I have been pondering a situation lately. You shoot "the" buck on sept 20th, what are the chance a new monster will move in for the rut? I thought of this because I plan to bow hunt heavily this year on the same piece that me and the rest of our hunting party hunts during gun season. Im going to shoot the buck if I see him, but what do you guys think about the chance of a new big buck moving in to take the now open does?
I've had more dominant bucks move in on property in spite of the existing dominant buck still being on the hoof. I've also had dominant bucks move off property onto other property nearby...away from their normal home range, during season. They can be totally unpredictable and do things for no apparent reason anyway. If I see a shooter early on, I'll be flinging an arrow his way.
For sure, in my mind it seems like if I shoot the alpha buck early that puts a lot of does on the market and could make for some competition?
Very high during the rut. Shooting one deer doesn't really that early wouldn't have that much effect on what will happen during the rut
This ^^^^ I think most hunters would be surprised at how far some deer move during the rut . Had a buddy hunting a nice buck on his farm , last year , that he had several pics of . The buck was killed by another friend over 4 miles away . Myself , I never worry about it . I shoot the first buck that gets me excited enough . The only problem that I have found with shooting a buck in Sept. , is that it's a long wait to get another buck tag here in Missouri .
You know what they say. Don't pass on the first day what you wouldn't pass on the last. I guess that is easier for me to say though when we can kill 3 bucks here in Alabama. Last year, I still took only one though. You never know if that encounter you have is going to be the last so don't pass it when you have the chance.
Ha! We can kill 2 deer a day! From the end of august on though is bucks only until doe week. Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk
I get one buck tag for archery and one doe tag for rifle. Next year I hope to get to use a land owner tag. Our season isn't very long for archery so I will take what I can get. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The other does will not be open just because a single buck is killed. The chance that another mature buck shows depends on the neighborhood.
Im not talking about would you shoot it or not, its a shooter and your going to pull the trigger. The question is more how likely do you guys think a new big boy will move in? assuming your in good area
I don't think its an issue, Last year i took an early buck, and there were plenty of new bucks who showed up during the rut...the key is if the area is holding does to make the new bucks come in to the area. after shooting my early buck, i passed on 2 newer 110-120" class bucks, that now reside on or near my property.
Whitetails aren't elk, there isn't a dominate buck that controls all the does in an area until he's killed or overthrown, just not how it works. Buck compete amongst themselves for prime habitat, what's prime is forever changing. Once breeding begins all bucks attempt to breed, where a hot doe is any buck in the area may show. Its a bigger accomplishment to kill a mature buck outside the rut, kill what makes you happy then try to find the next.
It all depends on how "safe" that bed is that you refer to. If its a sought after bed in a prime location for a buck to feel safe and live longer, then Yes another buck will take it over shortly after your kill. If its not a primary bed site then you will get travelers that will come in and take it over for a week, then move on. Its all dependent on the "bed" and the location of safety.
I usually get a pic or two of a buck I've never seen before during rut (last year is the exeption). The rut is wide open...There is no telling what will show up. Any chance you have to take YOUR buck that you've been scouting all summer...do it. He may be a county over in November walking under somebody else's stand. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
