I hear all of these stories about how hunters figure out where a big buck's home and bed are. My question is. ..once I get a big buck on camera, more than once what do I do then? Do I try to put another camera somewhere else? I want to hear how yall do it
how do u pattern a big buck
- Thread starter Jaahspike
- Start date
lpo1981
Well-Known Member
I'd have to believe this time of year is not a good time to pattern a mature buck.. Early season and late season however are good times to pattern a buck... Bucks travel a lot this time of year with no predetermined destination other than looking for a doe.... Once there back to looking for food I believe you can pattern them to an extent... Patterning a buck In Tennessee with our terrain I believe is way more difficult then midwest states with huge areas of agriculture...
Being on a large lease our trail cam pictures will just show deer that were in that area at that time. We don't use the pics to pattern them. During the season we try and place our selves where the deer travel (saddles, ridge intersections, etc...) and hope we get lucky. Your best bet is during the rut when he is constantly on the go. We have a really good buck/doe ratio so this time of year the boys are roaming around.
I pattern deer.
ImThere
Well-Known Member
Helpfulmuddyboots said:
Cooljb3 said:
Huh coollpo1981 said:
Can anybody answer his question? I would like to hear how yall do it also. I dont use cameras. I look at maps. Look for sign and try to hunt terrain features that may give me a chance at a good buck. But im doing it wrong lol i have seen three good bucks this year in early bow and have not seen them since. 1 got shot on private land across the street from where i hunted it. I have let more does and small bucks than i can count and that hasnt led me to seeing a larger antlered buck yet
jaybird62
Well-Known Member
There's no simple recipe. Setting up on an old buck is intuition based upon lots of time in the woods. Sometimes it takes years of info gathering to connect the dots between a buck's bedding sanctuary and his normal feeding/breeding destinations. Just like spring turkey hunting, learning the lay of the land you hunt is important.
Learn how to track. Be meticulous. Make notes.
By the time you get a mature buck on camera it is probably too late to pattern him because the ground work you need to do will probably make him completely nocturnal. Now that the rut is largely over, your best bet is to hunt food sources. It often takes hunting experience with a particular buck when he is 2 and staying after him to kill him when he is 5.
Learn how to track. Be meticulous. Make notes.
By the time you get a mature buck on camera it is probably too late to pattern him because the ground work you need to do will probably make him completely nocturnal. Now that the rut is largely over, your best bet is to hunt food sources. It often takes hunting experience with a particular buck when he is 2 and staying after him to kill him when he is 5.
Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
Interesting topic. I don't know if it's possible but you can put pieces of the puzzle together to maybe up your odds. I'd think that buck sign, terrain, history with deer movement in that area, and immediate doe populations would all be considerations.
The first piece of that puzzle dictates the rest. Is there a big buck in the area? Nothing beats laying eyes on one in your area. The next best thing is getting pictures of him there. If the timing of those sightings and pictures coincides with the season you're hunting (especially multiple pictures and sightings) then it's time to go to work.
How is that buck traversing that area? Rubs and scrapes are made by every buck but generally, big rubs are made by big bucks. Where are those big rubs in relation to where the buck has been seen and what type of terrain/topical features are present that would influence him to move along that precise path? What would influence his movement towards a certain area or from a certain area? Often those rubs and scrapes define that path. Food sources draw does. During the rut does draw bucks. Do those rubs and scrapes connect any of those sources? Terrain features will influence travel. Are there edges connecting those areas? Is there any type of funnel a deer would have to pass through getting from point A to point B? Are there any terrain features dictating general movement directions? Going back to rubs and scrapes; are any of them fresh? Early season rubs are a great sign but if you find fresh rubs mixed in and scrapes being worked along the way the buck is actively using that area. Look near the inside cover around those food sources. If that's where you're finding the fresh rubs you're inside a buck's staging area.
If you've hunted that area for several seasons were there any consistencies in deer movement in that area? If there haven't been any major changes in the topography or land use they are probably still viable travel options. Key in on those especially if they coincide with buck sign.
As an example: I've hunted an area where yearly I see good bucks chasing does. The north/south line of this area is the border between a safety zone and the hunting territory. East of that line is the safety zone. Every year I see big bucks running does across that line headed west to southwest. I already have pics of a 140" buck at that border (point A). I normally hunt this area but this year the grass field they cross hasn't been cut and there is no visibility. So I get in the timber to the southwest. Beyond that timber to the south is our property line bordering a neighbor's greenfield. Here, I've seen a 145-150" buck. His big rubs inside the timber appear to be a staging area before advancing into this field to feed or check for does after dark (point B). At this point our property runs west with several ag fields at the end of the timber about 1/4-1/3 mile away. Inside the timber off these fields I again find big, fresh rubs where a buck stages (point C). A 140" buck has been seen here also. Now I have a triangle to work inside of: AB running north and south, BC running east and west, and AC running southwest and northeast. When I look at what's inside that triangle I find a narrow strip of pines 50 yards wide running east and west. It lies in between the timber separating our property line to the south and the timber that runs north to the grass fields. Along both the south and north edges of these pines is a very active rub and scrape line with most on the north edge. This is the line that connects point B and C to A. Somewhere along this line is where I hope to intercept my buck.
If you can triangulate an area something like this it sort of gives you parameters to work inside of. Sightings and success dictate adjustments.
Sorry for the ramblings and thinking out loud, lol. This is the hunt. If this is done right and you guess right you squeeze the trigger and kill a buck. But this is the hunt.
The first piece of that puzzle dictates the rest. Is there a big buck in the area? Nothing beats laying eyes on one in your area. The next best thing is getting pictures of him there. If the timing of those sightings and pictures coincides with the season you're hunting (especially multiple pictures and sightings) then it's time to go to work.
How is that buck traversing that area? Rubs and scrapes are made by every buck but generally, big rubs are made by big bucks. Where are those big rubs in relation to where the buck has been seen and what type of terrain/topical features are present that would influence him to move along that precise path? What would influence his movement towards a certain area or from a certain area? Often those rubs and scrapes define that path. Food sources draw does. During the rut does draw bucks. Do those rubs and scrapes connect any of those sources? Terrain features will influence travel. Are there edges connecting those areas? Is there any type of funnel a deer would have to pass through getting from point A to point B? Are there any terrain features dictating general movement directions? Going back to rubs and scrapes; are any of them fresh? Early season rubs are a great sign but if you find fresh rubs mixed in and scrapes being worked along the way the buck is actively using that area. Look near the inside cover around those food sources. If that's where you're finding the fresh rubs you're inside a buck's staging area.
If you've hunted that area for several seasons were there any consistencies in deer movement in that area? If there haven't been any major changes in the topography or land use they are probably still viable travel options. Key in on those especially if they coincide with buck sign.
As an example: I've hunted an area where yearly I see good bucks chasing does. The north/south line of this area is the border between a safety zone and the hunting territory. East of that line is the safety zone. Every year I see big bucks running does across that line headed west to southwest. I already have pics of a 140" buck at that border (point A). I normally hunt this area but this year the grass field they cross hasn't been cut and there is no visibility. So I get in the timber to the southwest. Beyond that timber to the south is our property line bordering a neighbor's greenfield. Here, I've seen a 145-150" buck. His big rubs inside the timber appear to be a staging area before advancing into this field to feed or check for does after dark (point B). At this point our property runs west with several ag fields at the end of the timber about 1/4-1/3 mile away. Inside the timber off these fields I again find big, fresh rubs where a buck stages (point C). A 140" buck has been seen here also. Now I have a triangle to work inside of: AB running north and south, BC running east and west, and AC running southwest and northeast. When I look at what's inside that triangle I find a narrow strip of pines 50 yards wide running east and west. It lies in between the timber separating our property line to the south and the timber that runs north to the grass fields. Along both the south and north edges of these pines is a very active rub and scrape line with most on the north edge. This is the line that connects point B and C to A. Somewhere along this line is where I hope to intercept my buck.
If you can triangulate an area something like this it sort of gives you parameters to work inside of. Sightings and success dictate adjustments.
Sorry for the ramblings and thinking out loud, lol. This is the hunt. If this is done right and you guess right you squeeze the trigger and kill a buck. But this is the hunt.
Mike, that is exactly what I am looking for. I enjoyed the read and have learned several things from it. I think I have seen all of these points(ABC) at different times but have not known how to point those three together and figure out why they do what they do when they do it.
I really appreciate your help.
And thanks ImThere...They were giving me nothing
I really appreciate your help.
And thanks ImThere...They were giving me nothing
BlountArrow
Well-Known Member
Jaahspike,
I'm sure you're going to get varying comments here that contradict each other. For example, I don't even start trying to pattern a mature buck until I catch him on camera ! I do spread out multiple trail cameras and I hang them a little higher than normal since I've had them for a while and they have the red flash. I usually start comparing pictures at different points of the property and noting the time at which the picture was taken. For me, I find almost all pictures of mature bucks on my place are at night. This year, I think for the first time I can recall, I got a picture of a big 8 (which I killed Thanksgiving Morning) during the 2nd week of September and by the 3rd week of September or so he had gone nocturnal.
I don't mind getting night time pics as long as I continue to get pics at multiple places I can start piecing together an idea of his travel route and as soon as you think you have it figured out - he'll change it up (again that's my experience). I still don't care about that either because I know he's in the area and eventually I have acquired enough data to make decisions. I don't check my trail cameras weekly either, at most I check them every two weeks and I'm fortunate enough (even in East TN) to be able to drive up to my trail cameras. This is key in my opinion.
I don't walk around, I don't scout around looking for rubs or scrapes, etc, etc. In my mind, I really don't need to and I feel like I'm doing more harm than good. I already know where the buck has been moving through on the property. So, the other piece of data I consider is the topography and landscape. Where are the thickets on my property or other dense cover, where are these ridges only a mountain goat or whitetail deer could climb, where are some good looking travel corridors (saddles or places that level out a little on the side of the ridge), what does a satelite view tell me about my neighbor's property, where are some known food sources in the area (the guy across the street with acres of soy beans or _____ fill in the blank).
From here I know I'm probably not going to hunt this buck until I feel more confident he is moving during the daylight which usually means the rut (in my experience on my place). So, I don't try to kill that mature buck in late September or October. I just don't. When the middle of November gets here I might be hunting him in the areas I've seen him traveling through, but only because I figure he might be doing some daylight moving now because it's about time for him to breed. And, I will not hunt him with a bad wind, or right after I get off work if I don't have time to go home and shower, or when I'm in a hurry, etc. I'm going to hunt him and take every precaution I can. I almost treat it as if I have one opportunity and every time I step in the woods I'm at risk to screw it all up.
I'm sure you're going to get varying comments here that contradict each other. For example, I don't even start trying to pattern a mature buck until I catch him on camera
! I do spread out multiple trail cameras and I hang them a little higher than normal since I've had them for a while and they have the red flash. I usually start comparing pictures at different points of the property and noting the time at which the picture was taken. For me, I find almost all pictures of mature bucks on my place are at night. This year, I think for the first time I can recall, I got a picture of a big 8 (which I killed Thanksgiving Morning) during the 2nd week of September and by the 3rd week of September or so he had gone nocturnal.I don't mind getting night time pics as long as I continue to get pics at multiple places I can start piecing together an idea of his travel route and as soon as you think you have it figured out - he'll change it up (again that's my experience). I still don't care about that either because I know he's in the area and eventually I have acquired enough data to make decisions. I don't check my trail cameras weekly either, at most I check them every two weeks and I'm fortunate enough (even in East TN) to be able to drive up to my trail cameras. This is key in my opinion.
I don't walk around, I don't scout around looking for rubs or scrapes, etc, etc. In my mind, I really don't need to and I feel like I'm doing more harm than good. I already know where the buck has been moving through on the property. So, the other piece of data I consider is the topography and landscape. Where are the thickets on my property or other dense cover, where are these ridges only a mountain goat or whitetail deer could climb, where are some good looking travel corridors (saddles or places that level out a little on the side of the ridge), what does a satelite view tell me about my neighbor's property, where are some known food sources in the area (the guy across the street with acres of soy beans or _____ fill in the blank).
From here I know I'm probably not going to hunt this buck until I feel more confident he is moving during the daylight which usually means the rut (in my experience on my place). So, I don't try to kill that mature buck in late September or October. I just don't. When the middle of November gets here I might be hunting him in the areas I've seen him traveling through, but only because I figure he might be doing some daylight moving now because it's about time for him to breed. And, I will not hunt him with a bad wind, or right after I get off work if I don't have time to go home and shower, or when I'm in a hurry, etc. I'm going to hunt him and take every precaution I can. I almost treat it as if I have one opportunity and every time I step in the woods I'm at risk to screw it all up.
ImThere
Well-Known Member
Very good reads thanks to you, mike and blount for taking the time to answer
You cannot pattern a mature buck that has been hunted. he willpattern you first.
But thatis just my opinion without food plots, bait or cameras. You know, real hunting.
But thatis just my opinion without food plots, bait or cameras. You know, real hunting.
Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
If you do it right and get lucky in 1 hunt you can kill him before he has a chance to pattern you. Also, if frogs had wings...
BlountArrow
Well-Known Member
bowriter said:
Ouch. There you go again. Trail cameras definitely improve the odds, but so does private land.
Of they improve the odds. That is what they are for. So does bait. So do food plots. But they also decrease the need to develop an ability. If you deduct those thingsm pattering a mature buck is impossible and there is little need to learn natural food sources, preferred food sources and insticntive patterns of travel.
if you properly utilize all those "tools", you need to learn absolutely nothing about hunting. You are no longer a hunter. You become just a shooter. You need only to leawr to shoot.
Private land only decreases the amount of pressure exerted. It does nothing to allow pattering. This is especially true if your land is as mine, foodplot and agricultural field free.
if you properly utilize all those "tools", you need to learn absolutely nothing about hunting. You are no longer a hunter. You become just a shooter. You need only to leawr to shoot.
Private land only decreases the amount of pressure exerted. It does nothing to allow pattering. This is especially true if your land is as mine, foodplot and agricultural field free.
In the beginning (This is deer hunting Genesis), food plots were never designed to feed deer. We gave them cutsie names like supplemental food source etc., to disguise their real purpose. The moment we fired the first gun or released the first arrow in conjuntion with a food plot, it became bait.
And that, punj intended, is undebaitable.
And that, punj intended, is undebaitable.
BlountArrow
Well-Known Member
bowriter said:
I think I liked you better when you were passed out in your recliner this time of day with Matlock blaring on the TV.
The best spot I got: Loggers were on the property 4 years ago. One of the loggers said "Why don't u hunt where the 3rd light pole is on such and such road? I see bucks crossing there everyday." So being the awesome deer hunter I am I checked it out. Not a lot of sign. 1 scrape. I wrote it off. Next time I saw him he said same thing. Long story short I ignored his info for a whole year because it didn't look good. Fast forward to next year. I wasn't seeing much. One morning id decided to walk in there with my climber. Daylight came and a basket 8 came by. Hour later a spike. Hour later I had killed a 115 8 point. I have killed 6 bucks 3 1/2 or older from that tree in 4 yrs.
My point is observation seems to be my best tool. If I see a good buck travel somewhere others are likely to do the same thing. JMO.
My point is observation seems to be my best tool. If I see a good buck travel somewhere others are likely to do the same thing. JMO.
I have reached the age when I no longer care who or who does not like me. I have my curmudgeon card.
if you continuosly see deer cross the road at the same place, you might conclude, they did not get there by helicopter. Therefore, it could be a good place to hang a stand.
if you continuosly see deer cross the road at the same place, you might conclude, they did not get there by helicopter. Therefore, it could be a good place to hang a stand.
Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
I might could go along with a food plot all you have to do is be able to shoot. I wouldn't say that's the case using cameras. Just because you know a big deer is in the area you still have to know something about where to hunt him. My time is better served knowing there's one there than spending a week on stand and finding out there isn't.
Shed Hunter
Well-Known Member
bowriter said:
Cameras don't improve your chances. In fact, they decrease your chances (haven't you seen the countless posts about how you shouldn't run them because it causes too much pressure.. Some of which you posted in) People that can kill deer they have on camera are better hunters than those that aren't good enough at hunting to be able to overcome the added pressure cameras give. (And for those that don't run cameras dont take that out of context. Killing deer you have on camera (or any deer for that matter) is nothing to get big headed about. I'm just showing BW that his logic is flawed as it is harder to kill a deer you pressure by putting out cameras)
BW just doesn't have the skill to do it apparently
I don't think you are any more of a "real" hunter than anyone on here. Your lack of modesty and desire to try and make yourself feel superior are not characteristics a "real" hunter posses. You are a smart guy with a lot of experience, but you're knowledge doesn't make up for a terrible attitude.
