Three Keys to Killing Big Bucks
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- With all the drama, hype, and high pressure marketing in the hunting industry, you'd think you need all sorts of gadgets and devices, new equipment and upgrades, to consistently kill big bucks. Nothing could be further from the truth!
#1 - the right land makes all the difference!
Yep. Or making marginal land better has been my experience.
The hardest part of deer hunting is generally when you fail you don’t know why. You just know you failed. But vice versa, once you you understand basic concepts and you begin to see higher quality bucks you begin to figure some things out and you stick with what works. Some folks will miss the point of this simplified and very direct video, but maybe some day they will say wow this is so true.
Absolutely! Learn from your mistakes and admit when something doesn't work, is a waste of money, or a waste of time, and move on. Stop repeating what doesn't work based on achieving your goals. And, repeat or expand what does work.
Those are the only two ways I know of at getting better at anything in life.
Hard core self evaluation is key. Thank you for the comment.
Tellin it like it is, just keep it simple. I've learned over my years if a hunt dont feel right, move and make it feel right. Every hunt you hunt should be a good hunt wether you tag one or not. Best of luck everyone...
@@Deerchaser74 thanks for watching and the comment
I'm a new hunter with the blessing of having 80 acres of family property to hunt that's great except for the cattle. I know bucks come through and stay but because of my errors, I'm lucky I even got my 6 point (there were much bigger bucks around). Anyway, with my inexperience, mistakes, and a little buck fever, I only had any success because of how long I hunted.
Take my novice advice for what it's worth, but for new hunters at least, time in the woods beats timing the woods.
Thank you for the comment
I'm a fairly new hunter here in Michigan doing the public land thing and I'm probably going to give up. Hunting seems impossible here in Michigan unless you have your own private land. I've made so many mistakes, and I'm basically never right. One hunter that I talk to tells me to do things opposite of what the other hunter that I talk to does. It's just a never ending cycle of failure and frustration, and it's just not fun anymore. Kudos to those that have access to quality land and have the ability to grow and control the herd better. I'm sure that makes for a much better hunting experience!
I can't argue with anything you've said. Public land hunting in a high hunter population state is hard. It can be very hard. I used to hunt a lot of public land, A LOT, and it was never easy. I remember one time canoeing in a mile or two on opening day to get to some public land that was only accessible by boat...only to have another boat power passed me just as we were getting to "our spot". I saved, worked hard, saved more, and eventually bought my own land. It was a dream of mine since I was 20. But, literally not everyone can do it, there is not enough land to go around. All I can say is there are very good resources out there to help hunters like you be successful...you can start by NOT paying attention to the UA-cam stars who have "partners" (in the old days they were called sponsors) who will tell you only what they have to to keep getting their checks...then quit paying attention to the UA-cam stars who are selling you stuff. If you can sort through all the bs, there is some good information out there. Or, quite paying attention to all of them and just spend as much time as you can hunting and learning on your own...that's literally what I had to do once I figured out all the bs in the hunting industry. Good luck!
@@tompeplinski WOW! I REALLY appreciate your thorough and thoughtful reply! Yeah, Michigan is literally the TOUGHEST state in the US to hunt public land. It's over-pressured and our DNR is absolutely abysmal, so our buck quality is the worst in the US as well. Michigan is a "Brown it's down" state through-and-through, and with our gun season also being DEAD in the middle of the rut, it makes a hard job damn near impossible. I am 47 and I just started hunting like 2 years ago, but the only "hot hunting trend/gadget" that I bought into that I regret is saddle hunting. It's useful when things are ideal, but for the areas that I am finding, a saddle just isn't the way to go, so I am looking at alternative ground hunting methods instead. As soon as my last kid turns 18 and he's off to college (3 more years) I plan on moving out of this state and hopefully getting land somewhere else (hopefully). It's just frustrating because I did not grow up hunting, and I'm tired of everyone telling me I'm wrong or acting like I'm stupid, especially when one hunter is telling me to do the opposite of what another hunter tells me to do.
More recently I have taken your advice and just started doing my own thing, but I have no clue if what I'm doing is right or not. I have bumped a few deer while getting to spots and locations, but I have not come across anything while actually "hunting." You'd probably laugh at my woodsmanship skills, as I'm sure that I'm probably doing multiple things wrong. I definitely have some thinking to do on if continuing or quitting is the right thing to do. Anyway, thanks again for your reply, and I wish you and your channel all the best!
Don't give up, I live in northern MI and have killed many nice bucks on state land, multiple years 2 buck over 8 pt and I tagged out. Look for thick cover or spots away from others. Opening day is the worst, after that most people think all the good bucks are dead, that is when hunting gets good. I rarely get bothered by other hunters, I mostly hunt Roscommon, Ogemaw and Merritt County's. I harvested a 163 gross score buck in the upper peninsula as well, let me know if you have any questions I will talk about it.
Great Video, truth bomb!
there is a very small percentage of hunters that actually know how to hunt and know what it takes to kill mature deer. Todays world, it's either decked out farms, everything money can buy with 25 cameras and not a lick of deer knowledge OR Dan Infault public land wannabe's. What people don't understand is Dan can show you on a video, but you'll never have Dan's learned instincts from 40+ years of DOING. Not to be negative, but like TOM said in the video...there isn't an easy button. there is no quicker and easy way.
Now someone reading this will either be pissed or think, well how do I become better and learn. the answer is time and experience. Observation, successes and fails. there will be a day you can be dropped into a 100 acre section and pick a tree that is with in 30 yards of the right spot. Seeing a plot of ground and reading it can't be learned by watching a youtube video.
Thank you for the comment. Always interesting seeing other people's points of view.
I hunted with a well known outfitter who hosts the TV hunting celebrities, and I asked how those celebrities get all those big bucks.....The reply was "They stay until they get one".
So time was an important factor.
@@tompeplinski Not to mention " top quality property".
@@ken5042yeah having property is a big factor
Would spend hundreds when younger but now I just ware old camo carry a fanny pack that was free and a knife rope and compass.
Yep. By all accounts, I spend less money today yearly and have better hunting and kill bigger bucks than I ever have. Thank you for the comment.
I agree, No gizmo or gadget will help you consistently kill big deer. Improving habitat and only hunt the right days during the right conditions. Access in and out of stand sites is also crucial. The highest % day to kill a big deer is the first sit in that location. Good video and info. Hunt smarter, not harder.
Thanks for the comments.
Thank you for telling it like it is. You and I are aligned 💯.
Thank you for the comment and feedback.
Awesome. Where is the 2nd thumbs-up button?
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Well said. I can add to that. On point one. I hunted many states and rarely saw anything decent, then I started hunting Ohio and the mid size deer were bigger than anything me or my buddies had ever seen or killed. We started knocking out some smashers. On the Gadget part I can say that twice in my life I was at a guide service while a celebrity with their TV crew were there. On both occasions a lot of the product promos were filmed before the hunt even started. It was so bad, one guy got dressed in his sponsored camo, sprayed with his sponsored spray, took a few practice shots with his sponsored bow and faked glassing with his bino's. Then he undressed and ate lunch. When we left for the evening hunt I saw that he did not have his sponsored bow or binos (He had more expensive gear) he did have on the camo but he didn't spray down with his miracle spray. They used footage that another hunter filmed from the day before they got their of a big buck, then talked the guide into letting them hunt the spot. they never connected with the big buck and packed up mid day on day two in their H2 hummer all wrapped in sponsor stickers. I had been outside while the celebrity talked to one of his sponsors and heard him tell the person the farm was junk. I spoke with the guide when they left and was allowed to hunt that spot. I saw the big 10 point twice but he was always out of range. The guide told me their hunt was free and that he wasn't given a tip. The second time I was in camp with a TV celebrity and their crew, the celebrities did use all of their sponsors gear (as it was all premium gear), but after three warm days they left. The next morning turned cold and within 3 sits all hunters tagged within 3 sits. I heard the guide tell the celebrities before they left that the weather was turning and they would have a great chance at a big buck. I learned way back then that anyone can farm hop awesome properties for 3 months and eventually shoot enough big bucks to film a few 1/2 hr Outdoor Channel shows.
Can't kill a big buck if the property don't have one!! Keep it simple as a old timer told me!!! The hunter usually over think the situation!!
Thank you for the comment. I agree with that. However I think a hunter can do things that make it more plausible to grow bucks too. Not always, but often times a few changes can make a big difference.
@@tompeplinski absolutely, pulling deer from other properties is key and keeping them on yours!!
You forgot the most important thing. And that is to have a understanding partner, who let's you do what you love doing😂.
I suppose you're right. But let's face it, any spouse who wouldn't
"let" the other spouse do what they love, what they are so passionate about, probably wouldn't be a good partner or spouse to begin with right? Thank you for watching.
First thing there needs to be big bucks where you hunt.
Yes, or you put the right habitat and hunting plan in place to grow them big. I've never seen a property that couldn't be made better.
Just cause you don't see them, dosen't mean they are not there....big bucks, especially pressured, are rarely seen,and are very difficult to kill, usually the rutt is the virtually the only time you may have a chance...of course there's the occasional lucky kill...but rare...most of these deer die of old age...they are like ghosts...
You nailed it, literally on every aspect. However, there are some people, that even if put on "good property," still wouldn't succeed. They'd end up still shooting small bucks, or over pressuring the property, turning that good property into just another bad one in no time at all. Just my two cents
Yes I agree...thus #3... You don't need to be an expert, but you need some basic woodsmanship skills. I do however know of some truly awful hunters that kill big bucks almost every year simply because they have access to some of the best ground in the country (watch enough UA-cam or outdoor TV and you'll see them).
i love you for this !!!!
Thank you.
Spot on! Great video!
Thank you
Tom great video
Glad you enjoyed it
Excellent advice!
Thank you
@@tompeplinski One other piece of advice given to me many years ago by the late Roger Rothour (Traditional Bowhunter), The way to kill a Big Buck is, "Don't Shoot" Anything but a Big Buck!
Money
Land
Food plots
This video hits the nail on the head. I’ve learned that the gadgets are fun and all that but I’m better off spending my time and money in other ways such as land management and practice, whether it’s my bow or gun. I hunted NY state land for years. I was able to get access to 124 acres of prime land many years ago and saw more bucks the first day there than my previous 20 on state land. I didn’t know NY had bucks like we were seeing. Opened my eyes and I learned more about deer behavior in this six years hunting that land than I could have hoped for. Now we have our own land and hope to make it a great piece.
Thank you for the comments. Your experience is pretty much the same thing that happened to me. Once I got access to that first piece of ground that had some nice bucks, I realized that all the gadgets had nothing to do with it. Today, I can hunt giants every year, and can shoot a giant every year if I so choose...and I don't spend a nickel on the gadgets. Every dime and minute of my investment into my seasons goes toward better habitat and lower hunting pressure.
It’s refreshing to have the bullshit cut out. Thank you for being relatable and realistic!
Thank you for the comment. I'm glad I'm not the only one sick of the bullshit!!!
Man the first time I saw you was on a drury outdoors dvd. I had no clue you had a UA-cam channel. Good stuff
I just started one this spring. I was getting so frustrated with the information being presented to hunters by the You Tube stars promoting their sponsors junk or promoting their own over priced stuff (like plot seed). And, this gives some of my habitat clients a place to go for reference. Thank you for the comment.
The wind, theres a huge difference between a 2 or 3 year old buck and how a mature whitetail buck reacts to the wind. Once a whitetail reaches maturity they constantly use wind direction to their advantage...a mature buck will also react to the slightest un natural sounds, where as an adolescent maybe more curious...it takes a lot of dedication, attention, and patience to kill a mature whitetail even on private land....
I agree that learning how to hunt without deer (big bucks) smelling you is essential; I consider that a basic woodsmanship skill. Thank you for the comment.
Can you recommend some resources to learn woodsmanship skills that specifically apply to hunting?
So, I guess what I mean by woodsmanship skills is how do you hunt without the deer knowing you are there? They can't smell you ever which includes going into stands, while on stand, when leaving. They can't see you, they can't hear you ...ever.
The National Deer Association is a great place to get information.
Scientific type stuff is always good... The MSU Deer Lab; Deer Forest Blog out of Pennsylvania I think it is is good stuff. My web site has a ton of good information fullpotentialoutdoors.com
And then experience and practice. Wherever you are hunting, always keep this in mind... Learn from your mistakes, and get better. Forget the gadgets and be a better hunter and you'll have way better success in the long run.
Start with that. Remember when you're ever watching UA-cam or reading an article, if the person is sponsored or has "partners" that information is garbage in my opinion. You are watching a commercial at that point.
I should really put together a video on this question. Good question and comments. Thank you
It seems like the hunting industry succeeds through the detail oriented mindset of the hunter. If you’re into hunting you probably pay attention to details. There is no detail that can’t be upgraded through a purchase. Sometimes I think I need to upgrade and find a rabbit hole of options and get a head ache trying to decide the right one. I have to close the laptop and walk away lol.
I agree. All marketing plays on our instincts to be happy, better, more successful, etc. The hunting industry often prices things so we tell ourselves "I'll try it, it's only $$$, or it's only a little more than " standard" stuff like food plot seed. I used to buy into it all, not any more. Thank you for the comments.
This is great advice…..for private land hunters. But if you’re not the owner of the land then its a matter of having the money to pay for the lease. So I do agree that for private land hunters you are correct.
Public is a different world that requires a different set of skills.
Curious, on public land, what would be different? I've hunted a ton of public land and to consistently kill big bucks, I would still attest that you would need the same three. That's been my experience at least Thanks for commenting.
Yuuuup. It all changed for me after a confrontation with a psycho on a popular IL public property. I said the hell with it and committed to barrier-to-entry public only. Learned there are many kinds. Shot a 162” the first year, and ultimately a 195” in 2021. Will never go back. I never try gadgets. Just refine my setup and maintain equipment to be functional.
Many hunters I've talked with over the years had an event that led to them changing the way they hunt, and ultimately being more successful. Thank you for the comment.
@@tompeplinski There’s a hillbilly UA-camr from Mississippi that hunts public solo in several states like I do. “Do It Yourself Hunter”. Hate the Southern accent but love his hunting style. Even sleeps in his pickup. But uses his boats a lot, like I do. It’s one effective barrier-to-entry. There are others for public. But the key is going where others cannot or will not go. Takes some work but is definitely possible on public. Must just research, scout online & put boots down. It is a decent option to costly private access. And a nice challenge.
I start drinking Tinks 69 exclusively in September. By Halloween I have every buck in the woods chasing me! 🦌👍🏻
You should sell that concept. You must have stock in emergency room stomach pumping gear.
I saw a guy smoking cigars in a bow shop years back. I said you should soak those stogies in Tinks then let them dry. I said they make great scent wicks draw the bucks right in!
He said really! I know he went & gave it a shot! 😂🤮🤢🦌👍🏻
I agree about the gimmicks, habitat, neighbors and area, what do you think about hunters that are only hunting public property?
My first experience or time when I first was able to hunt where there were big bucks was on public land. Sawyer County, Northern WI. but that is back in a time when I had almost no time to hunt. Thus when I learned that time was a critical element in being consistently successful. We had none. If I had, back then, the time I have to hunt that I have now there is no doubt in my mind I could've killed big bucks consistently in those big woods. However, not all public land has big bucks. So, if you're a public land hunter, you need to find land that holds big deer. It's harder to do some times, but there is private land that is worse. Let me put it this way, if your only access is public land that isn't the best... Then the more time you have and the better hunter you are becomes more and more important in killing big bucks. Conversely, there are some truly awful hunters that roam UA-cam and TV that are successful only because they have access to really good farms.
It is NEVER the case that gadgets and hyped up marketed stuff is what works.
That was the most accurate deer hunting rant I've ever heard.
Thank you
2 things Kill deer, Time and effort.
I suppose that's true. For most hunters, just time and effort isn't going to get it done though if their goal is to harvest big bucks on a consistent basis.
Great video tom!keep up the great videos! I remember you from the dream season!
Thank you Jeremy!
You are right, location location location.
Or, make your current location better through optimal habitat and better ways of hunting.
There is no magic fairy dust!
But if there was that magic fairy dust, I could get a bunch, sponsor a bunch of UA-cam stars and make a bunch of money right!!! That's the point spot on---no such product exists. Thanks for commenting.
awesome !! thank you for sharing
Welcome, glad you liked it.
Good stuff! Keep it coming!
I will. Thanks for the comment
100% correct and couldn't agree more.
Thank you Mark!
Great advice!
Thank you for commenting.
It was like listening to myself talk to folks! Cannot agree more and living testament to everything you said!
Happy someone introduced me to you through a link to this video.
Thank you. I think many hunters are really getting sick and tired of all the marketing being pushed on them. I know I am. Good hunting without the drama!
As a person who has spent his life hunting waterfowl, upland birds and wild hogs and just getting started this coming season for the first time deer hunting. I can say I somewhat fell for a bit of the marketing but being a salesman I also quickly recognized what it was and stepped back. I've got 3 properties to hunt on in MO....1 is mine, less than 10acres but has plenty of does on it (great for meat). 1 is 1k acres that i've hunted other game on for over 8yrs and I've seen bucks on it, 1 very nice 5.5 to 6.5yr old 10pt, another 8pt and 2 6pt as well as does. 3rd one I have not had a chance to recon yet, but owner tells me the deer are there and sees them regularly as well as get asked to hunt their property all the time, I was invited to hunt it since I will be using a crossbow and known as someone with woodsmanship. My plan is fairly simple, 1st property to harvest does for meat, 2nd one to harvest the mature buck only (trophy/meat) and the 3rd to see what if anything is worth harvesting. I'm using popup blinds with a scent neutralizer for 2 properties, my property has a feeder on it and I will be using a permanent blind and minimal scent control....the logic behind this is that I see those deer everytime, and they see me, they see and smell me when I load the feeder so they won't perceive me as a threat even if they smell me.
Thank you for the comment. Good luck on your farms!
This is so well said!!
Thank you
Nailed it.
Thank you Joe.
Excellent content.
Thank you Chad.
Absolutely 100% spot on. Great video
Thank you John!
@@tompeplinski
I have 2 of those 3 going on in western NY but it's a yearly struggle. I really wish there was someone in our area to help myself with some property consultant advice.
Also, I think I actually bought some of that super duper XL mega food plot seed in my past too.
@@johnlacki1585 yeah no doubt. I wouldn't travel to NY, but I do offer phone/remote consulting for hunters so they can save money by not having to do an in person consultation. It's not as good as in person, but it costs way less and it can still afford some pretty good insight on how to set up and hunt a property for growing older class bucks. Thank you for the comments! Appreciated.
My comment may be off topic ,but ever since I am learning more about my bow and arrow setup , proper arrow spine choices , tuning my bow to that arrow for maximum efficiency , and continued practice within my effective range with arrow tipped with my broadhead , I rub shoulders with bow hunters who don't seem to respect the privledge to hunt whitetail deer. Can I make a bad shot ? YES . I contantly hear of wounding deer all told because they took a less than a high percentage shot .
I know this sounds not nice but in my opinion there are too many bow hunters that are nothing more than weekend worriors when bow season comes into season .
I used to be one of those weekend warriors because that's all the time I had...and I was an awful hunter. But, I learned and today I'm having the best success (as I've defined it) that I've ever had and I'm killing big deer every year.
The two oldest bucks I killed one was a lease that I happened to be first to catch the ad on craigslist, the other was I drove around opening morning gun season and found a place on public with no hunters nearby. Luck more than anything. But even for the experienced hunter, luck has to be involved somehow.
Thank you for your thoughts. I think you can get lucky, once or twice, but the whole premise of the video was how to kill big bucks consistently. For consistency, luck alone won't cut it in my opinion/experience.
@@tompeplinski I have more fun hunting when I don't know what's around, that's just me. Ok to have a goal to consistently harvest old bucks.
Spot on!!!
Thank you
I have seen more big deer harvested where they were able to grow corn which creates thermal cover that will hold big bucks left uncut the corn also provides food
Interesting, I have not had that same experience...thank you for the comment.
I had a mentor who would always say there's no such thing as a great hunter, only great hunting spots. My experience has shown that many of the bucks in my areas are taken with #1 corn pile, #2 scoped crossbow, #3 moonlit night.
Hmmm. My experience is that in any given area, the same hunters over and over seem to have the most success. I'm sure in some cases, there's some shady stuff going on... But not in most.
Decades ago I had no success reaching any of my goals, but that has all changed for me now, and now I consistently kill big bucks every year, in some cases surrounded by neighbors who don't?
Thank you for the comments. Always good to hear others perspectives.