Location - A key to killing a mature buck
03-28-2008, 06:28 AM
#11
Dominant Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Location - A key to killing a mature buck
My take on deer densities would be similiar to Mobow's. I feel that in areas such as mine ( Jeff, our areas seem very similiar, lots of deer with an out of balance buck to doe ratio) bucks just dont need to travel much to find their girls.
Bucks here often have very small "home" ranges. Due to this overabundance of deer, i have to either get lucky on a specific buck in the early season on feeding patterns ( these patterns arent constant cause im hunting backyard bucks) or hope that a hot doe will bring him by me during the daylight hours of the rut.
I feel that the large deer density hurts my ability to see more mature animals during the day.
03-28-2008, 07:31 AM
#12
Bartender
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 6,634
RE: Location - A key to killing a mature buck
Jeff I still think the property you hunt last year if you hunt it this year and keep your presence low key you might nail a P&Y.
Hold off on the doe's for a little bit so you are not dragging themout like the 8 or so you did last year. Save them
for the later season maybe? Mature bucks are so sensitive to any kind of pressure. Good Luck.
T
Hold off on the doe's for a little bit so you are not dragging themout like the 8 or so you did last year. Save them
for the later season maybe? Mature bucks are so sensitive to any kind of pressure. Good Luck.
T
03-28-2008, 07:38 AM
#13
Typical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: westchester, ny
Posts: 678
RE: Location - A key to killing a mature buck
Where I hunt, to say that the herd is pushing maximum density would be a understatement. The buck to doe ratio is WAY out of wack. I have sits where I see 20+ deer in groups ranging from a single doe on up to 7,8 at a time. And no bucks trailing, chasing, following, etc. I am a firm believer that when you have that many does and that many deer, the bucks will not move, even during the rut. They dont have to. They dont have to seek out does, 'cause they're always around. The bucks will breed when they feel safest, at night. JMO and experience. Do you see a good buck every now and then? Of course, but not like you would think for a bow only county. Gotta shoot those does, for one it lowers the numbers for healthy herd #s, 2, it makes those bucks go looking, and thirdly it just might keep a young buck in your area rather than it getting kicked out by its mom.
03-28-2008, 07:44 AM
#14
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Millboro, Va
Posts: 1,134
RE: Location - A key to killing a mature buck
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
It's not really my plan. It's what I have found to be successful. I never planned to hunt this way. it just happened. I CAN NOT go to the bucks.
So your plan is solid.. to a point. I used to hunt the same way. I don't anymore.. I learned to go to the bucks.. and hunt them where they are in daylight and not where they may go eventually during daylight.
I CAN NOT go to the bucks.
03-28-2008, 07:48 AM
#17
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location:
Posts: 13,082
RE: Location - A key to killing a mature buck
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
We took 8 off the properties I hunt and 31 (does), total, out of a single square mile.
Gotta shoot those does
03-28-2008, 07:54 AM
#18
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 2,139
RE: Location - A key to killing a mature buck
I would hunt an area with a balanced herd any day before I would hunt an area with doe overpopulation. If your looking for a girl and there ain't many in the bar your at you will go bar hopping. so do the bucks. In order for this to work, THE WHOLE AREA has to have a balanced herd. I'm talking many square miles. If you shoot a few off your land, other deer will move in if there is feed and cover. Lack of does also gets the bucks more aggressive. THis is a huge advantage to the hunter. 10 guys and 1 girl in a bar = a fight. 10 guys and 40 girls in a bar= good times.
03-28-2008, 07:59 AM
#19
Typical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: westchester, ny
Posts: 678
RE: Location - A key to killing a mature buck
Not to keep the square quote boxes here going but I have a similar sized piece of property(1 sq. mile) that I hunt for management and in the past 3 years we have taken 130+ deer off of it. 90% does. How's my deer herd density doing?
ORIGINAL: mobow
GREAT GOOMA LOOMA!! I doubt seriously I even have 31 deer in any square mile I hunt......Let alone KILL that many.....
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
We took 8 off the properties I hunt and 31 (does), total, out of a single square mile.
Gotta shoot those does
03-28-2008, 08:00 AM
#20
Typical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: westchester, ny
Posts: 678
RE: Location - A key to killing a mature buck
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!
ORIGINAL: magicman54494
I would hunt an area with a balanced herd any day before I would hunt an area with doe overpopulation. If your looking for a girl and there ain't many in the bar your at you will go bar hopping. so do the bucks. In order for this to work, THE WHOLE AREA has to have a balanced herd. I'm talking many square miles. If you shoot a few off your land, other deer will move in if there is feed and cover. Lack of does also gets the bucks more aggressive. THis is a huge advantage to the hunter. 10 guys and 1 girl in a bar = a fight. 10 guys and 40 girls in a bar= good times.
I would hunt an area with a balanced herd any day before I would hunt an area with doe overpopulation. If your looking for a girl and there ain't many in the bar your at you will go bar hopping. so do the bucks. In order for this to work, THE WHOLE AREA has to have a balanced herd. I'm talking many square miles. If you shoot a few off your land, other deer will move in if there is feed and cover. Lack of does also gets the bucks more aggressive. THis is a huge advantage to the hunter. 10 guys and 1 girl in a bar = a fight. 10 guys and 40 girls in a bar= good times.