Let’em go…let’em grow

Spurchaser

Spurchaser

Well-known member
Here’s what can happen if you’re able to find bucks with potential and watch them grow…
2022
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2023
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2024
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And the end result…
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We are very lucky/blessed/privileged to have access to a couple properties where this is possible. That’s only his second buck with a bow. First was a 154”, lol. That one scores 176”. Those were both off the same property.
On the other property he’s taken a 172” and I shot a 168”. Both of those were rifle kills.
I’m still after a “grown” one with my bow. I’ll be honest the kill is anticlimactic. It’s the years long chase that keeps you up at night. Hoping a particular buck sticks around, doesn’t get shot by the neighbors, or even hit on the highway. It’s learning their routines, their different areas throughout the year, then figuring out the best time/area to hunt him. Then on top of all that, hoping for good rains every Spring/Summer for optimal growth with browse and mast.
He’s now moving cameras around to find the next “trophy” to chase. It may be another 2-3 years before he kills another, but the wait and gamble is worth it.
 
Lot easier said than done. Probably not going to happen in MI, but we're slowly getting better. It's hard to change the mindset of the deer hunter. I would love to own a large piece of land and be able to manage it the way I want, but it's just not in the cards for me. Deer hunting on 11.5 acres is something that many will never understand as far as the struggles.....
 
Oh, but I do understand. Try hunting 11ac in the shape of a pencil, lol!!
The widest point was 150yds. While we didn’t kill 140-150’s. We still managed a few decent bucks over the few years. All the properties were like this and all for the most part would let smaller bucks go.

Like I said we are very very lucky to be able to hunt where we do and we know not everyone can do it. I was just showing what happens if you or a group of landowners can do it. We still have bucks that leave or get shot by neighbors. It’s a gamble, but it can really pay off.
 
One of my favorite tracts to hunt is a little 15ac tract that I have. It borders a swamp so there's no telling what you are going to see. Over the years I've got some true SC monsters on camera coming up out of the swamp and killed a few nice ones. The bad thing is no one in that area let's a buck get over 2 years old. The potential in that area is nice, but the trigger control just isn't there.
 
Spurchaser said:
Oh, but I do understand. Try hunting 11ac in the shape of a pencil, lol!!
The widest point was 150yds. While we didn’t kill 140-150’s. We still managed a few decent bucks over the few years. All the properties were like this and all for the most part would let smaller bucks go.
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It wasn't directed towards you personally. You're just one dude. It was a general statement. It just feels like the "haves" are always preaching to the "have nots" on how they should hunt. Again, not directed towards you, just in general.

And not to be a one-upper, but I got you. Just measured the widest point on my 11.5 acres on the HuntStand app and it's 110 yards. 🥴 So yeah, been there, done that :LOL:
 
DoubleLungRage said:
One of my favorite tracts to hunt is a little 15ac tract that I have. It borders a swamp so there's no telling what you are going to see. Over the years I've got some true SC monsters on camera coming up out of the swamp and killed a few nice ones. The bad thing is no one in that area let's a buck get over 2 years old. The potential in that area is nice, but the trigger control just isn't there.
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I'd rather hunt the right 15 acres than the wrong 150..........
 
wolverines said:
It wasn't directed towards you personally. You're just one dude. It was a general statement. It just feels like the "haves" are always preaching to the "have nots" on how they should hunt. Again, not directed towards you, just in general.

And not to be a one-upper, but I got you. Just measured the widest point on my 11.5 acres on the HuntStand app and it's 110 yards. 🥴 So yeah, been there, done that :LOL:
Click to expand...
I really don’t think Spur took any offense to your post. I think he was just letting you know you aren’t alone.

My deer properties here in NY range from 4 acres up to a couple hundred for private ground. We have millions of acres of public but I don’t hunt public for deer very often.
 
Trust me, I hunted public land, in a lease, a buddy’s place, etc.
When I got to the place I am now, my son wanted to sit with me to sorta tell/show me what a truly “mature” deer is, lol. I was under the impression of if it had “antlers” it was mature enough. Our first sit this kid is saying no to 115-140” bucks. He finally turned me loose and told me, if it looks like a huge bulldog when it walks out, then it’s a mature deer regardless of antlers.
I learned what he meant when this real wide 10pt walked out. That deer didn’t score but maybe115” but he was 235lbs and literally reminded me of a bulldog. Huge neck and front shoulders and smaller rear end and waddled when he came in.
The property I have access to grows large bodied deer. His place may produce a 200lb buck, but that’s rare. And what’s even crazier we’re in the same county.
And again, not preaching, just showing what can happen.
We bring kids out to hunt and turn them loose. Anything from spots to State record is open to kids. Those few of us that hunt it are just limited to as many does as you can shoot and bucks at least 5.5yrs old.
 
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