bypasskiller

im 30yrs old and have been hunting mature bucks only for last 5yrs. if you shoot a small buck or even a doe you may be missing out on the mature buck that may have passed 10 min later. my father shoots almost any deer that walks past. he wonders how i always get the big deer. ive shot 5 mature deer after passing on smaller bucks on the same day. there are times you could shot a smaller deer and still get lucky to have the big one walk by but your odds drop for sure because of all the rukus. so, i always keep in the back of my mind when a tempting buck walks by that a big boy could be minutes away!!

virginiashadow

Jeff, I am of the same mindset. The day I had that close encounter with the big buck this year I was hanging 200 yards off where I think he beds. I am moving in this week as gun season opens on Saturday the 15th. I am moving in on the tightest ridge 40-50 yards from where I think he beds. I am going for it from dusk til dawn.

The Deer Destroyer

Mature bucks are the toughest to hunt.

GregH

This is one of the benifits of letting the other deer walk and not disturbing the area. You start to see more deer behavior and things you've never seen before. This all adds up to a great learning experience and through this you become a better hunter. I have also had tag eating seasons that I still considered a success because of the things I saw and learned. This year my high point was watching a buck guard a doe from several other bucks, then breed her. Wow!

NY Bowhunter

Good post Greg. I agree with the 0-3 sightings. That's not a lot considering all the hours I'm able to put on stand. You have to go in knowing and accepting that. It's a tough road for sure. Out of those 0-3 sightings you then have to have them in bow range. Then you have to be able to seal the deal. Like greg has said before it's like hunting a different species. That's the truest statement I've ever heard.

You also have to be able to check your ego at the door and not compromise your standards you set out with for anything. I'm on a tag soup stretch right nowthat I'm not crazy about since hunting these creatures. Just haven't been able to put it all together for a variety of reasons. In the meantime though I've passed on a gazillion bucks. Just knowing you put yourself in the right place and were there at the right time to be able to kill the smaller bucks is good enough for me. They are a dead deer walking and don't know it. You really have already "hunted" that animal successfully. The only thing you didn't do was kill it. It's rough at times and frustrating but I've learned more in the last 5 years hunting only big bucks than I have in the 15 years before that. I'm not expert by any means (especially compared to some of the people on this board), but that's my take on it. Mentally and physicall tough.

virginiashadow

I've slowly built my skills up to the point where I think I have a fighting chance at getting one. That being said, I realize I am not hunting in a "stocked bass pond" where I hunt. I am hunting in a well used public pond I have to keep at it and keep working hard. That is the only thing I know how to do. Thank you all for your candid posts, makes me feel better that I am trying my best. I have two more weeks to get on a nice buck before I head back to work. BEST of luck to you guys.

Brett