[align=left]Well,[/align][align=left]Opening is Saturday here in the southern region of NYS. As some of you might know, I recently got pics of a monster (at least for NY) who has been frequenting an apple tree off a series of fields.[/align][align=left]I set-up my blind last Saturday and dont plan on going back until opening day. All shots to the apple tree are 20 yards or less. I cannot get even close to his bedding area, it is a quagmire of brush, branches, hardhack, and briars...big buck heaven. It is located less than 200 yards from the apple tree.[/align][align=left]Here is my situation.[/align][align=left]The buck only moves during the early morning and late afternoon hours. Generally, he is there either at 7:45pm or 6:45am, almost on the dot. I am worried that if I slip into the fields, at say 4am, I might bump other deer from the fields leading to his not coming in later, since they will head straight for the bedding area he is in. I was thinking of an afternoon hunt, but I dont think that he will be there even close to shooting time. The weather for this weekend is supposed to be wet and cold, with highs in the mid to upper 40's and lows in the mid 20's. Using this information, do you think some light rattling or grunting might help to lure him out earlier in the afternoon? Morning or afternoom or all day? Maybe a bleat? [/align][align=left]Anyadvice or suggestions? [/align][align=left]Also, take a look at the pic, doesnt it seem like he neck is awful swollen, almost like he is rutting already. We have had some cold and wet weather here in NY, maybe things are kicking off early?[/align]



Wow...and I hit 500 posts....amazing

I would not call to that deer at all the first week unless you visually see him and can read his reaction to your calls. I would call to him in the rut. I would focus primarily on how I can get in and out of there with the lowest chance of getting busted. I would also focus on wind direction. It will only take one nose full of you under that tree and he will go nocturnal I bet. I have seen usually that bigger mature bucks will only need once sense to confirm you are there. Younger deer and even mature does sometimes will usually confirm a sense with a second. I also probably would not hunt that stand for more than 1 evening every 2-3 days. Whether I would hunt evening or morning I would not know without seeing your entry route and wind direction.

My second bet is finding the resident doe/fawn groups and where they bed and feed. Connect the easiest path between his bedding area and those groups with some half decent cover by connecting the spots w/ terrain features and hunt it all day long during the rut with wind and entry/exit routes planned in advance.

If I knew his entire area didn't have any other pressure, I may sit a distance away from him to glass him for an evening and morning and then setup on him accordingly.

You just have to hunt him. Don't over hunt the area. Wait for rattling during or close to the rut. This is the deer you've seen, come rut time there will be a bigger one.

Fieldmouse said it, this is the buck that you happened to get a pic of, there are bigger ones out there. Sometimes, it is bad to hunt just one buck.

I am telling you, this is as big as bucks get in my area. Lots of pressure, lots of poaching, etc, etc.
I think he is probably the biggest buck in the area. I have photos of 9 other different bucks within 500 yards, and none can touch him.

"Haha...you think you have that monster figured out. Just when you think you have a bucks number, they will go and do something crazy you never thought they would.
Still, it is most excellent that you optimistic."

right back at you...seriously though..if thats his only food source you aughta be in business...granted you dont get busted. wet ground is prime sneaking! go slow..take your time..pay attention to details. its the little things we overlook that KEEP us hunting! if i didnt overlook a SMALL little tiny thicket i would killed mine the first day i hunted him.....

oh ya..id start looking for his backup food source...them apples draw them in heavy but they dont last forever! i hunt an orchard and am curious to find out just how long the deer will go in there...but theres walnuts and oaks on the edge too..ive seen them in there in the dead of winter..but the woods get hunted rediculously hard..i think thats why they use mine so hard...but id definently keep an eye out for other possible places he might be...

good luck.....ill be waiting for the pics!

Quit with the negative vibes! Have fun, I promise you there is a bigger one out there. One sure way of seeing one is to go vegitarian and eat BK's Big Fish before every hunt. It's sure seems to work for my best friend damm it![:@]

Nice one there Mauser!

you could try getting in the blind really early in the afternoon so you dont spook any does.... and only hunt it on an absolutly perfect wind because if he gets your scent you probly wont see him again

MONSTER 2 1/2 maybe........