Ive been fortunate enough to go on trips and harvest a few nice bucks. I haven't had the opportunity to kill a nice one in jersey yet on the public park land that I hunt. I have heard that lost people that hint will never get an opportunity a big boy. I've seen so many nice pics on this website. Any comments on whether the average hunter will ever score big?
Is it true most people will never get a big buck.
keitha7x
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Ive been fortunate enough to go on trips and harvest a few nice bucks. I haven't had the opportunity to kill a nice one in jersey yet on the public park land that I hunt. I have heard that lost people that hint will never get an opportunity a big boy. I've seen so many nice pics on this website. Any comments on whether the average hunter will ever score big?
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Big is a diffrent size for everyone
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Keith, I believe it is true what you say, but you should add the term legally to the statement.
That depends upon what you classify as a "big buck" Are you talking age? are are you talking inches?
If its age-then yes most guys in NJ will never score a buck more than 2 1/2 years old on public land-there's lost of older deer out there, but they are very reclusive, and mostly nocturnal. If you're lucky enough to see one its likley in late summer-when hunting hasn't started, or in the Rut when sex drive trumps survival mode. But that's just the way it is. They didn't get to 3 1/2 years old on public land by being dumb-they know what hunting is and they know it when they see it
If you are talking inches-then you have a decent chance at a buck between 110 to 130 inches on state land in the 2 1/2 year old range-depending upon the area of the state, there's lots of good sized two year olds out there. If you're looking for a P&Y buck-your odds drop a bit-but there are still many out there-If you are looking for a Booner-you best book an out of state hunt
If its age-then yes most guys in NJ will never score a buck more than 2 1/2 years old on public land-there's lost of older deer out there, but they are very reclusive, and mostly nocturnal. If you're lucky enough to see one its likley in late summer-when hunting hasn't started, or in the Rut when sex drive trumps survival mode. But that's just the way it is. They didn't get to 3 1/2 years old on public land by being dumb-they know what hunting is and they know it when they see it
If you are talking inches-then you have a decent chance at a buck between 110 to 130 inches on state land in the 2 1/2 year old range-depending upon the area of the state, there's lots of good sized two year olds out there. If you're looking for a P&Y buck-your odds drop a bit-but there are still many out there-If you are looking for a Booner-you best book an out of state hunt
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I picked up hunting on my own basically about 5 years ago. Never hunted with family an I hope to get my son into it. Wouldn't think of do it illegally in any way to be an example to my boy. I passed up two nice bucks this year because I the EAB but that's the rules. No satisfaction in cheating or poaching. My time will come when it's my time for it to happen
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You can only be as good as the property you hunt. If your land doesn't hold good bucks, sorry. There is always the chance that a shooter could stroll through during the rut, but, I'm not a fan of rut dependent hunting; I want big bucks living where I hunt.
If you don't feel that your property can produce, consider making changes and implementing tools to entice mature deer to utilize your property. I've been blessed with a ton if prime hunting land, and, we STILL do things to improve what we have, such as; food plots, cutting trails for deer through insanely thick woods and crp type fields, providing a sanctuary where NO ONE will ever walk, etc, etc.
Also, what do you consider big ?? I think almost any property in the State can, eventually, produce a 120" deer, if that's big to you. I'm very good friends with some guys that work a check in station; you wowuld be surprised how many giants get killed and ragged without anyone ever knowing. A guy checked in a 160 inch deer shot in Southern Z14 a week of so ago...only person to see it was the check in guy, so the hunter told him. The deer was taken off of land I used ro hunt, i think.
If you don't feel that your property can produce, consider making changes and implementing tools to entice mature deer to utilize your property. I've been blessed with a ton if prime hunting land, and, we STILL do things to improve what we have, such as; food plots, cutting trails for deer through insanely thick woods and crp type fields, providing a sanctuary where NO ONE will ever walk, etc, etc.
Also, what do you consider big ?? I think almost any property in the State can, eventually, produce a 120" deer, if that's big to you. I'm very good friends with some guys that work a check in station; you wowuld be surprised how many giants get killed and ragged without anyone ever knowing. A guy checked in a 160 inch deer shot in Southern Z14 a week of so ago...only person to see it was the check in guy, so the hunter told him. The deer was taken off of land I used ro hunt, i think.
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I live in old bridge so I hunt the middlesex county parks. Believe me I would give anything to have good hunting land. I'm the type that appreciates what he has and I do the best with what I have. I make a lot of phone calls and have a lot of conversations just haven't been able to score any private land. For now I make do with what I have . I bait I scout and I try to move around but I work a lot and have two kids so time can be pressing.
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"You can only be as good as the property you hunt." Yup X2
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Agreed 100% droptine.
Theres also variations to this imo. For instance if your hunting a 3 acre woodlot in a south jersey development and shoot a 130 inch deer is that the same as walking for miles and scouting thousands of acres, using pinch points, funnels, ridge lines etc and killing a 130 inch deer that way? To me if your pinch point is between the shed and the pool then thats like shooting a farm animal. If guys wanna shoot them like that by all means go for it, if its legal im all for it i just would prefer to hear nothing except wildlife in the woods rather then leaf blowers and kids screaming.
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I finally shot a "trophy buck" and it took me 20 years
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I am still trying to get one with horns...[wallmad]
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oneshot1kill your my hero[kiss] but you forgot to add the bait pile past the pool/shed pinch point and the trail cam strapped to a swing set pole.
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Im not an expert but I've gathered as much info as I can from guys who consistently shoot good bucks...
#1 You need a trophy buck in the woods your hunting in order to kill one.
in other words if you dont have good food supply and a place for them to grow as well as good genetics, your trophy buck wont exist.
#2 You need good property
#3 You need to hunt hard and be able to adapt...for the most part you cant hang a stand from sign in august and expect for it to always be a good spot unless your hunting a natural funnel that may always be good....as the deer change patterns you have to be able to.
#4 You have to let the small ones walk..I have let bucks that were nice, wide to their ears and decent tine length walk plenty of times...thats just the discipline it takes to hope that something bigger is behind him.
#5 When your on deer, stay on deer and hunt hard.
#6 Scout and be in the woods all year round... guys that kill big bucks consistently arent fucking around, they will hit the woods before work and after work...scouting or hunting you need to be out there
Ultimately I think its a combination of all those things but you have to be open minded and be able to learn as much as you can about their habits...Im going on my third or forth archery season...I have shooters on cam but I havent been able to get them in range, I want my first archery buck to be around a 120"+ at least.. good luck...ultimately you determine what your chances are at getting a big buck but no matter what, that buck has to be alive and you have to be in the stand and in range...
#1 You need a trophy buck in the woods your hunting in order to kill one.
in other words if you dont have good food supply and a place for them to grow as well as good genetics, your trophy buck wont exist.
#2 You need good property
#3 You need to hunt hard and be able to adapt...for the most part you cant hang a stand from sign in august and expect for it to always be a good spot unless your hunting a natural funnel that may always be good....as the deer change patterns you have to be able to.
#4 You have to let the small ones walk..I have let bucks that were nice, wide to their ears and decent tine length walk plenty of times...thats just the discipline it takes to hope that something bigger is behind him.
#5 When your on deer, stay on deer and hunt hard.
#6 Scout and be in the woods all year round... guys that kill big bucks consistently arent fucking around, they will hit the woods before work and after work...scouting or hunting you need to be out there
Ultimately I think its a combination of all those things but you have to be open minded and be able to learn as much as you can about their habits...Im going on my third or forth archery season...I have shooters on cam but I havent been able to get them in range, I want my first archery buck to be around a 120"+ at least.. good luck...ultimately you determine what your chances are at getting a big buck but no matter what, that buck has to be alive and you have to be in the stand and in range...
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The answer is most normal guys have very little chance of scoring on a wall hanger in NJ
Guided hunts other people put in the scouting time (nothing wrong with that). I work 60 hours a week and either saturday or sunday half a day min. I have 3 kids a house mortgage scouting time??? 2 or 3 days if I am lucky. Hunting time?? 6-10 times a year usually half days. That is what real NJ hunters do.
I know the guys who take 4 weeks vacation and hunt (divorced) will be glad to put thier 2 cents in for the rest of us throw out some bait and shoot a legal deer.[up]
Guided hunts other people put in the scouting time (nothing wrong with that). I work 60 hours a week and either saturday or sunday half a day min. I have 3 kids a house mortgage scouting time??? 2 or 3 days if I am lucky. Hunting time?? 6-10 times a year usually half days. That is what real NJ hunters do.
I know the guys who take 4 weeks vacation and hunt (divorced) will be glad to put thier 2 cents in for the rest of us throw out some bait and shoot a legal deer.[up]
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I hear you slayer. I am fortunate enough to have time off this time of year but it doesn't change the property I hunt. I get one time away a year and that isn't a guarantee either. I do the best with what I have. Same thing though work, family and other obligations that come first.....like hanging Xmas lights....lol
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