I shot this mountain buck in Pennsylvania about 17 years ago. It was actually the 2nd year of antler restrictions. I shot one the year before, first year of antler restrictions, that could have been his brother. How many of you hunt mountain bucks, pick up a fresh track and hunt it down. I haven't had much opportunity since then and living in the Tug Hills of NY there is ample opportunity. I am starting to collect my SS check beginning in November at full retirement age and I intend to cut some buck tracks this fall. I am really getting pumped, haven't felt this way in years.

This buck easily went 200lb+ and is currently on my office wall.

Beautiful buck for that habitat and the number of hunters. Very little to no agriculture to bulk them up. Forty-some years ago I shot my first buck in a similar habitat in Pennsylvania, but with a bow from a treestand at an intersection of runs. It was smaller, but was good for the area.

I like mtn bucks, seems like they have “more will to live” I guess you could say.
I have choices of where I can hunt. I’ll take my mtn place. Different acting deer in the mtn around here

We haven't had any good tracking snow until late December after deer season in the past 2 years in Maine. Big woods deer hunting is the only way I like to hunt. Trekking off with a compass and a rifle. No trail cameras. Or food plots. Or deer feeders. No sounds of traffic or other hunters stepping on your toes. This kind of deer hunting requires you to use real woodsmanship skills and all of your senses. It's just down right good for the soul!

That's just my style too ! ... with a muzzle loader.
Refreshing to see that post, logger,
Thanks

Nice.

Mac

That is a nice deer, never see a 200 lb'er around here.
Too many now to try to follow one track, but would love to do that.
Hope you stay healthy and enjoy your retirement for many years to come !
Cheers !

Oh, meant to say, not sure where Tug hills is, but i went from watertown to ogdensburg at 1 - 3 Am one fall. The bucks in road were spectacular, Lucky I never hit one (or more).

Used to do that years ago, you want to learn your territory?, follow a buck that knows your on to him...That's a nice one for the mountains, by me, they're usually scruffy 5 and 6 points

Tug Hill is a tad south of bWatertown. This method of hunting is great, I'm too old to drag a buck by myself.

Fun way to hunt. Need plenty of real estate to do it

That buck don't look even close to 200#s?
Looks like a 2 year old (maybe " 170#s?
Sorry, but have seen 100's of deer weighed.

It’s my favorite way to hunt in the Adirondacks and on Tug Hill when the snow is on. Here’s a picture of a buck I shot in NW Ontario while tracking a different buck. He dressed 260 lbs..

"dressed 260" WOW, be hard to recognize that as a deer round these parts.
Nice one !

Squash - that is a real brute!
Was going to hunt NW Ontario one year and something blew up with the guide/outfitter. Have never been there and he provided a great home base and area and ongoing success as witnessed by others. Never pursued new arrangements and regret it.

Great buck. I really enjoy tracking on our mountains in Potter County Pa. nothing like mountain hunting.
The only thing I enjoy more is cutting bear tracks and following them. They can really put some distance on quick.

Bass1 Nice buck .I enjoy several different types opf deer hunting . Archery, tree stand rifle , spot and stalk, tracking/trailing and just sneaking along using your eyes to locate something .What ever makes me happy is all good . I hunt to satisfy myself .It sounds like you have a similar approach Good luck with your increased amount of time to do what you have be looking froward to for some time .

Awesome Bucks

I won't comment on the weight. Can't see enough of the body.

But for a PA mountain buck that is a typical 3.5/4.5 year old.

That would be an experience for sure! Hard to do that down here without that white stuff y’all get, lol!

I hunt them here that way. Very tough as it is so steep you can barely traverse up or down without falling.
Rhododendrons are an issue too. The way they grow in places they are impossible to get through silently. Sometimes you can glass from the opposite hillside and see them. But not often.
I have about 6,000 continuous acres that butts up against my land with no vehicle access. Because of low deer numbers I never see another hunter.
I once still hunted for 8 consecutive days (no snow), without seeing a deer.
But there are big bucks.
Largest I killed was a double drop tine 13 pt. that scored 171 1/8.
I’m 65 and hike the mountains probably 250 days per year. Run a trapline on foot that encompasses about 4 mile round trip. According to my phone I covered 13.9 miles one day turkey hunting so it keeps me in shape.
Of course with trapping, hiking, or turkey hunting I know the area well enough that I can navigate around by using easier routes.
Trailing a buck, not so much!!