Hunting can be challenging or downright frustrating at times. If you are expecting to shoot a big buck every season, you may be in for a rude awakening.

It seems that if you don't harvest a trophy buck the first couple years, you will likely be in for a long wait. Beginner’s luck seems to bless many of us, unfortunately, it is typically followed by a dry spell. Call it fate or luck, either way, many first-timers harvest a nice buck. Their next reaction is to expect more of the same the following season. Many will realize their expectations to be a bit far-fetched. Some believe harvesting a big buck by your second season is a blessing, while others may learn to view it as a curse.

I can speak from experience on this topic. My first season was successful, although it was only a one-horn buck. I wanted to harvest a deer, and wasn't worried about size at this point. The plan changed a bit my second season. I learned to rattle and grunt deer in over the summer, and set my sights on a bigger deer.