7MMXBOLT

Definitely set up somewhere near those scraps if there is more than one in the same area. Bucks tend to bed down during the day near them during the early rut. Glass the area with bino's from your stand to see if you can spot one or two laying down. I have actually seen two bucks bedded down together 50 yards from 4 active scraps one time. Hang your scent from your stand so that it is 3-4 feet from the ground and keep your movements to the minimum. If you have to move, do it in slow motion...seriously!

Good luck, we'll be waiting to hear of your success!

doubleb0924

The one thing that I see here is that there might be too many does in that area. If you do not harvest does and only buck hunt then that big mature buck does not have to work as hard and travel as much. basically does will find him. I know it sounds weird but I have seen this a couple of times on new farms we lease. The prior people who leased it only shot bucks and there were like 4-5 does per one buck. Just my two cents. During the rut the bucks most likely will not be in the same area that you saw then in September and October either (from my experience I am sure everyone has different outcomes). The mature bucks love water and thickets tor un around in during the rut as well. As i said I am no professional and only give advice on what I have seen, I hope you get that big boy this year!

pyclub1

Find the does and the bucks will find you.. Find funnel areas, areas that make the deer go into a certain direction or travel course. Find some saddles and some oaks if you have them around. I have had GREAT success hunting swamps, hunting the edges of them, especially if you can find 2 swamps close together, hunt any hardwoods or any bridge going between the 2 and you have a perfect funnel situation. Remember until pressured the deer will usually take the easiest route possible. Once they get pressured it's time to head into them swamps and thickets. That's where the pressured deer will go... Good luck to ya

Justin94deerfarm

Saw a big freak nasty 160-170 inch ten point just too dark to shoot and didn't spook him when I left. The mad buck growl worked its magic brought him from
100 yards to about 45 just didn't wanna risk makin a bad shot on him do you guys think I should return in the morning the same
Spot I hunted tonight?

monoped

Thanks for the update. You changed location and hunted a fresh site,spotted mature buck. Sounds like you answered o.p..
With right conditions, will he repeat route? Will another buck? I dunno,not there.
Wouldn,t hunt site with wrong wind or get patterened myself but would hunt it again and note it for scouting when season over.not telling you what to do ,locating at least another site for wind conditions that would keep you out of last nights area would be nice,could even relate to same buck if he,s regular. After hunting a spot 2 or 3 times i stagger morning,evening,afternoon to try to break pattern. Usually busted from scent left by then. Your on your way ,pick a hair! Split it with a broadhead.
My question would be why was he where you saw him.
Am reluctant to use call much when deer knows where it came from,nothing much to lose if its going away though. A different call next time or tickle some antler?

Justin94deerfarm

Ill try the antlers. Anybody have any land in the surrounding states of Indiana who
Would want to hunt this season we can't use big rifles here and I'm wanting to use my 30-06 but I bring a bow with me when I gun hunt too if they're close I'll use the bow

rritchey sr.

What is the feed like in your area? Are there oaks producing acorns and/or fields that may have corn in them? If food is spotty find the the feed and you will find the deer if they are in your area. Multiple stands for different winds and for different times of day will help produce results. In the late afternoon you may want to have stands setup in staging areas where the deer mill around before coming out into fields after shooting hours. Morning stands should be between the food source and bedding areas so that you can catch those deer that are leaving the feeding areas early, but may be feeding on acorns on their way to bedding areas. Keep track of doe activity so that during the rut your in an area that does frequent which should help you locate a buck that is chasing does. There are other factors like moon phase that plays a role in buck activity. I like it best when I hunt a good area in the first few phases of the moon. One other thing that determines your chances of seeing mature bucks is hunting pressure. The more activity in a given area may cause bucks to go totally nocturnal (staying in their bedding areas all day) or may cause them to leave their home range altogether. I hope this helps you some.

Justin94deerfarm

I'm hunting a new location tonight by a pond it's like 70 degrees here so
I know they'll need a drink. Why is Indiana not
Recognized as a big deer state? The antlers get big the bodies get huge. For example I shot a doe last year that weighed 123 lbs dressed. Good sized doe in my opinion why do you guys think?