It’s the dream of every deer hunter: bringing down a trophy buck. Casual hunters and novices see it as their coming of age to become a veteran hunter, while veterans see trophy bucks as being a test of their skills.
The dream won’t come true for everybody, however. Trophy bucks grow large because of age, and with that age comes the wisdom and wits that ensure they get to that age to begin with. What this means is the older a trophy buck, the more desirable it is, and the harder it is to hunt them. You have to wonder how a hunter can make his dream of a trophy buck come true.
A hunter has to realize that the common strategies and tactics that work well on dogs and younger bucks will not work on the trophy buck of their dreams. These trophy bucks have previously avoided most of these and will be wise to them. A hunter who wants to hunt trophy bucks needs to commit to the hunt for a trophy buck and adapt their strategies, plans and tactics accordingly. This also means they have to learn new strategies and bring along their best game on the hunt. Locating where these trophy bucks hide is a must, and a hunter must be prepared to make the extra effort.
If the area you are hunting in currently has its fair share of hunters, anticipate that the trophy bucks have already moved on. Trophy bucks tend to be more cautious, more wise, and will not be where many hunters already are. It certainly won’t be a bad idea to wake up earlier than the other hunters, prepared to return to camp later as well.
Hunters seeking trophy bucks should be prepared to come a day earlier and leave days later than other hunters. A hunter out to shoot a trophy buck shouldn’t be satisfied with anything less either. If you’re out to shoot a trophy buck, and a smaller deer comes into your sights, let it go.
Usually, shooting that deer means you’re done for the season, meaning you’ve defeated yourself on your hunt for a trophy buck. Don’t compromise unless you don’t really desire a trophy buck. Besides, if you let that lesser deer go, it may just become a trophy buck down the road. Lastly, a few more tips to help the hunter bag that trophy buck: hunt as frequently as you can, for as long as you can. The field is where you will find those bucks, but don’t be discouraged if you don’t find them immediately.
Return every year. Learn what you can from experienced hunters and from watching the deer themselves. Continue to persevere even when you fail. Become a master hunter, create careful plans, and be patient in employing them. Plans and preparations are vital in catching a trophy buck, but at the same time, continue to believe that you will catch a trophy buck.
Commitment to getting your dream trophy buck is only the first step, and learning whatever you can to do so comes next. Not all hunters will decide to go deer hunting only for the trophy buck of their dreams, and those that do must learn more deer hunting techniques and strategies.