If you aren't going to go back into the woods. Don't be afraid to change stand locations once you figure out where he's lurking. Climbers are your friend here

Hell, you got me excited just reading about it Mobow, and i mean this from the bottom of my heart , I really hope you catch up to this guy, you deserve it dude, my fingers are crossed for ya! I have never seen one with a drop, let alone kill one. sometimes its encounters like that where you can learn the most. Good luck!! from the blood, peace out!!

I told ya it was your year

I checked my camera today and guess what....all does again [:@]. I've seen the bucks out in the field but not on camera. There are alot of oaks in the area and we are supposed to have a really poor crop this year due to a late freeze and a drought. So, the deer SHOULD be using my area to get what acorns do fall.

Ya Mobow!

Sounds to me like hes goin to be pushin mid 140s

Dan, I really appreciate that......If you've got any pull with the big guy upstairs, now's the time to use your favors.... No, thanks man, really. I am humbled by that, and the amount of other guys pulling for me, teaching me...It's almost overwhelming. Thank you.

Mobow I have been in Northern Mi on a golf outing. Sorry for missing this thread.

1.Great read I really enjoyed it.
2.Don't push this deer anymore; you need to go in super stealth mode. There is a very good reason you havenot seen him before.
3. Finding his bedding area is important, but don't risk pushing this guy. Find out where he is feeding and back track from there his route. Find that nice pinch point where you can catch him in the early season.
4. For the rut I would sit where or near the does bed. Catch him looking for love!!!

BTW the very reason I do not put out scouting cameras is so I do not spook deer. After the season I will, but once my stands are set in March I take them down. I just glass until the corn gets to high I truly believe we as hunters bugger up more setups by scouting and going on walk “abouts”. I truly believe the guys who have the confidents to stay out of their hunting area until they hunt. Is one of the main reasons they are successful. Too many guys need to go "check" out their area. Seeing deer or bucks assures them in their spot. You know what to look for Mobow trust it!!!

I have 100% confidence where my spots are in Northern MI, Ohio, and KY. Now that the corn is too high I can not see anymore, but I know my setups are golden if I stick to my rules. Hunting when the wind is right. Watch my entry and exits so I do NOT spook any deer.

I can feel this is your year. May the Drop tine be in your sights my friend!!!

Thanks, germ. Hope you had a great weekend golfing!! Getting away is a good thing.

I honestly learned more just by SEEING this buck than I have in the last 3 years. He totally changed how I hunt that area, and I mean TOTALLY. I won't park in the same place, I won't enter the woods in the same manner.....I won't hang my climber in the same place for fear of him hearing me. I didn't hang a portable stand in the spring, I wish I would have just spent the damn money and done it now.

There's a GREAT inside corner that's between 2 doe bedding areas I will hunt him. My plan is to sneak in 1 or 2 evenings early season if the wind is right, and if I don't connect I'm outta there till LATE October into the November pre rut, and only if the wind is right. Seeing him was kind of the last piece of the puzzle I needed, so to speak. He taught me everything I needed to know....

Anyway, I'm feeling pretty confident right now.....Not arrogant mind you, but confident. You're right, there is a reason I haven't seen him in the last 3 years, and seeing him the other night taught me exactly why I haven't.....Those mistakes WON'T happen this year. I also can't help but feel like there's a reason I finally DID see him as well, I don't think it was just dumb luck.

LOL!!! MOBO I couldn't stop laughing at that!

And it is all because you held those sheds on June 23rd, 2007. . .

What a great day in the woods, I would say. You learned enough to keep you out of that area yet you still have formulated what sounds like a solid plan.

If you stick to the bare minimum when hunting him early season, you might have a good crack at him. You're right, hunt only when the wind is right. Takecorrect entry and exit paths out of the woods. If you don't succeed early season, wait till helets down his guard during the rut.

And I know you"know" does, so when the rut hits. . .well, the rest will be history!!

Congrats on the find. . .good luckthis season my friend!