buckeye

I have my opinions but would like to hear yours...

How easy is it to consistently kill mature bucks with archery tackle be it Texas, Michigan, Iowaor anywhere else?

Let me hear your thoughts, don't hold back.

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GMMAT

What's your definiton of "mature"?

3.5? 4.5 and older?

Put it this way......If I said I could kill a 3.5 yr old buck every year....if that's what I set out as my season's goal.....what would you say about that? As far as "big" goes.....why is that in there? "Big" is relative ONLY to the woods one is hunting.

buckeye

3.5 years old will do for this thread.

I would say we'll see how it is going in a couple years. Also, I would say to save a jawbone for aging as your deer down there all pretty much look the same from the photos of yours I saw. You said you shot a 2.5 that weighed more than a 3.5? I would say to save the jawbone for positive identification.

Probably becase when I think of mature bucks I think of big ones not little ones [8D]

IL-Cornfed

If I were half the hunter you guys claimed to be then I bet it would be easy to kill those "mature" 3 1/2 year olds ?!?

I've found the secret to gettin' on "mature" bucks is simply to NOT shoot the lil' ones!

GMMAT

Scott:

I dont want to mess up your thread.....but I can't believe you didn't think my 3.5 yr old was a 3.5 yr old. I wouldn't dare try to tell you your deer. I can only go by what my taxi told me (he said he was 3.5).

If my goal was to ONLY shoot "A" 3.5 yr old deer....I think I could do that. I have other goals (short term).

I've got a 4.5 (or older) deer here that might not go 100"

early in

I'm not aware of any place where it is "easy" to kill a mature buck. Notice I didn't include "big", because some mature deer aren't big.

buckeye

I am not saying he is or isn't the age you claimed. Only to save your jawbones for positive ID. The buck I shot last year I aged at 4.5, it was aged by a state biologist at 5.5 years old. I was wrong, this is all I am saying.

I did not see anyone claiming to be experts here. I consider a mature buck as 3.5+ years old forthe first step in my personal "harvest" criteria.

Early
I will edit out the big part for you guys.

buckeye

Just curious... What year did you tag your last mature buck?

JoshKeller

From personal experience, bowhunting in Texas is a lot tougher than its made to be, unless you want to shell out major money. I honestly feel like I have a better chance taking a nice buck here in WV.

I personally feel that I can get a mature buck into range just about every season, but obviously, it doesnt quite come together that often. Mature bucks just are in a whole different level of awareness, but then again, thats what makes it so fun.

Also, all but two of the mature bucks I've taken, had less than great racks. The last one I took in '04 was a 5.5 year old knarly 6 point, that would have scored about 90, but weighed in at 175 lbs field dressed, which is a good one for a mountain deer.

GMMAT

Easy? No! Can it be done every year, here? I think so. I know I saw a few 2.5 yr olds last year. Problem is....I might not take one of them if I see them, this year. I know a 3.5 yr old is a trophy in his own right....but if he isn't right for me....I won't shoot him.

I hope I have to make the decision.