The Relentless Pursuit of that Dream Buck

[Friend]

Would expect that most of us some time or another have imagined the buck of dreams. Some of us many times. Thus far, this preseason I have not identified that target buck yet am quite optimistic as I have located a couple that are just short of a personally intensified season pursuit.

What is your realistic dream buck?

[ESP]

A mid 150s clean 8 point for whitetail.  Mule deer a clean 4x4 with eyeguards 160’s.   That’s for this season. 

[Huntschool]

I got him on the wall behind me..



163 3/8 clean 10 Pt.  22.5 inside, 23"+ main beams. Lost inches due to disparity on both sides.  If you look close his G2 on the right side as you look at him is only 8" while the G2 on the other side is 14".  His g 4's are there but the left side as you look at him cant be seen cant in this pic.  The G4 on the right can be seen. At  my age I am never going to beat this guy.  I am good with that.  That being said, I am very particular on what I look at.  There is a young 6 pt. roaming around my place that will be a unique trophy in another year or two if he makes it. I sure have not seen everything thats available around here.  Ya never know.

[hawkeye n pa]

A legal buck will do here just fine.  Way to much hunting pressure here for a realistic chance at the dream buck.  Have seen some bruisers when hunting the big woods though.  Thermals have been extremely frustrating trying to close the distance in the mountains with valleys and draws.   Unbelievable they can survive the rifle season pressure and deer drives. They get big for a reason!

[Dave Lay]

Huntschool that’s a great deer, congrats.  I hunt public land and am at the mercy of pressure from other hunters and such, A couple years ago I had a beautiful mid 160,s 10 point at 10 yards and never got a good angle and he walked. That deer has haunted me ever since then. I’ve tried to locate that deer ever since and spent most of the season trying to hunt him. Heck being prerut he could have come from 10 miles away but man that deer really stuck in my head. Last year I found a young wide 8 point that I would have shot if given a chance , I saw him a couple times but never really had a good opportunity. He appears to be back in the same area this year, so if no one boogers him , hopefully I can get a arrow on him this year , My biggest is a mid 150,s  that I loved to have the chance to kill, but it wasn’t one that I had targeted and actively pursued , don’t get me wrong, I’m not a trophy hunter and love killing mature does as well as bucks but the thread is about the one dream buck we pursue. It seems every year I will find a nice buck and wind up not killing him and passing other deer I would normally shoot.  It’s a dang sickness.

[ron w]

Dream buck, sure everyone wants a crack at one !! Me, I just want a legal deer. Buck or doe, don’t matter!  I have seen some real beautiful bucks but never had a close encounter with the bow. Maybe this year !!!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

We have a couple every year that I'd like a chance at. Every year I tell myself I'm shooting a meat deer but then hold off when a young buck is in front of me,  hoping for something a little bigger. This deer I had at 10 yards last year. Couldn't get the string clear of my leg as he came in too fast. Hes not the biggest deer but I have my eye on him

[BAK]

The kind of hunting pressure that exists where I hunt pretty much eliminates any "dream" animals, but as they say hope springs eternal.  Just got a picture of this little guy yesterday.  He'd be fun.

[Trenton G.]

The areas that I hunt just aren't conducive to producing big bucks unfortunately. Not a ton of food, and most guys blast the first buck that they see. The APR's have definitely worked though and make the chance of at least seeing a decent buck a bit more realistic. I'd love to get one that beats the P&Y minimum of 125". I've gotten several 8's (with other weapons) but would love a run at a 10 pointer some day.

[Yooper-traveler]

I guess for me it isn't about a score, its about having encounters with an older buck.  Two years ago I passed a nice 2 year old 8 up here as I was hoping he would walk by my son or daughter.  He never did.  I saw the same one last year (now a real nice 9) but never within bow range.  My son almost had a shot at him but it never panned out.  My kids or dad taking that deer would constitute a "dream" hunt as he has some history with me. 

[Sam McMichael]

For now, I would be satisfied with any nice sized 8 or 10 pointer. Extremely huge antlers are not a requirement. I missed my chance at a truly massive deer back when I was a very young rifle hunter. I missed a truly large 12 pointer. By the next season, I was a competent rifle shooter. Since becoming a designated bowhunter such an opportunity has not presented itself.

[Bvas]

That's easy.

I'm hoping I get the opportunity to chase the same buck I've dreamed about for the past two years.  A nice solid eight pointer.  He will be 9yrs old this year. 
He usually doesn't show up until late September.  So fingers crossed......hopefully he survived thru the off season.

[Howitser]

I get one picture of this guy every year, for 3 years now.  Waiting for the 2020 edition. It would be an accomplishment to see and kill this boy. Certainly a fuller freezer........but it seems the dream would end then, sad.

[Huntschool]

Thanks Dave.  I am quite proud of him.

Its tough to shoot something you may never beat.  What do you do the following years ?  I have passed on a ton of bucks because they were no where near the one above.  I dont eat as much venison as I once did so its not even a case of meat.  I take a doe every so often just for that. What it has really done to me is make me enjoy just being out there and enjoying what nature has to offer. However, now with my physical/medical conditions even that is becoming more difficult.

I will continue to hunt as I can and enjoy my time in the woods.  If I dont ever see another deer as big as this one thats OK, just as long as I can get out....

Hunt well and shoot straight

[Keefer]

    I always just like to have a close encounter while sitting in my Huntmore 360 chair and I have had some close that I have taken with longbow and recurve .
  Then one day while praying I would have a second chance at a good 8 point I missed I went back two days later praying that 8  would give me a “Second” chance at him while cruising by “BUT” our Creator God had a different one He sent through .
  It was a beautiful sight being so close on the ground as he offered me the shot of a lifetime.

   
 

[JakeD]

The greatest accomplishment of my hunting career will be if I'm able to take the buck I've been after for several years.  I see him quite often, but can't ever get a shot.  I've watched and kept tabs on him since he was a 2.5 year old. He will be 9.5 this fall.  He is most likely a 150-155 inch 8 point.  It has been fun watching him grow all these years.  He is still a giant bodied buck and easily the biggest that I have to pursue. 

[GCook]

I've given up that dream.
I don't mean I wouldn't take the shot should a nice150 class come by in range but I leave tags unfilled to wait on the best or most mature buck I have on camera and it stays unfilled.  I have been working on myself to get me at the point where any decent mature (4+ years old) is a good one and take the first good opportunity I get.  Hopefully this season I take one early, fill a couple of doe tags and leave time to hunt ducks in December and January. 
I only have room on the wall for one more.  If I die with that spot empty it's with no regrets. 

[Wudstix]

Hawkeye, I grew up in PA and familiar with the “if it’s brown it’s down” philosophy.  Understand the pressure.  Getting back to those spots that require work to get into is the key.
 

[Wudstix]

Hunting Government land in Texas with limited scouting possibilities it is pretty much first mature buck that offers a shot.
 

[Huntschool]

Hunting Government land in Texas with limited scouting possibilities it is pretty much first mature buck that offers a shot.

Heck, 34 years for the feds even as a DoD civilian.....  you should have enough change to get yourself on a decent (not crazy expensive) lease.  That would solve the problem.  Or in normal times a trip to a good producing state might work also.  Just sayin.....