Question on stopping bucks
 

I am hunting from a stand on the top of a high revene- 50 yards to the bottom. Bucks are passing below me at 40-45 yards. A tough shot for an amatuer. I am confident in my abilities as I have many, many hours of practice.

Ok here's my question. Large bucks have recently starting to move through the bottom at a high rate of speed patroling for does. They usually stay at the bottom. I have not been able to get these bucks to stop or turn and come up to the stand for a better shot. If I move the stand I get scented (tried earlier in the season with the stand closer to the bottom. Current stand placement is good for scent control.

I have tried vertually everthing to get these bucks to stop to better my shot. Yest I actually even yelled at one to get some reaction out of him after controlling has failed of several occassions. How do I keep these bucks there? I have tried several attractents including the lethal weapon I received. They usually seem to not even notice my attractent???

Any help would be appreciated.

RE: Question on stopping bucks
 

if its the ladies they want, give 'em a lady:) Try a decoy with scent set up closer to your stand.
good luck

RE: Question on stopping bucks
 

Shaggy with the rut either on or near I would go with a doe bleat, I turned a nice basket 8 last year that was heading in the wrong direction, I tried buck grunts at first, he stopped and looked, but that was it, when I did the doe bleat he did and about face and circled right back towards me, please do not repeat the mistake I made, once he is coming in your direction do not call again, I did, and he figured out something was not right and boogied!

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

RE: Question on stopping bucks
 

I would try a decoy as well they are looking for other deer and when they don't see one they are uninterested.

The only other way is to change the trail by perhaps dropping a tree in the way that they have to slow down or stop to go around.

" Anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a Dad"

RE: Question on stopping bucks
 

Shaggy, When a buck has a doe on his mind they can be very difficult to stop. I have stopped some and haven't many others. I've seen times when bleats, grunts and decoys were ignored and other times when one or a combination of the latter would work. I think it is controlled by the level of the bucks "desire". Pre-rut they are easy to stop, full rut is a toss-up. Keep trying though and good luck!

RE: Question on stopping bucks
 

Try a dirty sock or two. Placed in the correct spot in the bottom of that ravine it'll divert them in another direction. It all depends on the wind...How to get them to come in your direction is another matter..

~Will Hunt For Food~

RE: Question on stopping bucks
 

Thanks for the advise.

I thought about dragging a scent from the bottom to the stand. I have the free sable of lethal weapon. Any suggestions on how to rig up a drag? Would I just apply it to a towel and drag it from my boot.

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. The bucks I seen yesterday moving through the bottom were huge.

RE: Question on stopping bucks
 

I've never ever seen one follow a scent line. You'd be better off hanging the scent about 20yds or so down into the ravine from your stand on the top and let those air currnets circulate it down to them. They'll likely come to investigate if they wind it. Make a fake scrape in the leaves and really dig up the dirt near the hanging rag. No buck can resist sticking his nose in a fresh dug up spot..

~Will Hunt For Food~

RE: Question on stopping bucks
 

Since they are "trolling" at a good pace, now is the time to move your stand closer for a higher % shot, a sharp whistle may slow em just enough for a shot. I definitely wouldnt try a 45 yd shot at moving deer, they wont stop for long when trolling.

If I ain't huntin',I'm trappin',If I ain't trappin',I'm fishin'
If I ain't fishin',I'm wishin'!