Join an Amish deer drive. You didn't say I had to be the one to kill it lol.
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4 days to kill a buck on public ground
- Thread starter BTaylor
- Start date
Im picking super early season or late season.
Im scouting til i find the sign thats in the right spots definitely Gotta be just inside or around thick bedding near the seasonal food source and my entryway needs to be flawless
If that is all adding up that buck will most likley end up in my freezer.
Good luck during the rut. He could be anywhere that time of year along with all the other bucks running around.
In my opinion ( for me) the rut is or can be the worst time of year to hunt a specific buck, unless you know exactly what does he is checking, trailing, or tending.
Even then once he is done the deed its not long he moving onto another group of gals in another area.
Im scouting til i find the sign thats in the right spots definitely Gotta be just inside or around thick bedding near the seasonal food source and my entryway needs to be flawless
If that is all adding up that buck will most likley end up in my freezer.
Good luck during the rut. He could be anywhere that time of year along with all the other bucks running around.
In my opinion ( for me) the rut is or can be the worst time of year to hunt a specific buck, unless you know exactly what does he is checking, trailing, or tending.
Even then once he is done the deed its not long he moving onto another group of gals in another area.
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If I could draw up the scenario it would be September 1-4, drought conditions, and HOT. The set-up would be a secluded, half-dried-up water hole with a bunch of big fresh tracks in the mud all around it. Those deer haven't been hunted in 7-8 months and they've been going to that pond to drink every day for weeks.
Last season I walked by a bunch of decent looking stuff September 1st and the morning of the 2nd, then mid-day found a water hole like described above. I missed a buck early that evening, got right back in there the next day and shot a different one. If it's the only water around and it's hot/dry enough, they pretty much have no choice, they're going to be bedding close to that water and visiting it multiple times a day.
Last season I walked by a bunch of decent looking stuff September 1st and the morning of the 2nd, then mid-day found a water hole like described above. I missed a buck early that evening, got right back in there the next day and shot a different one. If it's the only water around and it's hot/dry enough, they pretty much have no choice, they're going to be bedding close to that water and visiting it multiple times a day.
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- Sep 14, 2020
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A crowd definitely bolsters opening day gun statistics.
But late December/January is good hunting over food sources, especially if there's a clear destination (like a nearby food plot). It's also a great time to seek deer out. I wish I hunted that time of year more.
For the Midwest: November 4-7.
Location: Near a bedding area, a transition between two bedding areas, or based on the topography.
Sit all day.
I have done this several times and filled tags. A couple of instances on the first day, other times day #2, 3, or 4. On several P&Y caliber bucks. It can definitely be done. (To be clear: I scouted these areas in the spring the year that I hunted out of state, and had stand locations picked out ahead of time, saved in my phone or gps.). Do the homework, do the scouting, and hunt. Have spent more time driving than hunting a couple of times!
My simple strategy has worked on many mature bucks on heavily pressured game lands with 3 day draw hunts. Time of season is only chosen based on the better temperatures, if even an option for the drawing .
I arrive on the Wednesday before the hunt and try to jump bucks from either known spots or from map scouting. Once several shooters have been jumped, I hunt each spot and move to another for each morning/evening hunt until I kill or the 3 day hunt is over. I rarely hunt the same spot 2x on a weekend like this. Most of the daylight movement i encounter is due to the other hunters hunting the hot sign in the obvious places.
I arrive on the Wednesday before the hunt and try to jump bucks from either known spots or from map scouting. Once several shooters have been jumped, I hunt each spot and move to another for each morning/evening hunt until I kill or the 3 day hunt is over. I rarely hunt the same spot 2x on a weekend like this. Most of the daylight movement i encounter is due to the other hunters hunting the hot sign in the obvious places.
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- Jan 5, 2021
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It would be super helpful if folks would provide some background about the kind of area where they are employing a strategy.
If I was in the northeast I’d want 4 days on Snow. I’d Drive around in search of a big track or an area with lots of tracks. I’d follow a big track until it lead to a buck or until there’s enough collectivize intel to merit a sit / dedicated strike.
If I was in the northeast I’d want 4 days on Snow. I’d Drive around in search of a big track or an area with lots of tracks. I’d follow a big track until it lead to a buck or until there’s enough collectivize intel to merit a sit / dedicated strike.
I would take the late season. The bucks need to refuel after the rut and the cold drives them to feed.. I seem to kill my best deer in January. They are easier to pattern and gun season is over and many can't hack the cold for very long so I rarely see anyone. Find a primary food source or travel corridor heading there...
Good strategy, too. I can certainly “hack the cold” - but my buck tag is usually filled by then, or I’ve run out of vacation time from work!
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- Jun 28, 2019
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- 8,075
1. I’m calling the local biologist and finding out peak breeding in that state in that region or section of the state you’re hunting. Then I’m keying on the week to ten days leading up to that peak date provided. I’m also watching temperature forecasts and identifying within that window the coolest days as possible or better yet days when there are forecasted 10-20 degree drops.
2. Im also asking what public land areas have the least pressure and/or have the knarliest terrain features and have been recently 3-5 year clear cuts/ game land plantings or adjacent to heavy ag private food Sources. (I want enough food availability to distribute hunting pressure evenly) but primarily I want areas with heavy successional growth to create more daytime movement security cover.
3. Then Escouting these identified areas and using topography within these areas to start to home in on stand sites. I’m trying for five-seven locations relatively close to one another (within a few miles of each other) so if one gets blown out I have options to quickly access.
4. I like scrape locations as well and feel that bucks within the right cover areas will check these all day during the ramp up phase of the rut…. but it can’t be open hardwoods. My ideal is dynamic terrain features that funnel movement and setting up near scrapes within the confluence of the dynamic terrain features. Ridge spurs, old benches/logging roads with turns and flats interspersed these are great scrape locations. Steep draws with grape tangles throughout.
5.I probably will not spend time with Trail/cell cams on a four day fling but 7 -10 days I would for sure in my five to seven best spots identified.
6. I’m accessing these locstions in the most circuitous manner as possible as early as possible to be set up and ready for the hopefully all day action.
2. Im also asking what public land areas have the least pressure and/or have the knarliest terrain features and have been recently 3-5 year clear cuts/ game land plantings or adjacent to heavy ag private food Sources. (I want enough food availability to distribute hunting pressure evenly) but primarily I want areas with heavy successional growth to create more daytime movement security cover.
3. Then Escouting these identified areas and using topography within these areas to start to home in on stand sites. I’m trying for five-seven locations relatively close to one another (within a few miles of each other) so if one gets blown out I have options to quickly access.
4. I like scrape locations as well and feel that bucks within the right cover areas will check these all day during the ramp up phase of the rut…. but it can’t be open hardwoods. My ideal is dynamic terrain features that funnel movement and setting up near scrapes within the confluence of the dynamic terrain features. Ridge spurs, old benches/logging roads with turns and flats interspersed these are great scrape locations. Steep draws with grape tangles throughout.
5.I probably will not spend time with Trail/cell cams on a four day fling but 7 -10 days I would for sure in my five to seven best spots identified.
6. I’m accessing these locstions in the most circuitous manner as possible as early as possible to be set up and ready for the hopefully all day action.
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- Sep 14, 2020
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Some states are at peak rut in January...or later. Crazy. And it's cold there too...like your October, lol.
Abishai
Active Member
4 days is tight. My choices.
1.) OCT 31-NOV 3
2.) NOV 9-12
3.) OCT 26-29
1.) OCT 31-NOV 3
2.) NOV 9-12
3.) OCT 26-29
1. Timing - Ideally, whenever the 4 day cold snap that falls within the first 2 weeks of November happens.
2. When possible with a shorter trip like that, come back again the next few years and let your knowledge stack up on an area. Each year spend a minimum of one day scouting. The first year is hard to get it done (in my opinion). As the years pile on you gain a better and better understanding of what to look for and a large number of good spots that can be speed scouted for fresh sign in following years.
Been going to a low density area in Ohio for 7 years during the rut on 5 day hunts. We don’t always see lots of deer but I usually get one opportunity on a good buck. If you’re in the right spot during those cold early November mornings there are some dandy’s that you’ll get a chance on. It’s a blast.
One of our biggest struggles is actually the success we have had has made our group grow quite large. What started as 4 guys is now up to 12 which is fun but has its challenges to overcome.
2. When possible with a shorter trip like that, come back again the next few years and let your knowledge stack up on an area. Each year spend a minimum of one day scouting. The first year is hard to get it done (in my opinion). As the years pile on you gain a better and better understanding of what to look for and a large number of good spots that can be speed scouted for fresh sign in following years.
Been going to a low density area in Ohio for 7 years during the rut on 5 day hunts. We don’t always see lots of deer but I usually get one opportunity on a good buck. If you’re in the right spot during those cold early November mornings there are some dandy’s that you’ll get a chance on. It’s a blast.
One of our biggest struggles is actually the success we have had has made our group grow quite large. What started as 4 guys is now up to 12 which is fun but has its challenges to overcome.
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- Jan 18, 2021
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- 773
I would agree but disagree. It’s almost impossible to kill a buck on new property in 5 days if you’re seeking the 140+ 5 year old+ deer they’re trying to kill. I’d say a 120” 3 year old would be much more reasonable and the caliber of deer that 90% of us here would be more than happy to harvest
My buddy uses a strong strategy. He accesses an area via water in early October with a dozen or more cameras. Sets everything, which takes the day, and then leaves and doesn't step foot back there until he starts pulling the cards on the first day he hunts, usually 3-4 weeks later. He works from there.
The biggest takeaway is the access. He doesn't do anything that doesn't require a boat and rubber boots irregardles of public or private. The vast majority of his hunting is MD public.
The biggest takeaway is the access. He doesn't do anything that doesn't require a boat and rubber boots irregardles of public or private. The vast majority of his hunting is MD public.
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- Jun 28, 2019
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I forgot to add the boot work to my strategy above. The 5-7 areas identified would be hunt scouted based on wind and anticipated thermals. Obviously if this is just a four day hunt on public that you can constantly scout or reasonably scout or camera scout because it’s relatively close to home my strategies would be different. I’m gambling that most of us have the map knowledge to pick out better terrain and areas than perhaps the average dude. If you’re just scouting first for one big bang I would do that with more time but four days is tough on an entirely new area but deer are moving more so you can feel safe hunting more spots.
I just go off what I see and hear. They weren't looking for big deers on the public challenge. I've talked with peeps that hunted the same wma for 10yrs and never shot at a buck here in my area. Are they/ i bad hunters?...maybe
I didn't say it was impossible....beast gear man did
Anyone and everyone invited to come down here and try their hand at it....I'd love to learn what I'm doing wrong. I'm going on 9 years and still no buck
So far it seems a majority like the tried and true lead up to peak breeding in the normal locations, a few prefer the late season for good reason. I love @OspreyZB scenario choice of hot/dry early season water hole setup and was hoping there would be some examples like that mixed in. @Jammintree mentioned general location and I almost asked for that but it wasnt entirely relevant to where I wanted this discussion to go. We all, or at least most of us, want an opportunity to kill a mature buck. A lot of us have decently long to really long seasons if we include archery but the majority have the same or close to the same preference for when and where we want to try to kill a buck. There are lots of accurate reasons for why we choose that window but there is one significant hurdle or challenge that comes with it and that is pressure. In a lot of places there is little to no pressure outside of that "rut" window but we continually save time off and focus most of our energy on being prepared to hunt one little window of time. Why is that when we have relatively significant amounts of time season wise to hunt? I have been 100% guilty of it myself. I cant help but think that there is a pretty solid argument for 2 alternate approaches. One would be, as has been mentioned in this thread, to focus on either early or late season and really refine why and where we hunt those windows. The other, prolly for just us total deer nerds, would be to continually focus on increasing our understanding of what deer are doing for the entirety of the season so that time frame and location almost become irrelevant. In both of those scenarios there is the added benefit of deer feeling less pressure and acting more like deer normally would but with the counter of potentially less than ideal weather conditions and shorter range of movement. A third option tying back to the rut window would be to identify all the different regional breeding dates and chase the rut. For example here in AR we have for sure 2 different peaks depending on where you are in the state. Alabama, GA and others have multiple peak breeding dates depending on location. I guess the point here is if you are frustrated with dealing with hunting pressure or not happy with your results, maybe its time for a paradigm shift.