5.5yr old the man from TN shot that scored 105" is a bigger "trophy" than the 110" 2.5yr old from IL that was entered. The contest, of course, notwithstanding
I curious, why would anyone suppliment the food and mineral needs of the does in an area that is already way overpopulated?
If 2 deer walked past your stand at the same time and one was 5.5 years old and scored 115 and the other was 3.5 and scored 155 which trophy would you shoot?
07-03-2008 | 12:29 PM
#184
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,208
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
RE: Big Buck Barometer
I live about 40 minutes from Fran but our main hunting spots are more like 1.5 hrs apart.
Spotting is my best chance to see what’s in my general area, but it’s a lot of work & gas. I could go 5-6 nights without seeing a shooter, then all in a sudden catch a bachelor group at the right time. They get real spooky of the lights and people taking pot shots at them. I’m not sure if the pressure of spotting kills or saves more deer. They get hammered often enough with the light, I think they start to disappear before the crosshairs are centered.
Spotting is my best chance to see what’s in my general area, but it’s a lot of work & gas. I could go 5-6 nights without seeing a shooter, then all in a sudden catch a bachelor group at the right time. They get real spooky of the lights and people taking pot shots at them. I’m not sure if the pressure of spotting kills or saves more deer. They get hammered often enough with the light, I think they start to disappear before the crosshairs are centered.
07-03-2008 | 12:32 PM
#185
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,656
Likes: 0
From: Indiana PA USA
RE: Big Buck Barometer
My question is why in the world should we care how "smart" or "wise" the buck we shoot was (usually associated with age)? Isn't our whole goal to kill a deer? I have shot two bucks in PA that were over the 6 year mark and don't see any differance between them and the 3 year olds. The only real difference I see is a 1.5-2.5 and 3.5's or older.
07-03-2008 | 12:32 PM
#186
Dominant Buck
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 21,043
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Big Buck Barometer
I curious, why would anyone suppliment the food and mineral needs of the does in an area that is already way overpopulated?
If 2 deer walked past your stand at the same time and one was 5.5 years old and scored 115 and the other was 3.5 and scored 155 which trophy would you shoot?
I don't chastise anyone for being an antler hunter....nor do I question their sanity or sincerity. Good for them. I'm an opportunist. Given the opportunity....I'll take the 1st "best" representative deer out of my woods that offers a shot. Hang 'em high.
07-03-2008 | 12:32 PM
#188
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,682
Likes: 0
From: Michigan/Ohio
RE: Big Buck Barometer
ORIGINAL: MN/Kyle
Richard Simmons is gay?
I tend to agree with this.
Richard Simmons is gay?
It really does not ALL boil down to location. Location is only part of the equation, like it or not...... that's gospel.
Let be honest as for has habitat wise Minn has over twice as much as Iowa. Iowa shoots a larger percentage of their herd than Minn. Yet Iowa shoots twice as many big bucks also.
Management plans and hunters make a huge difference in location. Take Iowa's management and hunterattitude, put it in Minn,and we are all hating Minn instead of Iowa[8D]
I truly hate Iowa, Ill, Wis and KS[8D]
07-03-2008 | 12:33 PM
#189
Thread Starter
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,716
Likes: 0
RE: Big Buck Barometer
Gary - the old lady that lives on one of the farms I hunt told me (honestly) that she had only seen 5 deer all season. The neighbor told me that they all died of EHD this year. He was serious. Laypeople have no clue what's lurking.
BTW - Rybo lives about 45 minutes away. I think he hunts further away yet.
But back to the mysterious ghost-bucks, I like to think that I DO know what caliber deer live in my own back yard.
Thousands and Thousands and Thousands of deer, every possible time of year... I don't know how else to tell you - but Ido indeed knowwhat kind of deer live in my area. You guys act like there's some kind of higher level of understanding involved... There's not.
I KNOW there's a statistical anomaly or two running around, and I HOPE that someday I'm lucky enough to see one... But I know some damn good hunters. And I know some people who hunt on some greatly-managed farms... And NOBODY is consistently killing PY bucks year-in, year-out in my area.I know this. For sure.
The fact of the matter is, if a big buck exists, it has to either die, or the antlers have to fall off. No way around it. When either of these events take place, it leaves hard evidence of its existence behind. My point is that where NO HARD EVIDENCE IS EVER FOUND - it's reasonable to presume that this imaginary caliber of deer simply did not exist in that area.
The tooth fairy doesn't beam down to earth and suck up the sheds. Aliens don't come down and scoop up the carcass.
BTW - Rybo lives about 45 minutes away. I think he hunts further away yet.
But back to the mysterious ghost-bucks, I like to think that I DO know what caliber deer live in my own back yard.
Thousands and Thousands and Thousands of deer, every possible time of year... I don't know how else to tell you - but Ido indeed knowwhat kind of deer live in my area. You guys act like there's some kind of higher level of understanding involved... There's not.
I KNOW there's a statistical anomaly or two running around, and I HOPE that someday I'm lucky enough to see one... But I know some damn good hunters. And I know some people who hunt on some greatly-managed farms... And NOBODY is consistently killing PY bucks year-in, year-out in my area.I know this. For sure.
The fact of the matter is, if a big buck exists, it has to either die, or the antlers have to fall off. No way around it. When either of these events take place, it leaves hard evidence of its existence behind. My point is that where NO HARD EVIDENCE IS EVER FOUND - it's reasonable to presume that this imaginary caliber of deer simply did not exist in that area.
The tooth fairy doesn't beam down to earth and suck up the sheds. Aliens don't come down and scoop up the carcass.
07-03-2008 | 12:35 PM
#190
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,167
Likes: 0
From: PA
RE: Big Buck Barometer
ORIGINAL: Germ
I do also to a point.
Let be honest as for has habitat wise Minn has over twice as much as Iowa. Iowa shoots a larger percentage of their herd than Minn. Yet Iowa shoots twice as many big bucks also.
Management plans and hunters make a huge difference in location. Take Iowa's management and hunterattitude, put it in Minn,and we are all hating Minn instead of Iowa[8D]
I truly hate Iowa, Ill, Wis and KS[8D]
ORIGINAL: MN/Kyle
Richard Simmons is gay?
I tend to agree with this.
Richard Simmons is gay?
It really does not ALL boil down to location. Location is only part of the equation, like it or not...... that's gospel.
Let be honest as for has habitat wise Minn has over twice as much as Iowa. Iowa shoots a larger percentage of their herd than Minn. Yet Iowa shoots twice as many big bucks also.
Management plans and hunters make a huge difference in location. Take Iowa's management and hunterattitude, put it in Minn,and we are all hating Minn instead of Iowa[8D]
I truly hate Iowa, Ill, Wis and KS[8D]