I may have to spot check it. So I scouted in summer 2022, hunted it in fall of 2022, and spring of 2023 ... saw 0 mature buck sign historically or active. And it's 65 miles away. I love the area but driving a 130 mile round trip based on that sign is risky.
Sign don’t lie, keep it in your pocket but I’d keep on keeping on. I got hung up on spots that shoulda been killer and wasted a lot of time. Not saying it couldn’t happen, but you know how it goes. I have also had spots the other way where I only saw sporadic big buck sign and no other, but I invest more time into it and it usually paid off once I honed in. I would see just a deer or two but 80% of the time it was a mature buck. I still hunt that area.
Gotta admit. I forget some of you have only public ground to hunt. Those of us that hunt private stuff don't have to do that too the extent you do. I would damn near be lost if I had to scout and become proficient on public.
One thing I did notice last summer and fall was the creek that surrounds this ridge was really low due to year long drought conditions. When I scouted it a few days ago the water levels in the river had risen to average levels and the creek was much bigger. 30 feet wide and 8 to 12 inches deep in the most shallow areas. I bet if the water levels remain avg to above avg that place may improve due to less hunter pressure. Something I need to keep an eye on.
Found a huuuge doe bedding area behind my house. You can tell they are shedding their winter coats. All the beds were full of so much hair. The mushrooms were popping. A big dead elm produced a bunch of yams. Thats a 16oz beer can btw not a 12. Bigguns
Got out today and put on a few miles. I've been looking at a particular spot for maybe 6 months. Found a way in today to the pretty much land locked place.
Chomping at the bit here still waiting for the snow to melt. Still a good foot of snow in the woods. Went to get my canoe up to high ground. Futile. Still buried under 3/5 ft of snow. I "think" I tied it off to a tree last fall?
Got my cams back running at the property by my house where i killed both my bucks last season. They were going off as soon as i hit my truck. Have some nice looking prego does and a lot of good sign. Few nice size buck tracks as well. Now to just keep the dang landowner away from his brush hog lol.
Another mushroom haul and some more good intel. Im about done in the woods for the spring though unless i buy a turkey tag. Getting thick.
Walked 4 miles through some steep terrain. Not much sign found so I'm not hunting the place in the fall. Was hot and I got a good workout, plus I saw this....
Scouted three hours this morning with my youngest. Pulled my trail camera that has been soaking since October, hopefully find something good on there. Jumped six does bedded 75 yards from it and cleared out a tree for next season. Went to a different WMA and scouted a thick spot in a couple of draws leading to a pond. Found a nice buck bed. First two picks are doe beds, third one is a buck bed.
This bachelor group has been living at the property by the house. The one looks like he will be pretty decent. Cant wait to watch that velvet grow all summer.
Scouted some new spots today in Ohio after Turkey hunting, got some minerals out. Won’t be long ! Found a bunch of good sign I’m looking forward to putting more time into this spot for deer.
Thoughts on this?..... "It's harder to find a 150 inch buck, then it is to kill one after you find it...."
Hard pressed to find a 150" here nowday. 20 years ago, they were fairly common. And hunting pressure is WAY LOWER now! Figger that one out?
