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Advice to get from Average Hunter to “Bigger Buck” / Mature buck Hunter

TreeCreep

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Sep 13, 2020
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Influenced by some recent threads and hoping to continually improve / checking my own advice..
There is a lot to digest on this topic. Ive got a bit lost trying to glean some new ideas to take to the woods.
Assume your talking to a open minded average hunter that wants to target more mature deer. Antlers are great but an older buck is an older , wiser? , harder to get close to survival machine.
What are the key things to focus on or change up, assuming somewhat limited time / money?

if you need a guinea pig:
For me it’s mindset and prioritization.
I sadly, am an below average hunter by antler score.
I’m 43, and assume I can’t add WAY more days ( avg 30 days with one out of state 3-6 day hunt) in the woods and lack an autistic savant level of skill .
Ultimately, I tend to fear eating my tag; influenced by misses, work or family commitments, bad weather, etc and tag out on dinkers.
I’ve seen many impressive deer come out of counties I’ve hunted in.
So adequate deer density, call it respectable hunter pressure, day deer time movement being mostly equal .
What you got ?
( I can move this to a existing thread if best)
 
The single biggest thing a person can do imo is to change the mindset from hunting deer to hunting mature buck, they are different animals with completely different habits and patterns. There are many guys that consistently get it done using different approaches so in regards to technique I'd say that being able to apply what ever technique is necessary to the circumstances is key.
 
You need access to relatively large areas of land without a lot of pressure from other hunters. And reasonable buck tag limits and/or antler restrictions help. Around here, what turns people from spike killers to mature buck slayers is leasing a few hundred acres of prime area and then enforcing property lines to prevent poaching.
 
You need access to relatively large areas of land without a lot of pressure from other hunters. And reasonable buck tag limits and/or antler restrictions help. Around here, what turns people from spike killers to mature buck slayers is leasing a few hundred acres of prime area and then enforcing property lines to prevent poaching.
Agreed! Age is the 1# factor IMO. You can't kill a big buck if he doesn't live there. Access is the key. You don't have to pay for it either. The THP guys are doing it all the time in any state that they go to. They are definitely working hard for it.
 
The first thing you've already noted. If you let not filling a tag eat at you all off season then you're not going to make it hunting big bucks. It's not the end of the world to let that tag sit in your pocket all season long. So if you can't make peace with that, forget it. All else comes after that.
Other than that, realize most big bucks are killed when they make a mistake, that's why most are shot during the rut. Big bucks rarely move in daylight unless you're lucky enough to hunt very undisturbed habitat.
If you hunt where you can identify a target buck, pattern said deer and hunt him without making him nocturnal then you have a rare situation and usually control over others access to the area the deer inhabitats.
My property is small, I have 6 cameras out so I can say with a high degree of confidence that no mature bucks have been around since May. The summer/fall change of habitat preference is right around the corner and I expect to get pictures of a better deer coming up soon. They'll invariably be night time photos as well. I don't have a big buck hotspot but expect to see some good ones come November.
So my advice is to hunt as much as you can, in the areas you can, at the best time of year you can and let all other deer go on by. That's it, nothing else will do unless you have a unique situation identified.
 
I think the biggest change a person needs to make when moving into mature buck hunter from regular deer hunter is you have to be prepared to work for it. You can't rely on luck anymore, cause there aren't a lot of them in most places. And you can't just put yourself where the most deer sign is cause that's not where they spend the bulk of their time. You have to work to locate one, and you have to really learn the places you hunt and how each individual mature buck uses the landscape. To kill mature bucks on purpose, and to do it consistently, takes a lot of time and effort. More than most people realize and more than most people are willing to put in.
 
I’m no Infalt or Eberhart, but I’ve been on a heater the last few years thanks to the good Lord’s blessing and a few simple changes. A few tips that have made a big difference for me:
1. Trail cams. They’re a true “force multiplier” in that they provide you tons of intel relative to the time it takes to use them. If you can’t scout a ton, deploy a bunch of trail cams (none of mine are cell cams, btw), and really look for patterns, not just pics of big racks to show your buddies. For example, I learned this summer that my target bucks were using one bedding area at night and another during the daytime, and I was able to nearly intercept one on a travel route between the two during TN’s early velvet hunt. I wouldn’t have known about the deer or their travel without having multiple cameras out in the summer.
2. Pay attention! It’s amazing how much we all miss in the woods (or when reviewing trail cam pics) if we’re not focused and paying attention. For example, with trail cams, notice which way they’re going, what time of day, temperature, etc., not just whether there’s a good’rn on the property. In the woods, pay attention to things like which oak trees have the most deer poop and tracks under them, not just which oak trees are dropping acorns. It’s hard to see the picture of the puzzle if you have fewer puzzle pieces—pay attention to give yourself as many pieces of that puzzle as possible!
3. Find places deer feel safe. Big bucks are going to hog those places, and they’re your surest bet for killing one. Whether it’s 3 miles back on public or that little 2-acre corner of your property that’s always been overlooked, big bucks will pattern property users and stay away from them. I was shocked last year when I found the best buck sign on my whole family farm just 20 yards from our backyard and right next to the neighboring neighborhood. Why was that mature buck there? Because we overlooked it and never went there, assuming deer wouldn’t feel safe! Find those pockets of human-free zones, and I guarantee if the habitat is otherwise deer-friendly, you’ll find mature bucks.
None of these tips require tons more time afield—just a different mindset and focus (and $$ for as many trail cams as you can afford). Hope this helps!
 
I’m no Infalt or Eberhart, but I’ve been on a heater the last few years thanks to the good Lord’s blessing and a few simple changes. A few tips that have made a big difference for me:
1. Trail cams. They’re a true “force multiplier” in that they provide you tons of intel relative to the time it takes to use them. If you can’t scout a ton, deploy a bunch of trail cams (none of mine are cell cams, btw), and really look for patterns, not just pics of big racks to show your buddies. For example, I learned this summer that my target bucks were using one bedding area at night and another during the daytime, and I was able to nearly intercept one on a travel route between the two during TN’s early velvet hunt. I wouldn’t have known about the deer or their travel without having multiple cameras out in the summer.
2. Pay attention! It’s amazing how much we all miss in the woods (or when reviewing trail cam pics) if we’re not focused and paying attention. For example, with trail cams, notice which way they’re going, what time of day, temperature, etc., not just whether there’s a good’rn on the property. In the woods, pay attention to things like which oak trees have the most deer poop and tracks under them, not just which oak trees are dropping acorns. It’s hard to see the picture of the puzzle if you have fewer puzzle pieces—pay attention to give yourself as many pieces of that puzzle as possible!
3. Find places deer feel safe. Big bucks are going to hog those places, and they’re your surest bet for killing one. Whether it’s 3 miles back on public or that little 2-acre corner of your property that’s always been overlooked, big bucks will pattern property users and stay away from them. I was shocked last year when I found the best buck sign on my whole family farm just 20 yards from our backyard and right next to the neighboring neighborhood. Why was that mature buck there? Because we overlooked it and never went there, assuming deer wouldn’t feel safe! Find those pockets of human-free zones, and I guarantee if the habitat is otherwise deer-friendly, you’ll find mature bucks.
None of these tips require tons more time afield—just a different mindset and focus (and $$ for as many trail cams as you can afford). Hope this helps!

Eberhart had a good line "imagine you are in the woods and people are trying to kill you, what would you do and where would you hide?"
 
I agree it's nice to have a large area to work with, where your mistakes (and others mistakes) won't push the bucks off the property you can hunt. I actually find some hunting pressure to be an advantage. It seems to put the big bucks where they "should" be. In giant sections of big woods with very little pressure, it just feels like trying to find a needle in a haystack sometimes. If I can walk a piece and mark all the hunter sign I find (on Jersey public land it's gonna be a lot), then mark all the big buck sign and connect the dots, I can usually look at the map and have a good idea where to start hunting those bucks. That's another thing, look for areas with multiple bucks you want to shoot. Seems obvious but your twice as likely to shoot a buck if there's 2 shooters in the area vs 1. If there's someone in your area that's consistently killing mature bucks, especially if it's on properties you can hunt, that's a good person to get to know... I won't get too much into specific tactics, it's pretty much all been discussed. The hunting beast all time best tactical threads is a good place to start. I've been hooked on the southern outdoorsmen podcast lately. There's so much good content out there, but nothing's gonna teach you like time spent in the woods learning what the bucks you can actually hunt are doing.
 
Looking from outside the box. Most of what your actual "trophy hunters" have in common is money, the ability to travel, and untouched or lightly touched hunting land. If you ever watch these hunting show (for example) the first thing they do is show up at "their buddies land/outfitter" that has been watching these few deer all season long, and saved for the paying customer. These guys roll in for the rut or hunting over bait late season. Next, when the situation is correct and the planets line up, you BETTER be in the woods, work, family, responsibilities can't get in the way. How many times have you had the feeling "man the wind is right, that cold front is moving in" but couldn't get in the woods. Check that game camera and I bet you missed your chance.
Trophy hunting is a lot of sacrificing and possibly pulling that trigger ONCE the whole season.
I have a buddy in North Carolina that I consider a "trophy hunter". He hunts the 3 farms he manages. Last year he did not even pick the bow up off the hanger. He was in the woods usually 5-6 days a week. He would do a morning sit, work the farm, and then an evening sit. Nothing he considered a shooter walked by.
 
There are some great topics above, I could respond to each, what I’ve tried and where I have changed it up. Appreciate each note as I hope threads like these encourage good dialogue and tactics.

I’m mixed on cameras (down to 3) rotated out when I hunt an area as I find them helpful but conflicted if I learn or just a crutch, that I put too much importance on like rubs/ scrapes in spots with a lot of humans.
“So my advice is to hunt as much as you can, in the areas you can, at the best time of year you can and let all other deer go on by. That's it, nothing else will do unless you have a unique situation identified.”
That’s me except not letting the Bucks that get close walk often enough.
I guess I’ve really started to think more about putting myself in the unique situation.
 
The most important part of trophy hunting. Is there is a trophy animal where you are hunting. Pre season scouting is good and gives you an idea, but buck behavior in August is completely different than buck behavior in November. Lots of cameras and lots of time in the tree. Where legal, lots of spotlighting after the hunt.
 
If you want to kill bigger more mature bucks, the first thing you need to do is stop shooting smaller bucks. You need to be willing to go seasons without killing any bucks while you learn to be successful hunting mature bucks. Heck, just learning to let lesser bucks walk is the first hurdle you need to get over.

Switching from hunting deer to hunting mature bucks takes a lot of work so you need to decide if you want more work or more challenge. There's a difference.
Years ago as my skill as a hunter improved the challenge that drew me to bow hunting started to wane. To increase the challenge I decided to become a "trophy hunter". I experienced some success but found being a trophy hunter was more work than challenge.

I figured I've got enough work in my life and trying to be a trophy hunter just added to the work load.
Finally I discovered the challenge I was looking for in traditional bow hunting. It greatly increased the challenge and also the satisfaction when successful. I still apply many of the lessons learned during my stint as a "trophy hunter" but I keep my hunting fun and less stressful than I did in the trophy hunter stage of my life.

I suggest you hunt areas that don't see hunting pressure like suburban areas, overgrown areas near farms or old buildings. Getting permission is going to be the toughest part. Hunt the thickest cover near doe bedding areas and hunt the downwind side of it.

If you're looking for more of a challenge, don't worry about the size of the deer and explore hunting with traditional equipment.
 
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There are some great topics above, I could respond to each, what I’ve tried and where I have changed it up. Appreciate each note as I hope threads like these encourage good dialogue and tactics.

I’m mixed on cameras (down to 3) rotated out when I hunt an area as I find them helpful but conflicted if I learn or just a crutch, that I put too much importance on like rubs/ scrapes in spots with a lot of humans.
“So my advice is to hunt as much as you can, in the areas you can, at the best time of year you can and let all other deer go on by. That's it, nothing else will do unless you have a unique situation identified.”
That’s me except not letting the Bucks that get close walk often enough.
I guess I’ve really started to think more about putting myself in the unique situation.
TreeCreep, Letting bucks walk takes some getting used to. It gets easier especially after you've killed a bunch. That 100" 8 pt no longer interests you so let him to see if something bigger will come by. It's a progression after that. 20 years ago, I wouldn'tve hesitated a second on a 125" buck. Now, I wouldn't even pick my bow. I'm not a camera guy so I don't know what's on my property. I just rely on scouting and past behavior I've learned. However, I've hunted it long enough to know that eventually a big one will show up if I'm patient. Then I have to have the confidence that I'll get the job done when the opportunity finally comes. Here lately I've eaten tag soup a few times. That slam dunk opportunity never came but I was OK with it. It's a commitment to kill a mature buck. I find that if I put the work in, then I'm usually rewarded with a mature buck. If I slack off and don't put the time and effort in, then it's tag soup for me.
 
@ricky racer Well stated and I’m getting there… a little inconsistent from the tree / saddle.
 

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My take on it.

This can be done with the equipment you have and don't have to spend a cent to make it happen. Although buying into a great lease can up your odds.

- Have to have a buck in the area that you hunt that meets your requirements as a trophy. Weather it be age class or Inches of antlers. I do find that only 10 percent of any property is great to find and hunt a mature buck, sometimes it might only be 1 percent. The other 90 percent is usually filler. But you got to locate and learn how to hunt that spot.

- Time in stand is highly import. You need lots of sits to learn areas and deer movement. This may to years in some areas.

- As said above many times, you must pass all deer. No matter what don't change your standards. Your trying to shoot a deer that's less then 1 percent of the deer population. This is very hard, but gets easier the more you do it.

- Confidence is a huge factor. Must trust your setups and your equipment. Make your mind up and stick with your setups. Don't second guess your self. Be moble and able to move at any time. I have moved 3 times in one sit and almost shot the buck I was after. He was coming in while I was climbing my 3rd tree in a hour. He bedded at 60 yards and I never could get the shot off.

-Hunting close to home. I get way more hunts in if I'm not driving all over. Less driving equals more hunting for me. I try to keep all my spots within 30 minutes of home.

There are many more factors for it, but time and location are the 2 hardest for most people.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
Great replies. I’m hoping to pass up more deer this year , while starting to get out with my ILF recurve. Here my goal is just to get as close to deer as I can.
I’ll move over to Nutters Trophy thread as my goals are less about antlers and more about enjoying the hunt.
 
While everyone would like to improve as a hunter and one day achieve “trophy hunter” status, maybe you should consider that in the total population of hunters, there really aren’t that many people who routinely kill trophy deer, unless they have really good property, or hunt in a state that holds a decent number of trophy class deer. Some people will say that the whole property thing is an excuse. Well, take a highly successful trophy hunter that hunts private ground in Ohio and make him exclusively hunt public land in say Louisiana for a year and compare his trophy count to what he had in Ohio. There’s a reason you don’t see hunting shows going to Louisiana to hunt Lol. Your profile doesn’t mention where you are, but what I’m trying to say is that if there are no, or few, trophy deer where you hunt, you can do everything right everyday, pass up every small buck you see, and never kill a ”trophy” deer. That’s life. We all don’t get to live in Kansas or Iowa. So take the time to consider the facts of your particular situation and you might come to realize that you’re not such a bad hunter after all. Strive to be good at killing what’s available in your area…and then get your azz to Iowa! Lol. Good Luck!
 
Valid. Lol
I’m in NH.
Here a few I didn’t connect with over the last 3 years or so and a smaller one I did. I did get close on two , a miss and a quartering too at my max range. I don’t save pics like o used to.
Those are all respectable where I hunt public.
 

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