|
HOW CAN YOU IDENTIFY A BIG BUCK?
Identifying a really big buck is easy - your heart-rate and shivering
will do that for you in a moment! Important considerations are
antler width, mass and the total number of points. If you can
keep from pulling the trigger immediately, check that his rack
is wider than his ears. Also compare tine-length to the length
of each ear - the longer the better!
Big bucks have a burley way about them - they are the boss and
they know it. Watch for a blocky, heavy-set body with large shoulders
and a heavy neck. Big bucks are usually with does during hunting
season, doing what comes naturally...
What constitutes a big buck in Bear Track Outfitters country?
We like to suggest that our hunters hold-out for at least a 130-135
class buck, with hopes that they will shoot a much larger scoring
trophy.
WHERE DO YOU SHOOT A BIG BUCK?
Deer are NOT difficult animals to kill. They might be difficult
to HIT, but almost any modern caliber will cleanly kill a buck
if it is placed correctly. Although the latest premium bullets
are sexy, they are not necessary for whitetail deer. Relatively
fast opening bullets that retain as much weight as possible are
suggested. Shot-placement is everything when it comes to killing
big bucks. We suggest as much practice time as possible prior
to your hunt - familiarity and confidence are the keys to killing
bucks. Don't shoot from the bench, practice firing from hunting
positions and with any rest available.
Where do you shoot a big buck? In reality the vital area is quite
large - about 12 to 15 inches or even larger on Manitoba trophy-sized
bucks. Hunters should imagine that their target is a volleyball
located just between the front shoulders. The lungs are a fairly
large target, hit them from whatever angle and the deer dies.
The heart is located in the forward bottom region of the vital
zone, and in fact it is usually protected by the heavy bones of
the front legs. Nervous system shots are also deadly, but the
neck and spine are much smaller targets and usually should only
be considered if the shooter is very confident in his shot-placement. |