Hunting Question
 

The season is coming very fast and I still find myself stumped about a few things I'm 24 and I feel like I'm a descent hunter have taken 4 nice bucks in heavy pressured areas but I still have one question.

There is probably 3-4 guys where I hunt on a Military base in Northern Virginia that consistenly kill big bucks year in and year out and I try my best to do everything I can to better my chances but still come up empty handed some years. How do these guys kill or find big bucks year in and year out on heavy pressured public land such as Military base in Northern VA ? They do have probably 30+ years age on me but I feel like I could be a young hunter that kills big bucks every year on heavy pressured areas such as on base.

Any insight would be great thanks. I hate eatting a tag sandwhich when those guys are getting there picture taken

Most of this you probably already do and or know, but here goes. I really improved my hunting from the way I was taught growing up by reading. Learning what attracts and or draws deer into an area is key. Look for funnels, saddles, and pinch points. That is always where I start when scouting a new area. I even use topo maps and sometimes you can tell a lot from looking at your hunting area with Google Earth. Once you find a saddle, funnel, pinch point, etc try and locate where the deer are bedding and feeding if possible and you will know where to sit or position your stand. Acorns are a huge factor in seeing deer early season. Now as far a killing a buck..........early season position yourself in one of the stands you selected near a food source or bedding area and cross your fingers. Now if you can get in close to a bedding area without spooking the deer I have had my best luck early season catching bucks going to and from bed straight to whichever white oaks are dropping the hardest.

The rut! Hunt everyday all day. Several bucks I have taken have been mid day when most people are at home. Same deal with the bedding areas. Get in close and you may find a buck sliding in a bedding area looking for a hot doe.

Most important thing to me is put as many hours as possible on stand. And don't shy away from thickets. You will learn they will be your friend.

I am new to the forum, I am 42 yrs young, took first buck when I was 8 yrs old. Shooter50 has it pegged. The only other thing I can add is, you have to let those you may call " shooters " walk right on by. A lot of times, the older bucks don't travel the same trails, you may not take as many deer, but you gotta let'em walk. An old wise big buck taker gave me a piece of advice a long time ago, " If you gotta look at him twice, don't shoot'em" That advice holds very true. Last fall, I watched a nice 19 to 20 in wide 10 pt two days in a row, noticed he was thin horned, but nice. When first appeared, I had to study him. Looked at him twice. On that third morning I heard that same walk coming down that Ky ridge, I watched that 10 pt walk right on by, heard another walking, when I saw this deer, it was 2seconds my mind was made up. 14 pts, 2 drop tines field dressed 240lbs. There was no second look, you just know. Patience God Hunting

Sounds to me like you have gotten some great advice so far. As far as food sources go, don't overlook red oaks and persimmons. Don't over hunt your stands. I have a couple stands that I will not hunt until the month of November.

I used to be a morning and evening time hunter but the last few years my job forced a change. There are some days I can't get in the stand until after 9am or so. The last few years I have been very surprised at the quality bucks I have been seeing in the mid day.

I would add that deer season never ends. Stay after it... shed hunt the early part of the year. It is a great time to scout for the next season. Go out and try to pattern deer this time of year. Learn how to read maps like said above and learn the key terrain features that can up your odds.

Thanks for the advice guy's.

Where I hunt in Northern Virginia is a Military base so after Spring Gobbler season they shut down until September so it makes it difficult to scout, Also there are about 300-400 other guys that hunt this same area they have sections that you can hunt depending on what is open for the day's hunt.

I have been lucky the past 11 years I have hunted there I have shot 4 nice bucks that are on my wall at home. But becuase of the way the base works it's hard to hunt the same area becuase of Marine Training so by the time you think u got the deer figured out then end up closing the area and to be honest I have shot those 4 bucks on opening day og gun season everytime all 4 and I can't understand why I saw those bucks human pressure,time of the year it's always 3rd week in Nov,

I would like to find some consistency in my hunting approach and have it be succesful. Where I hunt it's still hot in October and the first week on Nov is the best time to see and hunt big bucks age 3+ year old class range other then that the bucks on base are noctural as soon as hunting season starts.

When I scout I find trails but I always seem to find sign that is probably night time feeding sign and not actual "during the day I can kill that buck sign" so it's very fustrating, its hard to find places to hunt on the base that other people havent hunting hard becuase it is public land and by gun season if you don't get your buck by the first two weeks the bucks go into hiding until the season is over and will not show themself during daylight hours.

How can you flip the table and find these nocturnal big bucks that haunt the public land becuase I know their there becuase every year a lucky hunter kills them it I find it facinating that 3-4 guys on base can no matter what the year brings bad weather hot temps hunting pressure they can still knock down the big boy come every fall

I have hunted the same base. There are 3 keys to success.

1) Find the food source. If you find what they are eating and when you will be ahead of the game

2) Find the thickest, nastiest cover that you can. For the deer to get big they have to get old. They need a place to hide. If it is thick, most hunters will not take the time or energy to go there. Also I try and find these areas that are as far away from roads or walking paths. Try to find thick areas that are near food sources. (White Oaks are key at the Marine base)

3) When you find a spot, keep your mouth zipped. It takes time to find the great spots and it takes time to find the perfect tree in these spots.

Good luck this year.

You can use maps and google earth to scout areas even if you can't access them... Know the lay of the land BEFORE you even set foot on it. ID the key features and just head for those spots...

Do those 3 guys work on the range? If so that will explain why they know where the better bucks are every year.

Thanks Eyedr,

I will try to find the white oaks this year.

1) Retired Postal Service Employee
2)Retired Army
3)Self Employed Commputer Tech
4)Works on the Base as a Civilian Employee

I would understand if they where Marines on the base but there are just everyday working men that have to juggle to hunting time just like I do. So that's why I asked was I doing something wrong the only thing I feel I need to improve on is my scouting I'm not good at scouting I walk through the woods and if I find a few rubs and some deer droppings I will think thats a good spot and I want to change that becuase that leaves me with no buck at years end.

I will try to find areas that other hunters don't want to access but it's defiantly diffucult becuase so many hunters beat the woods down over the course of hunting season.

I don't hunt there anymore. I may when I retire if it's still open and I can get a spot for my camper. For now, its Florida public land and it's not that bad..higher deer pop than Quantico with some Good bucks. They don't have a doe season except in Archery and have Antler Restrictions which lets em grow. I passed on some during gun, trying to get my son a wall mount. We'll TAG next month I'm sure....
Anyway, with only 3 weeks to score, you have to locate the hot doe area fast. Setup early and late at different "prime spots" watch for does and how they are acting. My 1st week I moved to different spots morn/afternoon and scouted during midday. Find the deer 1st..then find the hot does..and hunt them hard. Lastly, as with my last buck at Quantic in 6C..I had watched does for 2 days..moved my stand to get on them..this guy came by just at dark chasing the does. Let the small bucks walk..be prepared to eat the tag...and WAIT

Attachment 22396

Saw Bigger ones to as I already told you. Thought you were hooked up with Barry....

I NEVER got back into 10A on a real monster I had patterned...never opened back up in the 2 3 week tours..

Anyway..Good luck and watch for my Deer Pics/video's in Floridafishandhunt!! Some 250# Hogs but I don't eat em so I don't shoot em

Hey Grizzl,

I talked chatted with Barry several times about Quantico but we never got a chance to meet. I hunted the last week on October through Nov 20th very hard al day sits just never could get on the deer this year for some reason.

Barry shot a nice buck with his bow in November and the stopped hunting after Thanksgiving.

Becuase you now how Quantico is with the areas how to you find the does quick becuase I'm sure as you learned there is regular deer sign all over the base how do you pick the better spots over regular deer sign ?

I hunted 10A once or twice last year I love that area very thick and a very large area , What was the buck that you had patterned in 10A how big do you know or think he was and did you ever see him during the day ?

Grizzl,

I exchanged a few messages with you over on ArcheryTalk and briefly spoke with you the night you took that deer in 2010. Another young gent brought in another stud that same night.

Didnt see you at the Game Check station last year...

Greg

Grizzl,

How big was the 10A buck did you ever see him during the day or just on a trail camera ? I hunt that area quite often and I know there are some big bucks in there but I feel like the go over to 10C becuase its closed more often.

Ya..didn't hunt Virginia..only the 2nd time in 40+ Years...I miss the color of Fall in Virginia. Florida is a all new game. Went scouting this weekend..96 Deg 80 + humidity..Jumped a sow with piglets at 10 Yards..had to pull my machete..then a BIG Bore at 20 yards that stood there and watched..

Its Wet SWAMP with Oak hammocks..hiked 5.2 miles in knee snake boots...

It was a 140+ bigger than anything I arrowed. I don't use cameras..I think they mess up spots because you leave scent picking them up. I find the deer in 10A hanging next to the pine thickets..there are 2 big ones. 1 by 15B across the 10A 1st creek on that top ridge (This is the area I saw the buck 400 yards from Muddy Road)..the other on the south end in DEEP..you can Bike Muddy Road and see it..

The 10A Creek on the 15B side is a good evening spot as they come from that thicket down to the water and oaks down there..I saw the buck there the 1st time and later scouted his rub line up to the break in the thicket where he crossed over the ridge to the main creek..

Best suggestion is to walk the creek and read the trails up to the south ridge thicket..Again..the thicker the better but this guys trail went to a 20 yard wide break in the pines (a funnel). Then tack an approach from Muddy road in (approch FROM the south) you don't cut the creek side trails

Grizzl,

Is this spot close to the 10A-11A split road ? I bike from 11A/10A road back to muddy road past the old feild on the 10C side about 200 yards and cut in it's very thick I'm I close to the general location ? I ask becuase there are alot of guys that park out on the 15B/10A road where the pulloffs are.

I killed a 11 pointer on opending day in 2009 back off muddy road from the 10A/11A split hunting pressure pushed him closer to 10A/10C split muddy road would it be better to park where I been parking or park on the 15B/10A road ?

Alot of guys hunt the 9D/10A side and the 15B/10A road so I'm trying to pin point where your extactly talking about becuase when you turn right onto MCB-3 heading towards MCB-1 there are a few pulloffs for 10A there is one on the right at a gate on the left side it will be 14B-15A split if you keep driving down there is a little grass pull off on the right at a creek and if you keep going up the road you will reach a big yellow gate 10A/11A split and on the other side is 15B gate.

Where should I park and scout if I'm looking on a Base Map I love 10A so I really would to scout that particular buck if he is still alive and in the area ? When did u see him last what year 2010 ?

I can tell you now that most hunters park on the 10A/9D road MCB-3 and also park right across from 14B and 15A split where the road walks and does a big circle at the gate.

For you and Eyedr
 

You'll have to bike Muddy Road to get to the Morning Spot..skirt the cutoff and TRY and find the old logging road..follow that and you'll see my glow tack. The tree is right next to the 2nd cutoff on the logging trail. In that 2nd cutoff are 3 good oaks that produce.


Attachment 22424

The evening spot you get to from the MCB 6, Again..skirt the hardwoods and cutoff all the way to the creek and locate this finger ridge..the deer travel the creek bottom and come off that ridge. I saw the deer twice..once at each location. the Morning spot had MANY agression rubs...maybe 10 rubs with trees 1 1/2 in ripped up.

Let me know if you see him!! Last saw him in 2009..but this 20 yard funnel has been a honey hole and I always see deer . You'll have to hunt to dark for the evening and BOOK back to checkin..they come off the ridge late.

Good Luck!

Grizzl,


Thanks for the map images it really helped alot, I don't hunt to far from that general area do you think the buck is still alive it is 2012 ? if not there are probably some good bucks in that same area.

I couldnt understand the Morning Spot when your riding your bike down muddy road there is a little 10C feild on the left do I go past that or is it before that ? I looked on a map and could not find a logging road but when I bike ride and go by the 10C feild on the 10A side there is a big pine thicket probably 300 yards deep and 250 yards wide that I bike past and then it opens up to hardwoods again.

I will tell you that if you have ever biked down muddy road right after you past the 10C food plot/feild on the left and go about 150-200 more yards on a tree is a Quantico 10A training area sign that has grown into a oak tree thats where I been hunting the past 3-4 years

I do appriacte all the info it really helps out alot.

Yea, you have to go past the field..used to be a fallen tree across mussy road..cut right and skirt the cutoff 300 yards and look for the logging road..easy to see..my tack line is there for in the dark walking the road

If you go another 1/4 mile past the 10C road cutoff there is another good thicket on the right. Always see deer there but nothing yet worth dragging it out that far..but they are there!

Grizzl,

Okay I will scout that area in Septemeber I hunt around that general area and there are always big rubs in 10A off muddy road I will try to find your tacks I will go past the 10C feild and take a right where the pine thicket goes into hardwoods and walk that line until I find a logging road.

I think we are sitting in the same general area becuase I walk about 30 more yards down and then go in right and it's thick and nasty it's almost hard to hunt but I shot a 11 pointer in 2009 trying to go into the thicket on the other side on the hill.

Thanks for the info...Do you have any spots in 6C that have big bucks I'm trying to get my dad on a big buck and I keep telling him 6C holds some monsters but when we hunt there we never even see a deer.

6C doesn't necessarily hold monsters, its really just a travel corridor for them coming from either PW park side or the Cemetery/Golf course. 6C gets highly over hunted when they open up the gates. If the gates are closed you can bike back, and walk in about a mile. Best bet is to wait til the rut is in full swing and hit 6C, like Grizzl said, find the does. I passed up two diff eight pointers last year waiting on the big one!

Hey Hoyt,

Thanks for the advice, I know you hunt Quantico I know the deer in Quantico hit the acorns big in October and early November but once the acorns are gone what do the deer in Quantico eat like mid-late November and into December I seem to get lost in the woods that time of year becuase I don't know what there eatting especially becuase quantico doesnt have alot of food plots and it heavily pressured come late November into December ?

I don't have any that wouldn't cut into Barry. 6C is hunted VERY Hard and the few places that are good for big bucks are know to a few and hunted in cooperation with each other (ie) they coordinate activities somewhat so they don't ruin each others hunt.

So I can't do that to Barry. Sorry:party0005:

What is really happening is they go nocturnal. There is still mast crops and cutoffs with new growth to browse but they don't get up and move during day because of all the pressure. The trick is to GET IN EARLY and UP the tree and quiet 30-60 minutes BEFORE 1st light. This is when I use the hunters entering the woods as a tool and I try and intercept them going to bed. You don't hunt food sources you hunt escape routes to bedding..UNLESS you find them deep and still on the acorns..

Gotta find the bedding areas BEFORE season starts

Grizzl,

Yeah I understand I wouldnt want to step on Barry he has been very nice to me. I'm going to try 10A this year and try to hunt Mainside alot, I think the deer will be on the red oaks this year becuase my backyard has white oaks and they are not producing this year.

I have defiantly learned from your guy's advice (Grizzle,Hoyt)

1.Get in Early and sit all day if possible
2.Hunt Bedding Areas/Excape Routes when the pressure is on
3.Don't always think I'm going to kill a 130" every year I might have to eat the tag but I need to pass on the smaller bucks and be patient and persistent.
4.Scout hard and smart

Thanks for the advice and tips I will see how things work this year.

1 BIG tip

Listen to the cross talk at the check station..listen as to where people are seing chasing/rutting..then see if you have trees in the area...NOT all areas see rutting at the same time. It depends on the local doe cycles, the food in the area and the Buck/Doe ratio..

Sooo..If you hear they are seen chasing..then that area MIGHT have the biguns running so hit your best spot in that area where you've confirmed Doe population and sit and watch...

THIS is A BIG part of my hunting especially when I only see the woods 3 weeks out of the year and I've done no before hand scouting...I LISTEN...

Conversely, watch what you say cause you may have others listening to you...personally...I like to share info with friends...not so with *some* others...

Good luck!

Grizzl,

Okay I will defiantly do that.

My Father was in a area next to 16C last year and had a hot doe come by him and there where three big bucks fighting for her, There was a 4 pointer and to 8 points but the two 8 points where fighting for dominance.

I have never seen that happen in the woods I have only read about it the big buck came to about 8 yards but my father was unable to draw his bow as you no sometimes things happen quickly on Quantico the biggest buck ran off both of the other bucks and took the hot doe back up the hill.

We tried to hunt those 2 bucks but they seemed to dissapear after that first sighting he saw them on Nov 7th 2011

I have a question this might sound strange but in the past 11 years I have hunted Quantico about ever 3 years I have a year where I see nothing but big bucks the whole season but other years I can't see a big buck for the life of me have you ever wondered about that? Why some years no matter what you do big bucks just seem to come around and other years you can't find one for the life of you

Hey man , I've been reading your posts for a while now . I just joined this site . I'm 24 as well and I have the saaame problem brother . The BAse is too dang big man. But I have found some big bucks already this year so i'm looking foward too it . I have 3 areas with big bucks I either have seen or have on camera . All I can say is I put in ALOT of time scouting and I've figured out a couple of bedding areas. I do have to walk a good ways to all my hunting spots but I'm away from where mostly everyone else is gonna be and so far I've found , So are the Big Boys

I forgot to tell you , I hunt quantico too. It is tough