#1808439 - 02/25/10 11:22 AM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: Lee Creek22]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
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Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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In the rut even if you see a nice shooter buck let it walk. The big ones usually follow. My big 9 was about 10 minutes behind a really nice 8 I let walk. Alot of the times there may be nothing behind those nice bucks but if you are looking for a really big deer you have to let those deer that may be trophies to a lot of people walk.
I guess that would depend on whether a "shooter" is a mature buck or a buck with large antlers. Personally, when defining a shooter as a mature buck I would rather have one in the hand than two in the bush! I'm just not a good enough hunter to be passing up mature bucks and expecting other opportunities. If I see a mature buck, I'm shooting, regardless of head-gear, especially if it is the first mature buck sighting of the year. I've got another tag for something larger antler-wise!
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1808442 - 02/25/10 11:24 AM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: gator-n-buck]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
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Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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1) Hunt where no one else has been hunting.
2) Read Winchester's post above.
3) Hunt a) the first week or two of bow season; b) just before the peak of the rut; and c) just after the peak of the rut is over.
If I had to add a # 4. You have to put the time in (scouting & Hunting). I think your #4 needs clarification gator-n-buck. Over-hunting and over-scouting just before and during the hunting season can be disatrous. As W. Seay posted, " Keep human intrusion to a minimum, this is EXTREMELY important!" I absolutely agree that scouting is critical, but scouting should be done NOW--January and February. Deciphering every trail, rub-line and scrape after the season is over may not help you locate the perfect stand location for next year (deer change patterns if primary food sources change and in reaction to hunting pressure) but post-season scouting can teach you how deer use the terrain/habitat of your hunting property. Again, as W. Seay wrote, " learn how all deer (not just mature bucks) use your property, you must know this!" If I could add a #4 and 5 to my earlier post I would add W. Seay's recommendations: 4) " don't over hunt your prime set ups.
5) Remember that cover is king!" I agree and I'm taking about putting the time in all yr. Not wondering around the woods during the season....
Exactly gator-n-buck. You HAVE TO PUT THE TIME IN, but be wise about when you are in the field.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1808446 - 02/25/10 11:26 AM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: BSK]
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Hillbilly Hunter
Killbilly
16 Point
Registered: 07/15/05
Posts: 16986
Loc: Branchville
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My main tactic is to hunt terrain features that feature thick cover. Any other tactic I have tried have been much lower success percentages, including good terrain features without cover. Cover is a huge key to success.
Edited by Hillbilly Hunter (02/25/10 11:36 AM)
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...they never call me by my name, just Hillbilly...
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#1808454 - 02/25/10 11:32 AM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: cecil30-30]
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whitetailfreak
4 Point
Registered: 02/18/10
Posts: 177
Loc: SE TN
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All of these ideas work. But never under estamate LUCK... You can create your own luck I know but if you can't catch a mature buck on his feet in daylight hours your not killing him. I've been fairly fortunate to harvest several mature deer. But if you don't see em you can't kill em.
The majority of the better deer I've seen and havested were chasing or behind a doe. So time on stand is critical no matter the weather during the rut. I hunt as much as possible. Rain snow or shine.
1) Time on stand
2) Scout (WALK, find big sign, food source)
3) Hunt funnels
4) Does
5) luck
_________________________
Hunt hard or go home.
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#1808651 - 02/25/10 01:43 PM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: BSK]
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mathews338
10 Point
Registered: 11/05/09
Posts: 4040
Loc: jackson co.
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In the rut even if you see a nice shooter buck let it walk. The big ones usually follow. My big 9 was about 10 minutes behind a really nice 8 I let walk. Alot of the times there may be nothing behind those nice bucks but if you are looking for a really big deer you have to let those deer that may be trophies to a lot of people walk. I guess that would depend on whether a "shooter" is a mature buck or a buck with large antlers. Personally, when defining a shooter as a mature buck I would rather have one in the hand than two in the bush! I'm just not a good enough hunter to be passing up mature bucks and expecting other opportunities. If I see a mature buck, I'm shooting, regardless of head-gear, especially if it is the first mature buck sighting of the year. I've got another tag for something larger antler-wise!
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#1808685 - 02/25/10 02:01 PM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: whitetailfreak]
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Double-D-Team
10 Point
Registered: 12/18/02
Posts: 3483
Loc: God's Country
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All of these ideas work. But never under estamate LUCK... You can create your own luck I know but if you can't catch a mature buck on his feet in daylight hours your not killing him. I've been fairly fortunate to harvest several mature deer. But if you don't see em you can't kill em.
The majority of the better deer I've seen and havested were chasing or behind a doe. So time on stand is critical no matter the weather during the rut. I hunt as much as possible. Rain snow or shine.
1) Time on stand
2) Scout (WALK, find big sign, food source)
3) Hunt funnels
4) Does
5) luck
I like that, very down to earth....  Simple...
_________________________
Don and Dee (DOUBLE-D-TEAM)
THE RICHEST VALUES OF WILDERNESS LIE NOT IN THE DAYS OF DANIEL BOONE NOR EVEN IN THE PRESENT. BUT IN THE FUTURE--LEOPOLD
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#1808740 - 02/25/10 02:38 PM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: BSK]
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Lee Creek22
6 Point
Registered: 09/10/08
Posts: 593
Loc: Ewtonville, TN
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I was just saying if you want a 150" plus deer you may have to let even mature bucks pass. Most of us on here has probably killed a few avg. mature bucks but if you want the big trophies sometimes you have to have patience. Then again sometimes people go get in a buddies stand and the big one comes trotting by and they kill a huge trophy. Thats also called DUMB LUCK.
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#1808800 - 02/25/10 03:03 PM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: ]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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i should have explained my self better.i didnt mean does feeding out in the field[which has worked in november]i mean the doe bedding ares in the thick stuff i just hang out on the edge and watch the bucks cruise in and out.i have good success watching thickets that the does travel in and out off during the day they will sometimes drag the big boy out that they are going into see.on my places i see the does going to the bucks just as much if not more than the bucks chasing the does around.and i do agree to a point the less buck sighn usually the better buck but they still leave sighn.
That idea I can back outbackhunter2010. I guess I just don't consider those thick bedding areas as "doe" bedding areas. I consider them security cover for all deer, including mature bucks. In essence, I don't think mature bucks go there to find does. They go there to be hidden from hunters. But in affect, it's the same thing--hunt near thick cover, which is very good advice for seeing/killing mature bucks.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1808810 - 02/25/10 03:07 PM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: whitetailfreak]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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But never under estamate LUCK...
Without question luck plays a role, but if luck were a primary reason for killing mature bucks you wouldn't have some hunters who consistantly kill mature bucks year after year while other hunters--hunting the same areas just as many if not more hours--only rarely kill a mature buck.
Luck always plays a role in hunting but skill/knowledge outweighs luck every time.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1808818 - 02/25/10 03:10 PM
Re: Mature bucks, tactics and extreme measures?
[Re: Lee Creek22]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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I was just saying if you want a 150" plus deer you may have to let even mature bucks pass.
Absolutely true.
Most of us on here has probably killed a few avg. mature bucks...
I disagree. I believe only a small percentage of hunters have ever killed a mature buck. In fact, I know many, many hunters that have hunted for 20+ years and never killed a mature buck, or at best 1 or 2. Consistantly successful mature buck hunters--successful enough to be choosy--are a very rare breed.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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