What's your 2023 target buck?

Honyock

WKR
Joined
Dec 21, 2019
Messages
987
Location
Edmond, OK
IMHO, one of the big benefits of running trail cameras is to get an inventory of the size of bucks that are in your area. I know that there is a long thread/pissing match on trail cameras and to each their own. What someone does on their land doesn't affect me on mine. Personally, I enjoy getting my morning deer porn delivered to my phone and seeing what's there (deer, hogs, coyotes, turkey, bobcats, etc). My question is, would you have shot that "nice 8 point" if you knew that there were several bigger deer on your hunting land? I think a lot of guys would be surprised to see what's actually on their land. Unless you're going to play the luck game, to kill big bucks you have to hunt big bucks and be willing to go home empty handed. I've killed enough "nice deer" over the last 40 years and don't need another rack to throw in the pile. If I want meat, I shoot a young doe. This is my 2023 target buck. I've been picking him up pretty consistently for the last three months primarily hitting mineral stations. No guarantees where he will go when the bachelor herds bust up but knowing he's in the area makes it a lot easier to pass on smaller bucks. Without trail cameras I would have not known that he was even there. I would have bet a lot of money that there was not a 175-180 class deer on my land.

The Big Guy.jpg
 

Duh

WKR
Joined
Apr 5, 2023
Messages
839
IMHO, one of the big benefits of running trail cameras is to get an inventory of the size of bucks that are in your area. I know that there is a long thread/pissing match on trail cameras and to each their own. What someone does on their land doesn't affect me on mine. Personally, I enjoy getting my morning deer porn delivered to my phone and seeing what's there (deer, hogs, coyotes, turkey, bobcats, etc). My question is, would you have shot that "nice 8 point" if you knew that there were several bigger deer on your hunting land? I think a lot of guys would be surprised to see what's actually on their land. Unless you're going to play the luck game, to kill big bucks you have to hunt big bucks and be willing to go home empty handed. I've killed enough "nice deer" over the last 40 years and don't need another rack to throw in the pile. If I want meat, I shoot a young doe. This is my 2023 target buck. I've been picking him up pretty consistently for the last three months primarily hitting mineral stations. No guarantees where he will go when the bachelor herds bust up but knowing he's in the area makes it a lot easier to pass on smaller bucks. Without trail cameras I would have not known that he was even there. I would have bet a lot of money that there was not a 175-180 class deer on my land.

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Idk man, think he needs another year. Totally joking. Sweet buck!
 

Long Cut

WKR
Joined
May 24, 2019
Messages
438
I’ve watched this buck since 2020 and hunted him since 2022.

He’ll be my #1 target this season, I’m guessing he’s 6-7 at this point.

That’s a beautiful buck you’ve got there. I’d be chasing him down, it looks like his genetics have already spread to boot!

Good luck chasing him IMG_7583.jpeg
 

raptor16

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 28, 2019
Messages
270
Location
NW Arkansas
Don’t run trail cams, but have access to a farm in north central Missouri that can produce some studs.

OP, that buck is freaking awesome.
 
Joined
Apr 3, 2017
Messages
1,143
Location
Magnolia, Texas
Awesome bucks. Here’s one Im hoping to stick around in Central Arkansas.
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raptor16

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 28, 2019
Messages
270
Location
NW Arkansas
Awesome bucks. Here’s one Im hoping to stick around in Central Arkansas.
77b8e6e14c4514037afc4bf465876bc1.jpg

e76f5d2d4e26233d728a1366e8b8ba41.jpg

e4dfee29634aa7eced874d09d48273ee.jpg



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Nice buck for Central AR! Or anywhere for that matter really. What county are you in?

I grew up in Fort Smith, went to school in Russellville, and currently live up in Bentonville.
 
Joined
Feb 24, 2016
Messages
2,615
I don't even put out cameras until mid-September. I couldn't imagine being stressed out watching a deer all summer. lol We like to have a little bit of a surprise.
 

Long Cut

WKR
Joined
May 24, 2019
Messages
438
I don't even put out cameras until mid-September. I couldn't imagine being stressed out watching a deer all summer. lol We like to have a little bit of a surprise.
1431D92D-0AB0-4BFB-B324-E26FBFAD906C.jpeg

Late summer into early Fall is probably the best time to kill a mature deer.
They’re extremely patternable. The most challenging aspect is interpreting thermals to avoid being detected by the deer.

I’ve been closely watching this guy all Summer and have him pegged down.

He’ll get the pass this year, but building history with a buck makes him significantly easier to kill in the future.

Some enjoy the mystery and I do as well hunting public land. On Private I enjoy the “Chess Match”.

My .02
 
Joined
Aug 21, 2023
Messages
36
Location
Indiana
He’s not my biggest but he is the best thing I have on camera this year. We had a devastating f4 tornado go through our area back in April. It has completely changed deer habits and areas they bed, feed, ect… pretty crazy stuff
 

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30338

WKR
Joined
Jun 2, 2013
Messages
1,988
Had eyes on a nice herd of bachelor bucks, long enough to see about 5 that I would shoot. For whatever reason I never put cameras out this year. May get some out shortly, more to catch trespassers than to see deer at this point. Sure are some nice pics above though. Season can't get here soon enough.
 

amateurhourhunter

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 3, 2022
Messages
186
Location
New Jersey
Biggest buck I’ve ever had on cam. Hope he slips up. Only night pics
 

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