History or not
 

Ok being new back to the forum I am not sure if this subject has been covered or not, anyways I am just curious.

Would you rather have history on a buck, even just a few pictures or sightings all the way to following them for years. Or would you rather be plumb surprised with a deer you have never seen walking into range.

Now I know that trail cams are a major tool in this subject and also can greatly increase your hunting success as far as patterning specific deer, but is it a pretty big perk to be able to bag a deer you have a good history with.

I am just a broke ole college kid so my wife wont let me spend any $$$ on trailcams, but eventually I will get my hands on some.

The closest I have been since I have been in this area of taking a deer that I had a little history with was an 8 pt that I saw 3 days before season opener, got my heart pumping and I hunted him hard, with the resources I have. Ends up I find his carcass close to the fence between the neighboring property on my side a week into gun season around here. He was a nice buck would have definately been a shooter for me. I was pumped to get to see his rack up close but was kind of dissappointed that noone got to enjoy his as thier own trophy. I have tried contacting the neighbors to see if maybe one of them might have shot him but they are leasors I guess and dont live around here. Haha I told my wife the day I saw him that before season was over I would get to wrap my hands around his antlers and by golly I did. anywas this kindof got off subject but still I am curious if it is a major perk to trail cameras to have history with a deer that you harvest.

RE: History or not
 

I'll admit.. I'd like to have a little history with some whitetail.

But... I don't use trail-cams.. and I hunt many spots for only 2 or 3 days. Then I am gone.. so it's kinda hard to get history.

I like to use their clues that they've left for me though.. and track them down in the off season. It is kinda fun hunting nothing more than rubs.. and tracks. I use the picture in my head.

RE: History or not
 

I am new to all of my hunting areas this year so I am pretty much going off of limited pre season scouting and like you rubs, scrapes tracks and a few sightings throughout the season.

RE: History or not
 

I don't know about history, but my trail cam sure gives me alot more motivation to go out and hunt....and sit longer. When I get ready to leave I just think "What if that beautiful looking 8 pt comes by in the next five minutes". And then I sit longer:D

RE: History or not
 

I think when you have history with a deer/any animal you've been chasing and then you finally put It down It Is something to be damn proud of. It's kinda neat to though when you arrow something that you had no Idea was even In your woods (happened to me last year).

RE: History or not
 

I had a 3 season relationship with my '07 buck ....including several game cam photos spanning two seasons.

I had a few sightings and game cam photos of my '06 buck.

I actually have a game cam shot of both of them standing together;)

RE: History or not
 

But it can't work the opposite on mind games. If your cams aren't getting crap for pics, it makes you NOT want to stay on stand longer.[:-]:D

RE: History or not
 

I would love to have some history with a buck, but I sure wont be turning down a surprise either! Im in the position to take whatever I can get most of the time.[8D]

Also, like OK said, its a whole lot easier to set on stand that little bit longer when you know that a big boy is in the area!

RE: History or not
 

Give me surprise any day. My favorite hunts are to go into an unknown woods, find some sign, climb a tree and shoot a deer. I've done it a lot. I'd rather hunt a new piece of woods everytime out. It just is more fun to me. I don't have trailcams or any of that. I never will. I just like to start at a vehicle and finish where I end up. I rarely hunt the same spot twice. NOPE, please, I don't want history.

RE: History or not
 

I got several pics of the deer I arrowed this year on 10/24, saw what I had, and then sat in a blind near there on 11/1 and shot him. I have never done anything like that before and thought it was pretty cool. Every other buck I have tried to have history with has not wanted anything to do with me.:(

RE: History or not
 

Well this can be a double edged sword. I got a trail cam pic of this first buck, and I let this second buck walk when I had him at full draw, hoping for a chance at the bigger one. Well, they're both still walking. And I still have my tag![&o]:(:D:D

RE: History or not
 

Atleast you didnt "settle"[8D]

RE: History or not
 

I hunt 170 miles from my home. I can't do any pre season scouting. I have to dive in and react on the fly. I do some in season scouting and go back to areas where I know a big buck was last year. I don't use trail cams because it's all public land and I fear that my camera would become someone elses camera. I long for the day when I hunt near my home and I can scout, pattern, and score on a specific buck.

RE: History or not
 

I have a 9 point on the wall that I have some history with. In 2006, I had him 15 yards in front of me while bow hunting. It was right before dark, and when I went to draw, my shoulder popped out of place, and my arm just fell to my side. He stood there for a couple of minutes, and then trotted off about 20 yards and stopped and watched me for another 5 minutes, and all I could do was watch him. A few weeks later I had him 15 yards in front of me again while I was bowhunting. When I went to draw that time, my elbow hit the trunk of the tree behind me, and I bumped my release before I was at full draw. The arrow flew 5 feet over his back. The next weekend was shotgun season, and I had the gun this time. I was in the same tree that I had seen him thte week before, and he came thru just like he did before, but this tiime he didnt make it.[8D]

RE: History or not
 

i love having some history on the deer and I am addicted to trail cams but don't get me wrong I do like surprises

RE: History or not
 

I don't care either way for history. There has been times when I've seen the same buck and ended up killing it but more than not it's one I've never seen before. Of course, I don't use a trail cam so that hinders a lot of "sightings".

History.....I can take it or leave it.

RE: History or not
 

I prefer a little history

RE: History or not
 

For the last five years I have used trail cameras and know what's out there. 4 out of the last 5 bucks I shot I had pictures of. It's nice but I kind of miss the old day's when the buck first came into view.