Limited Hunt Time. Trophy Bucks or Hogs?

I've been given permission to hunt this great property I lease for hogs to hunt bucks 8 points or better. I'm really excited but my hunts are really limited during deer season because of my business, meaning 4-7 days per year. Being my first year deer hunting this property, my question is do I focus on the chances of an 8 point buck or better coming within bow range during these days or do I just hunt trophy boar hogs and shoot a buck if one chances by? This property does have big deer but I've spent no time looking for rubs or sign over the year.

Note, this is the beginning of our rut down here but we can't shoot any does.

Option 1: Sit in an existing ladder stand all day that's over a good hog feeder that also has does coming by from time to time?

Option 2: Sit on that stand a few hours then get down and stalk and search for fresh deer sign and rubs?

Option 3: Sit on that stand and shoot the first nice hog and search for deer sign later?

Option 4: Sit in my climber all day near what I believe is a bedding area that looks over a lot of the property that I think I can glass from?

Option 5: Sit in that climber a few hours then stalk new areas looking for fresh sign?

Option 6: ?

Being the first year on the lease there are a lot of woods in the area I have never been to and I'm torn between scouting during the rut or hunting questionable areas?

I'm hunting here next weekend for a day in a half and then again for two days in the middle of Dec.

Thanks for any help.

 

I would hunt hogs and scout.

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Option 1 then scout. If a doe comes by in heat pretty good chances a buck will be not too far behind

 

Option 4 doesn't sound too bad to me, assuming the winds good. Really none of the options sound that "bad".

 

I guess if it were me I would be after bucks....but that's because I have no interest in hunting hogs

 

I appreciate the opinions. I don't mind sitting all day if I see stuff and learn something but I'm always thinking I should be somewhere else or doing something else Hogs are what I got the lease for but I can hunt them year round also.

The owner rifle hunts and has a wall of trophy bucks all from this property and he told me the area 200yds from this spot he had a state record buck run through it over a year ago. The property has potential and no pressure but I've only got a day and a morning to make something happen or take home some info for future hunts.

 

I like option 3. That may be because I don't have hogs this far north yet and would love to shoot one

 

If you have all year to hunt hogs I would totally say go for the bucks


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Option 1, you know does come in and your rut is starting, sounds like a good place to get a hog and a buck.

 

Option 3 so that youll have some nice pork in the freezer and you will be able to look around and if that spooks the deer, well youve already got a hog. thats just me though. good luck

 

Option 6: Hire an assistant and hunt more

...just wishing for both of us...I've had two quick sits so far this year and next two weekends are packed. Honestly would probably opt for the best chance for a hog with chance of getting a buck also. With limited time you need to maximize shot opportunities - or at least I would. Trophy bucks are hard enough to get cracks at, especially with little time to zero in on sign.

Good Luck Andrew - and have fun!!!

 

Thanks for the help guys.

Yeah Matt. I can hunt hogs Sunday morning but they aren't always a sure thing so having one in the cooler always makes for a better ride home.

 

I would pick 4. Have a high potential of bagging a nice buck or at least being able to glass the area and know where and how they are moving.

 

Whitetail over swine every time. Get more time off and chase a bruiser