fairchaser
Well-Known Member
I'm finding more mid day (12-3) movement of mature bucks. Do you think this is just the coincidence of the rut or do mature bucks select these times to avoid hunting pressure?
I believe there are two factors at work.I'm finding more mid day (12-3) movement of mature bucks. Do you think this is just the coincidence of the rut or do mature bucks select these times to avoid hunting pressure?
There are day's that I used to have to get down at 8:30 to go to work. I always hated to leave.I personally think it is to avoid pressure. They are smarter than we give credit a lot of days. Same thing with deer going nocturnal.
I hunt a stand on my property that I can see the neighbors box stand right on my property line. Last time I sat it we saw nothing until they climbed down at 8:30 and left. Deer started moving like crazy. The first deer came in walked right to the stand and looked right at it like they knew.
I really think it's a combination of location and hunting pressure. Below is a graph of mature bucks caught on trail-camera during the peak rut month of November for my place over 14 years. Notice the huge lull of pictures from 10 AM to 2:59 PM (each bar above a time is the hour starting at the listed time. For example the bar for 8 AM is 8:00 AM to 8:59 AM). Basically, not worth the effort to hunt between 10 AM and 2:59 PM for mature bucks, unless you've crawled back into their bedding areas. Also notice how nocturnal these mature bucks are.I'm finding more mid day (12-3) movement of mature bucks. Do you think this is just the coincidence of the rut or do mature bucks select these times to avoid hunting pressure?
This is what I've always believed but I wonder if this is the same in heavily pressured hunting areas? Also, during the rut, does will return to bedding areas and lay down. This is when and where bucks know they can find their next doe.I really think it's a combination of location and hunting pressure. Below is a graph of mature bucks caught on trail-camera during the peak rut month of November for my place over 14 years. Notice the huge lull of pictures from 10 AM to 2:59 PM (each bar above a time is the hour starting at the listed time. For example the bar for 8 AM is 8:00 AM to 8:59 AM). Basically, not worth the effort to hunt between 10 AM and 2:59 PM for mature bucks, unless you've crawled back into their bedding areas. Also notice how nocturnal these mature bucks are.
Bingo! This is exactly what I saw this year as with every year. 2nd and 3rd week of November. 3 all day sits and 2 sits from 9am till dark and 1 sit from dawn to 3pm, finally gave up that day. Total big bucks. Zero.I really think it's a combination of location and hunting pressure. Below is a graph of mature bucks caught on trail-camera during the peak rut month of November for my place over 14 years. Notice the huge lull of pictures from 10 AM to 2:59 PM (each bar above a time is the hour starting at the listed time. For example the bar for 8 AM is 8:00 AM to 8:59 AM). Basically, not worth the effort to hunt between 10 AM and 2:59 PM for mature bucks, unless you've crawled back into their bedding areas. Also notice how nocturnal these mature bucks are.
Steady checking doe groupsI've thought it was because bucks who have some experience know to scent check doe bedding and loafing areas from downwind before the does know they are being checked. If there's a doe who needs further attention then they'll move on in. If there's not then they move on to the next doe group.
Nice data BSK.I really think it's a combination of location and hunting pressure. Below is a graph of mature bucks caught on trail-camera during the peak rut month of November for my place over 14 years. Notice the huge lull of pictures from 10 AM to 2:59 PM (each bar above a time is the hour starting at the listed time. For example the bar for 8 AM is 8:00 AM to 8:59 AM). Basically, not worth the effort to hunt between 10 AM and 2:59 PM for mature bucks, unless you've crawled back into their bedding areas. Also notice how nocturnal these mature bucks are.
That's been my experience also.I bet half of our mature bucks have been killed between 8:30-10:30 AM.
I believe that bucks you catch moving more during those times during the rut are doing so to find does that are unattended to. They finish with one and move on to the next. Totally coincidence, and the drive to find that next doe.I'm finding more mid day (12-3) movement of mature bucks. Do you think this is just the coincidence of the rut or do mature bucks select these times to avoid hunting pressure?