Originally posted by walker1983
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Bow hunting a tough buck? Would you....
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Originally posted by mikemorvan View PostSo, let me start by saying that from the time i was a kid i've hunted with bow and arrow. I fell away for awhile, but now i'm back. I love the challenge. But, for a variety of reasons (some bad luck, more just choosing not to shoot) i'v never actually shot a whitetail deer w/ bow and arrow. I'm determined to do so.
There is a buck i've been chasing that has become my White Whale. I believe he's about a 160" deer with much character. He's has been faithful in coming to the feeder where i have a tripod. It is impossible to get the the tripod without going by the feed pen. (Bad set up i know, but there's not many options). Anyway, he is in and out of the pen at night quite a bit, up to about an hour before shooting light. He comes back in about an hour after shooting light has expired. He, very rarely, but occasionally, shows up in the middle of the day.
I can't be sure, but logic tells me i may have jumped him out of the pen in the mornings. I like to be in the tripod and hour and a half before sunrise. One full hour before shooting light. I'm sure i had to have jumped him out at some point. Maybe multiple times.
So, the last weekend of the season is here. I'm giving serious consideration to waiting to go out at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, and Sunday morning and sitting in that tripod all day. So, the question is: Would you?
The idea being to not disturb him the morning and hope for the best the rest of day. Whaddyathink?
Secondly, I've killed quite a few good deer in my life, passed way more than I've killed, and the vast majority were seen just before quality light, just after quality light, and +/- high noon. I've hunted all day several hundred times.....just be prepared to do so.
Go for it! Great fortune to you...hope you get him! 👍
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Originally posted by Slicefixer View PostFirst, your best chance to get a buck like that is going to and from food, NOT at food. So I'd figure out his travel pattern and quietly adjust your hunting for next year.... in the least intrusive manner possible. It's actually easy to do post this season.... couple of days of footwork....locate staging areas, rub lines, Google Earth, Onyx, etc etc etc.
Secondly, I've killed quite a few good deer in my life, passed way more than I've killed, and the vast majority were seen just before quality light, just after quality light, and high noon. I've hunted all day several hundred times.....just be prepared to do so.
Go for it! Great fortune to you...hope you get him! 👍
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Originally posted by Shane View PostHe's a stud for sure! Does he use the same trail in and out every time?
The next thing will be figuring out how to get him out of there if i do get him. But i'll cross that bridge when i get there.
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Originally posted by mikemorvan View PostPretty much. It's a brushy trail up a steep hill from the river below. I just have to go down there and figure something out.
The next thing will be figuring out how to get him out of there if i do get him. But i'll cross that bridge when i get there.
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Originally posted by Shane View PostHe's a stud for sure! Does he use the same trail in and out every time?
I'd do a few things....
First.....STUDY Google Earth.....where's the food and where's the cover? Where are the travel corridors between the two? Watersheds? Transition zones? Etc. Draw it out on Google Earth maps.....then get to walking in the off season.
Once on the ground you'll find his primary corridors via his rub lines and occasional scrape. When you find a rub of some significance, flag it or immediately note on your gps/phone, then note the side of the tree the rubs primarily damaged the tree.....that's his general direction of travel. Walk lazy circles in that general direction and you'll soon find another....and another....and another....now ya got him. Now staging areas (close to food and bedding) via his rubs....scrapes too. Note all of this on your map. As you note more and more things a "picture" WILL emerge.
Then, using your map figure out where he's more vulnerable IN THE DAYLIGHT. Then, once you've located several of his vulnerable spots, figure out the easiest ingress, egress, and prevailing winds for each spot
Then get in there in August and sweat your butt off building highly disguised ground blinds....blend em in but good.
The good thing is this, once he's dead (or retired 😉 ) another dominant buck WILL move right in and take over the territory. So your hard earned honey hole blinds will still be highly viable.Last edited by Slicefixer; 12-30-2019, 11:58 AM.
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Originally posted by Slicefixer View PostNaw.....he'll have several ways, both in and out, with a couple being his prime routes.
I'd do a few things....
First.....STUDY Google Earth.....where's the food and where's the cover? Where are the travel corridors between the two? Watersheds? Transition zones? Etc. Draw it out on Google Earth maps.....then get to walking in the off season.
Once on the ground you'll find his primary corridors via his rub lines and occasional scrape. When you find a rub of some significance, flag it or immediately note on your gps/phone, then note the side of the tree the rubs primarily damaged the tree.....that's his general direction of travel. Walk lazy circles in that general direction and you'll soon find another....and another....and another....now ya got him. Now staging areas (close to food and bedding) via his rubs....scrapes too. Note all of this on your map. As you note more and more things a "picture" WILL emerge.
Then, using your map figure out where he's more vulnerable IN THE DAYLIGHT. Then, once you've located several of his vulnerable spots, figure out the easiest ingress, egress, and prevailing winds for each spot
Then get in there in August and sweat your butt off building highly disguised ground blinds....blend em in but good.
The good thing is this, once he's dead (or retired 😉 ) another dominant buck WILL move right in and take over the territory. So your hard earned honey hole blinds will still be highly viable.
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