Most all deer hunters have been there.
You've fidgeted in your treestand since before sun up. You've thought every thought you've ever thought in your entire life. And at this point, a cup of coffee sounds like the elixir of life and stretching your legs could even be considered titillating.
Next thing you know, you're engaged in a mid-morning battle of wills. One side of your brain urges you to get down before you wet your pants. Excuses are made. You tell yourself you won't see deer anyway this time of the morning, a theory you'll substantiate if you climb down.
The other side chides you for being a cupcake and commands you to stay put. Veteran deer hunter Vicki Mountz, who heads up the information and education group for the Ohio Division of Wildlife, knows if you want to kill a whopper whitetail, you have listen to the disciplined voice.
While Mountz admitted to growing restless after watching birds and squirrels one morning in 2007, she wasn't ready to hang up her crossbow. Late October in Ohio is too good a time to wimp out. Finally, around 9 a.m. her patience paid off when she saw a doe and a fawn.
The wind must have told every buck in sniffing distance the doe was getting ready for prom night because 15 minutes later a buck came by. In the next couple of hours, five more antlered Lotharios trotted through, all from the same direction.
She recognized the sixth buck as one that posed for her trail camera five days before, a massive 18-point nontypical. At 10:45 a.m., Mountz shot big daddy with her crossbow at 14 yards. It scored 172 1/8 and field dressed at 227 pounds, which converts to a live weight of about 275 pounds.
This happy ending was no accident. With 30 years of deer hunting experience, Mountz did a lot of things right. Let's break down the seven major factors that contributed to her success.
• 1) First, she was hunting in Ohio. It's not exactly a secret that Ohio is a prime trophy territory, especially since the Beatty buck. Taken in November of 2001, this nontypical monster scored 304 6/8. Three years later, the Jerman buck, a typical that scored 201 1/8, cemented Ohio's fabled reputation.
"Ohio has huge bucks, and everybody knows it," Mountz said. "We rank No. 3 for Pope and Young and No. 5 for both typical and non typical Boone & Crockett bucks. Our deer management practices are part of the reason why it's so good. Also the doe harvest, hunters have come to believe in it instead of taking yearling bucks."
The fact that gun season occurs after the peak of the rut also takes some pressure off big bucks when they are most vulnerable.
The Quality Deer Management Association also thinks highly of Ohio's management practices. In 2009, QDMA presented the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife with the Agency of the Year Award for its dedication to the quality deer management philosophy and the good results it has yielded.
• 2) Hunters can pick and choose because Ohio has no shortage of deer, and big bucks can occur throughout the state. Ohio Division of Wildlife experts estimate there are 700,000 whitetails in the state's 88 counties. A combination of plentiful agriculture in the form of corn and soybean fields and mast-producing hardwoods contribute to Ohio's good fortune. As Mountz put it, Ohio's deer are "living in the kitchen."
The forested areas of the hilly southeast are considered the best bet to see a lot of deer including, trophy-sized animals. However, the Beatty and Jerman bucks came from the southwestern counties of Greene and Warren, respectively. Hunters may not see as many deer in the southwest, but it can be worth the wait when they do.
• 3) Vicki could afford to wait for a nice buck because Ohio's deer season is so long, especially for the stick and string crowd. During the 2009-10 season, archers can get out from Sept. 26 to Feb. 7. And like many Ohio hunters, Vicki doesn't confine herself to just one method. She gets out as much as she can whether it's with her gun, bow or crossbow.
• 4) As strange as it sounds, hunting in an urban area can pay off just as it did for Mountz. Her secret garden is just east of Columbus, with has 750,000 residents.
"It's harder to find a place to hunt in an urban area; however, deer there are less pressured," she said. "So you'll find older, bigger bucks in urban zones, not just in Ohio but in nearly all urban areas across the country.
"Another advantage is urban deer are less sensitive about human odor, they're not as spooky. Plus, their travel corridors are more well defined, and they are easier to pattern."
• 5) Guessing is not a part of Vicki's repertoire. She knows what's out there because she scouts year round. Using a game camera confirmed jumbo was in her midst, which motivated her to sit in her stand longer. And she's well-positioned no matter which direction the wind is from because she takes the time to surround a hot spot with multiple stands.
"Stay out as long as you can," Mountz said. "Many hunters go only in the early morning or late afternoon when you see the most movement. In the mornings, they'll sit in their stand for a few hours, and then leave. That's when I stay because when they exit the woods it may make the deer move.
"I try to pack everything I'll need because the more time you're out there, the greater the likelihood of seeing deer. Patience is key especially during gun season. Deer tend to lay in tight and aren't moving around. It's people moving that get the deer moving. The person who stays in their stand can take advantage of that."
• 6) Timing is everything and Vicki's favorite part of the season is a week to 10 days before the rut, which in Ohio occurs from early-to mid-November. The day she shot her buck, October 28, was that perfect window just before the rut.
"During that time period, those bucks are out there looking for does. They're not locked up with does yet, they're moving still."
• 7) Finally, Mountz's ability to stay calm in the face of her buck-of-a-lifetime speaks to the importance of preparation and practice. She shoots her bow as much as possible and simulates real hunting situations by practicing from her stand, being sure to test new equipment and even clothes when she shoots.
The good news about Buckeye bucks is it's easy to get a license for residents and non residents. All you have to do is hop on the internet or visit one of the thousand license dealers in Ohio and you're on your way. Ohio licenses are reasonably priced, too.
There are many outfitters operating in Ohio to choose from or you can go it alone, but do your homework first at the Ohio Division of Wildlife Web site.
Be sure to check out the site's public land topo maps and Buckeye Big Buck Club data to learn what counties are most productive.
"We know we're a special destination," Mountz said. "Nonresident license sales are going up about 13 to 18 percent a year."
So, if you're looking for return of investment, Ohio's big bodied, big antlered deer are the way to go.