Well yesterday we found it. My buddy and i have known about a particular massive buck. Last year he was a 10 pt and this year he is a typical 12 point. He is atleast 150, maybe 160 inches, which for around here is a MONSTER. Anyhow, yesterday around lunch, my buddy and i got down to do some scouting. We ended up finding a tiny patch of woods, across the street from where we are hunting. The patch of woods is maybe 100 yards by 100 yards and there are hge rubs and scrapes everywhere. Unfortunately, we jumped the buck out of his bed, which is where my buddy jumped him out of his bed last december. There is a small area where he seems to be bedding quite frequently, the area was all matted down and there was so many droppings on the ground that you couldnt take a step without stepping in it. My question is how would you all go about hunting this area. There is one decent tree in that is located about 40 yards from his major bed and is inbetween the bed and a major scrape. I have never ran into this situation before and dont want to mess up a good opportunity. There are houses all around this patch of woods, so he has to be somewhat acceptable of human scent, although i dont know about directly in his home, although when we bumped him yesterday, he simply stood up, raised his tail and slowly trotted off. Please give me some advice on this massive backyard buck so i dont waste a great opportunity.
__________________
"Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure."
Well, its getting to that time of year. Where are the does in this area? Do they bed anywhere close to where he's been sleeping? Without any trees to get into, your best bet may be to get between him and a food source. But of course this gets thrown out the window since the rut should be about ready to explode.
But, if you have one good tree there, I'd say get into the sucker VERY early in the AM. If you know where he most likely is feeding at night, avoid him there, watch the wind and get into the stand from the opposite direction if at all possible.
Muzzy, he was bedded down with 2 doe when we saw him, and within 100 yards of this location we saw 7 more doe. He doesnt need to move in order to find does. We believe that he is crossing the road, which is about 50 yards away and feeding in a huge field at night.
__________________
"Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure."
Set upat least1 1/2 hours before daylight and sit all day...now, as seeking and chasing is beginning, and the rutting moon doesnt show for another week and a half, it is a perfect time to catch him hitting the area to bed first thing in the morning or scent checking the area at midday. Wait on that perfect wind and be unhumanly quiet when entering this bedding area.
__________________
"Go afield with good attitude, with respect for the wildlife that you hunt and for the forests and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person" --Fred Bear
Set upat least1 1/2 hours before daylight and sit all day...now, as seeking and chasing is beginning, and the rutting moon doesnt show for another week and a half, it is a perfect time to catch him hitting the area to bed first thing in the morning or scent checking the area at midday. Wait on that perfect wind and be unhumanly quiet when entering this bedding area.
+1. If you are going to go into his sanctuary, you need to be there well before him and wait him out. While suburban deer are more tolerant of human intrusion you may only get one or two sits like that before he becomes aware of your presense. Good luck.
But, if you have one good tree there, I'd say get into the sucker VERY early in the AM.
If I had a lock on available to me (have it loaned out)....I'd have stuck it in that tree while I had him bumped out of there. I'd also go in there first good wind I got......early (as was suggested).
Quote:
Muzzy, he was bedded down with 2 doe when we saw him, and within 100 yards of this location we saw 7 more doe.
"I" would find this troubling if I thought I'd found HIS bed. Maybe you found THEIR bed and he just happened to be there????? It's not common for bucks to BED with does. He may be with them waiting for one of them to come into estrous....but I'd find it unusual for a mature buck to be bedding (as a general rule) with does.
Setup on bedding area?
