We all know not every area holds big bucks. For the sake of discussion we'll call anything around 120 the minimum "big" buck size. So what would you say is a realistic number or percentage of big bucks in the areas you hunt? Do you hold out for a big one, knowing you have a legitimate chance becuase there are some around, or do you just hope that one MIGHT be where you are hunting?

I hunt the big woods in PA, there have been a few large bucks taken in the area but not many, mostly we are happy to see one that is legel by PA standards.

I will typically get 1-2 chances at a 115 class buck each year.

However, they don't seem to be much bigger. After bowhunting for 14 years, I've only had a 2-3 P&Y deer within bow range. P&Y is hard to come by down here. We've got them, but very few.

I only personally know around 5 people who have ever killed a P&Y.


Part of the problem is our gun season runs the entire pre-rut, rut, and post rut.

well i know there are here because they are everywhere in illinois but im not really the big "trophy hunter" ill shoot the first thing thats comes by unless its bambi then maybe try for that big buck but yes i see around average 3-4 bucks over 130" a season

I see my share while spotting. There were a pair of nice buck around my stand aera that the neighbors saw late last fall. Judging by the tracks out in my honeyhole they are still around.

I am fortunate enough to hunt a very large tract of private land. 120" class bucks are not uncommon and are getting to be considered "average" here. The nutrition and genetics are finally taking hold here. The true dandies are in the 150" and up caliber. They are a little scarce. We usually know of a couple every season.

Its a whole different game on public land, or small tracts of land surounded by public land. 120" or even 100" deer are scarce at best. Especially here in PA.

6 or more 120+ and 2 180+ on private land

20 or more 120+ on public

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For god sake that's a big buck in the woods I hunt. In several of the different tracks of properties I have permission to hunt I believe there to be about 2 or 3 in the (120s(or a little less)) in each. Maybe once a season I'll see a 130+ while hunting. I get about 2 or 3 chances a season on a 120. Thats hunting near every day.

After wackin a few does I hold out for a big boy, that being close to 120 and up of course!

I'd say the land I hunt has at least 6 120"+ deer on it, possibly more. The few others lucky enough to have access to the land are all big time trophy hunters who won't shoot at anything less than a nice big 4x4, generally they go home at the end of the season empty handed. The past few years I've been mainly meat hunting, taking only does, but this season I've got my sights set on that buck I posted a picture of earlier.

I own a 400+ acre farm i WV, and our # of big bucks seems to be shrinking...but they seem to school up. LOL

A couple years ago, during gun season, we killed 3 great bucks from the same general area. They were all 115-125", and that's pretty nice for mountain bucks.

Three years ago I found the biggest deer DEAD that I've ever seen there. It was 21" wide with 12 nice points. G2's were extremely impressive for central WV.

Last year I missed an 8 with my bow that was in the 115-125" range, so they're there, but to answer your question...I'd say that we have at least a couple at any given time.