Alright, this is driving me crazy. I know I have three weeks left, but these bucks are playing with me, and it's making me antsy:D I'll try to keep it relatively short. I've attached an aerial map and a topo map of this particular area I'm having some issues with. This was the spot I killed my buck out of last year, and I've been hunting hard since. It's a .75acre clover/chicory/wheat plot surrounding by doe bedding to the west and southeast. The plot itself sits up top of a relatively steep ridge which drops off to its south, and levels off to it's N and NE. Here's an aerial (Photoshopped) and a corresponding topo (paint...I'm on my wife's comp:D). The red border is the property line, the stands in the area are yellow, the light blue line is my stand exit/entry route for the NE corner stand (the source of my frustration). The dark blue lines are where deer enter the plot. Bedding areas are indicated on the map. One is on the property, one is off. Here's the situation. I've been hunting the NE stand with a S/SW/W wind this season. EVERY sit except last night I've had deer in range. I shot my buck from this stand last season as he entered the SW corner, and walked to the SE corner. I shot AT and superficially (hopefully) wounded an 8 point from this stand this season as he entered up from the SE. Most deer enter from the SE corner, with the occasional one's entering over the the west side (odd since it's a bedding area). I had a VERY nice piebald 8 come across from the bedding area to the West last Wednesday and work his way E across the bottom edge. Yesterday morning, I saw a tall 8 point enter the plot on the west side following a doe, but they heading North into the pasture. Last night's sit is what had me a bit perplexed. Deer ARE feeding in this plot...a lot. Every night I've hunted it, they're in there feeding (sometimes only 3, sometimes as many as 18). Last night, NOTHING showed. Not a big deal. So I get out of my stand, walk out along the logging road as it's marked, and in the pines to the west, the tall 8 and the doe busted out about 10yds from me (at least I'm guessing as I couldn't see since it was dark, but it was RANK...definitely buck in rut smell. So, I get down to the north edge of the pasture as shown on the map, and there are about 6 remaining deer I can barely make out up in the pasture. Why is it that they would seemingly shift from a pretty set pattern at this point, to an area that has NO food attractant compared to the plot a mere 75yds away (this is an old hay grass pasture that hasn't been planted/farmed in 30+ years). I've admittedly been hunting the stand hard because of the fact that I have a good entry and exit route (until last night), plus this time of year, if I have the doe's in the area, it's only a matter of time until at least one buck shows up. Now, before anyone asks, I can't hunt the south side of the plot very well because of access. I will either bump deer going in or out. The stand to the SW is my morning stand, but it has been pretty unproductive in the past. What I DO like about it, is the proximity to the doe bedding area. I may be giving more attention to this in a week or so. So much for keeping the post short, but am I overlooking something here? Possibly over-hunting without realizing it? Full moon playing a role?:D Everything seemed repeatable up until last night. I've almost NEVER seen deer in those pines at that time of evening, let alone in the pasture grazing, especially with the plot so close.
Those pines can make for a great "rut staging area", especially if theres a solid thicket around the edges of it. If you get some good rain or strong, steady winds, might not be a bad idea to swing through there quickly and look for some sign. Also, Id take a look at the pinch-point between the food plot and the pasture. Ive seen a LOT of deer bed on the edge of overgrown pastures.
kinda cool how the pasture is shaped like an arrow points southeast towards the plot n that bedding area
That's what I was wondering, but I wasn't sure if it would affect the whole group since he seemed to be separated from the rest with one doe. So, in your opinion, if the doe are bedding where they are, and if a buck can pull them off like that, should I hold tight where I'm at, and hope they (doe) draw him into the plot eventually, or grab a climber and head to the pine standing with a S or SW wind? Hoythews71, thanks. The pasture is actually not overgrown. We do mow it yearly, but that strip is traveled quite a bit. I used to hang a stand in there, but for a few years, deer were actually traveling across the pasture to the plot in the evening, and I was busting them out when leaving. The current stand has a much safer entry/exit route, although the deer (except for the other evening) rarely cross the pasture.
Any thoughts from the afternoon crew?:D Probably going to stay out of this stand until the temps drop, but curious if that NE spot truly is as good for the approaching seeking phase (never hunted it during that time in the past).
I would try sitting on or between the doe bedding areas and leave the food plot / fields alone all together.
Thanks, I suppose what I was really getting at is if this "push" from a buck in the area would possibly through this pattern of behavior by the does off for a long period of time. Like I said, I hunt this with a SW/W, and sometimes S wind (although it's rare) because I am downwind of the bedding area. While I know ideally it's best to not hunt on the food sources at this time of year (like Scott was getting at), with the terrain and accessibility, as well as the prevailing wind in the area, it really leaves me with few choices. Like I said, I've had up to 18 deer in this plot in front of me at one time this season, and I've seen 6 different bucks, three of which were shooters. Now, it seems the game has changed a bit, and without the does frequenting this as a feeding area, it really may not truly be my best option. With the ESE wind we're having tonight, I'm heading to NW of that doe bedding area up toward the far west "curve" of that field. It's a small clearing between two VERY thick bedding areas. Haven't hunted it during this time of year for a few years now.
Came out tonight from another stand on the property, and driving down past my uncle's house (the building near the pasture), and sure enough, the tall 8 was standing there. Can't figure him out.
He sounds a little tricky. Keep all the locations you see him in mind. You'll start to see a pattern eventually. Might not happen this year, but sooner or later you be on him.
