How many 180+ Whitetails have you seen while walking?

[ResidentSpokesman]

I find as I get older I seem to have less patience to sit every year. For the past 30 years my motto has been "the best way to kill anything, regardless of the species is to figure out where he's going to be and get there first". I've killed some awesome bucks from a tent or stand over the years. But lately I want to get out and stroll around more.

So my question is how many of you guys that still hunt every year see big mature bucks this way? I've bumped into tons of 130 and down while hanging stands / scouting / sneaking in etc. But I can't ever recall seeing a shooter this way. Even while Elk or Moose hunting I've bumped into everything but a 180+ Whitetail.

[Slicktricker]

2 biggest whitetails I’ve shot was walking one went 177 other grossed 182 netted 168

[LJalberta]

I've never seen a 180 whitetail alive. One of these days hopefully...

[Kurt505]

I have had success with spot and stalk but I can't say how many I've seen while walking around because I've never shot one while I was walking (one 180+ that is), I do know that I've seen some cankers while walking but haven't had time to get a good shot off.

I haven't shot a 180+ deer walking, sitting in a blind, sitting in a tree, driving down the road, still hunting, or any style of hunting for that matter, at least not yet anyway. I've killed a bunch between 160-178 though.

As you (ResidentSpokesman) already know, the best way to get a good shot at a good deer is to be waiting for them to come to you. Still hunting isn't the best way to kill a big buck, but it's by far my favorite.

[Dick284]

None.
Zero
Zilch

[whitetail Junkie]

saw one 180+ while walking in northern Saskatchewan in 2001 was the year...he was about 700 yards from me and we both spotted each other at the same time.we both stood still and eyeballed each other for about a Minute before he finally hightailed it into the thick timber...The height of his tines and think main beams are still etched into my head.

Lots of bucks in there prime (if they even live that long) won't crack 170 let alone 180+.....But like the OP I can't handle sitting all day in the same spot,I mix it up with walking,ground blinds,cut lines,bush pushes,scouting new spots and visiting/coffee time with landowners and fellow hunters...all proven successful for us at one time or another.

[fishnguy]

My cousin's first whitetail netted 182 or 188 (I can't recall, but those were the numbers). Still hunting. His next was 170 something gross, but netted at 157. Still hunting as well.

Personally, I have not seen any whitetails that big. I have not shot anything worth measuring yet. Last year's buck was probably 140 and a little bit. I actually kind of regret (well, maybe not, maybe just on the fence of regretting) shooting him because the guy had a great spread and tines and came from a genetically very good area. I am almost confident he would be a monster buck in a couple of years.

Now mulies is a different story. I have seen at least a dozen that were that and bigger. But who has a tag? It is two more years for me to get one, hopefully. Unless things change drastically in that area during this time.

Still hunting is the way to go, IMO. I cannot sit in one place and even 30 minutes is pushing it. I killed a cow elk on a field this year and that was the most boring hunt for me so far (I only have few hunts under my belt though). And even here I did not get to sit more than 5 minutes, even on the field I chose to move and walk like a ninja . I scouted there quite a few times earlier and spent an hour or so a couple of times at that field. The only reason I was able to spent so much time there is a huge number of mule deer there, so it was fun watching the young ones run and play, calling them in to within meters - the closest I got was just under 2 meters. That was fun.

[FCLightning]

None


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[35 whelen]

When I was in my twenties hunting around Drayton Valley just walking up a cut line looking down at some coyotes s*** I looked up and it was the biggest whitetail I've ever seen double drop time probably 2:30 75 yards away took an offhand shot missed came back the next weekend and seen it again never got a shot still have that picture in my head from 30 years ago

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[ROA]

Zero

Biggest bucks I have seen I have been driving around usually not hunting at all. Never had a 180 plus stand there and give me a chance to shoot it, doesn't matter if I am walking, sitting, road hunting, calling/rattling, day dreaming, taking a ****. Don't matter how I hunt I've never been given the chance.

[Twisted Canuck]

Never while walking. Once while driving, and he was so hot after a doe I could have walked up and clubbed him with a brick...Biggest WT buck I have ever seen, a genuine 5x5 typical with beams on him as thick as coke cans. I still have nightmares. Was just south of Le Glace, on the way to work. I stopped van, and watched him dog this doe all the way across the field, and cross the highway 50 yards in front of me. I was tempted to put him down with the van, throw him in the back, and tag him when I got home....*sigh*

[sns2]

None.

I may only have ever seen one live buck that would go 180. They don'y grow on trees.

[Don K]

I've seen one in Saskatchewan and 2 or 3 on a place we used to hunt out east. There were big deer out there but always on the run as it was primarily a bush pushing excercise. It's been overrun by hunters and hasn't ever been the same. Sigh...

[graybeard]

I can't really say it was a 180 class but it was much bigger than the one on I put on the ground.

I was hunting a couple of years back in the middle of the rut. I shot a very respectable white tail buck.
As I was approaching my downed buck a huge white tail buck (bigger than mine) approached my buck and was locking up his horns with him; fighting with it.....

I was about 50 yards away when the live buck saw me a ran off about 100 yards away and then he just stood there as I began to dress my buck out. He later just walked off...

The question running through my head was should I have waited in hopes to harvest the big deer even though I never saw him or take the one I did. The ol' "one in the hand or two in the bush" saying....

That was different but still a great day to be in the field with an interesting story....
My white tail taped out at 158.....

[The moose]

Man I would love to see some of the pictures of the deer from this thread. Crazy.

Opening morning this year I had a very large WT at 12 yards. too bad it was about 15 mins before legal light.....

I know where he lives, just need to be in right spot at right time.

[pikeslayer22]

Lots of gross 180's and a few that have netted it. Do 90% of my hunting walking

[Stubb]

A sibling's first whitetail and second deer ever grossed over 180". A real feat especially for the area we hunt. I've hunted for 25 years and have never seen a WT even close to that. I would be thrilled with a 160".

[MK2750]

I have shot mature deer while still hunting that would be every bit as cagy as a high scoring deer. I have shot numerous 150s, one close to 170. Several of these were in high pressure areas and at the top of their game. No where near 180 but some very old and wise characters. So IMO you certainly can score on a high quality deer still hunting but most of us need a bunch of luck to cross paths with a book+ deer.

Nearly 30 years ago I was driving down a wood road toward a slough to go duck hunting. It was well before daylight. A White Tail walked out of the ditch and started walking directly down the road in front of me at about 50 yards. He had double drop tines, one with a club, that were well over a foot long and were out there wider than his hips. I snapped on the high beams and he freezes, first looks over his shoulder at me and then turns towards me as if to say "Just try it!" He sniffed the road an then just walked off. Not only were the antlers impressive but the body on this deer was absolutely massive.

I have never even seen a picture of a deer more massive/impressive and this was my only encounter with a true world class deer. This with spending a way more time in the bush than most people could imagine. I believe many more are dreamed about than ever walked up on. Most stories I have heard about book+ deer, that I can actually verify as being shot, involved a lot more luck than hunting skill.

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by pikeslayer22

Lots of gross 180's and a few that have netted it. Do 90% of my hunting walking

Mostly walking ......That's awesome!

[hiway mike]

Originally Posted by The moose

Man I would love to see some of the pictures of the deer from this thread. Crazy.



.

I like this discussion about big deer. Will add some pics in hopes that others will do the same.


First pic is my archery buck from 2016.

2nd pic is a deer I scouted with some friends in 2014. A buddy arrowed it.

3rd pic is both of the racks together.




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[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by hiway mike

I like this discussion about big deer. Will add some pics in hopes that others will do the same.


First pic is my archery buck from 2016.

2nd pic is a deer I scouted with some friends in 2014. A buddy arrowed it.

3rd pic is both of the racks together.




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Awesome bucks, I'd like to see some pics of 180+ bucks too.

This one only scores 173

[dfrobert]

^^^^heck of a 4x5

[stob]

3 at 200 +/- ( one of these was by myself when I punched him out of bullrushes pheasant hunting ) the other 2 my dogs bumped while pheasant hunting ... nocturnal beasts I assume... I have had a 140 &160 muley follow me around in bottom land while I hunted birds in the past too

[silver]

I can say I have not seen one walking.

I did get a brief look at one on posted land in season but he was untouchable. Was good to see him a few times for a few years. Every time I saw him after that there was no season.

This was 25 or 30 years ago, I lived on a secluded acreage, lots of bush around, but I could see about 700 yards to the south across some pasture. I had a spotting scope set up, and one day in August there were 6 bucks going across the pasture. Two of them I could see had four points, plus a brow tine, and the beam length was four to six inches. The others had five points plus a brow tine. When they are walking from right to left at 600 yards, I couldn't see the brow tine, I just presumed it was there. Three out of the four had 5 main tines of about 6 inches.

The last one, the one I had seen a few times, had 5 main tines of about 8 to 10 inches.

Talking to other hunters, a guy has to be fairly careful what you say. I did get one other guy to admit to seeing him. He came up with enough details to convince me we were talking about the same animal. When I didn't see him for a few years , I started asking around. One neighbour said he was pushing bush in the area concerned, got a shot at a really good one, but lost his tracks in the blowing snow.

I would have to say he was real close to the Hanson buck, but you know, deer track soup is mighty poor eating.

[badbrass]

Ive seen 3, one never made it 192 5/8 NT
I guess they say it's a double throat? Which is special!

[lromanchuk]

Originally Posted by badbrass

Ive seen 3, one never made it 192 5/8 NT
I guess they say it's a double throat? Which is special!

Nice work.. He's a beauty.

[Big Lou]

I’m pretty sure this is the largest I’ve seen while actively hunting. I came home October 31st. Checked cams Nov 1 and he was very regular and in legal light for about a week previous. I could have killed him that evening with the slug gun. Watched him feed for about an hour but I got cocky and figured I’d kill him with the bow. I’m positive he watched me hang the stand the next day. Went completely nocturnal after that and I didn’t see him for over a year. Killed him that next fall. A lot smaller at 163”. Tale of the teeth puts him 8+ years old but most likely 9.5. I know where his sheds are and that landowner will not let anyone on for any reason. It breaks me. I’d do a lot of bad things to see how big he was in his prime.

I’ve seen my fair share of 180+ deer via touring backroads and spending a considerable amount of time in northern Alberta when deer numbers were insane. The bulk of them have been just random and a lot of miles in between but I’ve seen some real pigs. Other than the one I shared pictures of, I think I’ve only seen one other that would for sure break 180” while hunting.


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[Bushleague]

I saw one 11 years ago while I was tracking a moose south of Red Earth, I don't know if he was 180 but deffinatly over 160. When I first saw him he was looking at me from between two poplars, all I could see were his brow tines and I remember thinking he was a pretty big fork horn. Then he stepped casually stepped out from behind the tree about 60 yards from me and I could see the whole rack... unfortunately I had hung my tag on a nice 4x5 a few weeks earlier.

[Red Bullets]

Over 40+ years of parkland hunting I have known 3 whitetails that were definitely 180 or better.

One of those big bucks ended up teaching me lots about deer hunting and tracking. He never did present himself during my hunts but I played a few rounds of hide and seek with him. I first saw him across a valley during pre season scouting. That buck was a loner. His bed was by itself and the bed was probably as old as him. The bed was no where near any well used deer trails. His bed was on a point overlooking a heavily treed valley 120 yards from a year round water source. Only a dozen smaller trees on his bed point. That buck used the most obscure trails to and from his bed. He didn't have to move very far for everything he needed. That buck eluded me the whole hunting season and the following spring I was able to find one side of his dropped antlers(pic 1). The antler I found was a clean 5 point with 84 inches of mass. He was a typical and wide so I'm guessing he was in the mid to high 180's. Sadly the following spring the landowner decided to build a home 250 yards from that bucks bed. I couldn't hunt that property after that but the landowner did tell me about seeing that buck a few times over the next 4 years. I'd bet that buck died of old age.

Another time I found a set of dropped antlers that were so nice I had a shoulder mount done with them. That set would have likely scored around 190. (pic2)

When I was guiding a few years ago I put a hunter on my personal favorite hunting spot in a ground stand. I myself had been successful there before with 150 class bucks. At high noon he shot a 5x5 182 typical with 4 inches of deductions. (pic3)

[curtisb]

Seen one that would have went 180+.
248, late August of 2006.
Scouting right near my house. Seen hide nor hair of one since.