Doe hunting v. Buck hunting

GMMAT · 10-23-2008, 10:04 AM

I know some of you guys shy away from areas that you know does frequent.....and I'm appreciative of your pursuits.

But how many times do you go "doe" hunting and end up killing a nice buck?

I'm onto a really good buck area....but I know I need to give it a rest (with the current moon phase and an "iffy" wind). So I'll go hutning a doe, tonight.

Wouldn't it be ironic?

Seriously.......what's the board's %-age that hunts one or the other .....and know that when you leave the house? I'm speaking outside the rut for this exercise.

Vito1 · 10-23-2008, 10:17 AM

For the most part, I hunt Oct 1-Oct 30 with the mindset that I am trying to kill does. Some of my spots I still have a chance at seeing/killing a shooter buck, but not as likely as the spots I hunt Oct 31st-Nov 14th.

kickin_buck · 10-23-2008, 10:21 AM

I hunt pinch points a lot, so I can (and do) see bucks and does from most of my stand sites. I do not hunt directly over food much, but target pinch points between known bedding areas and food sources.

rybohunter · 10-23-2008, 10:22 AM

Back in the day I just hunted DEER. I hunted where I felt I had the best chance of killing either one was. And it worked.

Then I started getting a little pickier on bucks but still hunted DEER. And that worked too.

THEN I started hunting "mature" bucks and realized I hadto change things up in order for that to work. I started hunting does, and hunting bucks only in or near the rut. It worked to an extent, butI think I carried this too far in trying to kill does only in designated areas and my sightings suffered. I am back to hunting DEER, with the intentions of shooting a doe, or mature buck if given the chance. So now I'm looking at it more from the perspective that I am deer hunting, but know the odds of shooting a doe are far more likely than that of me shooting a mature buck.

All that to say, Since I began separating the two, I've never gone out specifically to kill a doe and wound up killing a buck, although many times I COULD have killed a buck, it just wasn't big enough.

Gundeck · 10-23-2008, 10:25 AM

Well, considering (as the rut approaches) the buck are out there hunting the doe, I would say have as good a chance as not to see "the" buck when you are looking for doe.

HuntingEd · 10-23-2008, 10:47 AM

This weekend will be the first weekend I'll not hunt specificly for bucks. I'll hunt near doe bedding/feeding/travel areas w/ the hopes of catching a buck thats in the mood for love. They have started using scrapes and scent checking will occur, so bucks will start to get on their feet more...

You could very well connect...

jkcmerg · 10-23-2008, 10:49 AM

I shot my buck this year hunting for does. Now that i have filled my buck tag, i am only allowed does the rest of the season. This probably does not help your research but for the rest of this season....does only for me..

Deleted User · 10-23-2008, 10:52 AM

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SwampCollie · 10-23-2008, 11:58 AM

My line of thought is kinda like this:

Say you are in the city and need a taxi.... you aregoing to go to the spot where the most cars tend to pass.... and if you are there long enough and waiting and ready.... sooner or later one is going to show up.

So that said, I tend to hunt areas that deer frequent. I know the rut is not withstandinghere, but the fact of the matter is that this time ofyear, it is afactor.... bucks are starting to follow does.... find the does... find the bucks. Find the cars... find a cab.

I hope that makes sense.

I will say though GMMAT, that if you have an iffy wind.... its definately good not to hunt a stand you are trying to whack a good buck off of. Hold that Ace til you know its the right time.

virginiashadow · 10-23-2008, 12:00 PM

I'll be honest with you, sometimes I can't figure this whole hunting thing out! LOL. I just set-up with a general plan in mind and enjoy the hunt.