Realistic Expectations?

[Bayou Buck]

What are your realistic expectations for this up coming season?

There has been so much talk about what is possible and what is realistic when it comes to deer hunting in Tennessee that I thought it would be interesting to see what everyone believes they could realistcly expect to kill this season.

Iclude info about the region you hunt and whether private or public.

 

[Bayou Buck]

I hunt in the Western Highland Rim on a farely large piece of private property. I believe I can realistcly expect to have one or two chances at a 3.5+ buck this year.(Whether I capitalize or not is another story!)

I also hunt public land near my property. On public land I could realisticly expect to see 2 or 3 bucks 2.5+ and several does.

 

[Redfred16]

Thats a great read. It's something I'll have to take to heart as I transition from hunting northern Wisconsin to Tennessee.

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

I also hunt in the western Highland Rim on a fairly large piece of combined private properties.I believe I can realistically expect to have a couple of 4.5+ that will score 130"+.

 

[bigtex]

I hunt South Eastern Tn. on my own small farm. I can only hope to see a 2.5 y.o. buck, lol.
My realistic expectations are to see a few does and a couple of young bucks.

 

[DMD]

I hunt in the Plateau of East Tn on 1600 acre woodland tract. My expectation is to see one or maybe two 3.5yr or older bucks. They will be around 110-130". There is always hope and chance of seeing something bigger, but not likely.

 

[Winchester]

I hunt mainly Unit B and a mix of public and private property. If I do my job I will have chances at some mature bucks, but score is anybody's guess, as the harvested bucks of my past here have been from too small to shoot up to 150 inches. I cant wait to see what this season holds!

 

[102]

I hunt in Hamilton, Franklin, Coffee, AEDC, and Southern Illinois, to name a few.

In Hamilton, I hope to kill 4 does, and will probably kill the first buck I see, maybe not. I will decide when the time comes if he offers a good broadside shot. Also I have a couple areas that have some old bucks, I will see what sign is showing up and will adjust goals as the season progresses.

In Franklin, as many does as I can and hold out for a good buck depending on what happens in Hamilton.

In Illinois, dead does and a P/Y buck are the goals. I will not pass up a 120 inch deer.

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

102 what counties in IL do you hunt?

 

[muddyboots]

I hunt 2 leases in Hardin County. One is about a mile from 8 points or better. I expect to kill 2 to 4 does off this lease with a bow and 1 mature buck before thanksgiving. Then im gonna move to my other lease in the southern part of the county and hope to kill 1 mature buck. A 140 incher would not be imposssible.

 

[baller_9]

First my expectations are to have a good time. I hunt in Williamson and Fayette Counties. For all the farms it must be at least 3.5 and several 3.5's will still get a pass. In Williamson I will harvest a buck that will go 130+. On this farm we have taken 136, 140, 152, 156 and 162 all in the last 5 years so those deer are there but are extremely hard to kill. If I know a 140+ is in the area I will let a legitimate 130 walk in hopes that the larger one will make an appearance. In Fayette County I have the same goals in taking 3.5+ scoring over 130. Again if I have pictures or have seen a larger buck then I�ll wait for him if I can stand it.

These types of scores are very unrealistic for 90% of the areas in Tennessee but they just happen to produce these types of deer every year due to the soil and less pressure. I have gone up to 3 years without pulling the trigger and seeing 100 bucks over that period so they�re not running everywhere and they sure are hard to kill.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Northern Plateau, mostly my own private land and some on friends. I will probably at least see something 3.5 or older but killing is another story. I will kill 2.5 yr olds sometimes. Most likely score will between 100-125 or so. I will kill does during archery until I reach 4 or am tired of it. I have to find several people to give some meat to.

 

[WRbowhunter]

Would like to fill my freezer as my first goal besides just having fun hunting. My 2nd goal is to shoot a nice buck with a bow. I hunt public land in fayette county and there is a chance at a 130 class buck but I normally see 4 to 5 110 to 120 class deer a year and maybe 1 to 2 within bow range but not always a shot avaiable.

 

[Jarred525]

Tennessee - Private land 4.5 or older is the goal, ~10 does

Alabama - Private land same buck standards, ~ 3 does

Kansas bow - I got a muledeer or whitetail tag this year, so will probably be more picky on the whitetail. 140 inch or better whitetail. Mule deer looking for something mature, but does not have to be a monster since I have never killed one.

 

[TheLBLman]

What are your realistic expectations for this up coming season?

I realistically expect to greatly enjoy many hunting trips, particularly enjoying all the sights, sounds, and smells in being afield and looking forward to what comes along next, moment by moment.

I expect to take at least one or two female deer, and at least one fully mature buck. If I'm really lucky, I'll take two mature bucks, and more does, while enjoying just watching a whole lot more.

 

[hitek7]

My only real goal or expectation is for my daughter to shoot her first deer. Anything more than that will be a bonus. I should be able to shoot a few does and 1 buck over 3.5 years.

 

[BSK]

I hunt in the Western Highland Rim on a farely large piece of private property. I believe I can realistcly expect to have one or two chances at a 3.5+ buck this year.(Whether I capitalize or not is another story!)

I'm in the same boat. Western Highland Rim, 500-acre private managed property, and I can expect to have one to three encounters with a 3 1/2+ buck.

 

[Deer Assassin]

20 plus deer middle tn

3 bucks various sizes

 

[102]

20 plus deer middle tn

3 bucks various sizes

I HEAR THAT!!!

At a baby!!!

 

[horn master]

I only hunt public land and hope to fill the two freezers in the garage. 10+ does and have fun doing it. I hunt Franklin and Coffee counties. I will shoot my 3 bucks just don't know how big or small. They will have a least 6pts. like always.

 

[Matador]

1. Enjoy camp, friends, and the meals
2. Enjoy the great outdoors.
3. Kill a couple of does
4. Take 1 or 2 Bucks preferably 3.5 yr old or older, but thats
hard to do on old Bowater pines although there are a few
there. Sometimes you don't see them long enough to judge.

 

[Mike Belt]

I expect to take at least 4 does, cross paths with several pretty good bucks in the 120+ range, and take a buck in the 130's or 140's. I've been holding out for the 140+ bucks but I may have to back off those standards if I want to hold some antlers in my hands. I expect to see some chases and always anticipate seeing something new.

 

[lpo1981]

I hunt my parents small peice of property of 36 acres, its sits across the road from 400 acres of hardwoods in which is private property and no one hunts. I look to take 2(1 buck) deer a year off it. I don't tend to get into the score though I like to take bucks that are mature usually 3.5 or older. I go to kentucky every year for a week during gun season and keep my standers pretty high the 1st 4 days and the last day I drop them a little. Again though I like a mature older deer better than a high scoring young buck. My new lease I got on here in TN I don't know really were to even start my standards. Hopefully trail cameras will give me an insight.

 

[whistlinwingman]

Hammer a few square heads during bow. I hope and expect at least one decent encounter with a 3.5+ year old buck. I get a lot of new bucks cruising through during the rut and rack size may dictate if I shoot a 3.5 or not but probably not. Any 4.5 will be shot regardless of antler size if I get an opportunity.

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

Im guaranteed 7 deer in the freezer

 

[Andy S.]

I expect to take at least 4 does, cross paths with several pretty good bucks in the 120+ range, and take a buck in the 130's or 140's.

Same expectations here. With that said, the underlined part most likely will not be a walk in the park for me. I can dream though. :)

 

[mathews338]

I expect to kill a couple does with bow and to have the opportunity to kill 3 bucks over 3.5 that will score between 110 and 130. I hunt public and private land in Jackson and clay co.

 

[BAMA BOW MERKER]

150 plus in KY. One 4 1/2 year old with bow in TN, and one more 4 1/2 year old hopefully with bow or muzzleloader. 3 does in KY and 6 does in TN. But my number one goal is to have my father be successful when he comes up from Bama with a nice buck.

 

[Bottom Hunter]

Since my first hunt in 1974, my expectations have never changed.

I expect to take a buck larger than my best to date.

While reaching this realistic goal, I expect to encounter long days on the stand, bad weather, a few sleepless nights, anxiety, joy, excitement, fatigue, cold feet and hands, mosquitos, a bit of poison ivy. I expect to get angry a few times, see something that makes me laugh and/smile, sit and wonder why the heck I am there and plenty of opportunity to fix the world's problems...I expect to challenge my own strategies as I sit and wonder where all the deer are.

Also, I expect to be overjoyed on opening day and somewhat sad at sundown on the last day.....

I expect to make some great memories like I always do, so , as I said before, my expectations never change..

enjoy the process

 

[BowGuy84]

With my new work and class schedule I honestly don't know.

I'd love an opening morning doe and will kill several before TN opens (had to throw that in there).

Outside of that I hope to see some nice rut activity, and have some white oak acorns to hunt.