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how do u pattern a big buck
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<blockquote data-quote="Mike Belt" data-source="post: 3861786" data-attributes="member: 69"><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p> 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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>If you can triangulate an area something like this it sort of gives you parameters to work inside of. Sightings and success dictate adjustments.</p><p></p><p>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.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mike Belt, post: 3861786, member: 69"] 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. [/QUOTE]
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