Last year I started using Buck Fever Synthetic Scents. I talked and PMed with Troy (Shed) on here and hit him up with questions being he's had great success with the stuff. Thanks again bud!! Last year my results were awesome with a few good bucks checking these mock scrapes. One In particular was the big 10 point I hit October 19th. Anyhow this year I put out a 1/2 dozen mock scrapes again In different spots. In 3 of the spots no decent bucks showed but In the other 3 I got some good results. I've got 4 mock scrapes going now and have a camera on each of them. I've been checking these cams every 7 to 10 days and today was day number 8 so I headed on out and did some scouting and checking. I recently bought a Garmin450t GPS and I brought that with me to mark the spots I have the scrapes at. When I bought the GPS I also bought some Garmin software to put on my computer and look at topo maps. I'm able to plug my GPS Into my computer and load the waypoints from my GPS onto the software on my computer. In the pictures below you'll be able to see exactly where these mock scrapes are and where I've had these mature buck sightings and the buck doing It. The scrapes are marked 1, 2, 3, 4. The red line In the picture Is the boundary of the land I hunt. The 10 point In these photos Is a common visitor of one of my mock scrapes. He's using the same exact trail and bedding area that the big guy did that I was hunting last year. When I 1st got pics of this 10 point I thought, "not to bad of a buck but lets hope for bigger". I've gotten nearly 500 pics of this buck and the SOB Is starting to wear on me a tad. I honestly am looking for a 130 Inch and up buck but would love nothing more to hunt the buck I hit last year. So far no show of him yet. This 10 point to me seems he'd go some where In that 125 Inch range at best. I think he's a 3.5 year old and a good one for this area. Most 3.5's around here don't score any higher then this, he's above average for here. Another year would be sweet for him. What's your thoughts on his age and score? This 10 point has visited scrape number 1 95% of the time. I've got a pile of daytime pictures of him there. Below are just a few of them. Most of the time lately It's been In the morning an hour or so after light but before that It was more In the evenings an hour before dark. His last trip through on this trail was this morning at 8:00. I checked this cam at 10:30 this morning. This buck also showed up at scrape number 2 around 8:00 one morning. He also made an appearance at scrape number 4 once, that was an hour before light In the morning. He absolutely loves this Buckfever stuff. He Is so fooled!!!
The 8 point below to me has one cool looking rack!! If he shows his face It might be real hard to let him go. I'm a deer hunter who likes Inches and this 8 point won't score out the best with his small end fork on his left side but man I love the rack!! It's a different looking rack for this area and would look pretty damn nice on the wall. He's a big bodied deer too. I'm thinking he's a 4.5. Last year I got a picture of him and figured he was a 120 Inch buck. If his end fork would be the same as the right side this year I think he'd score close to 130. Your thoughts on age and score? Lets just say If he presents a shot chances are they'll be some action. The 8 point here has only showed at scrape number 4. He possibly might of been on scrape number 2 but the pic wasn't very good. Whoever the buck was It was a real high rack. I got pics of this same 8 back In late July In this same spot. Just used a different camera and this time I put the camera on the other side of this trail. He seems to come through here mostly In the mornings. I think he's really on the ball though. Notice how he picked the camera out both In July and now. Last year he did the same thing In a different location In this woods. Scrape number 3 Is a new one I put up today. I'm not a fan of going Into this area I did here very often as It's close to the doe bedding area. Bigger bucks may bed here to some where also. It's a real tough area for me to figure out. I've tried hunting this area off and on a bit the last 10 years but never saw much for good bucks. Just one sighting of a 125 Inch 3.5 whom I let go 2 years ago. The buck sign Is there, scrapes that Is. This Is my 1st time putting a mock scrape here. I'm very excited to see what It brings. I did find 2 other scrapes 40 or so yards to the north on the way out of the woods after I made my scrape. We shall see!!!
Steve, I noticed the line you had with your mock scrapes. Is this an inside funnel? As in are you are between a creek and a field edge? BTW, great post chalked full of information. I have both bucks pegged at 3 1/2. The 10 would walk under me. The 8.....I would have a hard time passing up. I'm a sucker for big 8's.
looking good Steve! I hope you drill a good one and I hope and pray that big boy shows back up this month!
Looks like you have some solid options. All that action is from "synthethic" scents? I might have to look into that. Are they the ones that are sold in a three pack, different scents?
Its interesting how the mock scrapes are fairly close together, according to the map scale, but each buck tends to go to a different scrape. I am also amazed at the number of daytime photos you have of each one. My preference....the 8. He is a dandy and I love the way his brow tines come together but as was already said, he also looks young to me. You and I are in the same boat, we have some private land to hunt but not enough to say "I'll let him go till next year and know he'll still be there." If either of them trip your trigger, its time to hunt, especially considering their daytime movement.
I too think his face has a younger look to him but my god he's got a big body. I'm pretty sure In this pic below this Is him last year. I can't find my good pics of him but you can see the similarities with his G1's and G2's coming together like they are In the pics above. Last year this buck In the pic below was all of 170 to 180 pounds dressed. I did see him once at about 50 yards.
Nice pics Steve. Good info on the scrapes to! I think your real close on the first guy, Im guessing 3.5 and also around 125" Now the second guy im thinking 3.5- 4.5 and I love his frame! But that short G-3 just kills him. Im saying 118-120"
good luck with your season.... looks like you have some regular visitors. Do you have a stand set up anywhere near the cameras? or are you going to go in with a climber and then take it out each time
Seems like you've got some good bucks in the area! I had alot of success with BF this year as well. Some of the scraps flopped but the ones that were hot were awesome. I'd shoot both so i cant help
