#1703845 - 01/02/10 08:38 PM
Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
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Rackseeker
10 Point
Registered: 09/26/02
Posts: 4816
Loc: Franklin County
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Those that harvested a mature buck this season (3.5 year old +) What percentage of the harvest would you consider luck and what percentage of the harvest would you consider skill?
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#1703851 - 01/02/10 08:39 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Rackseeker]
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LA man
16 Point
Registered: 05/31/03
Posts: 18624
Loc: spencer, tn/houma, la.
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i didnt age my 11 point buck this year but ide say 60% luck 40 skill
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#1703867 - 01/02/10 08:43 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: LA man]
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TN Deer Slayer
10 Point
Registered: 01/27/08
Posts: 3256
Loc: Morgan County TN
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I killed a 10 point that was 5.5 years old and I will say it was 90% skill since it was early season I studied his patterns through the summer. First time the wind was right I hunted the spot and he came through just about the time I had planned it.
I killed a 4.5 year old 8 point that I will say was 80% Luck. Killed it in the First weekend of Muzzleloader.
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#1703914 - 01/02/10 09:00 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: TN Deer Slayer]
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smstone22
16 Point
Registered: 01/11/04
Posts: 16323
Loc: Allardt, TN
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Well Id say 90% skill. I just knew that spot would have several bucks moving through it due to the lay of land and remoteness. Heck Ive seen 5 mature bucks there in 8 days of hunting it over 2 seasons.
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#1703927 - 01/02/10 09:04 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: smstone22]
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pastorbmp
10 Point
Registered: 01/16/06
Posts: 4259
Loc: Wartburg,TN
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First year in 5 years that I have not killed a mature buck. Oh well, if the Lord willing - I'll try again next year!
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#1704022 - 01/02/10 09:38 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: pastorbmp]
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gator-n-buck
16 Point
Registered: 10/22/08
Posts: 14956
Loc: Knox, TN / Palatka, FL
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I killed a 3.5 year old buck.... It took me 3 days of adjusting (moving stand) so I could get a shot... I seen nice bucks all three days in this new spot (bench) I was hunting but it wasn't until day 3 that I found the right set-up... I was a little lucky to hunt that spot because I wasn't sure until my hunting partner suggested it... In the end I would say a lot of it was luck, being at the right place at the right time.... but I would rather be lucky than good any day...
G-N-B
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#1704026 - 01/02/10 09:41 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: pastorbmp]
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Setterman
8 Point
Registered: 12/31/09
Posts: 1783
Loc: Knoxville, TN
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Skill is always involved, as well as a little bit of luck. I killed 3 mature bucks this season, and all were killed in places which I expected them to show up, not that particular deer, but a mature buck of some description.
The skill, usually involves stand approaches, wind usage, stand placement, shot placement, and recognition of a mature buck versus an immature buck.
The luck involves the deer actually showing up during daylight hours and presenting a chance to make a clean kill. I never had the luck factor on the biggest buck I hunted the latter part of the season. He never offered me a clean shot, numerous days I might add.
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#1704031 - 01/02/10 09:45 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Setterman]
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Big Gun
16 Point
Registered: 09/02/00
Posts: 10434
Loc: Bartlett
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I killed a 3.5 yr old 8 pt. I'd say about 75% skill.  O.K. maybe 50/50.
I had seen this buck the week before during the youth hunt and took a climber in where I thought he might be roaming.
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#1704061 - 01/02/10 09:57 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Big Gun]
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pass-thru
10 Point
Registered: 10/10/04
Posts: 3058
Loc: va beach
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I had a very good year and killed 3. I don't know how to break it down to luck/skill....unless you randomly wander into a buck, some skill is always involved. And luck is always involve because you cannot control deer movement in wild conditions no matter how good you are.
The fist 2 were from a location that constistently produces for me over the years. I hung the stand based on years of observations and it is my best stand. I missed a third mature buck from that stand with my bow.
The third one was a flash hunt on unfamiliar public land. I had a place in mind but when I got there a truck was already parked, so I had to wing it. That was the only oak grove in a massive pine thicket....so I took my climber and with just an hour to hunt started covering a logging trail. Found good sign, set up on the wind.....very thick and poor visiblity but at the very end of shooting light a 3.5 year old buck ran by and gave me 10 yard shot.
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#1704171 - 01/03/10 12:31 AM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: pass-thru]
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megalomaniac
10 Point
Registered: 10/28/05
Posts: 4887
Loc: Mississippi
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Luck is one here and there.
Skill is 2 or more in a season.
Although I wouldn't really consider a 3.5 yr old 'mature'.
We only had one mature (4.5 yr and up) on my main farm and he was killed him second week of ML. Passed up a few 3.5 yr olds, unfortunately later killed by the neighbors.
My 4.5 yr old on another farm was pure luck... on HIS part. Had him in front of me for 30 minutes running does and closest he got was 150 yards with a ML... I shoulda pulled the trigger, but oh well.
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#1704295 - 01/03/10 07:52 AM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: megalomaniac]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Picking the right stand location is heavily dependent on skill. Luck plays a bigger role when choosing the right day to hunt it.
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"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1704368 - 01/03/10 08:51 AM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: BSK]
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Rackseeker
10 Point
Registered: 09/26/02
Posts: 4816
Loc: Franklin County
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The property I hunt even though its a very large area of land.
When I harvest a mature deer, usually one a year. I'd consider it probaly 60% luck and 40% skill. Hunting pressure being the reason for the 60/40.
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#1704454 - 01/03/10 09:53 AM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: BSK]
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Hillbilly Hunter
Killbilly
16 Point
Registered: 07/15/05
Posts: 16986
Loc: Branchville
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Picking the right stand location is heavily dependent on skill. Luck plays a bigger role when choosing the right day to hunt it.
I agree 100 percent with this. I was hunting for the 4.5 yr old 9 pter I killed, but the 3.5 yr old 8pter was a little more luck, even though I was hunting a spot that is averaging 2.5 bucks per hunt.
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#1704462 - 01/03/10 09:58 AM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Hillbilly Hunter]
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Chris Tripp
10 Point
Registered: 10/20/05
Posts: 3747
Loc: Brush Creek, TN
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5.5+ 9 point is my oldest for the year.
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#1704509 - 01/03/10 10:23 AM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Chris Tripp]
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B&C chaser
4 Point
Registered: 01/08/09
Posts: 375
Loc: Coffee County, Tennessee
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I killed 2 mature bucks this year, 1 in Kentucky and 1 in Missouri. The Kentucky buck was 3.5 and the Missouri buck was 4.5. Both had some luck involved.
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#1704573 - 01/03/10 10:49 AM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: megalomaniac]
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Bone Collector
12 Point
Registered: 09/09/09
Posts: 6187
Loc: Murfreesboro, TN
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I killed a 3.5 yr old 10 pt. I'd say 90% luck and 10% skill. I was just in the right place at the right time, but I did have to make the shot, so that is the 10% skill.
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#1704785 - 01/03/10 12:30 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Bone Collector]
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Buckhunter72
6 Point
Registered: 10/12/09
Posts: 699
Loc: Wilson and Cannon County
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Killed a 3.5 year old eight this year. Skill and luck involved.
Here is the skill part.
We hung the stand between muzzleloader and gun, after my brother shot a deer and we had tracked it towards this spot (a thicket with a couple of huge white oaks in it). Just knew it would pay off on opening weekend, and it did.
Here is the luck.
We put a 20 foot buddy stand in one of the big oaks near the big thicket. It is wedged in there and the deer couldn't see you if you where waiving at them. We cleared several shooting lanes after hanging the stand. We thought we were done, when I decided to climb up one more time before we backed out. The good trail that came out of the thicket crossed a logging road before it went into another thicket. A small bushy tree was blocking the view to that point. I told my brother to cut it down and it would open up that spot. (about a 75 yard shot)
Sure enough, I killed my deer standing in that exact spot. Got to be lucky to be good.
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#1704804 - 01/03/10 12:44 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Buckhunter72]
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hunter drew
14 Point
Registered: 06/16/07
Posts: 7794
Loc: henderson county TN Lexington
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I killed a 3.5 year old 9 point back at the beginning of season. We was getting some good pics of some great bucks. So it was probably 80 percent luck since I was surpose to work that day. Then the shot was the toughest 42 yards. With a bow. So 20 percent skill
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#1704879 - 01/03/10 01:30 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Rackseeker]
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TN RDG RNR
12 Point
Registered: 06/28/07
Posts: 6104
Loc: Rhea County
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My son killed a 5.5 year old 11 pt. I have hunted the sign I believe that buck has left for 3 years. Had a gut feeling on the second day of the hunt to give him a try. We set up where I felt we had the best chance of seeing him and getting a shot off. Id humbly say that much was skill 60%. Lucky the deer chose to come through that particular spot on that particular day. 40% luck
Persistence is another over looked attribute in killing a mature buck I believe it could play a larger role than either luck or skill in the long run.
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WARNING: The above post may contain sarcasm and/or sophisticated satire. I will not be held liable for any psychological damage sustained.
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#1704992 - 01/03/10 03:01 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: TN RDG RNR]
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jlm
4 Point
Registered: 10/01/05
Posts: 108
Loc: Southern Middle TN
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Well I killed a 3.5 yr old 11 point. Lets put it this way....In my mind it was luck that I saw him on saturday morning when
I came out of the woods and skill that I put myself in position to shoot him Sunday morning. Seriously, it was all pure luck that I have gotten anything ever.
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#1705015 - 01/03/10 03:24 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: jlm]
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SAR Swimmer
4 Point
Registered: 12/08/08
Posts: 499
Loc: Pleasant View, TN/ Jacksonvill...
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If we are saying that 4.5 is mature, then I got 2 mature bucks. I shot a 10 point that was aged at 5.5, I shot an 8 pointer that was aged at 4.5. I also shot another 8 point that was aged at 3.5.
It was 99% luck and 1% intelligence because I Am Noot VaRy SMaeRt.
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#1705045 - 01/03/10 03:41 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: SAR Swimmer]
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Rackseeker
10 Point
Registered: 09/26/02
Posts: 4816
Loc: Franklin County
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If we are saying that 4.5 is mature, then I got 2 mature bucks. I shot a 10 point that was aged at 5.5, I shot an 8 pointer that was aged at 4.5. I also shot another 8 point that was aged at 3.5.
It was 99% luck and 1% intelligence because I Am Noot VaRy
SMaeRt.
If you don't have the skill and smarts you must have a very good hunting spot. Just about any hunter with any hunting skills at all can kill them if they have a really good spot to hunt. But on the other hand put Stan Potts on the property I hunt and we will see how much skill he has. 
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#1705113 - 01/03/10 04:27 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: TN RDG RNR]
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Andy S.
TnDeer Old Timer
12 Point
Registered: 07/26/99
Posts: 7289
Loc: Atoka, TN
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Dec 4 - never before seen 9pt shows up on camera at 0830pm. I est him at 130" a shooter for me. My camera also captured 3 other 100"+ bucks and numerous other deer passing through that week. I suspected the deer were using a "pinch point" that night to travel from a bedding area toward ag fields.
Dec 19 - I hung my stand mid-day along the "pinch point." The area had a good amount of deer sign along with some decent buck sign.
Dec 26 - Hunted stand for first time, temps and wind were good IF the deer traveled as I thought they would. Killed the 9pt buck at 915hrs traveling exactly as I planned for. He funneled right to me and the wind was perfect.
On one hand I feel a sense of accomplishment because the hunt actually played out "exactly" as I thought it COULD based on my very brief analysis of food/cover and travel corridors between.
On the other hand I remind myself of how many plans of mine have been foiled in an attempt to intercept a mature buck on numerous attempts, much less the first attempt.
Based on mature bucks beating me REPEATEDLY over the last fifteen years, I cant help but call it more luck than skill.
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Andy S.
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#1705296 - 01/03/10 06:20 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Andy S.]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25335
Loc: TN
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I have killed 3 so far this year that were 3.5 or older, 1 of which was with a bow. While their is always some luck involved, I was hunting for a good buck each and every time I killed one!
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#1705826 - 01/03/10 10:32 PM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: Rackseeker]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Just about any hunter with any hunting skills at all can kill them if they have a really good spot to hunt.
I STRONGLY disagree with that opinion.
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"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1705914 - 01/04/10 12:00 AM
Re: Who harvested a mature buck in '09 ?
[Re: BSK]
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jaybird62
4 Point
Registered: 10/23/06
Posts: 417
Loc: Brentwood, TN
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Some call it luck, while others may call it skill in varying proportions. I think there's something else that comes into play with people who consistently kill mature bucks. It's hard to describe to anyone, but I call it a "sixth sense." Some may call it getting in "the zone." IMHO, I think that scouting/hunting can do more than provide evidence of a buck's passing to narrow down a location to hunt. Boots on the ground on a frequent basis raises one's awareness, and if used, can lead to killing speficic animals on a regular basis. This may sound like some zen vodoo hogwash, but only because of my limited ability to articulate the idea.
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