ORIGINAL: mobowhuntr
I've though of that, but I just don't believe they aren't there.....they must be, or there would be no deer at all....
Yes, I had a camera out last year....not this year however. I did get pictures of a couple of bucks....nothing huge though.
OK...then:
1) Check your food sources. Have they changed?
2) How about coyotes?
3) Anyone else spooking up the bucks when YOUR not there?
4) Don't hunt the piss out of the SAME stand! ROTATE. Have several to choose from. AVOID overhunting the SAME stand. Deer will pattern YOU!
5) Watch the scent. I know guys hat will not hunt a stand IF the wind ins't blowing in the right direction to remain undetected. Now, I generally don't take things THAT far - BUT, I am VERY conscious about body odor, scent, Tinks 69.
TIP: Buy a bottle of Tink's 69. TINK'S. I have stories I could post all night about TINK'S. Point being:
I have a special 'scent rag.' 100% cotton. All washed in Hunter Specialities non scented soap. I have a 8x10 ZipLoc bag. At the beginning of the seaon when the rut is getting close I NEVER, EVER, EVER hunt w/o my 'stinky rag.' Upon enetrring my stand area, I place maybe 1/4 oz of TINK'S on my rag and hang it on like a 24" or 36" high tree branch or bush. I then enter my stand. When done hunting for the day the rag gets picked up, put back into my ZipLoc bag and goes IN the day pack. I repeat this process all season. I DO NOT wash the rag out the entire season.
Ifyou wanna DRAW bucks into YOUR range you gotta MAKE THEM BELIEVE a hot doe in heat IS there! And boy does it WORK! I've killed 4's, 6's, 8's and what would have been a 12-pointer (had 2 tines snapped off - but was a nice 200# 10-pointer using THAT stinky trick opening morning.
TRY THAT and see how many bucks you start seeing!
Somedays buck lure doesn't do squat for me - but the times it HAS worked it has worked SO WELL it's unbelievable! They come right in with their nose up in the air sniffing and doing the lip curl.
I'm not ****ting ya either!