R.J. and forum

Big John · Post by **Big John** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:26 pm

There is a Large Buck I've been trying for now, at least two full seasons. He only shows up at night, and will come close to the house even. I've tried dang near everything to get him to come out at hunting times but he wont co-operate at all. He was 10 point last season and huge feet. He is the one I said must be part Elephant offspring. I was out clearing my stand areas last weekend and today, as well as topping up the mineral pit. His prints are all over the area again, still fresh from last night. Any ideas on how to get this Buck to convert to daylight Hunting times? I really want him this season!

John

huntman · Post by **huntman** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:17 pm

From my experience the only way your gonna catch a boy like him is during the RUT! Sooner or later he will be late coming back to bed from having fun all night long

. Big boys like him are alway 99% nocturnal, but i think his bound to screw up!!!

Partikle · Post by **Partikle** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 8:09 am

IMHO I've been doing lots of research on this myself since the end of the last season. Here's what I've read:

Big bucks don't usually go totally nocturnal until they detect human activity in their area. They've learned from past hunting seasons once hunters are around, they stay put during the day somewhere with lots of cover.

You should do all your stand prep in the spring and then stay out of the area in the late summer and early fall until the first day of the season. Get in to your watch at least a full hour before first shooting light, watch your scent and the wind of course.

If this does not work, there is always the rut phase where it is often a free for all. As you can see from some of the other lads on this forum, during the post rut baiting works well http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2 ... hp?t=11777
I'll be trying "Beef Mix" like Brad did if I strike out in October and November this fall.

I'm still researching this and always learning new things. Three methods for the pre rut, rut and post rut. Good Luck, wish me the same.

Partikle

ecoaster · Post by **ecoaster** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:44 am

Hunt him during the rut and change up your stand or hunt location. If at all possible find out where he sleeps and hunt as close to the bedding area as you dare.

I agree with the fact that he'll make the mistake during the rut. Chris and I were seeing of bucks in October, but only on the game camera and at night. The week before the shotgun season (last week of Oct.) we were seeing the bucks with our own two eyes.

I saw two bucks the morning I got mine and they were checking a scrape line late in the morning and heading right toward some rabbit hunters with dogs

. They'll do some weird stuff during the rut, like come into my grunt call for a 15 yard broadside shot

.

Partikle · Post by **Partikle** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:57 am

Ecoaster, what day did you get your buck?

ecoaster · Post by **ecoaster** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:02 am

Saturday Nov 5th, if I remeber correctly. It was two days before the shotgun opener around here.

Partikle · Post by **Partikle** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:08 am

ecoaster wrote:Saturday Nov 5th, if I remeber correctly. It was two days before the shotgun opener around here.

I don't remember him, do you have a picture?

ecoaster · Post by **ecoaster** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:14 am

The one under my user name. He had a skinny six point rack with no brow tines. I got short changed

.

Big John · Post by **Big John** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:52 am

Well guy's, I've tried many things alrerady, he wont budge.

I appreciate all responses. Keep them coming. These are good threads to have. I have used scent wicks , baits, grunts , etc. He knows something is up! This is not the first Buck I've hunted for more than one season in a row. But he is the smartest. I use two stands twenty feet up and one on each edge of the property, so to speak. He is always cruising the areas around my stands. All Oak hardwoods, with some swamp and thick brush.

John

R.J. · Post by **R.J.** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:20 pm

John : Sounds like a smart one !

I'd try some trail camera's to pattern him ...

But he sounds like he is nocturnal so you are going to have to try to figure out his bedding area and hunt closer to it ....

Only problem is if he feels the pressure he might bail !

Best advice is to leave him alone .... and hunt him hard for 4 days during the rut .... he might be too spooky for misc scents so , best to hunt him clean / high up / and try to entice him in with some rattling / branch thrashing etc. ( a dominant buck will usually react to this during the pre rut )

Just remember ..... if you spend too much time trying to pattern him , he will end up patterning you ! So trail camera's are good .....

If you can pick the peak of the rut , an all day sit / stand is in order !

Best of luck to you ..... keep us posted !

PS: If you type in " patterning mature bucks " .... and do a google search .... there are many good reads on the internet .

Partikle · Post by **Partikle** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:39 am

R.J. wrote:I'd try some trail camera's to pattern him ...

Hi R.J.

Do you use an infrared trail cam? I’ve heard that some wile old bucks will avoid a trail cam area after the first time the flash goes off at night. It makes sense to me, I took a picture of 2 big does and 2 fawns in late December right after shooting light ended and it got dark. My digital camera was on silent mode but they all took off from the flash and then one of the does was snorting and stomping her foot from about 60 yards away.

I think after something like that the does might come back after a couple of days but I could see a smart buck avoiding the area all together.

Partikle

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:08 am

Partical, as I have stated on here before, I have been doing alot of research into trail cams. There is alot of pro's and con's to the IR flash or WHITE flash.

Given that over time the camera's with white flash will not spook them, they become familuar with it and not spooked. I have watched deer on the LIVE 24/7 web cams to see their reactions with the nearby trail cam's flashes went off. They were just about always startled, but most of the time, they would not run off or go very far. But this was a regular setup and the cam's have been there for an extended period of time.

Now about spooking the deer with trail cams. I have seen many deer looking dirrectly at the cam's in daylight, with white flash and IR flash. With seeing that, it means that the camera must be making enough sound to attract attention of the deer. We all know that it does not take much noise for a deer to be able to hear it.

My feeling is that IR is better then white flash just because the less distractions or things to disturb the area the better. White flash can be seen at a greater distance than they would be able to hear the camera. This could be why they very seldom get pics of LARGE bucks following does with white flash. They might be getting spooked before they come into the camera range. I hope to have my camera finished shortly, I am still waiting on some parts.

Hope this helps someone.

LoneWolf · Post by **LoneWolf** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:19 am

... The reason why some mature bucks get scared from a camera flash is because they are wimps!...

... lol ... (just kidding)

From the experiences I've had with trail cams is that the flash didn't scare away any of my mature bucks, they always came back. They get used to it from what I've seen. My cams have snapped a few good pics of three nice mature bucks and as far as the flash scaring them goes, it isn't an issue to worry about. I have them coming back regularly to the feed during the daylight hours as well as during the dark hours.

One thing I have noticed if a cam is put out too late in the season is that the bucks who are bothered by it somewhat change their patterns and start moving during daylight hours which is a good thing for the hunter. But if you don't want to have them think something is up, the trick is to put your cams in early in the season where you have feed and the deer will get to learn that the flash isn't anything to worry about. Don't go putting a cam on a trail a week or two before the opener, then I could see the deer shying away from that trail. Like I said, put the cams in early and with time the deer will get used to the flash.

R.J. · Post by **R.J.** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:46 am

Partikle : Many good points from Lone Wolf and Tom .... re: trail camera flash ..... I have not had as much experience sinece I only started using them last season , but I did get a couple of shots of bucks ( a small 8 , and small 10 ) that stayed in the area ..... also 1 small button buck that really liked to get his picture taken ( he actually moved towards the camera

)

John : Lots of good info from the forum members ..... seem like most agree ( best to hunt during the rut )

One key point that I'm going to try this year is to stay on stand longer .... I read an article about an older gent who hunts all day and has taken many monster bucks at odd hours of the day .

I read an article written about the Wensel brothers and how they developed a strategy for a big buck ..... I'll try to look it up .

Also I have some trail cam pictures that I researched re : flash on a buck and it's reaction . ( I'll pull them together and post later )

korey99 · Post by **korey99** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:01 am

I have to agree with ecoaster in that changing your stand location frequently is key. Even if it is only by 50 yards, this helps immensely. I really discovered that this year, as I felt if I hunted my stand long enough, one was bound to walk by....but it just wasn't happening for almost a month and a half (I did see does and little bucks...but not the one I wanted)! I moved from the tree to a ground blind about 40 yards from my stand, and had a beauty 8 point stroll within 15 yards (of course, I still managed to screw that one up...but it's a story for another day...) The little bugger knew where I was going to be, and planned his route AROUND me!

Another deer season, another thing learned about our wiley prey!

Good luck with him next year!
korey99