WA bucks over 180”?

[huntnnw]

For every big buck you see shared on any social platform there is probably 5-10 you have no clue about. I get pics sent to me ever year from locals in areas of giants that nobody ever sees on social media. This happens all over the state .

[Alan K]

For every big buck you see shared on any social platform theirs is probably 5-10 you have no clue about. I get pics sent to me ever year from locals in areas of giants that nobody ever sees on social media. This happens all over the state .

  

[7mmfan]

I know of one other Methow buck that was close to that number that will not show up on any social media.

[muleyslayer]

For every big buck you see shared on any social platform there is probably 5-10 you have no clue about. I get pics sent to me ever year from locals in areas of giants that nobody ever sees on social media. This happens all over the state .

I think there is a lot of truth to this statement, it happens in every state. In 2023 a co worker of mine shared a picture of a buck his cousin shot during 2nd rifle in Colorado . He said the guy didn’t have social media, buck was easily a 260” type gov. Tag buck. I never seen it posted anywhere on the internet.
As for the question from the OP I heard of the bucks you listed that were taken this year. The last time I remember a lot of mature bucks being taken in Washington was in 2020, with the snow storms that hit on the general rifle season, but 180 can be a tall order in Washington.

[TimberMuleys]

For every big buck you see shared on any social platform there is probably 5-10 you have no clue about. I get pics sent to me ever year from locals in areas of giants that nobody ever sees on social media. This happens all over the state .

I completely understand that there are many bucks killed very year that many don’t know about. That’s kind of why I started the thread because I know there’s bucks out there nobody is sharing, but how many are truly in that 180”+ range? I would just really like to know how rare a buck of that caliber is in WA. 1 180” buck per 500 fawn bucks born? 1 in 1000? More? There’s not really a way of guaging that but I thought maybe using harvest statistics I could get an idea. I would be surprised if on average there are more than 20-25 bucks over 180” killed in WA every year. Maybe that’s just because I hunt in a bad unit. But it’s seems like there’s around 20k bucks shot in WA a year. (Yes I know that’s a rough number) if only 20 of those bucks are 180” plus? Would that mean the number would be 1 in 1000? I think it would be less because big bucks are getting killed at a lesser rate than smaller bucks right?

Maybe this is dumb, but does anyone else see my thought process?


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[Weatherby92]

I see your thought process but you also lost me a bit. You're talking apples and oranges. My understanding of the thread is how many 180"+ bucks are harvested, not how many exist. I also agree with others, there's alot of harvests that don't show up on the internet.
My assumption is that the number of 180"+ harvests in WA annually is higher than your guess...I have zero data to back that up tho.

[muleyslayer]

For every big buck you see shared on any social platform there is probably 5-10 you have no clue about. I get pics sent to me ever year from locals in areas of giants that nobody ever sees on social media. This happens all over the state .

I completely understand that there are many bucks killed very year that many don’t know about. That’s kind of why I started the thread because I know there’s bucks out there nobody is sharing, but how many are truly in that 180”+ range? I would just really like to know how rare a buck of that caliber is in WA. 1 180” buck per 500 fawn bucks born? 1 in 1000? More? There’s not really a way of guaging that but I thought maybe using harvest statistics I could get an idea. I would be surprised if on average there are more than 20-25 bucks over 180” killed in WA every year. Maybe that’s just because I hunt in a bad unit. But it’s seems like there’s around 20k bucks shot in WA a year. (Yes I know that’s a rough number) if only 20 of those bucks are 180” plus? Would that mean the number would be 1 in 1000? I think it would be less because big bucks are getting killed at a lesser rate than smaller bucks right?

Maybe this is dumb, but does anyone else see my thought process?


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The hardcore guys that scout states like Colorado turn up a 190 plus type buck after looking at 200 to 500 bucks. The guys that scout Idaho a lot are closer to 500 bucks to find a 180 to 190. I would say in Washington it’s probably 800 to 1000. That’s sounds absolutely ridiculous, but we just don’t have the mule deer population or management strategies of other western states.

[Feathernfurr]

So don’t take this the wrong way… but it really feels like you’re trying to justify to yourself that you killed one of the biggest bucks in the state this season. If that is what’s going on, there’s nothing wrong with it. I went through a similar thing with a really nice whitetail in a different state a few years back. We live in a world where hunting feels like a big Richard measuring contest sometimes and it’s pretty easy to get sucked in. Your buck is a hammer, killing a deer like that on public in a general season is rare in a lot of states, not just Washington, with the caveat of some of the monster muley areas that regularly produce 190-220’s. You should be proud of it and know that you’re in a pretty small group killing bucks of that class this season. I know plenty of guys that had quality draw tags that killed 140’s-160’s.

[TimberMuleys]

So don’t take this the wrong way… but it really feels like you’re trying to justify to yourself that you killed one of the biggest bucks in the state this season. If that is what’s going on, there’s nothing wrong with it. I went through a similar thing with a really nice whitetail in a different state a few years back. We live in a world where hunting feels like a big Richard measuring contest sometimes and it’s pretty easy to get sucked in. Your buck is a hammer, killing a deer like that on public in a general season is rare in a lot of states, not just Washington, with the caveat of some of the monster muley areas that regularly produce 190-220’s. You should be proud of it and know that you’re in a pretty small group killing bucks of that class this season. I know plenty of guys that had quality draw tags that killed 140’s-160’s.

I appreciate the honesty, and there definitely could be some truth to that. I would like to know where my buck compares. But I’m really kinda trying to wrap my head around the reality of being able to do it year after year. I listen to the Rokcast a lot and I know Travis has talked about it some, but none of those guys hunt Washington. I know the chances are extremely low to even do it once, but that’s my goal going into every season. Just trying to find another buck of that caliber is difficult, let alone ever having a chance at killing it. I’m a big math nerd and numbers guy so I kind of like to have a number to wrap my head around.  Kinda helps motivate me that the next “1 in 1000” buck could be on the next ridge or behind the next tree. But if I don’t find another buck of the caliber I’m looking for, it’s also a reality check and to not get discouraged because if it was easy and they were everywhere there wouldn’t be a challenge. Sorry if it seems like I’m trying to get in a Johnson measuring contest, I’m really not. Just an obsessed kid who loves mule deer.


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[Feathernfurr]

Totally understand. The last 4 deer I’ve killed have all been target bucks that I dedicated the season to. 2 of the 4 were statistically once in a lifetime for the region where they were harvested. The other two were actually old and regressing. It’s definitely a different level of cat and mouse trying to single one out. I think shooting for a number can always be a little tough, a lot of things go into a good scoring deer of any species. Mature is more the thing I look for now, if the score matches that even better. I generally spend the next 4 months looking for sheds until I find one that excites me and then work my way backwards to finding that deer in the summer and then targeting him in the season.

All that being said I’m not a huge muley guy, but I’d be willing to wager that not a ton of guys are killing a 180” every year in Washington. Between me and the 5-6 guys I shed hunt with, across multiple states, I’d bet we have probably 6 sheds out of 700-800 muley sheds that would make 180-200”.

[TimberMuleys]

Totally understand. The last 4 deer I’ve killed have all been target bucks that I dedicated the season to. 2 of the 4 were statistically once in a lifetime for the region where they were harvested. The other two were actually old and regressing. It’s definitely a different level of cat and mouse trying to single one out. I think shooting for a number can always be a little tough, a lot of things go into a good scoring deer of any species. Mature is more the thing I look for now, if the score matches that even better. I generally spend the next 4 months looking for sheds until I find one that excites me and then work my way backwards to finding that deer in the summer and then targeting him in the season.

All that being said I’m not a huge muley guy, but I’d be willing to wager that not a ton of guys are killing a 180” every year in Washington. Between me and the 5-6 guys I shed hunt with, across multiple states, I’d bet we have probably 6 sheds out of 700-800 muley sheds that would make 180-200”.

Yeah I agree on maturity. I do get a little too stuck on score sometimes, but if there was a better scoring buck that I knew for sure was young and an old heavy buck with some character or that I had history with, I’m pulling the trigger on the older one every time. Thanks for your honesty and response. Did you find the 4 bucks you singled out to be much more rewarding? Regardless of size?

I ask because I know there’s some pride involved with the horns on my buck, but I truly loved the cat and mouse and process of singling him out. It was definitely much more rewarding than my other big buck. I knew about my other big buck, but hadn’t singled it out and made it my target like this year. Maybe it’s not true, but I feel like even if the buck I shot this year was 30”+ smaller, it still would’ve been my favorite because of the experience of singling him out and hunting him in his difficult habitat.


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[boneaddict]

At some point you stop killing them and start photographing them.  You know it’s a lot harder to get a good photo of a buck than it is to kill it.   

[TimberMuleys]

At some point you stop killing them and start photographing them.  You know it’s a lot harder to get a good photo of a buck than it is to kill it.   

Not gonna disagree with you on that. I think I have to graduate to archery first before I get to photography haha


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[boneaddict]

Not just archery, Trad bow. 

[Feathernfurr]

Boneaddict isn’t wrong I don’t think lol.

Archery is definitely the next step! Although I’ll admit I have more trophy size animals with a recurve than my compound. There’s a Golden Horseshoe somewhere that I think accounts for that.

I would say targeting a buck for me was absolutely more rewarding, but comes with a lot more anxiety and a little melancholy when it’s all over. It’s like losing a friend almost. How long you play the game for has a huge impact too. One of mine consumed my world for the entirety of a 3 month season and I killed him on the final morning of the season.

I will admit sometimes I miss the idea of the old days when I was young and I was just going in imagination. The ideas of giant bucks stepping out at first light that I didn’t even know existed.

I think in the end you hunt what makes you happy. I love shooting does and little bucks with a bow, if I live in a state where I can have multiple tags I absolutely will. In Washington where I only get one, I’m definitely trying to target a mature buck until the 11th hour and then some unfortunate doe or young buck is filling the freezer.