How rare is a 170 + buck

schoolhousegrizz · Jul 9, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Jul-09-16 AT 12:14PM (MST)[p]How rare is a 170+ buck on public land in Northern Utah? I've seen a handful during the hunt and actually got lucky and got one last year. I have been scouting this year a couple times and have not come across anything close to that. I still have a lot of scouting left to do. I'm just wondering what you guys think from experience. If there are about 20 bucks per 100 does I would say maybe not even one of those hits 170. I was thinking probably around the lines of 1 out of 40 bucks hits 170. What do you guys think? What about 190 or even 200 inch bucks?

DoubleDropMuley · Jul 9, 2016

Never really thought about that. Interesting! I don't know about northern Utah but here in Wyoming you can look at a lot of bucks before finding a 170"+ buck and even more for that 190"+ . I'd say def 40 or more. Can't wait to see what this fall brings!!

muzzhunter · Jul 9, 2016

I'd bet it's closer to 1 out of 100 to hit 170. To hit 190 I'd think 1 in several hundred. Just my $.02.

Vanilla · Jul 9, 2016

1:1,000 for a true 190+ inch buck for most units, if that. A 190 inch mule deer is something most of us have never seen on the hoof.

And I think you're higher than 1:100 for a true 170 inch buck.

smitty · Jul 9, 2016

I agree with the previous posts. You've gotta look at a lot of bucks to find a 170". Especially in Northern Utah. The thing that really sucks is after killing a few, you naturally want that next class bigger. And well, if you are hunting general units, you are going to eat a lot of tags trying.

Having said all that, some units you can find 170" bucks and bigger almost every time you go out scouting. I'm talking LE units in several states.

I live in Northern Utah, and if I find a 170" buck here, chances are he's getting shot. Are there bigger bucks here? Of course. But a true 170" is a real trophy.

schoolhousegrizz · Jul 10, 2016

Ive scouted 3 nights and 1 morning so far. Still have not found that 170 buck. I think I found a spot that might hold one. I will check it out within the next week. I'll let you guys know what I find.

ridgetops · Jul 10, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Jul-10-16 AT 10:39AM (MST)[p]I think you guys are right on some of those numbers for unit wide numbers.
BUT.. you can greatly increase those odds by scouting/hunting the areas that hold the bigger bucks.
Some of the areas I hunt. I may only see 10-20 bucks in 5 or 6 trips but usually 2-5 of those bucks will be 170"+.

Out of 30 or so bucks I've seen this year only one will go 170+, I actually this he will go 190+ but it's so darn early to really know what they will turn out looking like. Need about two more weeks.

I've killed a 170"+ and a 200"+ buck in the last three years on a general unit.
Two years ago, we had scouted at least ten 170"+ bucks and I know at least half of them were killed by other hunters.

theox · Jul 10, 2016

>LAST EDITED ON Jul-10-16
>AT 10:39?AM (MST)
>
>I think you guys are right
>on some of those numbers
>for unit wide numbers.
>BUT.. you can greatly increase those
>odds by scouting/hunting the areas
>that hold the bigger bucks.
>
>Some of the areas I hunt.
>I may only see 10-20
>bucks in 5 or 6
>trips but usually 2-5 of
>those bucks will be 170"+.
>
>
>Out of 30 or so bucks
>I've seen this year only
>one will go 170+, I
>actually this he will go
>190+ but it's so darn
>early to really know what
>they will turn out looking
>like. Need about two more
>weeks.
>
>I've killed a 170"+ and a
>200"+ buck in the last
>three years on a general
>unit.
>Two years ago, we had scouted
>at least ten 170"+ bucks
>and I know at least
>half of them were killed
>by other hunters.

I agree^^^ I have similar findings as well

schoolhousegrizz · Jul 10, 2016

Thanks ridge. In the area I hunt it would be hard to even find 100 bucks. I have been out 4 times and seen 13 bucks. The biggest is 140ish. I think if I can spot 30 more bucks I will have found something close to 170.

ridgetops · Jul 10, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

Here's a buck I found last week that will probably end up shy of 170. I'm guess low to mid 160s when finished.

There's always next year

fullthrottle · Jul 10, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

That is an interesting question. I would say 1 in 40 bucks would be a close guess. It amazes me how you can be in one canyon and only see a couple bucks, and then move over a canyon or two and see a couple dozen. I also am a believer if a group of bucks gets to a point where they have a couple mature bucks in the group they all have a better chance of getting through the hunts and have a better chance of reloading every year. Once a group of bucks gets wiped out it seems like that group or areas ability to recover and reload is much tougher. This could all be a bunch of B.S., but from my observations it seems to be the case. I have done a fair amount of scouting this year and feel like I have found a couple that will break 170". 190 type bucks are very few and far between. (Public Trophy Hunter on Google).

nebo12000 · Jul 13, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

LAST EDITED ON Jul-13-16 AT 09:33AM (MST)[p]You bring up an interesting point-- It does seem that whenever a group of bucks are ran out or most likely killed in a certain canyon/area, it struggles to ever have a good number of bucks use it as "home" even though the landscape hasn't changed (water, cover, feed). I've been trying to figure that out for a number of years in some areas. You would think with the up tick in deer numbers they would start showing up in those areas again. I know the bear population is in those canyons have increased dramatically over the past years but I've been told that they really don't have anything to do with deer frequenting those areas. Still kind of stumped as to why there are so few deer in those areas. Any ideas?
These particular areas seemed to always produce a couple 170 inch bucks. I haven't done much hunting in them the past 10-15 years because of the lack of bucks but I always scout them, hoping to see an increase in deer again.

DoubleDropMuley · Jul 15, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

Bring on sept so I can wade through bucks to test this out!!

deerkiller · Jul 26, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>Here's a buck I found last
>week that will probably end
>up shy of 170. I'm
>guess low to mid 160s
>when finished.
>
>

>
>There's always next year

i highly doubt he makes the 160 mark. hes your typical unit 18 pos "4 point"

theox · Jul 27, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>>Here's a buck I found last
>>week that will probably end
>>up shy of 170. I'm
>>guess low to mid 160s
>>when finished.
>>
>>

>>
>>There's always next year
>
>
>i highly doubt he makes the
>160 mark. hes your typical
>unit 18 pos "4 point"
>

I've read two of your 15 posts and both were stage 5 douche bag remarks. Geez what a class act!

Zeke · Jul 27, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

Never tell a guy that his girlfriend is ugly!
It's just not good form!

I think a true 160+ (maybe 170) buck is becoming a bit more common to find on general units ***while scouting*** but when you throw a few thousand other hunters in the mix it might be a different story getting him killed during the season.

I think it's more bleak than 1:1000 of killing one unless a guy dedicates himself to mule deer only, follows population and growth trends and is willing to learn multiple units and all that is dependent in drawing a tag! ...oh, and wear out a few trucks in the process but that's the price we pay to play our sport.

This is why LE units are so sought after!

Zeke

deerkiller · Jul 27, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>Never tell a guy that his
>girlfriend is ugly!
>It's just not good form!
>
>I think a true 160+ (maybe
>170) buck is becoming a
>bit more common to find
>on general units ***while scouting***
>but when you throw a
>few thousand other hunters in
>the mix it might be
>a different story getting him
>killed during the season.
>
>I think it's more bleak than
>1:1000 of killing one unless
>a guy dedicates himself to
>mule deer only, follows population
>and growth trends and is
>willing to learn multiple units
>and all that is dependent
>in drawing a tag! ...oh,
>and wear out a few
>trucks in the process but
>that's the price we pay
>to play our sport.
>
>This is why LE units are
>so sought after!
>
>Zeke
a guy who is dead set on a 170 buck and hunts more than 1 day a year, can kill a buck of that quality pretty regularly. maybe not every year, but the odds a certainly better than 1 in 1000. its really not that difficult if you put in the effort. and no, that doesnt mean just dedicating yourself to only muledeer. i usually kill 2 elk, a deer or two and pronghorn (if im lucky enough to draw wyoming) a year, and have killed many 160"+ bucks during those years. all on public land and ive never drawn a LE utah deer tag, and i might go "scouting" for muleys once a year.

its possible. just put in a little time, go further than everyone else. have alot of patience and understand the animals.

deerkiller · Jul 27, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>>>Here's a buck I found last
>>>week that will probably end
>>>up shy of 170. I'm
>>>guess low to mid 160s
>>>when finished.
>>>
>>>

>>>
>>>There's always next year
>>
>>
>>i highly doubt he makes the
>>160 mark. hes your typical
>>unit 18 pos "4 point"
>>
>
>
>I've read two of your 15
>posts and both were stage
>5 douche bag remarks. Geez
>what a class act!

is there like a certain number of posts before you become a MM badass??

atleast my first post didnt involve me wanting someone to tell me where to go sit so i can fill a tag

Zeke · Jul 27, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

No, there is no specific number at which you become a MM badazz. You're well on your way.
You're obviously welcome to your opinion and you certainly may voice it in almost any manner in which you wish as long..... as the moderator doesn't pull your plug.
Congratulation on killing so much stuff every year and topping it off with a 160" + buck!
Zeke

ridgetops · Jul 29, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>>Here's a buck I found last
>>week that will probably end
>>up shy of 170. I'm
>>guess low to mid 160s
>>when finished.
>>
>>

>>
>>There's always next year
>
>
>i highly doubt he makes the
>160 mark. hes your typical
>unit 18 pos "4 point"
>

Shaun, your arrogance sure does get the better of you sometimes.
That buck as pictured, is a mid 140" buck with a 3" inline. Say it grows another 2" on each tine and the inline ends up being 5". That's 21" added. I'm pretty sure that buck will make it to the 160" mark.
There's always next year

deerkiller · Jul 29, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>>>Here's a buck I found last
>>>week that will probably end
>>>up shy of 170. I'm
>>>guess low to mid 160s
>>>when finished.
>>>
>>>

>>>
>>>There's always next year
>>
>>
>>i highly doubt he makes the
>>160 mark. hes your typical
>>unit 18 pos "4 point"
>>
>
>Shaun, your arrogance sure does get
>the better of you sometimes.
>
>That buck as pictured, is a
>mid 140" buck with a
>3" inline. Say it grows
>another 2" on each tine
>and the inline ends up
>being 5". That's 21" added.
>I'm pretty sure that buck
>will make it to the
>160" mark.
>There's always next year

awww... are you still upset about the sheep that the "DWR" got to kill, and you didnt?

if your cookies are still burnt over that deal, wait until you hear about what i got invited to do this year

i dont know why you hate me, ive never done anything to you. and ive always liked your posts. youve got some cool photos and stories. my post in this thread wasnt a dig on you. i was simply stating that i wasnt seeing 160 on him. hes just a small 4. that unit has lots of deer that size that never amount to much. you know that, im sure. i plan on saying "hi" to you when we cross paths, since we frequent the same deer spots. i promise im not an ##### in person. my humor just gets lost with alot of people apparently... but anyways, if you think that buck will go 160, great, he might. but hes still a nothin deer. maybe in the future he will be worth a look. but right now.... i guess the "monster" is in the eyes of the tag holder. either way, hope you have a good season!! im sure youll kill some good stuff, just like always! have a good evening!

ridgetops · Jul 30, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

deerkiller,
I don't hate you or ever dislike you.
I do think you do come across arrogant and cocky.
There are a few forum members that I would NOT invite to my campfire but your not one of them.
Sure, my cousin was disappointed in not getting to take that ram and get it mounted but that's all in the past.
I haven't even thought about it until you brought it up.
BTW, that was a pretty nice buck you killed last season.
Did it score around mid 160s?

deerkiller · Jul 30, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>deerkiller,
>I don't hate you or ever
>dislike you.
>I do think you do come
>across arrogant and cocky.
>There are a few forum members
>that I would NOT invite
>to my campfire but your
>not one of them.
>Sure, my cousin was disappointed in
>not getting to take that
>ram and get it mounted
>but that's all in the
>past.
>I haven't even thought about it
>until you brought it up.
>
>BTW, that was a pretty nice
>buck you killed last season.
>
>Did it score around mid 160s?
>

he green scored right at 180". he has some extras that cant be seen too good in the pics i've posted. i'm not sure what he dried out as, but id imagine he's somewhere around 175. i was very happy with him. i had hunted a lot during the bowhunt and he was about the best one i'd been seeing, and i had covered a lot of area. so between the heat, the extra hunters and the terrible moon, i jumped on the opportunity to shoot him when he gave me one on the muzzy hunt.

Homer · Jul 30, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

....my experience is that most of the 190" bucks that come to me for an official score end up being 170" bucks.....

deerkiller · Jul 31, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>....my experience is that most of
>the 190" bucks that come
>to me for an official
>score end up being 170"
>bucks.....

you are more than welcome to score my deer if you are questioning the size of his final score.

Homer · Jul 31, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>>....my experience is that most of
>>the 190" bucks that come
>>to me for an official
>>score end up being 170"
>>bucks.....
>
>
>you are more than welcome to
>score my deer if you
>are questioning the size of
>his final score.

I have no desire to score your buck deerkiller, I'm sure he scores exactly what you say he does. I am an OM for B&C and I rarely score a buck that the hunter or his guide underscored....so if you say your buck is 175...it is 175 and not close to minimum entry. I don't have the time to measure heads that aren't eligible for entry.

.....unfortunately I get to be the bad guy all too often when a head that scores "alot"....doesn't hold up to an official scorer.

I was not calling you out.....I was speaking generally that MM scores are ...well....out there.

ridgetops · Jul 31, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

Homer, most people always throw out a loosely taped gross score. While your only concerned with a tightly taped net score.

deerkiller,
here's that buck you questioned about not making it to 160". I took the picture this morning. Although not a monster, most people would mount a buck like this one if they shot it. Even if it doesn't score 170". It's not as small as you were making it out to be. Probably real close to a 160" buck.

There's always next year

deerkiller · Aug 1, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

that buck looks a little better than the last time i seen him. i believe you are in the right neighborhood with a guess on his score. he would definitely temp me to pull the trigger if he stood there in front of me long enough

captain68 · Aug 9, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

I agree that some people can highly overestimate what a deer scores. Here is a buck I shot on the Northern Utah General Season Unit. Any guesses on what he scores? I have already taped him, I just wanted to see how closely you guys can guess. Hint: he is 29.5" wide.

Zeke · Aug 9, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

163 4/8" gross even with the extras.

You're missing the first point (eyeguards) so it drops one of the mass measurements. Everything else is just a guess on my score sheet.

Zeke

hubba_3 · Aug 9, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

I would guess a little better than 163"... I would think he is 170-175" gross because of those cheaters, but what do I know? ha. What did you tape him at captain68?

Homer · Aug 9, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

zeke....it makes H1 and H2 the same....but there are still 4 mass measurements per side.....

With those great mainbeams and good inside spread I'd say he scores very well.....

Zeke · Aug 10, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

>zeke....it makes H1 and H2 the
>same....but there are still 4
>mass measurements per side.....
>
>With those great mainbeams and good
>inside spread I'd say he
>scores very well.....

I learn something new every day!
Thanks, Homer, for the nudge.
Zeke

captain68 · Aug 10, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

LAST EDITED ON Aug-10-16 AT 09:33AM (MST)[p]He ended up scoring just south of 170(gross). I had a lot of people guess that it would score between 180-190. Had a few that thought it would push 200". I guess the point I'm trying to make is that a 170" buck is a lot bigger than most people think. I honestly think that when scoring animals 10 inches is nothing. I would shoot the buck I shot over several 180" deer I saw harvested last year if they were standing side by side.

Zeke · Aug 10, 2016

RE: How rare is a 170 buck

That's an awesome looking buck captain68!
I guess adding in the additional mass measurement, that Homer corrected me on, would have put my guess much closer to your actual score.
Live and learn.
Zeke