Switching gears

[Thegreatwhitehunter1776]

Ive started this season with the goal of getting my first buck thats at least a 6 point. It was my first bow season and i hunted with a bow until rifle season and a rifle from then on. Ive seen plenty of buck sign, scrapes rubs, etc but all ive seen are spikes and little 4 pointers. The season is getting late and i need 4 deer to fill the freezer. I really want to keep chasing the bucks but if i wait too long i feel it will be too late to fill the freezer. Im hoping to get 2 does within the next 2 weeks and focus on the buck for the rest of the season and tey and get another 2 during the antlerless season. This season has humbled me, all these buck photos and success stories mask how much work it is to get a buck, especially on public land. I have 50 acres behind my hous i hunt and i hunt every public within a 50 mile radius of where i live in carroll county. Maybe there is still a chance at a buck during the late season but i feep i need to switch gears and get some does. Maybe ill get lucky and a big boy will be trailing one.

 

[Mike Belt]

I usually try to put doe meat in the freezer before prime time buck hunting and then try to concentrate on my buck. If I haven't killed a buck late into the season I ease the pain of my itchy trigger finger by taking another doe or two.

 

[infoman jr.]

I'm in the same boat. I like to target a specific caliber of buck, but I also need at least 5 deer in the freezer. To take the pressure off, I try to get my does killed early so I can focus on bucks during times of high probability.

 

[Thegreatwhitehunter1776]

Next year during archery im going to focus on does and spend the remainder of November and December on bucks. This year is too late for yhat but at least i learned my lesson.

 

[cbhunter]

Next year during archery im going to focus on does and spend the remainder of November and December on bucks. This year is too late for yhat but at least i learned my lesson.

I have been faced with the same challenges for years. I worry too much about bucks when in reality i need a few more does to fill the freezer. It dont get any easier in my opinion. I can plan on focusing on does during bow but when they are in front of me i keep telling myself that HE is about to step out any second. Although i have lost some of my fire over the last several years, i guess thats what keeps bringing me back to the tree. lol

 

[JeepKuntry]

I have yet to see a doe from the stand in East Tn. I had tons of pics late summer and while I know the pattern changes, when you hunt food sources with acorns on the ground and no sightings or poo, it's frustrating. Usually I try to take a doe early and then focus on a mature buck. Next year I am going back to more remote public land. I'll shoot the first legal deer for meat, then focus on finding a mature deer.

 

[rmmonty32]

I have yet to see a doe from the stand in East Tn. I had tons of pics late summer and while I know the pattern changes, when you hunt food sources with acorns on the ground and no sightings or poo, it's frustrating. Usually I try to take a doe early and then focus on a mature buck. Next year I am going back to more remote public land. I'll shoot the first legal deer for meat, then focus on finding a mature deer.

Im in your same boat. I am in unit d and so took off the first week of rifle so i could get a doe during rifle since rifle is the only thing i hunt. I went to this tva property i always go to that usually i get at least two or three doe around me when its buck only. Hunted that property 3 consecutive days to specifically get a doe and didnt see one single deer. Saw plenty of scat piles but have no idea where they went.

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk

 

[Tiny]

Good Luck.. I normally always go meat 1st last n always... that's when I gets to go...

 

[catman529]

Heck go have some fun and shoot something. My first deer was a yearling 5 point. I still remember that like it was yesterday. And the 3 hour drag. Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[rmmonty32]

Heck go have some fun and shoot something. My first deer was a yearling 5 point. I still remember that like it was yesterday. And the 3 hour drag. Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I agree...sometimes we overthink the FUN right out of it.

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk

 

[Realtree56]

I have yet to see a doe from the stand in East Tn. I had tons of pics late summer and while I know the pattern changes, when you hunt food sources with acorns on the ground and no sightings or poo, it's frustrating. Usually I try to take a doe early and then focus on a mature buck. Next year I am going back to more remote public land. I'll shoot the first legal deer for meat, then focus on finding a mature deer.

Im in your same boat. I am in unit d and so took off the first week of rifle so i could get a doe during rifle since rifle is the only thing i hunt. I went to this tva property i always go to that usually i get at least two or three doe around me when its buck only. Hunted that property 3 consecutive days to specifically get a doe and didnt see one single deer. Saw plenty of scat piles but have no idea where they went.

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk

They're getting chased hard in D right now ! Saw a 6 chase a doe across wide open cow pasture Tuesday morning and saw bits and pieces of another chase this morning in a thicket on the neighbors property never got a good enough look at the buck to tell what he was