I will second doityourself's line.
There are several individuals that bring home monster deer every year from various places. It seems as if they magnetically attract 200" deer wherever they go.
The fact of the matter is that they do. But they can do it differently than most of us.
They almost all have an abundant supply of money to buy the tags they want in the units that gives them the best opportunity to find a 200" deer. (I don't care how they earned the money. They are smart enough or lucky enough to have it and that is all that matters. They do have it!)
They have time. Time is a big factor in killing huge deer. It takes time to get the job done, not only scouting but during the hunts as well. (having money frees up your time.)
They have connections with the right people. By this I mean knowing people that can get them the tags, help them find the bucks, and secure the right hunting property if the buck is on private. These guys are probably the most valuable part of the equation. (again these guys are in it to make a living, hence having money helps keep them in the loop.)
They are professional hunters. These guys are hunting, shooting, looking, talking, scoring, planning, booking, deer or deer hunts all year. They don't screw around waiting to draw a hunt on a limited entry unit. They find the big ones, then figure a way to get a tag, NOW!
They very rarely find their own deer. Someone they know tells them about it, then they go check it out. This is not wrong. Most big bucks are not found by the guy that ends up killing them. They are found by someone that tells someone else and sooner or later a guide or a connection tells the Pro hunter and they then get a tag and go after the deer. Smart.
These guys will not kill a sub par buck. They will not lower their standards to shoot "a buck" like most of the rest of the hunters in this world will. These guys won't screw up their name or their record by killing a dink buck. They go gome empty handed rather than smoking over a baby.
My conclusion is this; Most of us on this forum fit into the working guy/hunter with family. We see all these Pro hunters bringing home these monster bucks and it makes us either jealous, or wish we could do the same. Well, we can't until we get the whole equation together. We can kill a big buck every year or two, and some can get a pretty good one every year, but to kill 200" bucks every year, you've either got to sacrifice your family, or your job, or your normal way of life.
If you were smart enough, or lucky enough to have lots of money, you could quit your job or leave the work to your staff while you hunt. You could take your family with you. You could buy all those premo tags and book those best of the best hunts. Then you could get yourself a big one of almost every hunt.
Now don't think I'm ragging on these Pro hunters, because I'm not. These guys have done what it takes to be what they are, and do what they do. All I'm saying is that I hope they aren't sacrificing what is most important in this life, (family) to gain the awe and admiration of the rank and file hunters who look up or down at them.
Finally you cannot compare yourself to these types of hunters. It will run you down and make you feel like a loser. Pick up your head and realize that in your league you are just fine. These guys are in the major leagues and the rest of us are not. Some will move up, but most will not. Enjoy the hunt for what it is.
Deerbedead
