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Who has already killed your best buck?

I've killed 2 bucks (both 8 points) that have hit the 130's. I don't hunt out of state and only hunt East TN, so unless I travel I doubt I will. I have had maybe 2-3 deer on camera (literally one time for each) that would probably be in 140s over the last 8 years. Id love to to get a deer in the 150's but I don't have the time to travel for them yet. When I retire, I will attempt to go out-of-state or further west in TN to pursue larger deer if possible.

Right now I am enjoying watching my 16 and 13 year old boys progress. I have standards of 3.5 y.o. plus and usually let them walk. Both my sons are learning to age on the hoof and have opted to pass some good 2 year old deer this year. I would rather them kill what they want or any mature buck we got before I do. But if a 4.5+ steps out and they aren't with me I will shoot. We hunt 27 acres so this is tough knowing there is quite a bit of pressure around us but we have a few up and comers that have survived thus far.
 
Being as I'm strictly public I tell myself my 130" 11 point might just be my best. I want to hit the 140" mark on public tho. I've laid eyes on 2 since that were at least 130" but blew my chance on one this year and last year I bumped the other locked down with a doe going to hang my stand. Pretty sure he would have hit the 140 mark.

 
Think i got one more in me.
 

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30-06 type of guy said:
Being as I'm strictly public I tell myself my 130" 11 point might just be my best. I want to hit the 140" mark on public tho. I've laid eyes on 2 since that were at least 130" but blew my chance on one this year and last year I bumped the other locked down with a doe going to hang my stand. Pretty sure he would have hit the 140 mark.
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130 on public is outstanding. I'm also on public and I've been able to kill only 2 over the last 13 years over 130 inches. The large majority are 100-115 inch 2.5 year olds!!!
 
At 55, I am still hopeful. I have already missed two in the last 5 years that were bigger than anything I have ever seen in the wild. Buck fever hit me so bad on the 2nd, that I could not stop my knee from shaking uncontrollably on right leg.

I have guided my son and daughter to kill several nice bucks. We are putting two in the TN deer registry so I am blessed.

Finding good sign is motivating and keeps me trying.
 

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You will definitely not top your best if you don't actually get out there and get after them! I think the likelihood of topping my best is not great but the possibility exists. I've had a few camera pictures of two awesome bucks that have set foot on my property. They never stay around but they have cruise through on two occasions. That fact let's me know the possibility of topping my best is real.
 
Biggest I have is almost 130 inch 7 point. Killed here in n east Tn in 2015. I only have public land to hunt. Which is what I killed him on. 2 years ago I missed one that would have easily been in the 150's. Couldn't even count points. I was in the ground as I do a lot during gun season. He walked right up on me before I knew it. My only real hard core buck fever I've had. I was tore up so bad I swallowed mouth full of Copenhagen. So I hope every year will be the year. But seems like it's getting worse not better.
 

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