I had a real mature buck a few days back get up out of his bed about 1 hour before dark. He was an absolute beast. Rack-wise really hvy mass, lots of points/kickers on his main framed 4x4 sides. Very short but thickly bladed out tines. His body looked like he was 5/6+ years old forsure. Swayed back, pop belly, old roman nose, grey face etc. He was feeding. He was alone, and slowly working upslope away from my downslope standsite. After deciding I would be happy to drill this old boy with an arrow, I started in oh him with some light doe grunts to get his attention. All he did was looked my way, went back to feeding. Then I changed to a social buck grunt. I got the same response, so I dug a little deeper and tickled the rattling bag together like two bucks sparring. He got a little more interested in my position, but again went back to feeding. Then after about 20 minutes he started to head up slope towards a big saddle with a cleacut on the back side. So with nothing to lose, I snort wheezed at the old bruiser and he jerked his head my way and really stared in my direction. I followed this with a couple short buck grunts. He gazed my way for a good couple minutes, then suprisingly just started feeding up the ridge again. By this time I decided to try one more snort wheeze based on his initial reaction, and again I got the same exact response... Finally he moved off feeding up the mountain. I didnt want to ruin my set up by do any more calling than that, as he moved off naturally. I watched him sift into the timbered mountain side. I would bet if I kill this buck he is over 7 years old actually because my brother and I have seen this buck around for 4 years now, sightings and a few trail cams.. and back when we first saw the massy buck, we figured he was 3 or 4. Sometimes no matter what we throw at them they just dont come our way. Oh I had a 3.5 yar old come in below me from the calling of this buck.. Nothing I wanted to shoot though. So for all of you, my ? is, have you had much luck trying to call an "old" buck in during the early season. I say early here too because my rut doesnt hit till about 2 weeks later than most of you mid west guys.. Thanks for your input. I am gonna hunt the old buck again Sat evening. There are some other dandies in this bedding are too.
Like you I will try and get the buck to head my direction. if he dont come pretty quick chances are like yours he will just move on. Hey Columbus took a chance right?
IMO it has more to do with the buck to doe ratio. I called in a big buck last year right about this time of year. If your doe population is high he might not be inclined to answer.
^^^^ This is my answer too. Also, the hunting pressure this buck has felt too. A buck that old around here, has probably heard most the calls out there at some point in his life.
I take a grunt call with me............because all the cool kids take one. It's as useful for me as tits on a boar hog.
Specially when their as old and wise as this guy Is. My thoughts exactly Troy. Is their anything as sly and smart as an old whitetail with the age of this one?
I would say I try and do as you did each time, sometimes it has worked and sometimes it does not even turn them. I know that is a textbook answer, but I think it depends more on the individual mood of the buck at that exact time. I called to a buck a few years back that was harrasing a doe, He paid no mind. I saw him several minutes later still harrasing the same doe, some doe bleats brought him looking. He "hung up" once he could see in the bottom and knew nothing was there. About fifteen minutes later he came back by (90 to 100 yards away) and I hit him with a very aggressive series of grunts, he bristled up and walked completly through the same bottom he would not commit to minutes before, wore out a tree and "hung" around for several minutes looking for that buck he heard. Hit him with everything I knew and something finally worked, he had a broken side so he got a pass. If I try calling and they continue on I usually let them go.
i had the same thing happen 2 mornings ago. had a pretty nice 8, he is the second biggest buck on the property, come chasin a coupla does through. threw a grunt his way, and her kinda started coming, then decided that at the moment, A$$ was more important.
I never tried to call them early. They aren't very social so those calls probably won't work and they probably know it's too early for the rut so those calls might not work eithor. Part of your problem is he had his mind set to go the other way. If you happen to be in the direcion he wants to travel you may get him to swing your way enough to get an arrow in him. During the rut I have only called in big ones with the exception of one spike.
The oldest buck I have ever killed came in on a string to the estrus can call. I have grunted and rattled in hundreds of bucks, but our deer are not pressured and are pretty receptive to calling at the right times. One thing I learned is to never call at them when they are looking towards you. Always grunt or call when they are looking away. Sometimes even a stubborn old buck will come if you call every time he looks away. It also helps if they cant see well into the area where the calling is coming from. Good luck with him!
