I can second the bucks moving a lot during the rut. Last year for example I had a buck on camera all summer. He would show up 1-2 nights per week. On November 9th at 3am I got a picture of him chasing a doe 2.2 miles west of where he had been all summer. This was public land so pressure could change things more than private. I am as guilty as anyone else when it comes to the saying, "Don't pass a buck on opening day that you would shoot on the last day". I always try to hold out for something bigger and usually Mr. Big doesn't show up. I say shoot whatever makes you happy! Thats all that matters!
I shot my buck (154 net with a bunch of deductions) last year on Sept. 20th in KS only to have a GIANT at 17 yards in Nov. I'd say he easily scored 190" possibly bigger. The good news is that buck lives and I will be hunting him again this fall! This year I am going to hunt Nebraska in Sept. and most of Oct. and then hunt Kansas during pre, peek, and post rut which is the exact opposite of what I did last year!
Kansas a one buck state? We get two bucks in OK a year. So it wouldn't bother me a bit to shoot one then have another move in
Yes, KS is a one buck state. I know lots of guys that pass on old bucks because they are past their prime and are inferior to younger mature animals. That and I have never heard of a single KS resident sacrificing their only buck tag to harvest a buck which was either old, injured, ill, or just plain has bad genetics. I wish they would change that. A resident draw for a second buck tag or an earn a buck type system would be great!
I keep wandering if OK will ever go to earn a buck. A lot of people will kill their two buck an year an no doe. Wouldnt hurt my feelings if they did. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
Why is this even something to ponder? You already shot "the" buck. A man who shoots "the" buck on opening day should be happier than the guy who shoots it on the last day of the season IMO. I don't like pressure. During the rut, bucks travel miles and miles. Of course there is a chance another buck could come to the property.
Agree with this 100%. Whitetails are very predictable early season. Know where they are at and odds are they will show up there again at almost the same time everyday.
Hook me up Heckler. I would gladly come and shoot a mature buck past his prime. Those old gnarly, nasty bucks are my favorite.
Good luck finding any predictable deer in the area I hunt. Big woods hunting in states like Wisconsin and Minnesota on 100% public land your lucky if a deer does the same thing 1 time each week. There are no farm fields within 15+ miles in any direction. They bed and browse in different areas everyday! Makes for a pretty challanging hunt!!
I didn't take the time to read through all of the other responses, so disregard this if you've already came to a conclusion. But if you're still pondering the idea, it might come down to this... Is the buck you're chasing for early season fit all the expectations this year? Or does he have another year or two of growth to make the stud that you wouldn't pass up? Do you see what i'm asking? If you think there's more potential in the area to produce an absolute brute and your early season buck hasn't quite made it there yet, then i'd sure give him a pass...he can't grow if he's dead but on the other hand, if he is the brute already then make the shot and give the other bucks a year to grow.
What is it that they say...."We'll cross that bridge when we get there" I too feel usually another buck will move in....depends how long a day or month or year
As for killing a deer there is no better time as far as odds go when deer have not seen human pressure and still on a summer feeding pattern. But for me I would rather kill the day before gun season just because I want to stay out there. For years my says to me why go out your not going to shoot until the last day anyway...she has me there.
Well I would say the odds are you would probably get too excited and miss the buck early in the season anyway! I think that if it is a good area, other mature bucks will find it easily enough.
I get a buck tag for fall archery in October and a buck tag for extended bow in November so I hope to fill them both. If he is a shooter opening morning I am sealing the deal!!!
Sounds like your basing your odds off personal experience! Although, for some reason I don't think that is true. I'd even venture to say that you have never shot a buck with your Mathews bow, or any deer for that matter. I'd also venture to say that your name, join date, post count, and the fact that you checked out my profile are clues that would give away your identity. But hey, what do I know
