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Post by gsquared23 on Nov 27, 2021 22:47:34 GMT -6
I think we should aim to have mature bucks live on our property DURING THE HUNTING SEASON. This gives us a better chance of killing them and the neighbors a lesser chance. Most bucks have differing summer and fall ranges, and that will be based on their needs for that time of year. I get the feeling they tend to bed in more open areas with good shade and a good breeze during the summer, potentially open oak ridges with less underbrush or field edges. Also they probably prefer more open areas so it’s easier to maneuver their growing velvet and prevent damage. This type of area would be much less valuable during the actual season, so I would not personally hope or expect a mature buck to bed on me during the summer. The exception would be if I had hundreds of acres and could stand to leave some of it relatively open and airy. But with owning that much land, the odds are good that you’ll hold a mature buck anyway.
Since my acreage is very limited, I want to provide bedding areas that are thick, nasty with lots of browse and also has a terrain advantage that gives him cover, browse, and easy escape from predators. Most importantly it needs to be completely free of human intrusion when he is going to use it, primarily when the rest of the cover has deteriorated (leaf drop) or been eradicated (crop harvest). But with so many options before leaf-fall, it’s going to be tough to groom an area that a buck is going to use regularly. Most of the time the best you can do is create thick areas where the does will bed and hopefully you can place a stand downwind and hunt the rut phases. And then have the best food so those same thick areas will hold all the deer when weather gets them on their feet during late season.
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Post by chummer16 on Nov 28, 2021 6:33:12 GMT -6
I have had a great run since I started the habitat and apple deal in 2013. I have killed seven 3.5yo or older which is a rare animal with our 8 week rifle season. Of those seven, five were regulars feeding in my plots all summer and fall. The other 2 I had 0 pictures of killed 11/3 and 11/15. That is nice but doesn’t tell the rest of the story. Over the span I have had a handful of bucks that were bigger than anything I have shot be summer and pre rut regulars. They disappear around 11/1 never to be seen again. Two of those I know were killed 2-3 miles away. They were in the same year that I shot one of the visitors on 11/3. Was he filling the void of the other two leaving or was it a coincidence? Why do some bucks leave at go time when I have great food and more does than they will find else where? I think when the clock goes off in their head if they aren’t smelling the right lady they start walking until they find one. I think it is great to have bucks around all year but you better have the does come November. A buck is not going to stay off your 40 if there is a willing lady no matter how many times you bumped him doing habitat work.
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Post by Sandbur on Nov 28, 2021 6:39:46 GMT -6
I have had a great run since I started the habitat and apple deal in 2013. I have killed seven 3.5yo or older which is a rare animal with our 8 week rifle season. Of those seven, five were regulars feeding in my plots all summer and fall. The other 2 I had 0 pictures of killed 11/3 and 11/15. That is nice but doesn’t tell the rest of the story. Over the span I have had a handful of bucks that were bigger than anything I have shot be summer and pre rut regulars. They disappear around 11/1 never to be seen again. Two of those I know were killed 2-3 miles away. They were in the same year that I shot one of the visitors on 11/3. Was he filling the void of the other two leaving or was it a coincidence? Why do some bucks leave at go time when I have great food and more does than they will find else where? I think when the clock goes off in their head if they aren’t smelling the right lady they start walking until they find one. I think it is great to have bucks around all year but you better have the does come November. A buck is not going to stay off your 40 if there is a willing lady no matter how many times you bumped him doing habitat work. Each buck is different. Some stay home and some wander.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 28, 2021 8:52:02 GMT -6
I think the goal should be to have bucks live on your property. But make it a destination if they do not .
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thetrooper
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Post by thetrooper on Dec 24, 2021 19:08:42 GMT -6
You cant control them on 40 or 400 but if you can have them bed on you your chances are much better. The deer you see in the middle of the night aren't getting out of bed at 1030 at night to go feed. They're usually coming out the last hour of light but 90% of the time it's the last 15-20min of legal light. If you are the center of a bucks core bedding area you got all the aces. You're gonna be the one getting that coveted last 15-20min of legal light. Just get all your work done and leave the place alone from late August until the season is over
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Dec 25, 2021 8:24:47 GMT -6
When you have the girls at your house I can guarantee you will have all the boys at your house during the rut. I have proved it with all the daylight videos I have posted over the years. Never once tried to have them co mingle let alone bed close by each other.
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Post by smsmith on Dec 25, 2021 8:30:08 GMT -6
When you have the girls at your house I can guarantee you will have all the boys at your house during the rut. I have proved it with all the daylight videos I have posted over the years. Never once tried to have them co mingle let alone bed close by each other. That's always been my working theory.
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Post by Sandbur on Dec 25, 2021 8:38:33 GMT -6
When you have the girls at your house I can guarantee you will have all the boys at your house during the rut. I have proved it with all the daylight videos I have posted over the years. Never once tried to have them co mingle let alone bed close by each other. That's always been my working theory. Since about age 12?
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Post by chummer16 on Dec 25, 2021 9:24:17 GMT -6
When you have the girls at your house I can guarantee you will have all the boys at your house during the rut. I have proved it with all the daylight videos I have posted over the years. Never once tried to have them co mingle let alone bed close by each other. That's always been my working theory. #metoo
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