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Target bucks

thedutchtouch said:
Part of the "whatever deer walks in front of me" crew here but I admire you guys with the skillset/willpower to pursue those big boys. Maybe some day. For now I need to just get better at shooting any of em.
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I can’t speak for anyone else here - but as a new Englander - who can get a couple of tags - im only so picky. I definitely target certain deer but when push comes to shove I’m in it for the venison. Id rather eat spike than tag soup - any year.
 
I ate quite a few tags my first couple years bowhunting waiting for a booner. I was watching too many Drury videos at the time lol. Once I got realistic expectations I started filling more tags and figuring out what to do and not to do. I don't ever have a target buck but I've put myself in the position to take some nice bucks. I'm like the guy from thp that says "if I'm shaking I'm shooting"
 
I want to think I’ll pass on an “11” point because my son wants more antlers from bucks and he wouldn’t call that a good one (too much outdoors tv) but if I'm not filling antlerless tags I can’t make that promise; meat before pride round here. My target buck is a not spike so I can say I did that with a bow though. No cameras for me or specific I won’t shoot unless it’s Bowser but I’ve got a deer I’ve seen a bunch of times and have sheds so I’ll be in that area.

I’m envious of you guys that have land or get real good on public to target certain deer and enjoy watching you get them. Good luck this season, can’t wait to see the pics and read the stories!
 
I mainly hunt a private parcel that I grew up on in NE Ohio, me and three buddies bought it. In 2020 there were five shooters there (relative to local genetics) and sometimes they’d parade past the camera one after the other bed to food all early and late season. Right now is probably the best the property has ever been, 3 years post logging and food plots look great. Maybe one decent buck and the rest are nothing special. I don’t know if the added calories on the landscape have increased numbers which annoys mature deer, or if it’s pure chance and age class cycles, time will tell. I’m not bummed about it, it’s just interesting to observe the differences year to year. Hunting has never been rinse and repeat for me, at least not yet, even on private.
 
neonomad said:
I mainly hunt a private parcel that I grew up on in NE Ohio, me and three buddies bought it. In 2020 there were five shooters there (relative to local genetics) and sometimes they’d parade past the camera one after the other bed to food all early and late season. Right now is probably the best the property has ever been, 3 years post logging and food plots look great. Maybe one decent buck and the rest are nothing special. I don’t know if the added calories on the landscape have increased numbers which annoys mature deer, or if it’s pure chance and age class cycles, time will tell. I’m not bummed about it, it’s just interesting to observe the differences year to year. Hunting has never been rinse and repeat for me, at least not yet, even on private.
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I vote too many factors to assess but not that increased numbers are annoying that many bucks. One old recluse? Maybe. I would more expect your patterns have shifted with the logging early successional growth changing bedding and food dramatically without knowing how it’s all laid out
 
BackSpasm said:
I vote too many factors to assess but not that increased numbers are annoying that many bucks. One old recluse? Maybe. I would more expect your patterns have shifted with the logging early successional growth changing bedding and food dramatically without knowing how it’s all laid out
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We do have an old buck who I’ve been hunting, he peaked 2021/2022 so it could be that he ran his buddies off as they got in the 4/5 year age. He’s now still there but past his prime, will see if this is a mature buck anomaly year, or a trend. Him then and now:
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Im jealous. Heres the best ive got so far..

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I have a lot of different bucks that use the river corridor on our ground. I keep an open mind about what might show up during the pre rut, rut, and post rut.
Therefore I normally don't have a #1 target, but I think this one will qualify. I am calling him Blade Runner.
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I've only have one on the mind currently. That will most likely change when the corn comes down. I won't shoot small bucks. No reason to. I limit myself to something comparable to what I already have or larger. It's the only way to grow.
It's supposed to be hard. You're supposed to fail from time to time. It's the only way you can get better. The only way.
 
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Some really nice target bucks on here. The public I hunt is mostly home to doe family groups and the bigger bucks mostly live on the private surrounding it. I usually dont see them until mid October and then not during daylight until novmeber. so its always a surprise. I did get one really cool buck on cam with a double crab claw on his left side. id love to hang that one on the wall this year.
 
I'm not. I saw 2 half-decent bucks in the neighborhood but they haven't been on property since mid-summer. I want a fat doe this year.
 
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