In what percentile is a HARVESTED 160 inch buck on a general unit?

[mtnrunner260]

Look at check station data.
The couple I've participated in, it's less than 1%.
Remember one we checked 112 bucks in two days. 1 buck was 160+. Easy to draw general season unit.

 

[huntnful]

Depends on the area. Some areas a 160 class buck is top end. In other areas it would be considered a dink.

What general unit that you can hunt every year is a 160" considered a dink? I'd like to start hunting there lol.

 

[Fatcamp]

What general unit that you can hunt every year is a 160" considered a dink? I'd like to start hunting there lol.

No doubt.

Please send me pm of unit details. Wouldn't want to spread that info.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Depends on the area. Some areas a 160 class buck is top end. In other areas it would be considered a dink.

Surely you jest?

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

I don't know muley scores much at all, so I'd have to see some pics of 160" bucks. Deer don't excite me much (especially when I have to chase them out of the garden every day), so they have to be wide and BIG to impress me. OP, what does the buck in your avatar measure. He looks like a decent buck.

He is 187, his main beams make him what he is. 27 and 28 inches. Inside spread is almost 24.

 

[huntnful]

Western WY. Places in CO. ID no problem.

Score gets people all worked up. Score is relevant to the circle you run in. No one I hunt with looks twice at 160 class bucks. Not to say they are not a trophy for someone else though.

Anymore I’m more concerned with age, and in most areas I hunt a 160 class buck isn’t mature to my standards. Now in places like eastern wy it could be a top end mature buck and it’s getting shot. But I don’t hunt there.

I like big mature bucks. 160 and even lots of 170 class do not trip my trigger, even in OTC areas.

Actually that's super valid. For some reason I wasn't thinking from the perspective of a resident. Only non resident general tags.

You're absolutely right. A dedicated WY resident, hunting western Wyoming on a general tag every year should see quite a few 160 class bucks if they are getting after it. And a general ID tag for residents is good for tons of units, some which do have a better population of bigger bucks.

 

[180ls1]

Actually that's super valid. For some reason I wasn't thinking from the perspective of a resident. Only non resident general tags.

You're absolutely right. A dedicated WY resident, hunting western Wyoming on a general tag every year should see quite a few 160 class bucks if they are getting after it. And a general ID tag for residents is good for tons of units, some which do have a better population of bigger bucks.

Yeah, meanwhile, I don't know of a single 160" "mule deer" killed in my county (San Diego).

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

Look at check station data.
The couple I've participated in, it's less than 1%.
Remember one we checked 112 bucks in two days. 1 buck was 160+. Easy to draw general season unit.

Where can I find check station data?

 

[S.Clancy]

He is 187, his main beams make him what he is. 27 and 28 inches. Inside spread is almost 24.

Those beams are giant.

 

[dancyr3]

Most guys aren't gonna see a 160 in the back of a truck let alone in the field. Guys that get into those bucks are true professionals!

 

[Pacific_Fork]

Western WY. Places in CO. ID no problem.

Score gets people all worked up. Score is relevant to the circle you run in. No one I hunt with looks twice at 160 class bucks. Not to say they are not a trophy for someone else though.

Anymore I’m more concerned with age, and in most areas I hunt a 160 class buck isn’t mature to my standards. Now in places like eastern wy it could be a top end mature buck and it’s getting shot. But I don’t hunt there.

I like big mature bucks. 160 and even lots of 170 class do not trip my trigger, even in OTC areas.

Which is it that your concerned with, age or inches? 150” 7+ year old bucks are out there. I’ve killed and seen a few personally. Age/antler size is not an indicator. Theres been giants killed only being 4 years old.

Measuring antlers is stupid yet I’ve done it, mainly out of pressure. But I sure do like big bucks

 

[mtnrunner260]

I’m curious, what check station is scoring bucks? I know of no check station data with scores. I have some copies of MT, ID and WY. Which state is doing that?

Correct not scoring but talk to bios and COs who work them. See if you can volunteer at one.

 

[mtnrunner260]

Where can I find check station data?

Some annual reports. Or know a guy. Typically points and width are recorded.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Got it, thanks. I am talking out of bucks that are actually legally harvested. Say there is a that unit gives out a thousand tags and 300 bucks were killed. How many of those 300 bucks that were killed will go 160+.

You have too much faith in our fellow hunters. Chances are likely that only 100-150 bucks will be killed out of those 1,000 tags issued. Of those killed probably less than 5% are over 160". That means 5-7.5 over 160 out of the 100-150.

So 7.5/1000= 0.0075% that's under 1%.

 

[EdP]

This type of info is available on the Wy G&F site for Wy units. Not exactly by measured points but by class of deer.

 

[mtnrunner260]

This is from Dennis Austin's book. I believe Mr. Denning has reviewed it.
A buck is classified as mature at 3.5 and older. In Utah at least.
No way to tell scores but not mature bucks 4x4 or greater are a small part of harvest and I assume few of those are 160+.

 

[ElDiablito]

Better question is what percentage of hunters would know a 160 class deer when they saw it?

 

[Fatcamp]

This is from Dennis Austin's book. I believe Mr. Denning has reviewed it.
A buck is classified as mature at 3.5 and older. In Utah at least.
No way to tell scores but not mature bucks 4x4 or greater are a small part of harvest and I assume few of those are 160+.
View attachment 725658

1992 was a different time. 32 years ago.

 

[5MilesBack]

Better question is what percentage of hunters would know a 160 class deer when they saw it?

Yep. I don't know scores at all, but muley's don't even turn my head until their spread is well outside their ears.

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

You have too much faith in our fellow hunters. Chances are likely that only 100-150 bucks will be killed out of those 1,000 tags issued. Of those killed probably less than 5% are over 160". That means 5-7.5 over 160 out of the 100-150.

So 7.5/1000= 0.0075% that's under 1%.

It is common for a rifle hunt to have around 30% success rate in many units.