It's about Quality -

[Great White Hunter]

2B - I hadn't shot a buck with a bow or rifle since 2000 before the one I shot this year with a rifle. Was it from a lack of not seeing bucks? No it was from me passing on borderline bucks....so I don't buy into your theory of, "I've got to shoot a buck to keep up with everyone else."

[Keith@AimLow]

I admire 2B for his dedication. Sounds like he has been taking some lessons from the hunting170 school of self gratitude. Anyone who can watch a 135-140" deer walk away has my respect.

[hobiecat]

Actually Snow, I think he was sayin just the opposite.
If I understood him right, he is not shootin low 130" or less for fear of being ridiculed by his huntin buddies, among other reasons.

[Great White Hunter]

Keith - I watched a 135" 8 point walk away on the Thursday before rifle season....do I have your respect too?

[Rafe Hollister]

I watched a 125" running 2 does past me at 75 yards the week before rifle season. Does that count for anything?

[counts]

I passed on a 125 8 pt. on Nov. 3. It was chasing a doe. I passed because it was the first good buck I had seen. That allowed me a chance at a true monster a few days later. (didn't pan out) Last night I passed on a 130 at 40 yrds. He had chased 3 does off of the hill. I passes on him due to distance, waning light, and too small of a window. The first buck would have died on the day before gun season. The sad part is that if the second one would have been a 160, I would have taken the shot.

[PoisonSnake]

I tell you boys another problem of mine. I can tell you that scoring a deer on the hoof is pretty dang difficult to do. Most often, any 10 pointer is gonna score 120" or higher. I have an 8 pointer with 10" G2s, 9" G3s and an 18" spread. He scores in the low 130s gross (124 net) and I shot him with a gun. I have seen only one 8 pointer since that I know will score higher and it was pure accident that I ran into him. A 130" 8 pointer is a great deer and passing a shot on one would be difficult. A 130" 10 pointer is not as good of a deer, but, it is still a good deer.



Snowflake, that deer smelled you or it would be dead right now.

[counts]

Are you saying I don't know a 130 when I see one, punk?

[PoisonSnake]

No, I'm saying that I don't think I know one with certainty. For example, I told Keith @aimlow that the 8 pointer I shot, if it were a 10, would go around 130" or better. But, if it were an 8 pointer, probably 120 or a little better. I think I suck at really judging them. Now, on that buck I passed with a gun last year, he was laying there at 25 yards for 1.5 hours. I scored him every which way but blue. I couldn't get any higher than 130". If you guys say it, I believe it. On that buck I got with a rifle this year, I would swear to you on my life if I had a good look at it from a stand that it would score 160". But, that dang thing might not break 140" net. But, it sure looks good.

[counts]

Well alright then. The area I hunt in the County, has unusually large bucks for whatever reason. I am a bit spoiled.

[lonepine]

PS, its like judging the weight.its starts out at 120lbs and after you have drug it a mile it 200lbs. same as Thankgiving when we load up our plate, not much.. but the couch sure look good.

[Rafe Hollister]

Uh, yeah. What lonepine said. I couldn't have put it any clearer than that. I guess.

[hunting170]

counts,

One reason is that the larger bucks are at least 3 1/2 years old. It doesn`t matter how good the genetics, or nutrition are in a given area. Bucks still need age to grow to their potential.

[PoisonSnake]

Counts: Are you hunting neighborhood deer or are they free ranging monsters? PS

[counts]

You will stll see a lot of smaller 6 points and the like, but most of the 8's and tens you will see there will be eye poppers. Lots of red fox too. How long does their season run?