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Post by Sandbur on Jan 6, 2019 13:18:30 GMT -6
For the record, dominant buck might be just a 3 year old. In MN we target 3 and up, Iowa 4 or older. Do you agree that “the dominant buck” could actually change as the rut progresses? The only guy starts out strong while the up and coming stud bides his time and wraps it up in the later rut while the old guy takes a breather? Or the old guy is in the freezer.
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Post by Catscratch on Jan 7, 2019 6:15:05 GMT -6
For the record, dominant buck might be just a 3 year old. In MN we target 3 and up, Iowa 4 or older. Do you agree that “the dominant buck” could actually change as the rut progresses? The only guy starts out strong while the up and coming stud bides his time and wraps it up in the later rut while the old guy takes a breather? I do. I see it change locally as the rut goes on. The dominant buck either leaves (finds a doe a mile down the road), gets shot, or gets hurt. In his absence someone always fills the void.
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Post by honker on Jan 19, 2019 20:05:38 GMT -6
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Post by Freeborn on Jan 19, 2019 22:22:56 GMT -6
I agree with what he is saying, diversity helps create edge and quality habitat for wildlife. Much of what he is talking about would be difficult to create and is more inherent in the type of property you own.
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Post by honker on Jan 19, 2019 23:50:56 GMT -6
I agree with what he is saying, diversity helps create edge and quality habitat for wildlife. Much of what he is talking about would be difficult to create and is more inherent in the type of property you own. I think this is a pretty good example of what he is describing in the video. I am fortunate to have had 3 of the 4 ingredients take shape at my place naturally. I'm currently lacking the conifers in abundance, but I have planted several hundred over the past three years to fill it in. I'm going to keep pockets of clear cuts to maintain the diversity and edge within my woods. Some of the wildlife prefer the 0-5 yr phase of regen and my place has grown past that since I acquired it.
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Post by strungoutoutdoors on Mar 1, 2019 12:48:22 GMT -6
In particular on Small Properties. like allot of guys my place is small, particularly my contiguous woods. I'm basically working with 40-50 acres of woods/marsh. I typically have one mature buck on my place but that's it. Depending on the rut I do get cruiser bucks. I typically have 3-4 doe groups but that typically includes small groups of 2-3. First, is it possible to hold 2 or more 4+ year old bucks on 40-50 acres of woods? If it is, what would be the top things you would do to establish this? Throwing out ideas: Establish Dispersed bedding and food plots increase doe groups Dominate bucks, or mature bucks? For mature bucks its mostly going to come down to habitat. Do you offer enough cover for him to feel safe? Do you offer food and water? Is it a low human pressure area? 40-50 acres will be hard to hold much of anything unless your property is set up just right. With it being marshy I could see it being used for bedding in certain areas for sure. Take advantage of that and put together a plan. Example: Do you need to open canopy for more natural browse? Do you need more side cover for security etc
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Post by Bwoods11 on Jun 12, 2020 13:37:44 GMT -6
We hunt mainly kill plots. I can say from experience that if I spend the $$$ and do the plots right, we have success. I cheaped out on a couple this year, they were failures. This is where I am headed. I have hired a dozer guy to make two kill plots this winter and im adding a plot out in my prairie grass. I'll have one primary plot and 3 kill plots. I'm working towards more doe groups and a longer area a good buck needs to travel to find does. I also need to add several enclosed stands for all day sits and to cover my scent better. How the deer react will be interesting to see but I'll learn from their changes. How did the new plots work for you...? This is a good topic, I really think 2020 will be a great year for antler growth with the early spring.
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Post by Sandbur on Jun 12, 2020 19:27:25 GMT -6
This is where I am headed. I have hired a dozer guy to make two kill plots this winter and im adding a plot out in my prairie grass. I'll have one primary plot and 3 kill plots. I'm working towards more doe groups and a longer area a good buck needs to travel to find does. I also need to add several enclosed stands for all day sits and to cover my scent better. How the deer react will be interesting to see but I'll learn from their changes. How did the new plots work for you...? This is a good topic, I really think 2020 will be a great year for antler growth with the early spring. Drought can hurt antler growth.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Jun 13, 2020 6:38:26 GMT -6
That is true. This dry stretch may not be maximizing the growth!
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Post by nhmountains on Jun 13, 2020 15:43:36 GMT -6
Would a buck holding antlers late also limit antler growth that year? Supposedly some bucks were holding into April here.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Apr 8, 2021 13:59:09 GMT -6
I have heard top whitetail guys say that your chances to kill a buck are 80%-90% higher if the buck beds on your land? Agree, disagree? Interesting take?
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Post by Freeborn on Apr 8, 2021 14:50:35 GMT -6
I have heard top whitetail guys say that your chances to kill a buck are 80%-90% higher if the buck beds on your land? Agree, disagree? Interesting take? That would make sense to me as it would mean he is in your general area more times than not and not traveling through neighboring land.
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Post by benmnwi on Apr 8, 2021 15:12:13 GMT -6
I have heard top whitetail guys say that your chances to kill a buck are 80%-90% higher if the buck beds on your land? Agree, disagree? Interesting take? I'd say there's a 87% chance the top whitetail guys made up that statistic! But having said that, I completely agree that a buck is way more killable if he doesn't know he is being hunted and the only way you can control that completely is if you own the land. If the buck beds on a neighbors there is a better chance he gets spooked and turns nocturnal. Or if he beds a long distance away he might not get to your property until after dark. When we moved to our current property the adjacent landowners were an old couple who very rarely entered their 10 acres that bordered our land. That property was essentially a sanctuary and it didn't make any difference who owned it since nobody bothered the deer there and that provided a pressure free bedding area. Does and bucks bedded there all year and most of them would feed on our land. During those years about half of the bucks we killed bedded on my land and half of them bedded on that property. When my current neighbor moved into that property his presence there completely changed the deer movement and I've never seen a mature buck come from there in the last 3 years.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Apr 8, 2021 16:32:44 GMT -6
It might be true?. But I’d say in my situation most of the biggest bucks I’ve shot were probably bedding on the neighbors. But it’s very much a case by case situation.
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Post by Freeborn on Apr 8, 2021 17:38:50 GMT -6
It might be true?. But I’d say in my situation most of the biggest bucks I’ve shot were probably bedding on the neighbors. But it’s very much a case by case situation. You hunt in great neighborhoods with allot more choices. I would think on properties where you only have 1 buck in the area you want it would be best to have them bed on your place.
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