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Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
#6441849
09/07/16 02:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,290
BenBob
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,290 |
WHat are some of the factors that contributed to you killing your largest deer? Some of these might be the weather, rut, blind luck, early in the season, special feed, change of blind placement, other hunters pushing deer to you, scrape, rubs, water, etc. What do you think was the determining factor/factors that helped you kill the biggest buck you have taken would be another ways to ask the question.
Tired, Wired, and Uninspired
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6441867
09/07/16 03:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Right place with the right age structure at the right time.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6441874
09/07/16 03:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,124
LandPirate
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,124 |
I typically see and have killed my biggest bucks during the rut and immediately following the rut. I've great success catching old bucks coming to corn in the post rut. These are bucks that you wouldn't see at feeders any other time. They've been running hard and not eating, so they're hungry.
This has been universally true, regardless of region...south Texas, Hill Country or West Texas. The only down side to post rut bucks is that there's a good chance that their antlers may be a bit dinged up or entirely busted.
Mike Buda, Tx Hunt near Freer
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6441884
09/07/16 03:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Knew the buck was in the area... took a week to hunt him... sat 4 strait days with only a few hours down time and saw very little movement... he messed up on the 5th day late into the morning... think I saw three deer the whole 5 days other than the morning I changed up properties to shoot a doe.. right place at the right time like said
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6441889
09/07/16 03:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271
Palehorse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271 |
Blind luck!
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: stxranchman]
#6441898
09/07/16 03:19 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605 |
Right place with the right age structure at the right time.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6441900
09/07/16 03:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
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Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6441903
09/07/16 03:25 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,243
Erny
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,243 |
Siting in the stand every chance I get.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6441925
09/07/16 03:40 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,789
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,789 |
Hard work, sweat, and then a lot of luck.
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6441939
09/07/16 03:47 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549 |
Luck, patience, and a great Father.
Was lucky enough to have the deer show up on a small LF south texas property. Was patient enough to watch him grow from an 8 point yearling to a 11 pt 2YO to a 13 pt 3 yo and shoot him as a typical 12 pt 4 year old, and I have a great father that passed him 2 times the week I shot him because he had already tagged his buck for the year. We hunted him the whole month of November, he was all over the cameras, but we couldn't connect and see him in person. The week before I shot him dad saw him and passed because he already had a buck, I tried to convince him to shoot, but he wouldn't. The weekend I shot him my dad saw him Saturday morning and I shot him Saturday afternoon.
Some don't consider shooting a 4 yo patient, but that is what we decided was practical for our property at the time. We have had pretty good luck with deer attaining 4 years of age and I'm more inclined to let them go a little longer.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6442001
09/07/16 04:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,298
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,298 |
Free range, no blind or feeder mule deer - willingness to go out in cold, crappy weather, especially the morning after a freight train of a front has blown through.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6442028
09/07/16 04:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185 |
Blessed with the opportunity. Never seen the deer before or had him on camera even had someone scare him off 10 minutes before he cam out again.
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6442053
09/07/16 05:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,156
kry226
The General
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The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,156 |
Not being a "fair weather hunter". Two of my three biggest bucks were killed when I was probably one of a very few number of hunters who were in the woods at the time, and either on the front or back side of severe weather.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: Navasot]
#6442059
09/07/16 05:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
titan2232
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067 |
Knew the buck was in the area... took a week to hunt him... sat 4 strait days with only a few hours down time and saw very little movement... he messed up on the 5th day late into the morning... think I saw three deer the whole 5 days other than the morning I changed up properties to shoot a doe.. right place at the right time like said My story is similar to Nav's. Hunted a known East Texas buck for 5 days before getting a good bow opportunity. I never seen a buck at the feeder past 7:30am and never seen the buck I was after at a feeder in daylight hours (this is with THREE years of game camera pictures of him) Cold November morning, almost 9 am and I know nothing is coming to the feeder so I'm slouched down in my 15 foot tripod, feeling deflated after 5 straight days of hunting, and I don't even have my release attached to my loop. Decide to get down, but not before I try a few calls. Hit the doe bleet, grunt, bleet can, and then followed it up with a few snort wheezes (I honestly made these calls just to blow steam) 2 minutes later while I was getting down THE 10 point I've been watching for the past 3 years comes hauling arse directly under my tripod. I'm moving around trying to get into position all the while watching him breath heavily as he scans the open field he just ran into. He was so pumped about one or all of the calls he never sees me move into my seat or draw. He ended up around 25-30 yards and slightly quartering away. Never found any blood (3 blade rage and only 2 blades opened), but he only made it 60 yards. 210 lbs, 13" spread, 135" Brows were 7 inches long
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6442097
09/07/16 05:25 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,261
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 22,261 |
I killed my largest East Texas buck after a lengthy walk to a somewhat remote area of the Davey Crockett National Forest. I'm sure it was the sound of hunters passing through the area on their way back to their camp on ATV's that "bumped" the buck past my stand around 10am one Opening Day morning. It was this, along with my knowledge of the spot being near a natural deer crossing, that put me in the right spot at the right time.
Walk more and stay late and you'll see more deer, especially if nearby hunters do neither.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6442101
09/07/16 05:28 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
titan2232
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067 |
I killed my largest East Texas buck after a lengthy walk to a somewhat remote area of the Davey Crockett National Forest. I'm sure it was the sound of hunters passing through the area on their way back to their camp on ATV's that "bumped" the buck past my stand around 10am one Opening Day morning. This, along with my knowledge of the spot being near a natural deer crossing, that put me in the right spot at the right time.
Work more and stay late and you'll see more deer, especially if nearby hunters do neither. Hunted a few years there when I was a young teen. That forest was crawling with hunters that kept the deer scared and moving. I thought using reflective tacks to mark trails was a good idea, but boy was I wrong the first early morning when I clicked on the flashlight
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: titan2232]
#6442118
09/07/16 05:42 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,261
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,261 |
I killed my largest East Texas buck after a lengthy walk to a somewhat remote area of the Davey Crockett National Forest. I'm sure it was the sound of hunters passing through the area on their way back to their camp on ATV's that "bumped" the buck past my stand around 10am one Opening Day morning. This, along with my knowledge of the spot being near a natural deer crossing, that put me in the right spot at the right time.
Work more and stay late and you'll see more deer, especially if nearby hunters do neither. Hunted a few years there when I was a young teen. That forest was crawling with hunters that kept the deer scared and moving. I thought using reflective tacks to mark trails was a good idea, but boy was I wrong the first early morning when I clicked on the flashlight I know exactly what you mean. Nothing can give you an uneasy feeling any quicker that seeing what first looks like a glowing eye looking back at you. If you're willing to do your homework, you can find areas of the Davey Crockett that never see a hunter.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6442164
09/07/16 06:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
titan2232
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067 |
I was still a little scared at the dark back then. Ha. A mile walk into the national forest at 13-14 in pitch black will make you start imagining things.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6442230
09/07/16 06:45 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 756
DirtNapTET
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 756 |
I believe the way you access your blind is one of the most crucial factors.
2014 season, at my blind, I saw more deer (and bucks) then anybody else on the lease combined, but my blind was easily the closest to camp. I cleared a small path from camp so I could walk in with no flashlight, (even when there wasnt a moon) without trampling a bunch of sticks and thicket.
Had a couple very nice bucks coming in, but with one more year they would be awesome. Late November, I saw one of the biggest bucks I had ever seen, but he was chasing a doe and wasnt able to get a shot off in time.
Fast forward to last season. We gave up the 600 acres our camp was on due to lack of activity (my blind was just on the other side of the fence on our other 800 acres). I changed my route to get to the blind and had to drive quite a bit through some prime territory to get to my blind (still walked at least a 1/4 mile in). Activity dropped dramatically from the get go. The 6-10 does/hunt I would see on a regular basis diminished to 2-3.
Did this for about 3 weeks, and decided to park at the corner of the 600 and 800, hoof it through some thick stuff, and mirror the way I would access my blind the prior season (with out trespassing of course). That afternoon I shot the largest deer I have ever harvested, a beautiful 154" 10.
Have put a lot of thought into why and how I was able to connect with such a great deer, and the only thing I can come up with is how I accessed my blind.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6442315
09/07/16 07:26 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650
jmh004
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650 |
I'd say a willingness to put in the hours needed, and a lot of luck!
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6442403
09/07/16 08:20 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,980
Stompy
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,980 |
Passing on him for years until he got big enough to be a buck of a lifetime.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: stxranchman]
#6442517
09/07/16 09:10 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806
Deerhunter61
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806 |
Right place with the right age structure at the right time. This but also being willing to hunt alone and to do what others weren't willing to do. I was pretty much on a lease where guys were more interested in drinking than hunting. There were too many on the lease, 8 of us on 650 acres. This was just outside of Mason. I saw a half a dozen bucks that were 150+ in my four years on the lease but it was always right before the season started. Once the season started they were gone. Way to much noise. I started waiting until Wednesday and coming in then and hunting Wednesday evening thru Friday before the other guys got there. I also was more aggressive with my feeding. Then it was simply being at the right place at the right time.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: BenBob]
#6442523
09/07/16 09:13 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19,100
dgilbert
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19,100 |
Many hours in a stand, I knew the buck was there, had to wait him out.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: DirtNapTET]
#6442541
09/07/16 09:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 686
MoBettaHuntR
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 686 |
I believe the way you access your blind is one of the most crucial factors.
2014 season, at my blind, I saw more deer (and bucks) then anybody else on the lease combined, but my blind was easily the closest to camp. I cleared a small path from camp so I could walk in with no flashlight, (even when there wasnt a moon) without trampling a bunch of sticks and thicket.
Had a couple very nice bucks coming in, but with one more year they would be awesome. Late November, I saw one of the biggest bucks I had ever seen, but he was chasing a doe and wasnt able to get a shot off in time.
Fast forward to last season. We gave up the 600 acres our camp was on due to lack of activity (my blind was just on the other side of the fence on our other 800 acres). I changed my route to get to the blind and had to drive quite a bit through some prime territory to get to my blind (still walked at least a 1/4 mile in). Activity dropped dramatically from the get go. The 6-10 does/hunt I would see on a regular basis diminished to 2-3.
Did this for about 3 weeks, and decided to park at the corner of the 600 and 800, hoof it through some thick stuff, and mirror the way I would access my blind the prior season (with out trespassing of course). That afternoon I shot the largest deer I have ever harvested, a beautiful 154" 10.
Have put a lot of thought into why and how I was able to connect with such a great deer, and the only thing I can come up with is how I accessed my blind.
I like this. If I don't access it routinely by truck or wheeler I pay careful attention to route, noise, light, and wind on approach.
-Those who say money can't buy happiness never bought a dog.
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Re: Factors Contributing to Killing Your Biggest Buck
[Re: titan2232]
#6442689
09/07/16 10:54 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,261
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,261 |
I was still a little scared at the dark back then. Ha. A mile walk into the national forest at 13-14 in pitch black will make you start imagining things. I have a good friend who refuses to hunt in ground blinds due to his fear of feral hogs. And although they would never admit it, I'm sure it's their fear of the dark that pushes some guys to drive their ATV's close to their stands.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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