RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

I started using cameras in 2005. I've used them for 3 years. I have only used them after I was done hunting for the year, usually putting them out in Dec. I take them down by the first of May. I use them to try and catch the bucks that survived the season in hopes I might recognize them the following year. Also, I've been trying to get a pic of some of the really huge ones that I know are there. So far no luck. I have found some prefered buck trails that I will try to hunt this year though.

RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

My 06 buck wasfoundon a game cam of a fellow hunter hunting the same property as I.
I did use the can and bang a stick against the tree to make antler sounds. I do believe
the doe that came through about 10 minutes prior he was looking for.

RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

Jeff that would be me in 2007 as I did over do it with the 4 cams on 156 acres. This year I used 1 cam on the edge of a hill and I have only checked it twice and then took it out this past Monday.
These dang bucks will not tolerate much that is for sure and the only scouting now will be from a distance with the binoculars.
Remember these 2 guys I posted last season from the cams well their sightings went to 0 I believe because of my intrusions.
The one with his head down is the buck in the above pic.
s.

RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

John: I don'thunt close towhere I get my photos. (which is the exact oppositepremise behind your perceived advantage). Therefore.....the only thing my cameras do is tell me what might be in the woods I'm hunting. The guys using them on trails within their hunting areas (to gain the advantage you speak of) are (IMO) for the majority of hunters.....HURTING their chances.

How many times have we heard it said that your best chance at a mature buck was in your first sit in a particular stand? That deer don't know whether it's your first sit or not. But if you've been checking your cams every week for the entire season......he's counting those as times you've been in his house (or I believe he is......unless they're smarter than I give them credit for....and he don't count the times you're not there to kill him).

I dont care if they spook from my mineral site, "so much". I wear rubber gloves and spray to check the cam.....but I'm not anal about it. Just trying to get an inventory.....and I pull it before the season.

I AM careful about going in where I HUNT, "needlessly".

RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

I hear ya Jeff....

I'm just going by all the game camera photos posted here year after year showing the same bucks time after time. Especially where food plots and feeders are concerned.....Hunger and the need to gain strength for the upcoming rut tend to trump what fears some bucks may have for detecting faint scent along their travels to those places.

RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

You may be right, John. I just have my own theories and I could be entirely wrong.

I don't give them (deer) TOO much credit.....except maybe in this instance. Lots of folks wanna give them credit in various other places but discount what I'm describing aboveas being detrimental.

Good for them. I hope for their sakes I'm wrong and they're right.

RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

I do not think that is tue at all for agricultural areas. The deer only have to go one property over for more food or whatever.

Perhaps some people have been able to pattern bucks with their cameras. The cameras that I use have been nothing more than a source of entertainment (and I have said that many times before). It helps get me excited to go out if I have gotten a picture of a good buck. I also have the deer patterned on my property from years of experience. I put my game cameras where I already know they go just to hopefully get some good pictures.

On my lease I have no cameras, food plots, or anything. I did pretty well there as well;)

RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

I shot my Dec. buck last year without ever seeing him before. He came into the field looking for some hot does and I rattled him right over to the decoy. It was a great hunt! You can see it on HBTV episode 4.

RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

Yeah, I know some areas/states have better agriculture than others but even in areas where the food is plentifully if you start dropping tons of corn in a 20ft circle every few hours (or how ever they work) you're gonna get deer coming in pretty often.;)

RE: How many of you have arrowed a mature buck WITHOUT
 

Makes sense ..... thank you for the explanation :) Hopefully you will see one of the huge ones 20 yards away broadside during the season! :)