After as many sits as I've had this year....without making it happen on a buck....I'm starting to second-guess myself a LOT.

The white areas are ones I have access to. The one to the NE is one I have, exclusively. I've hunted this area exclusively for th epast three seasons. I've taken one 3.5yr old buck and one 4.5yr old buck (see yellow dots) in the past two years, exclusively. Problem I'm having is.....I haven't made visual confirmation of a good buck in that area this entire season (including game cam photos.....which I admit I didn't have it out there, long or much).

I've seen one 3.5 yr old buck that I'd LOVE to take....but he was spotted at the red dots......and about a mile apart. I have no idea of how to hunt him, now....other than to hunt the ladies. Also....where I saw him last (NW red dot)...I vacated that woodlot to let the gun hunter in there have it to himself.

The light blue dots are 2.5 yr old sighting, this year. The one I saw in my old lands won't go 70".

Am I not giving the old lands their "due"? I admit to being "down" on it this year....because (unlike the past) I haven't seen or know of a good buck in there. Maybe a "traveler" will come through during the rut? Maybe there's bucks in there I never saw on trail cam in previous years? Maybe one moved in when I took these other guys out?

I KNOW the new lands have it all. I don't have the confidence in the old lands to forego the new ones and hunt them HARD. Should I trust the tried and true lands? Give the new lands a chance (I've been in there a lot....and have seen ALL 4 "shooters" over there, this year).

I'm torn.

BTW...the green area is lands that NO ONE has permission to hunt (County parks system lands).

Jeff-
This is a complex question. Couple of thoughts:

1. With the two yellow (and one blue) dotsso close, my attention would be drawn to that area adjacent to the park. Something put both of those mature bucks in that area. At this stage, it is probably too late to figure out 'why' but I would return to what has worked in the past.

2. Just because you can't hunt the park doesn't mean you can't scout,man-driveor utilize the land. In my suburban hunt, there are a few undeveloped pieces that become refuges as the surrounding pressure builds. Occasionally, I walk through these patches to push the deer out of them. I get a look at the deer and I make sure that they don't get too comfortable in the patches I can't hunt. Your big boy could be holed in the park avoiding your trail cams and your arrows. If he comes out, he might use the same yellow dotted area that his predecessors chose (see #1).

I can go through there unfettered, KWilson. Anyone can. It's just old farmland. Would it do any good to walk it during the season, though? It might just make me even MORE frustrated!....lol

I KNOW there are deer in there. I KNOW there are good bucks in there. There has to be. Where would YOU live? They have it all in there. What I have is a great little staging area that sees the does come and go as they please. They move in and out of that area....because they feel safe, there. I'm contemplating NOT ever taking a doe from there, again (for this reason). I've taken a few from there in the past....including 2 this season (1 for me and the one Matt/PA took). I'd like for them to still think they were safe, there, always.

I just have to trust it, I guess. The up side to this area is I don't have to worry about gun hunters (except the poaching neighbors that WILL hutn it when they want to).

I'm trying to decide if I can use the gun hunters on the new lands to MY advantage. I'm trying to figure that out.

1. I would hunt the park edges first - which has worked in the past. Then, if the next week or two does not produce additional sightings, I would'shuffle the deck' by invading the park to get a look at what's holed up in there. By this time, you will be moving towards post rut so there will less to lose.

2. Of course, I would live in the unpressured park. But, I would come out to chase tail or eat - which is probably why the yellow/blue dots are successful spots.

I feel your frustration GMMAT! I have 27 sits so far (205hrs), almost half of them all day sits (11-12hrs) and no buck yet. I've NEVER put this kind of time in before. It was fun.I don't second guess myself because I've done everything the way I believe I should have.My stand has produced nicely in the past, it's just that the rut didn't go on as it normally does for whatever reason.[&o]Guess what. I'm just going to have to kill an Alberta big boy, that's all there is to it!After all, I still have regular buck season coming up Dec 1st, and my area is bowhunting ONLY!! Yougotta to love that.

Bucks chase does right now. You answered your own question. Even if you hunted that area hard, you really have no idea who lives in there. Big buck didn't get big by showing up too much in the daylight. I'd be where the does are and show patience.

EI....I've got a month here left....then I've been invited to MD to hunt a few days after my season.

I keep thinking....the season could take a HUGE up-turn in 5 seconds. That's all it takes.

If we don't get the thunder-boomers....I'll be out this evening.

hunt the ladies man. hunt what you know. thats what i have been doin and all of a sudden i've been seeing deer i didn't even know was around. Kepp your confidence up cause you dont wanna be second guessing yourself when they do show up.
You'll get him. have faith

33 sits and no buck here. If i was you, i would stick to what has worked in the past. This year i kinda tried some new stand locals and such, and it hasnt paid off (yet). Like mentioned before, those yellow dots are super close so i woulddef. go back there. I know hunting "new" land is more exciting, but the facts to me show that you need to go back to the old.

I had trail cams of both bucks (yellow dots) dating back a couple years. I also had visuals of them before I shot them. I haven't seen SQUAT in there since. Last year....I saw exactly three 1.5's and the 4.5 I took. FOUR TOTAL bucks in 48 sits. I haven't seen more than that, there, this year (though admittedly....fewer sits). In fact....I've seen three 1.5's and a small-ish 2.5, this year, there.

I have seen some better bucks on the other property. That's what's making it hard to fall back....hence the mental dilemma.