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Post by rocketman on Dec 5, 2007 8:59:25 GMT -5
Just my 2 cents on this subject and this is from my experience of 40 years of deer hunting in Virginia. The number one reason why young hunters do not kill the big buck is no patience to wait. 9 times out of 10 the big buck will not be the first deer you see. When I was younger, I'd say 12yrs old through 30 years old, I would take the first deer that came by. Back then I wanted a big buck but also wanted meat. Now days, I know I will get meat because all of the counties I hunt is either sex all season. So, I have disciplined myself to wait on the big buck. I usually dedicate the first week of the muzzleloader season on getting the big buck. If he does not come in that week then I hunt meat. Once I started waiting, I see Big Bucks quite often. There have been few occassions that the big buck was the first deer of the day but most of the ones I have killed have been late in the day. So, in my opinion, if you want the big buck then you will have to wait on him and let everything else have safe passage. Example, this buck was the 14th deer to come by me on this particular day.
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Post by rocketman on Dec 5, 2007 9:01:52 GMT -5
This year was the exception, I harvested a really nice 10pt buck that was the first deer I saw on that particular day, however that was the third day I had hunted that spot and let several does and a nice 4 pointer pass by. The pic of that deer is in my journal.
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Post by rickc on Dec 6, 2007 17:10:18 GMT -5
Also I don't tell everything I have learned.....got to try and keep an edge on them young whipper snappers..........
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Post by Pierre Granger on Dec 12, 2007 3:14:38 GMT -5
Good advice.
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Post by arrwnleadslngr on Dec 12, 2007 16:59:10 GMT -5
It's good advice, but what do you consider young I'm 29. I killed my first deer when I was 8. Since then have taken 12 bucks that made book in 21 yrs.. Several ones that where nice, but patience is for fishing!! Persistance, Learning how these things think, and a whole lot of LUCK is the key. Not a sermon, just a thought............
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Post by NealLauderman on Dec 13, 2007 20:26:27 GMT -5
You must be semi-right because I been hunting about 12 years... took 5 years to shoot my first deer and I still dont have nothing but a doe on the wall
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Post by darrell8 on Dec 21, 2007 19:39:17 GMT -5
Rocketman, I am only 25 yrs old. But I have been brought up and tought by the best in my opion thats my dad. He is a rack hunter he also likes to have meat in the freezer. He will get on a buck and if it is one he wants he will work the buck try to learn him and his patterns. And he is persistant on the buck if it takes him 2 or 3 seasons he will stay on him. When he is hunting that buck in the bucks areas he will let everything walk that is not the buck he is hunting. He will not stop hunting the buck unless he kills him or the bucks sign just disapears from someone else getting him or old age or he moves off and dad can't pick him back up. He has the racks on the wall to prove this works. I believe this is why I have no problems being patient. I remember him taking me to a stand getting me in it before daylight and leave for his stand I would not see him again till after dark when he would come and get me. I always knew how to get to him if I needed him but we didn't have radios back then so it was a long day for a 12 yr and up old boy. I have been lucky to harvest two great bucks and a few smalls ones. But both of the big boys I was patient on. The ten I killed last year I had hunted 5 days on that stand and the rut was at a full swing. I know the area and know what class bucks chase through there I have seen and missed several in the past. In those five days I seen 9 different bucks and 6 of them was carrying at least 8 points or better. What I am trying to say is being patient is great on the big bucks but also you need to know what your hunting in the area your hunting which means alot of learning.
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Post by tugrivercopper on Dec 21, 2007 20:47:07 GMT -5
next year i think i am gonna make an effort to pass up small bucks, even though the 3 point i killed this year was the ONLY racked buck i seen in the woods having patience has alot to do with where your hunting to i think
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Post by rocketman on Dec 24, 2007 10:54:46 GMT -5
darrell8, you are absolutely right. I was just pointing out 1 aspect of what younger or new deer hunters do. If I was going to give the store away, I would have to write a book. But what I said above is the main problem a new or young deer hunter has. I used to be that way, I see it every year at my club. Neal even agrees. If I hunted like that I would tag out in no time flat but chances are there would be no wall hangers ever unless you were very lucky. I usually dedicate the entire muzzleloader season on getting a trophy, after that I meat hunt.
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Post by darrell8 on Dec 26, 2007 21:38:45 GMT -5
Just thought I would let you know a buck that dad has been working behind his house has been killed on the next farm over. Dad has seen this buck numerous times this year but has not had a shot at him. He found out today that some guys that hunt on the farm beside him killed the buck he as a 8 pt. that was a 158 inches. My dad is sick the bad part is that the guy that was hunting with the man that shot it works with my dad and uncle thats how they found out. I guess he will have to find another one to watch and get ready for next season.
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Post by NOVABUKHTR on Nov 6, 2009 15:56:04 GMT -5
I see this thread started in '07, but I'm just now reading it. I totally agree with the patience idea. Last year I killed a nice 8ptr measuring about 108". Not huge, but very respectable. He was the 2nd buck I had seen on the day, and the 8th deer of the day. I also read in this thread that one guy believes "patience is for fishing" b/c he has killed 12 bucks that have made "the book." I give him mad props, but that is NOT the norm for us deer hunters. Any of us that have spent years in the woods know the importance of patience.
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Post by elitearcher on Nov 10, 2009 16:39:19 GMT -5
I think all these are good points. But, I'm 31 been passing smaller deer since the get go. I also watch plenty of you old timers dragging that spike and fork horn out of the wood. So where is the "patience". It's all in your situation. NOVAbukhtr it's can be the NORM I have 18 P&Y's since 93'.. Success is what you make of it. I hunt small tracts in Fauquier/PW/FFX County. Weekend Warriors need patience, and Luck. Guys who put in the homework, just need the right wind..
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Post by NealLauderman on Nov 11, 2009 11:28:32 GMT -5
I used to not be able to stop myself! I would shoot any deer that walked by and love it! Then I shot my first big buck and things changed! Now I will shoot any doe that walks by if I need meat and let all the small bucks walk by!
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Post by NOVABUKHTR on Nov 15, 2009 11:28:42 GMT -5
Wow, elitearcher. 19 Pope and Young's, huh? Nicely done. I still think that if we did a poll of what is the norm, you have more hunters that have never gotten a Pope and Young or a Boone and Crockett as opposed to hunters who have gotten at least one in the books. Congrats to you though. That's good stuff. My largest bucks scored 110, and as much as I would love to have one in the books, just getting out ends up being the most important thing in all of this. Btw, do you hunt Oakton, Va?
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Post by buckied on Nov 15, 2009 13:38:52 GMT -5
yall go at it all wrong... we shoot the first thing that walks out. Every day I hear of somebody else I know hitting a deer so we shoot everyone we can!
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