|
|
Post by iowamuzzleloader on Feb 18, 2012 1:52:14 GMT -5
I posted this one in Savage Success stories but suppose I should here too. I shot this guy the day after Christmas 2011. Santa was late for me but had a big load to deliver. Green gross 204. Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by rick59 on Feb 18, 2012 4:06:52 GMT -5
WOW,,,,, That is a great deer!
|
|
|
|
Post by jims on Feb 18, 2012 18:39:39 GMT -5
Quite a deer.
|
|
|
|
Post by ozark on Feb 18, 2012 21:01:58 GMT -5
Great buck.. I have wondered why Iowa, Illinois and to some extent Indiana grow such large deer. Heard it was the corn and bean fields but I doubt it is that. I have kept feeders filled several years and that keeps deer fat but does nothing for the larger size.
|
|
ukwildcat
8 Pointer
No Smoking section please!
Posts: 232
|
Post by ukwildcat on Feb 18, 2012 23:47:22 GMT -5
Wow....monster
|
|
|
|
Post by iowamuzzleloader on Feb 20, 2012 1:53:03 GMT -5
Dont forget Minnisota Wisconsin Ohio Missouri Kansas etc. I think they are everywhere for the most part, just not necessarily in the same proportion as Iowa and other states. Nutrition surely plays a part as well as cover. In Iowa we dont have a centerfire season except to shoot does in the southern part of the state. That may help. In the midwest we have a lighter people population contrary to somewhere like Pennsylvania. So maybe less pressure too. When pressure starts there is usually a place in Iowa they can go to get away from it.
I think feeding them is great and it surely helps hold them on a property but I doubt it will change the genetics unless great nutrition is vastly available.
I have been saying for years you have to pass on alot of great deer to shoot something really exceptional. This year proved that theory. I dont think the big ones are smarter or sneakier than the rest. I think the smart sneaky ones get big if they are inclined to. Too many hunters take a nice 140 inch deer that may only be 2-3 years old. Thats perfectly fine in my opinion but not if you want a monster. I have had many seasons go by without using my tags. I save does for our doe only late seaons after all the other seasons have ended. Even then I dont shoot them where I think big ones can live.
But truthfully I cant completely answer the question why we have bigger ones here. No doubt a combination of many things. But I do know I wont shoot a giant if I tag out on a "nice one" first. I have shot my share of 125 to 160 inch deer. But the last decade or so I have changed my standards to shoot only mature deer regardless of antler size. If I see a nice 150 that is mature and basically reached its potential, I'll take it if I want. I really look em over for age more than antler size. I think that is where most hunters are heading too. Getting more picky about what they shoot. That surely helps a state or region produce more mature deer with bigger racks.
You have to move around. I have hunted some of the very best looking property with great numbers of deer but they just didnt have a big buck on them. They may from time to time but not always. Being limited to hunting one piece of property certainly limits you to just those deer. If you dont see a big one, hunt somewhere else. Each year is different for each property. I have a friend who has shot many huge bucks. And he pays for it. Many miles and gobs of gas scouting. He spends way more time searching than hunting.
Oh yeah, shoot the ones that would appear to only pass on small antler genetics too. Those are great bucks for newer or youger hunters yet still trophys to them.
|
|
|
|
Post by mike3132 on Feb 21, 2012 13:49:15 GMT -5
Very impressive! Congrats!! Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by lastofthebreed on Feb 21, 2012 17:12:29 GMT -5
warlord buck! that guy was ready for anything.......
great hunt!
|
|
|
|
Post by mike3132 on Feb 22, 2012 9:42:04 GMT -5
The key to big mature bucks is simply access. If you can't hunt where they are your not going to kill one. Iowa season structure is another reason you have big deer. Short gun seasons out of the rut. Iowa also limits the number of non resident tags available so you dont end up being covered up with non residents. Iowa also has the genetic pool and habitat that grows big bucks. Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by iowamuzzleloader on Feb 24, 2012 23:59:27 GMT -5
The key to big mature bucks is simply access. If you can't hunt where they are your not going to kill one. Iowa season structure is another reason you have big deer. Short gun seasons out of the rut. Iowa also limits the number of non resident tags available so you dont end up being covered up with non residents. Iowa also has the genetic pool and habitat that grows big bucks. Mike Well said Mike all true but without limitation. Not to be contrary but just a different opinion on "key to big bucks". If they dont exist where you hunt, logically you cant kill one. And access is tough sometimes. But I believe the key is discipline to allow big ones to mature. Probably not a great chance in Florida to kill a B&C. I dont think mere access to land with big bucks on it completes the effort. But that for sure gets you 99% closer to success. The other 1% can be harder IMO. In this case, I dont believe this buck lived on this land. I believe he was pushed into this area during the shotgun seasons because it was a quiet place. So theres always some hope a big one can appear! |
|
|
|
Post by iowamuzzleloader on Feb 25, 2012 0:02:07 GMT -5
Update. I took the rack to the Iowa Deer Classic to be scored. 206 4/8 gross, 189 7/8 net.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2012 10:50:24 GMT -5
Well at least he grew 2 inches for your gross score.....lol.
One heck of a buck no matter what......
Greenhorn
|
|
|
|
Post by iowamuzzleloader on Feb 26, 2012 22:46:16 GMT -5
Update: I took second in the ML non-typical catagory at the Iowa Whitetail Classic. I believe I was the only one who had a gross score over 200. For sure the highest gross. Hats off to smokeless hunters everywhere. I felt I represented us. Long live the smokeless!! Brothers unite!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by muznut on Mar 6, 2012 16:40:20 GMT -5
Nice buck guy. I think the farther north you go the bigger the deer get too. In Maine we have less deer per acre (because of harsh winters and predators) than other states but we have big deer. I lived in Florida for twenty years and those were little guys down there. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by jeff on Mar 6, 2012 18:46:39 GMT -5
Great Buck, No Really Really GREAT Buck.
jeff~
|
|
|
|
Post by iowamuzzleloader on Apr 19, 2013 22:39:39 GMT -5
|
|
