Scouting/Research/Luck Importance

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CGS371

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Trying to assess the importance - Did you know of your buck before you shot it? Had you seen it scouting? Had your guide seen it? Had someone told you about it? I'd like to know how many people are targeting a specific deer, just know they are in a good area, and/or even those that have blind luck. I wish it was different, but thus far, I'd probably be in the last category.
 
Maybe "blind luck" isn't really accurate. It still takes dedication, persistence, perseverence, marksmanship, and plenty of hardwork, etc. I don't want to discount anybody or their ability.

For example, my best whitetail (I've shot a lot of whitetail) was a fluke, low light situation at distance. I missed the first shot, adjusted and hit. He experienced tremendous ground growth. Now, I might throw that in the 'luck' category. But I did not give in to weather when most of the other hunters had left for home. I had just rebuilt my rifle and started handloading. I had been hunting very persistently and had picked the right area. So when I say luck, I guess I mean there were some some pleasant surprises to the upside, where not so much was under my control or intention.

Then again, maybe a thread on luckiest hunting experiences would be interesting.
 
I'd say reserch is probalby the biggest factor. No matter how hard you scout, there is no garentee you're the only one hunting that particular animal, nor that it will be in the same area once the seasn starts.

I like to put myself in an area that I know produces nice animals, and let luck take it from there.

I think watching/filming/trail cameras in preseason take a lot of the 'hunt' out of it. How much fun is it to end your season that quickly? I guess I'm more into hunting than killing though.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-06-08 AT 12:37PM (MST)[p]Last summer a friend and I listed all the 180 or better public land bucks that we could think of that were taken in the last 20 years from our area of Eastern MT. We listed when and where taken and a the short story of the hunt. The results were very interesting.
There was nearly as many bucks taken in the first week as the last three weeks combined.
Nearly all of the bucks taken during the first week were taken by hunters that knew the buck was in the area before the season.
A majority of the first week bucks were taken in the more remote country.
Most all of bucks taken in the last three weeks of the season were taken by hunters that had no idea the buck was in the area.
Many of the bucks taken during the last three weeks were taken near roads, some right from the truck.

Antlerradar
 
I would have to say that drawing (or purchasing) a limited tag in a unit with super genetics, antler growth, and all the right conditions plays a major role in successfully harvesting a mondo buck! Learning access routes, viewing spots, bedding, feeding, rutting, migratory routes, etc definitely up your odds of finding and shooting a buck of a lifetime!

With that said, I would say that if you don't ever draw a tag and hunt units that have B&C potential your odds of getting a super buck are pretty poor! As many of us know, it may take several seasons (tags) in a good unit to harvest a super buck! Obviously, the more tags and time you spend researching, scouting, and hunting these areas the better!

Some units and areas within a unit may be different than others at different times of year...units with a migration, high alpine vs late season...may make it tougher to scout for a particular buck because he may not show up or be in the area at certain times of year. A particular buck may be at 10,000' in August but at 5,400' in November? Obviously it is possible (and a lot easier) to scout a particular buck if he is a resident in the area year-round.
 

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