Size of huntable bucks?
 

Some members on here rant and rave that deer just do not grow large where they live. Are BB breeding? Are these 3/4/5 pt 1.5 yr old doing all the breeding? Is there such a thing as a 3.5-5.5 yr old buck in this area? I have hunted white tail in a hand full of states and the standards are the same in all of them. Now other than Wisconsin I have never hunted east of the Mississippi. Myabe things are different out there. IDK enlighten me.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

It has to do with genetics, and nutrition.

In some cases, you may actually want a younger buck breeding, provided that he has better genetics.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

The genetics/genes are here In Minnesota. We've got world class bucks just like the big 3 do, just not near as many anymore. The timing of the rut kills our buck population, right during gun season.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

i think that A LOT of people dont think there are big bucks in there area because they dont spend enough time in the woods or they shoot a 1.5 or 2.5 yr old buck at first chance

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

Exactly. I do believe there are "big" bucks everywhere, but really...what is "big"? I believe its allrelative to where you are. Big in IL might be 170", where as big somewhere else might be 120" ....etc. Don't get me wrong....I agree thathuge deer can and do live just about everywhere, its just that the avg sizes of your typical "big" deer differ greatly both in body size, and rack size depending on where you are. Statistics prove that.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

I know there are big bucks inHouston county, MN;); better join me

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

When I was with jmbuckhunter (John) this past weekend, I was speaking with his friend, Bob. We were talking about what a deer "needs".

Bob told me this...

A "trophy" whitetail needs 5 things...

1-Age
2-Genetics
3-Age
4-Nutrition
5-Age


:D:D

It makes perfect sense to me!

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

The biggest thing you guys are missing is numbers. Yes we have older bucks in PA, just number the number of them that Midwest states have therefore you have to hunt harder and smarter to even see one. Look at the statistics that were on here before. 1 in 3000 bucks make record books in PA, 1 in 300 in IL....that speaks volumes.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

As stated earlier, genetics and nutrition, in my opinion, are the two most important elements in growing big bucks with nutrition probably being more important. If you look at where most large bucks are taken, they are usually taken in or close to agricultural ground. But, all the nutrition and genetics in the world aren't going to matter if you don't let them grow up.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

Amen to that Rob. Exactly.

Hey do a survey on your IL trip....let us know how many 120"+ bucks you see while you are out there. I'm guessing its 10 to 1 vs. what you see back home. Of course I have no idea how many you've seen in PA this year to date, or how much you have gotten to hunt.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

I agree. I posted exactly the same thing In my post. I just worded It differently.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

I shot a 4.5 yr old / 200# buck here, last year. It taped out at 103-1/8".

The 3.5 yr old I shot in '06 taped out at 106-4/8" and weighed 170#'s.

Yeah....we have older deer, here. But what would a 3.5/4.5yr old score and weigh in IL?

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

I think its all about hunting pressure. I was at an outdoor expo in Madison, WI last spring where the staff of deer and deer hunting was doing seminars. They said that the hunting pressure in Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas is absolutely NOTHING compared to wisconsin. I would imagine it is the same for PA, MI, and NY. These are states where hunting is part of the culture and as a result WAY more people hunt. I thinks WI has the genetics and habitat to grow them just as big as iowa an illinois, but the bucks here have WAY harder time getting to be 3.5. I am guessing in heavily pressured states the land is mostly cut into smaller parcels of 20, 40, and 80 acres.in the big three I usually hear people talking about hundreds of acres not two digits. That makes all the difference in MO.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

Shot a 136lb 4.5y/o 7pt that taped out at 103....however 20mi away from where that deer was taken, there were MULTIPLE 170" 5.5y/o taken. One year and 70in of growth wasnt likely for the area I was in since at 4.5 he was only 103.

And for those saying only 136lb?....That was live weight. Towards the end of the rut. He was chasing when I shot him, but his neck was large, but slimmed waaaaaaaaay up in the body. Id say that fellow had spent the last 3 weeks of his life chasing every hot doe that came and went.

RE: Size of huntable bucks?
 

Its not only Genetics and nutrition that play a major factor, but I think people are not taking into account hunting pressure....

there are some area's where most hunters are meat hunters, and shoot anything that is legal. If you have a high number of hunters, and esp people who shoot anything that walks in your area, bucks just don't have a chance to get to the 3.5yr + mark, and never hit their genetic potential. Unless you have exclusive rights to hundreds and hundreds, or even thousands of acres of land, all the QDM you want to practice will never amount to anything in the way of older bucks. Not everyone has a big buck on their property, so holding out and waiting, may just discourage them, after yrs of not seeing a "shooter" buck.