Community
Whitetail Deer Hunting Gain a better understanding of the World's most popular big game animal and the techniques that will help you become a better deer hunter.

Need advice. Loosing confidence.

Thread Tools
 
Old 11-26-2011 | 11:00 PM
  #1  
Backwoods7's Avatar
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
From: West TN
Default Need advice. Loosing confidence.

I got permission to hunt some new property this year and it is the best looking place i got but heres the problem the owner said all the deer are nocternal. And i just thought he didnt know what he was talking about then he showed me trailcam pics 3 diffrent shooter bucks all after dark. And only one doe in all the pics.i scouted the farm out found two diffrent ruband scrape lines that have to be from diffrent deer but heres my problem. Me and my dad are the only ones with permission to hunt there we make q point to not overhunt it only 2 to 3 times a week but we havnt seen any deer not even does. There checking the scrapes but we havnt seen deer yet. I dott know what to do?any advice?
Backwoods7 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-2011 | 01:56 AM
  #2  
Phil from Maine's Avatar
Boone & Crockett
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,734
Likes: 5
From: Maine
Default

Perhaps make a mock scrape and put some does in heat scent in it will keep a buck around. I would do this the day before and watch over the area the next morning. You can try putting the scent into the bucks scrape and that too might keep him around longer..
Phil from Maine is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-2011 | 03:02 AM
  #3  
jrbsr's Avatar
Super Moderator
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,280
Likes: 0
From: Seagrove N.C. USA
Default

Look for a rub, with a scrape under it.
And set up close to it.
Then go every day for 6 days in a row.
He will come on one of those days.
An old man told me this trick.
Make sure you are scent free, and hid real good.

Good Luck.
jrbsr is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-2011 | 05:43 AM
  #4  
Nontypical Buck
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 0
Default

Im not sure what your set up is, how big the place is or anything but it sounds like your concentrating on the areas you found the rubs/scrapes in.IMO this isnt always the best way to go.Ive done a lot of trail cams and hunting in these areas and the later in the year it gets the worse luck I have, the deer seem to work them mainly at night and after a certain point quit them all together.

This doesnt mean the bucks are completely nocturnal, it just means they check thier scrape lines after dark or somethings changed, hunting pressure, food source, rut, etc... thats changed thier travel or bedding areas.I would do a little more scouting, and re evaluate what your doing.Are they bedding on the property or coming through from another property?Are they breeding right now?What are they feeding on?Is there much hunting pressure on the surrounding properties?

For example if theyre bedding on another property and its heavily hunted they may not move much during the day and by the time they get to your stands its well after dark.

With no does on your property if theyre breeding they wont spend much time looking for does there.

If they were feeding on one food source say a crop field and it was harvested are they going somewhere else for food?

I would forget about the rubs and scapes for the moment, and start with the basics, food, water, bedding, and breeding and go from there, get closer to the bedding areas in the evening and hunt closer to the food sources in the morning and try to ctach them coming and going from these places, the rub and scrape lines always work great on tv and in magazines but they arent always the best way to go in the real world.
petasux is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-2011 | 06:28 AM
  #5  
gator59's Avatar
Fork Horn
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Default

You need to feed the does and keep them on your property. Do you have a foodplot planted, a mineral lick or if law allows a feeder (even if you cant hunt over it). also cover a sanctuary.

I know alot of the experts say to shoot the does. But on a small parcel. I dont recommend shooting anything unless it is your target buck.

As the movie title stated: build it and they will come.
gator59 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-2011 | 06:34 AM
  #6  
Horacio's Avatar
Fork Horn
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
Default

Persitance pays off. While deer are creatures of habit, they are just as likely to significantly alter their behavior at the drop of a hat, especially when conditions change like weather and the rut.

Not sure what the season is like in TN but with 2 months here in TX, I've had plenty of long stretches seeing nothing or only late night trail cam pics until all of a sudden, there they are.

It doesn't mean your luck will change but it does mean that it can, in which case all you can do is be prepared. Think outside the box, try some of the techniques listed by other posters and keep the faith.
Horacio is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-2011 | 09:45 AM
  #7  
Buckhunter46755's Avatar
Nontypical Buck
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by jrbsr
Look for a rub, with a scrape under it.
And set up close to it.
Then go every day for 6 days in a row.
He will come on one of those days.
An old man told me this trick.
Make sure you are scent free, and hid real good.

Good Luck.
that sounds like good advice. I have hunted from the same tree for several years. set up in real good spot. sooner or later they always come through during shooting hours.
Buckhunter46755 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-2011 | 09:59 AM
  #8  
halfbakedi420's Avatar
Nontypical Buck
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,894
Likes: 0
From: central and east texas
Default

find the bedding area, set up before they come back. nocturnal sux..1 doe, well i wouldnt shoot her.
2-3 days a week is over hunting imo. maybe if ya stayed all 3 days with out comin out.....but that almost impossible?
halfbakedi420 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-28-2011 | 04:10 AM
  #9  
Nontypical Buck
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 0
Default

The deer are there. The bigger bucks are likely in the thick cover. Find the nastiest cover on the property and set up on the downwind side. Get on stand and stay on stand. Mid-day can be the best time to see a big deer on his feet.

My advice is to skip scents and other gimmicks. This isn't TV.
UncleNorby is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.