125py

every year a buck in my area gets killed that goes 200"...this year the top was 215" about 3 miles from me, and a 190" typical in the same county. The biggest i have ever seen was probably a solid 160 class, but i usually see 10 or so bucks at least per year that go 135 or better in my small acreage

early in

Just inmy hunting area in SE Pa, not the whole state, a top end buck would be around 120"-140". Possibly a few around that are bigger, but not many. Again, just my area.

dukemichaels

All those stats are really old Greg. Lake and Mchenry are nose diving down the list every year. It's just because there really is just about no open land left anymore. What the houses haven't built on the forest preserve has taken over.

I applaud you for getting such great land when you did. But there is no land left anymore in these 2 counties. Especially in Lake.

And really the only reason Lake and McHenry had such great numbers at one time was because of its close proximity to the city. More people, more hunters, and alot of big deer once fell here.

GregH

The stats are two years old. I know guys, including myself,that pick up spots in these two counties every year. It's not at all easy but it can be done. It depends on how hard you are willing to work at it. I will be searching again this spring as I am down to 2 spots in McHenry and 1 in Lake. Plus I need more in Racine.

GregH

This is only my 3rd year with the cams. I'm superstitious and do not put them out until after the season. It is illegal to put out food where I hunt so I have to put them in travel routes. Without a food source the deer get camera shy so I have 4 cameras and move them quite often. Big bucks are the worst. I got 4 different ones on camera now and only one time each. A lot have lost their antlers already so it won't be long before I pull in the cams.

Justin

Come on Gregster, you can tell your old buddies where you're hunting. At least a town? Township? Curious minds want to know.

You're not hunting in Moraine Hills, are you?

GregH

Dear Justin,
It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I can't. You see, a long time ago when I shot my first big buck, some people started spreading rumors about how and where I shot it. You know, like I shot it at night over bait before season on posted land kind of things. Then I actually caught a couple people trying to follow me to my spots![:-]

Well after talking to a couple of my friends who were my mentors, I decided to remain secretive like they were. These friends have shot a LOT of big bucks, they almost make me look like a newbie. One enters his in the book the others don't. The guy who does isn't too hard to figure out. But hardly nobody knows the other ones. That's just how they prefer it. In EVERY case this was caused by jealousy, so they went under ground. This is sad and disturbing, but true.

I've told them about this site and how great it is, but they won't join. They've visited a few times and told me that I talk too much! But I enjoy sharing tips and strategies so much that I ignore them. I like helping people achieve their goals if I can when it comes to hunting big bucks. But I don't give up my spots.

Maybe I'd tell you confidentially in a PM but I don't think that I have that option. At least I didn't the last time I tried.

MichaelP

I hunt in S. Fulton county about 10 miles outside of Atlanta, on our small tract there a 170 is not out of the question. The reason being is most of our county andalso a couple of the surrounding counties are bow only and the deer get a chance to get age to them. I am also in a club in eastern GA and the top end there is a 120 with anything bigger being considered a monster. I absolutly love the bow only counties and try every imaginable angle to find new land each year, 5 and 10 acre parcels are where the big boys are coming from down here.

Justin

Believe me Greg, I understand completely. We live ina highly populated area, both with people and big deer. With that comes an incredible amount of jealousy, lying, cheating, poaching, backstabbing, and God only knows what else. It's a shame that people have devolved to the point that you can't even share a story about a big buck you saw without fearing someone sneaking in your spot and trying to kill it, or trying to sabotage your hunt in some way. It's enough to make you sick, which is part of the reason as much as I love hunting close to home, I hate it at the same time. [:@]

loogout1

Where I hunt(bow only county), anything up to 120 is just average imo. Once you enter the 130 range, its hard(for me anyway) to pass 'em up no matter what the age. You, and I, would assume since its a bow only area, that there are deer dying of old age all over the place. Such is not the case. There are still a ton of hunters around here that will shoot the first thing that walks by, and the second, and the third, without any consideration of antler size or maturity. I still pass 'em though. Have I seen some monsters? You better believe it. I've seen 150s on occasion, and a 167 was killed a few years ago not far from one of my spots. As far as top end storybook deer go, I would have to say probably a 170 is a once in a lifetime sighting around here.