Did I get "Busted"? NEED ADVICE FAST!

Daniel

CGN Regular
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Location
Thunder Bay, ON
The "Rut-o-meter" is getting warm here, so I headed out last night in big wind to load up the apple pile. I figgered I may as well get in the stand for a bit while I was there:cool: .

Long story short... a few rattle, a few grunts.... thought I heard something closeby:dancingbanana: , behind me... :redface: (hunting fairly tight bush) it got dark:rolleyes: Got out of the stand and busted a deer, right down-wind of me, so I figger it was a buck.:rolleyes:

so my question:

Since he didn't come in snortin for a fight, does that mean the rut-o-meter's not quite there (the scrapes are there, but not really aggressive yet)?

Since he busted me, does that mean he "knows the game" now? and he won't come back to grunts and rattles?

Thanks
D
 
Last edited:
Daniel said:
The "Rut-o-meter" is getting warm here, so I headed out last night in big wind to load up the apple pile. I figgered I may as well get in the stand for a bit while I was there:cool: .

Long story short... a few rattle, a few grunts.... thought I heard something closeby:dancingbanana: , behind me... :redface: (hunting fairly tight bush) it got dark:rolleyes: Got out of the stand and busted a deer, right down-wind of me, so I figger it was a buck.:rolleyes:

so my question:

Since he didn't come in snortin for a fight, does that mean the rut-o-meter's not quite there (the scrapes are there, but not really aggressive yet)?

Since he busted me, does that mean he "knows the game" now? and he won't come back to grunts and rattles?

Thanks
D

Daniel, the rut here is just about to start. right now the bucks are in a primo chase phase.

a few friends of mine have rattled in and grunted/bleated in a few bucks. stick with it, they have seen and heard bucks fighting and they have had teh most amount of success when they were rattling really hard for periods up to 5 mins

that buck has already forgotten about you and I wouldn't worry about it.

good luck and make sure you get out in the next couple of days for sure!!!!!!
 
When calling/rattling, the deer tend to come in downwind of where they hear the sound, so they can scent check it. My guess is that's what happened to you. I've had them do the same thing when I use decoys.

-Sean
 
Rattle in bucks often. Works best with two guys, one rattler and a shooter. We have found that most bucks sneak in rather quietly and only kick up a fuss when they have seen/scented you. They are confused and at times right pissed off as I feel they think YOU are in the way of them kicking the snot out of some other buck in their territory!

As for that fella "remembering" you... don't fret it. Got to remember during the rut these bucks are running on hormones not common scence!
 
Okay, long story short...

I went back to the same spot last night with a partner, put him downwind of me to be the shoooter. I walked into the wind and waited a while.. rattled every half hour for a couple minutes...with some grunts

with about 20 minutes of light left, I heard a deer accross the valley from me - rubbing, scraping (with me downwind of him and a cut between us:runaway: ) a couple minutes later I hear him peeling (and I mean charging) down the hill at me!:eek: :eek: I saw him coming down this skid-trail, and I mean, as fast as I've ever seen a deer move- like scalded cat-fast. He got with about 150m (behind some trees - no shot) and then turned 180, and ran back up the slope, as fast as he ran down :confused: :confused:

should I be in the same spot or time today/tomorrow, or should I go get to his scrape/ rub/ #####es/ staging area? Big deer (didn't see the rack though), and I mean really fast. He might have been running off another buck, but he may have been giving me some kinda bluff charge.
what do you think was going on, and what do I do next? I've never seen such a thing...
advice needed fast!:runaway: :dancingbanana:
 
Wow Dan! My guess is he's no small buck!!! He's acting dominant and was PISSED that another buck was in his turf!!! The only advice I have for ya is to get ABOVE the ground... That way your scent will be ABOVE him and he'll "maybe" come in...

GOOD LUCK and POST PICS!!!

Cheers
Jay
 
I gather the guy in the stand (about 70 yards downwind of me) moved, although he hadn't heard or seen the buck. (In fact, I'm pretty sure that's the case...) but the deer was going so fast I can't imagine he had time to see him moving. The wind was pretty much in my face.

Do you think he'll be arround the same place, same time today, or do they get a little more erratic with the smell of poontang in the air?:runaway: :D
 
He's not going to make to many mistakes like that... He HAS learned that something was up... I'd try him from a different "angle", with different calling tactics...

Now, with the rut, he's going to make dumb mistakes, but that's no garuntee that he won't be miles away chasing some hot skirt...

I wouldn't give up on tagging him, you know he's there!!!

Cheers and GOOD LUCK!
Jay
 
GO GET EM!!! Take your time, be careful, be cautious... I often think of whitetail deer hunting like combat... Be sure of every step, don't be a freight train coming through the woods...

GOOD LUCK DANNo!!!

Cheers
Jay
 
Daniel,
Have you tried scent suits or some other means yet?

I may over do it but since I started using them head to toe and using arm and hammer deoderant year round and scent free body washes a few years ago I have deer within feet oblivious to my being there. Almost to the point that wind direction has little effect although I try and place myself correctly.

Nothing is quite exciting as having deer at your feet and taking your pick. I've actually had them bump my ladder stands sneaking in from behind and almost giving me a coronary.

Calling and antler rattling is effective for sure but I need to get some scent there as they come in and wonder what is here?

My bucks are right behind yours in their rut here in s.e. Michigan but it'll happen soon here too. I take my share of does for the freezer but those big bucks still make me quake in my boots.:)
 
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