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Post by sd51555 on Nov 3, 2021 7:12:21 GMT -6
As I sat in the blinds in October, I got to wondering about this. I don't think I've got any bucks, at least of any big to-do, living on my property. I think they're close, but they aren't a fan of my long habitat season of intrusion. I'm not so sure it's a big deal for me. The more I think about it, there's a couple reasons, at least in my situation, where I don't think it's so important.
*Once the rut starts heating up, where they lived all year isn't a relevant piece of info as to where they're going to be when it comes time to hunt.
*I'd prefer those bucks show up as visitors and not have the homefield advantage of knowing where to look for me. I want them focused on doing what they came to do, and do it blind.
Yes? No?
I don't have human pressure on any of my boundaries, so it's no big deal if deer have to travel a quarter mile from deep cover to get to my place for the dance.
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Post by Sandbur on Nov 3, 2021 7:19:32 GMT -6
Those bucks can travel miles, not a quarter mile during the rut.
In your case, concentrate on the rut hunt.
If you have bedding target bucks, you can pursue earlier.
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Post by daydreamer on Nov 3, 2021 7:45:58 GMT -6
In your country and with only 40 acres (i think) I don't think it's realistic to have them live on your land. Like Art said, they travel miles and miles up in the north country. Super curious to see what your buck activity is this weekend.
And I don't believe you have a lot of archery pressure around you pre-rifle season so don't think you need to worry about that angle like a lot of us do in ag country.
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Post by sd51555 on Nov 3, 2021 7:52:54 GMT -6
In your country and with only 40 acres (i think) I don't think it's realistic to have them live on your land. Like Art said, they travel miles and miles up in the north country. Super curious to see what your buck activity is this weekend. And I don't believe you have a lot of archery pressure around you pre-rifle season so don't think you need to worry about that angle like a lot of us do in ag country. Yeah, it's 40. I'm curious too. I only began to see bucks in the ditch in the dark as I left monday night. Let's hope some of the uncles get over to my place. Those ladies need a night out from the kids. |
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Post by daydreamer on Nov 3, 2021 7:55:44 GMT -6
In your country and with only 40 acres (i think) I don't think it's realistic to have them live on your land. Like Art said, they travel miles and miles up in the north country. Super curious to see what your buck activity is this weekend. And I don't believe you have a lot of archery pressure around you pre-rifle season so don't think you need to worry about that angle like a lot of us do in ag country. Yeah, it's 40. I'm curious too. I only began to see bucks in the ditch in the dark as I left monday night. Let's hope some of the uncles get over to my place. Those ladies need a night out from the kids. South winds coming, you guys going to all sit on the NPC? |
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Post by Sandbur on Nov 3, 2021 8:09:58 GMT -6
SD. I would scout the government lands hard after rifle season. Look for rib lines, crossings at both ends of beaver ponds, bottlenecks at corners or edges of clear cuts.
Find some places to bow hunt bucks on the government lands and leave your forty alone until the rut.
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Post by smsmith on Nov 3, 2021 8:13:02 GMT -6
Expecting a buck to live entirely on a property under 2-3 hundred acres is probably an unrealistic expectation.
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Post by wklman on Nov 3, 2021 8:51:47 GMT -6
Bucks will push does to wear they want to breed them. Usually to heavy cover, tend them for a day, breed, then move on to the next one. That's the only daytime place you'll find a good buck during the rut. From my experience they're doing the finding, chasing, pushing, at night and holding them in deep cover during the day. The only time they flub up is when they don't find a doe and are still seeking early in the morning.
The buck I shot on my place was a homebody that was here all year. My neighbor had seen him all summer long while he was working in my fields. I believe if I was on the land all the time doing habitat work in the middle of my sanctuary every weekend I'd never of seen that buck. They just don't tolerate disturbance.
My point is that in my own experience the best thing to do to up my odds of getting a nice buck consistently is to stay off my land unless I'm putting plots in or am hunting it. Less is more.
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Post by sd51555 on Nov 3, 2021 8:52:05 GMT -6
Yeah, it's 40. I'm curious too. I only began to see bucks in the ditch in the dark as I left monday night. Let's hope some of the uncles get over to my place. Those ladies need a night out from the kids. South winds coming, you guys going to all sit on the NPC? No. Saturday, we'll sit the SPC probably both sits. They're calling for a light west wind. Sunday ain't looking good. I have some other ideas, but I'm still trying to figure it all out. Sounds like my nephew may only get to hunt Saturday and Sunday. Gonna try really hard to seal the deal on Saturday for him, then these things ain't such a big deal. Then we could still go to the NPC on Sunday as a crowd, and he can watch me not shoot a deer. |
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Post by caveman on Nov 3, 2021 8:57:31 GMT -6
FFS.
You aim to have bucks DIE on your property.
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Post by Freeborn on Nov 3, 2021 9:19:04 GMT -6
I think having a dominate buck that will bed on your property is dependent on the quality of cover you have in relation to your neighbors. Most likely if your property did not have the proper bedding when you purchased the land you can't create it.
I'm fortunate that I have a peninsula that goes out into my marsh that always holds a dominate buck. For dominate bucks its all about safety when bedding and they only venture away from it in the daylight during the rut.
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Post by smsmith on Nov 3, 2021 9:46:43 GMT -6
I think for every "rule" there's a situation/property that contradicts that rule.
Figuring out what works (and doesn't) on each individual property is the challenge.
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Post by Catscratch on Nov 3, 2021 10:36:36 GMT -6
Yes, you should strive to have a mature buck bed on your property. Doesn't mean one will but if you strive for the habitat it takes to make it happen then they will visit more often. Back to my fish in a pond theory; the most dominant fish gets the best brushpile. Once you've caught her the next takes her spot, fills the void. Big buck leaves to chase does, the next one fills in. Habitat and security win, and nature fills the gaps.
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Post by benmnwi on Nov 3, 2021 12:21:42 GMT -6
I'm happy consistently having a lot of does on my land, but occasionally I'll get lucky and a mature buck visits prior to the rut. If a good buck is using my place early in the season I'll try to get a crack at him then. If not, I wait for the rut when they eventually come to find the does. My best hunting comes in the afternoon/evening during the rut since most of the neighborhood does head to my place to eat and that's where the bucks end up.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 3, 2021 13:28:45 GMT -6
It’s a good point SD. I see both sides. My most productive farm (MN) with the best mature buck history anyway, the bucks bed on neighbors. They come for the food, and the does. Rarely bump any, and we know their pattern as they approach.
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