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Island bucks

Discussion in 'Bowhunting Talk' started by Maine Hunter, Aug 13, 2019.

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  1. Maine Hunter

    Maine Hunter Weekend Warrior

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    How many of you guys hunt islands? Ones where you need a boat to get to and from? I have heard of a lot of people shooting big deer on islands and I have also heard and seen deer swim to islands when they feel endangered or pressured.
     
    Maine Hunter, Aug 13, 2019
    #1
  3. Slugger

    Slugger Grizzled Veteran

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    I have before. They have swam across a decent swift river to and from islands here on the coast. Depending on wind they bed right on the water making them hard to still hunt. My buddies though drop dogs on the islands and run the deer to them which I guess is another way to do it. One spot I have hunted had bridge access and that's it but the deer will still swim and hang for weeks on the islands.
     
    Slugger, Aug 15, 2019
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  4. Shocker99

    Shocker99 Grizzled Veteran

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    I hunt some public islands on Mississippi River. First time I hunted one of them I saw about a “160-170”@50 yds at first light. If I coulda climbed the tree I wanted to be in I would’ve smoked him at 10 yds. That’s the day I switched from climber to hangon setup for run n’ gun. But to answer your question yes.... big deer especially mature bucks tend to head for islands for the solitude. As long as there’s a healthy habitat there they may stay awhile or for good or until flooding forces them off. All of these are pics of deer we got on camera or killed on one of 3 islands we hunt. The one pic is a buck in velvet swimming to one of them 68927E18-E3C3-4F05-9AC4-F9AE2F0B6E74.jpeg 3DE83469-1AAC-4098-806B-E9D7FA9D4829.jpeg D9D208D3-816E-4287-8C5A-120E2A8F7ECB.jpeg A6D64094-999F-4A51-A439-577A8808EC05.jpeg A192B52A-BC4E-4FED-ADA9-B904919964B2.jpeg 32D6C4A9-5F31-4795-8D7E-A12B8F8FEA41.jpeg L DD9EA059-782A-4DE1-AD8D-ED053496F2BB.png C9C1762B-E124-43DC-9608-2677774884F3.jpeg 4D49FBAF-9A15-4498-827C-6B73A4F78AD6.jpeg
     

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    Shocker99, Aug 15, 2019
    #3
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  5. w33kender

    w33kender Die Hard Bowhunter

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    The land around an oxbow is great, too. Real edgy deer [and pig, where they exist] hunting ground. If you are ever scouting public land, keep this in mind.
     
    w33kender, Aug 15, 2019
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  6. grommel

    grommel Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Does Long Island count????
     
    grommel, Aug 15, 2019
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  7. wl704

    wl704 Legendary Woodsman

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    Get you some of those Staten Islands problem deer.
     
    wl704, Aug 15, 2019
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  8. Slugger

    Slugger Grizzled Veteran

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    lol I guess they would say depends who asking
     
    Slugger, Aug 15, 2019
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  9. virginiashadow

    virginiashadow Legendary Woodsman

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    Shocker. Awesome stuff man. This will be my first year hunting an island.

    I'll be pulling a trail cam from an island this week. Been out there 3.5 months. Hoping I get pics of something.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
     
    virginiashadow, Aug 16, 2019
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  10. Holt

    Holt Grizzled Veteran

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    I found this guy on a island this year. Searched all over for a few hours and found his bed or hopefully another bucks bed on another island that was only 10 yards by 10 yards big. Still trying to come up with a plan to hunt this bed this year.[​IMG]

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    Holt, Aug 16, 2019
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  11. slickbilly-d

    slickbilly-d Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Looks like I need to find some islands.
     
    slickbilly-d, Aug 16, 2019
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  12. virginiashadow

    virginiashadow Legendary Woodsman

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    Just noticed something about the shape of the island I'll be hunting this fall.....

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    Last edited: Aug 25, 2019
    virginiashadow, Aug 16, 2019
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  13. Holt

    Holt Grizzled Veteran

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    Man I wish I had islands like that around here! I'm naturally draw to islands when I'm scouting. Just wish there were more around on places I hunt.

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    Holt, Aug 16, 2019
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  14. virginiashadow

    virginiashadow Legendary Woodsman

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    I've had a cam out on the island for 3 months. I'm hoping to pull it soon. I'm excited. I'm hoping there is something worthwhile roaming around.

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    virginiashadow, Aug 16, 2019
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  15. Suncrest08

    Suncrest08 Grizzled Veteran

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    Prob a lot of does on mushroom tip island. Good luck I see a lot of deer on islands while bass fishing the rivers.
     
    Suncrest08, Aug 16, 2019
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  16. grommel

    grommel Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Thats a borough of NYC. Although there are absolute monsters on Staten Island, no hunting, its a New York City Burough!! Eastern Long Island is the other way!! LOL
     
    grommel, Aug 19, 2019
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  17. wl704

    wl704 Legendary Woodsman

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    I'm painfully aware. I had an office in NYC... Twice.
     
    wl704, Aug 19, 2019
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  18. cantexian

    cantexian Legendary Woodsman

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    One of my favorite pieces of public ground is the point into the oxbow of a river. It makes a great sanctuary since it is almost impossible to access by land without spooking the deer.
     
    cantexian, Aug 22, 2019
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  19. virginiashadow

    virginiashadow Legendary Woodsman

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    Looks like the island deer liked this trophy rock[​IMG]

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    virginiashadow, Aug 25, 2019
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  20. Holt

    Holt Grizzled Veteran

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    Not bad! Did you check your camera?

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    Holt, Aug 25, 2019
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  21. virginiashadow

    virginiashadow Legendary Woodsman

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    Checking it soon......

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    virginiashadow, Aug 25, 2019
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