gibblet

i've hunted deer here in the nc moutains, sc, ga, and ohio. there is no comparison to the amount of work it takes, with ohio being very easy hunting - and by that i mean short walks to the stand, easy terrain, and lots of deer (even southern ohio is nothing in comparison to hunting the mtns here). i saw 6 135-140 class bucks in a week. i can tell you i never want to walk up and down these mountains in nc after deer again, and i may never do it again - not when i'm getting invited to ohio, illinois, indiana, mo... i have about 1.5 weeks to hunt deer a year, and a weekend or two i'll drive down to eastern nc to hunt in the piedmont or closer to the coast. i'm spending that time where the deer are. i believe nc has more deer than ohio - but they're in eastern nc where our soybean and corn are grown. there are big deer here in the mtns, and i believe if you want one bad enough you can get him, but you won't find many people spending their week or two of hunting chasing them here in the mtns w/ a bow, they travel to areas w/ better and more opportunities.

Sliverflicker

I have been lucky enough over the years to bowhunt in some really good Whitetial States (Southern Maryland, Western Kentucky, and Kansas) and some Areas that were not as Good like where I live right now in Northern Michigan.
Lets start with where I live in N. Mich. The soil is mostly sand and acidic, the primary Tree is Jack Pine and there is thousands of acres of it! To top it off the DNR added it to the TB area and gave out unlimited Doe tags a few years back, add in millions of Rifle hunters, and Wa La, A mature Buck is indeed rare around these parts!
Now For you QDM and TDM fellas pay close attention to this part, My wife ran a Deer processing business on a GameFarm a few years back not far from where we live, the fence on this place had been up for 9 years. The Deer on this place were orignal deer from this area, trapped when the fence was put up, and no other deer were ever brought in or no new Genes from outside this area! These Deer were also fed a supplement at the feeders. TheBiggest deer I ever scored off of this place was a 6 1/2 year old 23 1/2'' 10 pt that scored 143" even though it weighed 286lb. His deer carried short Tines which is common for this area. Not trying to discourge any of you here, just want you to understand that in some casesit takes a little more than age and a few food plots to produce 170" class Bucks!
Michigan as a hole turnes out some pretty good Bucks, If I jump on the Freeway and travel south a hundred miles you can watch the terrain change from Jack Pine to Hardwoods to Farm Land. Better Soil, Better Food, Better Genetics, Bigger Bucks!
Oh befor I forget, I have killed 3 mature Bucks were I live in N. Mich in the past 10 seasons for 33 1/3 % success rate, lets move on to Kansas.

I lived in Kansas for 4 deer seasons, 2 of those seasons I did Not get to hunt. One year I had to get my wrist operated on the 2nd week of Oct, and another year I had a torn inner thigh and was on crutchs. The 2 years I did get to hunt in Kansas I took mature Bucks For a 100 % success ratio.
Also I seen More Mature P&Y Bucks in one Bean Field in one Evening than I seen in all my years of hunting in N. Mich.

So what Im trying to say without taking up any more time is, Mature Bucks are hard to kill no matter where you live, However the odds my be stacked agenst you depending on where you live!

HuntingBry

Even if you are fortunate enough to live in an area that holds a good number of mature deer, it still isn't easy. It's not rocket science either. If you have knowledge of whitetail behavior, and the ability to find the mature deer and learn their patterns you will be able to kill them, but it's not easy.

Even if you had a property like the Kiskys, Drurys, or Laskoskys you would still need the skills to put yourself within bow range of the deer and the ability to keep it together when you do see them.

So, bottom line consistently taking mature whitetails is not easy, but it is not some magical ability either. It takes having a formula and the resources (land, age structure, etc.) to put yourself in front of the mature deer. I myself still have not figured out that formula.

bloodcrick

Huge woods is my #1 enemy to consistently kill mature bucks in my area. They have alot of area to conseal themselves. However, i do have encounters with (Big) mature bucks every season, but am not always able to seal the deal. I saw a ton of bucks last season with three close call with the mature boys, either in the brush or just out of range. so for me its not very easy to be consistent. we can only kill one buck and i eat a tag sometimes. Im just in that phase where i dont care to shoot the young ones anymore.

mobow

Honestly, I don't know. But I've read quite afew books, and I see a recurring theme.......They guys that do it every year bust their tails off! Seems to me it must not be very easy....

James Vee

I have a much higher respect with regards to hunting whitetails for a man/woman who has a variety of 150"+ deer rather than the single 170" or 200".

atlasman

All depends on where you live I guess.........The P+Y book doesn't lie. I don't think anyone is gullable enough to believe that killing a big boy is equally difficult in Ohio, Kansas, or Iowa...........as it is in Florida and California.

The key factor determining how "easy" (not sure that word is the best choice but......) is the land you hunt and how many mature bucks are around.

TDM/QDM has proven that you don't need to improve any of your skills to kill bigger/mature deer.........justdon't kill them until they are big enough to your liking. Prettysimple concept..........if you want to catch 6 lb largemouths in your pondjustkeep feeding themsupplements until they get big enough and thengo fishing. What used to be impossiblehas now become a regularevent.........compare that pond to a half dried up creek with 50 guys elbow to elbow and ask yourself which is "easier".

It's all relative.

GregH

It is never "EASY" to kill a mature buck. They didn't reach maturity by being stupid or careless.

MichaelHunsucker

Well said. Im fortunate enough to have the land and genetics to make this possible. Not to mention i am even more fortunate to be able spend TONS of time in the woods every year. That makes it easier for me the others i suppose. But the more time you put in the better chances you have. Im our right now scouting 3-5 days a week trying to get them patterned so opening day might bring success.

Location and Time are huge factors!!