Hi guys I’m new here. Names Joe

I thought I’ve seen it all in the woods but lately here in Ohio I have seen some things that have made me rethink my scouting and hunting strategies.

I have spotted a good sized Buck in this one area about 500 meters apart. . I have seen him 2 times so far. Once on the 8th of Oct and the other on the 22nd He’s an old deer with almost brown dark antlers. He’ll easily go 170 - 180+.

The thing that gets me about this deer is he’s been running with a small 3 Y.O doe both times that I have seen him. On the 8th I saw him in the woods early light walking a creek bed with his doe in the lead. On the 22nd he was 500yd further in the same direction against a horse trail at 10:30 am.

Scouting the area its hard woods butted up against some large THICK cover mostly briars and saplings impassable for hunters. I have found some small rubs along the edge of and going into the thick cover, and not a single scrape. The rubs are something you might find from a small 6 point. If I hadn’t seen this animal during scouting I wouldn’t even have considered the area to hunt. Hardly any sign at all from this buck. The things that throw me are.

1. He’s been tending this doe for the past month.
2. No scrapes, or serious rubs.
3. He’s running the creek bottoms ONLY with little trail.
4. He’s been seen out and about at 10:45 along a horse trail.

I have located a tree for my climber that allows me to climb 20 feet up in the middle of the two places that I have seen him. Between two rubs on a small trail that crosses an old fence that a tree fell on. That’s the best place I can find to set up on him.

My questions is. What Calling tactics should I use to get this big boy in. With the pre rut still about 15 days off.

Should I fawn bleat the doe he’s with and try to pull him in that way?
Tinks # 69 or #2 and rattle and a sparring grunt?

I know I was long winded. But thanks for reading it and thanks for any help you can give. .
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Not sure scents or calls will fool him if he's as old as you say. I'd just try setting up where you've seen him and hunt with patience. Maybe a bit of rattling in a week or so???

Ambush him at the pass!

I can't find anything about claymores in the Ohio regs

That's not an Ambush, that's a booby trap!

Chances are, it's probably not the same doe. Bucks will run with does in the beginning of october, and i've seen the same bucks with does a lot, but i doubt its the same doe. they're hard to tell apart unless they're a fairly large one or really tiny. if he is witha doe, an estrous scent isn't going to bring him to you. #1-he already hasa doe. why go for another? Whitetails don't have harems, so it's not like he's going to be interested. #2-if a doe smells estrous scent, she'll probably move away.That's why you'll see estrous does away from the other ones. The does not in estrous don't want to be around her and get dogged and chased by a rutted up buck.

I just want to know how you can tell the doe is 3 years old?

Try to find out what he is doing in the day, and copy him.

It's a hard guess. But probably a close one. She looks too big to be a yearling andshe's not a big momma doe that looks to have dropped a few fawns in her years. She's just a small doe.


Thanks DeerSlayer. I’ll leave the #69 at home for now. But if he's checking a doe an moving on to the next one. Wouldn't it still be productive to use it during the rut?

Are you bow - muzzle loader or gun hunting this buck?
If bow I would put out some regular doe urin and set up close.
I muzzle loader or gun still put out regular doe urin,
Only a little farther away.

Then get in your tree stand and waite for him.
I would like to see the picture of him and you after you have,
Gotten him.

Good Luck