Deer, figure it out, here

[Levi Garrett]

Well the reason for this post is to collect info. in regards of hunter experiences in the wild. Where they never expected a deer to be.
We find out some interesting secrets, but do we take note of these finds, or just go on with the old ways of hunting.
For example, day beds, I have found deer lay up in the weirdest spots, and if we all shared our finds, we may become better hunters as a result.

Case 1 , Had a big buck tracking up the ground all around the area I was hunting, trails leading into , out of the area, so I tracked it for miles. No joy.
Then during lunch, at the car, beside the road, I happened to notice a nice buck cross an old woods road , coming right out from where my stand was It was the big buck. I head back in , lucky for me there was a bit of snow down, I Back tracked to find he was bedded 40 meters from the car, and 50 meters from my stand. Why did I not find that earlier, well there was a brook with lots of alder within 10 meters of the brook, he would bed down in there, on the bank ,looking right at the woods road, never seen by anyone. Re location of the stand to cut of the route to that secret spot was choice
Case 2, Noted a deer (buck) crossing a secondary road during the early morning , and again after dark on my way home(driving). Well I decided to check it out. That deer would head out in the eve to his feeding area, then back to a day bed in a small section of bush that had fields all round. I followed a fence line during the day , that he was using, and out the corner of my eye , I spotted him bedded down looking at my every move, and holding his ground , I kept going not to let on I spotted him
There are much more cases like that where one must not overlook places that hold deer when the pressure is on. So please share in any you may have had hunting these animals. It can only help new and old hunters alike
Frank

 

[MadDog]

From around my area one thing I always notice about the bucks is that they go nocturnal and do most of they're moving at night. Although they do slip up every now and then and start on a doe in heat in the middle of the day. thats when they get stupid and make their last mistake. I always figure if you wanna hunt a big buck go out to your stand after the rest of the guys come back and watch a run all afternoon then go back to camp when the guys are going out for the night hunt and cook supper and get drunk.

 

[Levi Garrett]

From around my area one thing I always notice about the bucks is that they go nocturnal and do most of they're moving at night. Although they do slip up every now and then and start on a doe in heat in the middle of the day. thats when they get stupid and make their last mistake. I always figure if you wanna hunt a big buck go out to your stand after the rest of the guys come back and watch a run all afternoon then go back to camp when the guys are going out for the night hunt and cook supper and get drunk.

The old 10am-2 pm rule, It works during the Rut!
Frank

 

[John Y Cannuck]

day beds, I have found deer lay up in the weirdest spots

Deer may lay down in a spot you consider "weird" now and then, but look carefully, there is usually a reason why it was chosen.
Good cover, close to food, high area where they can see well particularly their own back trail, Sunny ridges, protected areas on ####ty days. Tiny little bits of bush, because they are undisturbed.
Lots of reasons, just got to think like a deer. That's not always easy.

 

[BIGREDD]

I believe that approach is everything when hunting dominate bucks and trying to hunt them in their own bedroom is an exercise in futility.
A dominate buck is usually a four year old and at this age they become very secretive during the rut. They will find an area that is very hard to approach and will stay there during daylight hours and let the Does come to them.
They will venture forth early in the season usually at night to attend scrape lines and let the does know that they are open for business. And the mature does will go to the buck to get bred, let there be no doubt. They would much rather get the job done efficiently and avoid all the tentative foolishness of the yearling bucks and does.
Once a buck has retreated into his bedroom I believe there are only two ways to kill him with any certainty.

The first way is to push him out and ambush him... this takes two or three very good hunters with archery equipment. Or a large group of very efficient gun hunters. You had better do your planning and get your set up perfect or you will end up with egg on your face. You only will ever get one shot at a Dominate buck hunting him like this. If you miss him or educate him without getting a shot, he will move deeper and darker, and you won't see him again.

The second method is to wait him out... this takes patience. An educated hunter who has the time to spend can find a buck early in the season and watch him. Pick a high vantage point as far from his core area as you can and glass him. The best time to start is early in the spring while there is still some snow on the ground.
Once you have identified a good buck do not start traipsing around his core area, leave him be and pattern him from a distance. Find his main runways and get his timing and habits down. When you think you have a good trail picked that is far enough from his bedroom to safely set a stand you can make your move. I like to set my stands up in late July or August and I wait for a really crappy day... rain is good. The buck will be in his hidey hole avoiding the weather and the rain masks your approach and any noise and scent is washed away before he moves again. Once your stand is set leave it alone until the season opens and you are ready to kill the buck.
Never approach or use that stand if the wind is wrong, this is the kiss of death if you are putting all your eggs in one basket. It is a long season for most of us so don't get hurried and blow it. Be consistent and sit in that stand every chance afforded and be patient. If you have done your homework correctly and don't lose patience you will eventually get an opportunity to kill that buck. Be prepared to let the does and lesser bucks walk and you will get your shot.

 

[fogducker]

well i have it worked out...if i go to my stand and figure i know were they will show up
i turn around and watch my back...because every time i think i know it all..them buggers always show up were im not watching

 

[Levi Garrett]

well i have it worked out...if i go to my stand and figure i know were they will show up
i turn around and watch my back...because every time i think i know it all..them buggers always show up were im not watching

I never ever wanted to share this information with anyone for fear of sounding pretty silly, but I have found that if I wait to hard, that is try and will a deer to come out of the woods , they never will. But as soon as I wonder off, thinking of other things or just doze off into a semi sleep they come out of the wood work. After seeing this happen over and over, I have tested it , and yes it sounds nuts , but it works I know its the weekend , but only coffee, and pop today LOL
Frank

 

[Fox]

That is exactly what happened to us last year. Both my Dad and I hunted an area for about a week, lots of sign but could not get a sight of a deer let alone a shot. We decided to move to a new place but before we left he went to check sign on the ATV and I walked a bush we were already through for grouse. It started to rain and he came back having hit a young doe, we went back to track it and he did not hit it well but I put it down. In the right place at the right time with a curious animal, he was not on the ATV when he shot or with a loaded bow so nobody asks.

 

[hutchster]

4 years back i had something like this happen.
i had been hunting for near 6 days and had seen some deer, but never had a shot.
i was sitting at the top of this small ravine, watching for deer, when this porcupine waddles thru the brush not 10 feet from me.
so i watch him for nearly 45 minutes, as he climbs up and down this tree, bringing food and whatnot up to his branch.
he then climbs the tree and goes to sleep(this was at roughly 2 in the afternoon), so my mind starts to wander back to the ravine, and not 30 seconds later i see what ends up being my first kill, walk out about 150 yards down the hill from me.
of course being a rookie, i pulled the shot and hit him in the front shoulder, instead of the heart zone i was aiming at!
dropped without a step though!

always curious what caused the drop tine?

 

[Levi Garrett]

Beauty rack man, the drop tine is just another signature mark for that deer, they are never the same, like peoples faces. I had 3 deer in a row, all 9 pointers with a hole in the horn on the same side , which prevented them from being 10 pointers(5 point west coast). Differant years and places aswell Sometime its a bug or damage when in velvet, who knows, there all nice, and that one is real nice, I like the high brow tines.Almost looks like a mulie buck
Frank

 

[dumbdawg]

i'm a firm believer of watching your back while hunting . sometimes when i have a stand in the bush i'll set a mirror in a tree to watch my back