I can't say I know too much until I've shot more than one of them. Also, there aren't a whole lot to study on the properties I hunt so learning about what you don't see is difficult at best.

I think Germ said it best. I'm 100% sure I know jack s---.

I would say little, as I am a meat hunter ..... all you really need to know is 3 things anyway and it's all about location

seriously, we have a handful of mature bucks taken to our families credit....but sightings of a dozen or two of big mature bucks throughout our hunting history .... It amazes me how they always are out of range or how many times it was too thick to shoot, or how they snuck up on us like ghosts ..... they are amazing creatures ..... that is why in the whitetail world of HNI, I give much respect to you guys that consistantly pound it out .. that includes a certain 3 year hunter with 2 mature bucks .......totally impressive to me .... I'm rooting for his 3rd this fall

Thanks, T.....and I think you nailed me with that first sentence, too.

"Location" is relative to your woods, also. Right place - right time.....even if you're really just "meat hunting". In 130+ sits....I've gone looking for a mature buck about 3 times. It's worked out, once.

I likely hunt the same way you do.

Enough to know that its like all things in life, you get out of it what you put into it.

I know what you were trying to say with your 2 statements ..... the first one IS afoundational truth ....the second is true as well .... you can't shoot 200" deer where they don't exist, as you can't have the seasons you have had if the pop isn't where your's was .....

I chuckle when I think about the possibility of you laying down another mature buck .... lol .... it'll get real interesting on the threads then ...... and BTW ... my money (if I were a gambling man) is on YOU .....

I guess a Deer is mature as long as he is not sucking milk?[8D]

Dan

I tell ya, T....you GOTTA get you one of these "ignore" buttons.

Best invention EVER in HNI history.

I tell Ya T the ITI button is the ticket!!!

A buddy of mine once went to Alaska Bear hunting with a high powered rifle. He killed a bear that might have weighed 150# (that's being generous), but in his defense it was a long shot and I'm sure it was hard to tell it was a Boo-Boo. Trouble was he was always telling everybody he killed a mature Boar that they guessed was close to 300#. It made a Good story!

After he had his rug back a bunch of us were over at his house, and someone snuck a Baby bottle in his Bear rugs mouth. It made for a bunch of laughs and he kind of dropped the 300# story. I think he knew we had it figured out!

He was a cute little bugger though!especially with the bottle in his mouth[8D]

Dan

my problem is and has been property, I have leased, gained permission, etc to several tracts in NC. Now the problem every year I lose the property to developers, other folks paying higher lease

One year is not a lot of time to get to know the land and the bucks on it

I have taken 6 or 7 Mature deer in my life but I do not specifically go looking for them - I have gotten to where the little ones walk, but I am also a meat hunter first and foremost - I am also damn proud of every deer I take regardless of what others think

The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know.