HuntingNet.com Forums - Pattering A Mature Buck

My feelings is that it is difficult to pattern a mature buck anywhere, but it would be worse in high pressure areas. Three others and me hunt a 550 acre lease next to a 13,000 acre management area. Last year I got pics of 5 different very nice mature deer. All the pics except one was taken at night. One was a darn good 10pt. I hunted hard, but wisely for one of those bucks with no luck. I saw one of them in a thicket one afternoon, there were several does and smaller bucks in a food plot but he would not step out enough to offer me a shot. I ended up taking a mature 8 pt but he was a buck that I had no pics of. It is difficult pattern a single deer the one thing that is needed most and people dont have is TIME Most of us hunt weekends and vacation time but usually thats not enough time to really pattern and big buck in my opinion. The best advice i can give is to hunt hard and smart, watch your wind currents, and take what the land gives you.