Most hunters dream of monster bucks, one of the reasons that Quality Deer Management became successful. We all wonder what we would do if a Boon & Crockett buck suddenly appeared and walked toward us. Could we keep our cool and make the shot, or let emotion consume the moment.
The Promise of Public Land
Antler mass and size has more to do with age than genetics or protein intake. If possible, you could capture male fawns from the best deer areas in the country, release them in heavily hunted areas, and they’d probably never reach maturity due to premature harvest. Public land can produce big bucks, including record-class antlers if there is a reason that allows bucks to grow to maturity.
Shotgun-Only Areas
If you research areas of large antler harvest, you will often find that hunting is limited by shotgun-only regulations. The states of Iowa and Ohio are good examples. Because hunters must make relatively close shots in these states, more bucks survive and the one or two additional years of life affect antler size. Personally, I love bowhunting any area that has hunting restrictions such as shotgun-only, limited draw licenses, or other factors that increase the age of deer.
Hunters of Habit
As deer hunters, many of us hunt lands that are rich in tradition and heritage. I hunt the same ridgetops that were stalked by my father and grandfather and would rather kill a 2.5 year old buck there than a monster out-of-state. We enjoy hunting with friends and family and often forgo the drive to harvest a whopper buck. Fortunately, the USA has so many hunting opportunities that a hunter can hunt with his family and work in a big buck quest.
Josh Honeycutt explores 12 reasons why some hunters bag big ones and other do not. Check out his list and see where you fit in:
Some guys and gals seem to always kill big deer. Other hunters rarely do if ever. So what’s their secret? Well, it isn’t just one thing. But those who frequently kill big deer have certain things in common. These 12 things are some of those.
