Ok, so here is the situation. The first day that I can shoot a buck is October 6. 10 days ago I hung my trail cam in a new spot, and I've got multiple pictures of a 10 pointer with a split G2. This would be the biggest deer I've ever killed by far. I went hunting for does Saturday, and I saw this buck in the morning at 150 yards and in the afternoon I literally watched him sleep at 85 yards in front of me for about two hours. I was in about a 20 acre field that is overgrown with tall grass, briars, etc. that the deer really seem to like browsing on. He got up at about 4 and started slowly browsing around. Around 5 oclock he actually rattled anters with a little 8 pointer. By 6:30 he was 30 yards away from me, bullying the little 8 pointer and another small buck. Sunday I went back to hang two more stands in that area, and I saw him again in the same field, on the completely opposite side. He was on the far end of this field from about 5 to 6 oclock when I left. So I think I have this bucks home range dialed in. The trouble is that I have a lot of hunting competition in this area. There are no other stands on the field right now, but I would really really like to nail this deer on October 6 or as soon thereafter as possible. But he is entering and exiting the field in different locations. So if I want to get aggressive and do something proactively to bring him into bow range on October 6, what should it be? Rattling? Estrus scent? Doe bleets? Please give me some strategic advice.
You could try rattling. See if he reacts dont push the issue Oct 6th is still early in my opinion but I understand the pressure your dealing with(other hunters)... you could try grunting also again and see how he reacts... I think they are a little more weary when the rut isnt as close but they are animals and hardly predictable...try and figure his pattern and that could help you make that one hunt worth it. If it doesnt work early who knows what the rut could bring. Rattle first I have had good luck with rattling early! Good luck on him keep us posted!
My advice- Sit one of the entrance/exit trails and be invisible. On public land, the man who doesn't exist wins. This deer didn't get big on public land by running to the first set of ticking antlers. Other hunters will push him to you.
What ever you do play the wind, be so very mindful of the wind and leave as little sent as you possibly can, it sounds like you're spending a good bit of time in a mature buck's home range. It's only a matter of time before he feels your pressure and slides to the next property. If he's tickling tines and he's the local boss he will likely investigate some soft rattles and grunts. don't be real aggressive as others have states, very early yet.
I rattle a little in early season and as rut comes. Like others have stated, don't push the issue and get him to leave your area. I hate to say it, but sometimes you learn your mistakes when you have the most pressure on you. whatever you do if this fails, learn from it and remember next time! I like to rattle, use a little estrous on a tinks scent bomb, and play the wind. GOOD LUCK!
Honestly, it sounds like NOW is your best chance to kill that buck. Once october gets rolling and all those calling gimmicks become useful his home range may have changed completely. Focus on his bed and try to setup on him in the evening really early. Hunt similar conditions (wind, wind, wind) to what you hunted earlier so that he'll bed in the same bed and leave the same way. Be careful and intercept him on his way out 40-100 yards from his bed.
