Ours works similarly for bucks. Lots of does call it home, but bucks hang on the fringes. It has its benefits as far as shooting does and not really putting a ton of pressure on the bucks, but it would be nice to actually feel like I have a chance at a buck early.
This is how my spot works out as well. I see lots of does in the early season and come November numerous bucks will start showing up on camera, multiple times. There are a few primary scrape areas that I know I can count on bucks visiting multiple times throughout the rut. I am wondering if I add a mock scrape around this time in these same areas if bucks will start to frequent earlier than usual?
Some people have luck with it, but I never have. Didn't try it this year, but I might give it a go again
I have tried it a few times but didn't have much luck attracting bucks or drawing any new bucks in. The best one I ever had was a old community scrape that I found. I pissed in it a few times and put a camera over it, that thing had all kinds of deer checking it! Any thing from fawns to this 8 plus year old buck that I was chasing. I would say though that 95% of the bucks were all at night, maybe 1 buck a month would check it during the day, but always at random times.
Holt, like I said, that big boy's going to be running the show during the rut. You get enough hours on stand and you're going to kill him! I'm turning in shortly, I need the rest. 4 AM will come quickly. Good luck to the Sat hunters!
I know he will, I'm already planning a few rut stands just for him. Good luck tomorrow! Shoot me a text when you knock down that big 8! I will be on stand also, looking for a few does.
I'm in the stand...pulled pics last night, been no shooters in daylight since last week. One mature very long and thin tined 5 point, he looks old but not what I'm looking for with only 1 buck tag in my pocket. Wish me and everyone else in the stand BLOOD!
Slow morning on stand. Got out a little late so I didn't sit where I had intended. Regardless, it felt good to have the bow in hand out in the woods. Hoping for a chance at a doe this evening.
Yeah I also got a late start so I'm sitting in my old ladder stand. Not ideal with this SW wind but feels good to get my feet wet. Gonna grab my climber this afternoon and get around to the other side of the property to take advantage of the wind. Also a lot more pics in evening daylight compared to AM. Best of luck to the team Obligatory product placement shot:
I've had good luck with mock scrapes. Killed my 8 point last year over 1. Basically, there was a scrape line along the crp that I was hunting, I just made a drag Trail and kind of hijacked the trailline and put a mock scrape 20 yards from my stand. That buck came in on a string and was nosing the ground when I stuck him.
I ended up not hunting this morning. I am going in around 2 today, I will be going to a new part of the farm that I never hunted. Taking my stand with me and heading in a big chunk of timber down beside a marsh, going to hunt any feeding sign as I walk in. I will be shooting any doe I see tonight! It will be a bonus if a buck walks by! Good luck to you guys this afternoon!
You as well. I also relocated to an area I've never actually hunted, although my buddy has. Where three draws come together and then there's a food plot on the other side about 50 yards from me. Lots of sign coming down those draws towards the food plot that they are hitting right at Dusk and Dawn per camera pics. The sun is killing me right now, but after an hour or so it will be behind the tree line and I will cool off. Freaking yellow jackets everywhere it will be a miracle if I manage to not get stung
Congrats on the doe Holt! I hunted this morning and saw nothing. I hunted this evening and saw one doe. I DO NOT like the heat when I'm hunting!!! I was literally dripping from sweat and I went in slowly both times. I did not see a single hunter at all today.
Nice doe Holt! I finally have phone service at the cabin, had none in the tree. I only hunted this afternoon, no deer. Did catch some great fish though
Here she is! It was a great hunt. She came out about a hour before dark, and I didn't see her til she was 15 yards. She walked directly down wind, then see smelled me and started get spooky. But her curiosity got the best of her, and she slowly worked her way to me smelling the air the whole way. At 10 yards I shot her thru the front should and hit the top of the heart and out behind the far side shoulder. The best part is she just walked 20 yards and fell over! She was dead on her feet.. Got it post to score card.
