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Cell Cam Validation and Dogged Determination Buck

woodsdog2

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2019
Messages
7,916
This past summer I finally bit the bullet and invested in some cell cams when someone posted that the model I was looking at was selling for almost $40 off each. In the past, my interest in trail cams overall was lackluster at best let alone the additional cost of cell trail cams.

My logic was a bit old school and I always had a huge level of skepticism with the utility of these things compared to the investment in not only the cameras but the data plans, batteries, etc. My big mistake was thinking the randomness of most wild game movements far surpassed the ability of trail cams to be able to effectively allow a hunter to utilize them in any real consistently productive manner.

So yesterday, an unanticipated benefit of having cell cams out in one of my private spots was manifested while I was actually hunting.

So to not make this too long winded, but suffice it to say that getting cell cam pictures of bucks while you’re actually hunting within 100 -120 yards away from the cams (at the most) is a great motivator to keep your will to stay put during the rut

For a lot of reasons, but mostly getting a bit burned out and starting to feel the frustration with the grind of holding out for a more mature animal, I realized I wouldn’t have time to go into a spot on public I had botched the weekend before overlooking a nice couple of scrapes within yards of each other. The wind was perfect for that location and the evening before I was fixated on that spot again, mostly for redemption. Incidentally, I had some great standard trail cam pics of a few nice bucks on the scrape and also a decent bear. It’s a great funnel for all game I realized through camera analysis.

Anyway, my little
Voice I speak about sometimes told me to go back to the ladder stand I was in the morning before. My logic was I was getting sporadic camera pictures of bucks going through an area reasonably close to one of my cell cams that was starting to get daylight pictures of nice bucks in the morning.

This ladder stand historically has been a good location for me, having shot quite a few deer from it since the early 2000’s including some very nice bucks. This stand is situated at the intersection of a ridge spur that runs north south to the main east-west ridge. The “angle” of the the ridge spur in relation to the main ridge also makes it a decent spot to blind call throughout the day as the bucks can’t get downwind of your rattling and grunting sequences. In order to investigate they must be within shooting distance of archery tackle. It’s almost a perfect
Spot for calling. Sometimes they bite, sometimes they don’t.

Although the morning turned out much rainier than forecasted, the wind was still perfectly from the west. I was all set up about 15 minutes prior to legal shooting but the front had brought in rain and cloud cover making t darker than normal and getting me and my gear soaked.

I was starting to get a little dejected not seeing anything at all including antlerless deer by 9:30 or so. But, I kept telling myself to stay in the stand, it’s the rut. By 10 I was really starting to get bored and fidgety. I realized I started doing things like monkey with gear etc. which just makes movement and sound. I really had to force
Myself with staying motivated and focused on this hunt. My phone had gone off a few times but I thought it was my normal stupid notifications I get. But I decided to check and low and behold a pic of a great buck was just sent to me and he was heading in toward the ridge line I was overlooking. When you see a picture of a nice buck like that show up on your phone and it says “now” believe me when I say my focus was back on this hunt!! Another shooter went by the cell cam a bit earlier too!!

I gave out a couple of grunts, burp, burp trying to deflect them downwind of me so anything close wouldn’t zero in on me.

Nothing showed but the temperature started to drop and the wind picked up just slightly and it just felt like and the woods looked like it was going to be a good few hours of hunting. So I kept my vigil. My voice said stay here, be patient. Everything including the wind is perfect. I prayed, thanking the good lord for the opportunities of this hunt and all the others and I’m praising him now for his glory and for as Nate Killen says, “putting the fire and desire into us to chase these things.” I had said, I know me getting a deer has nothing to do with my mission in this world except for the promise that I would glorify him if I was successful. That’s what I’m doing right now.

So by 11:15 I was starting to think of a new mid day strategy. I was fighting soaked gloves but thankfully I brought a hand muff with me that day and hot hands. It helped me stay put even longer. At 11:40 or so I determined I was going to stay in this stand until noon and then go to another stand closer but further to the north of that cell cam, but I would try one last calling sequence and then if nothing showed by noon I would get down and warm up and switch stands. I rattled and then grunted.
My rattling sequence wasn’t loud and crazy but it wasn’t just tinkling either. I really tried to make it sound like two bigger bucks were sparring a bit. Then I made three grunts and put the calls down. I thooght, this is it, hopefully something is still within ear shot and decides to investigate.

Maybe 10 minute later, this wide 8 showed up coming up from thst ridge spur. He stopped and checked the wind. And at first it looked like he was heading right down the path in front of me but as I turned to grab the crossbow from the hanger behind me, I glanced back and he had already advanced another 15 yards but still along the main ridge quartering away from me rather than broadside to me as the other trail runs. I realized I would have to hold higher and he was starting to move at a good clip so I meshed quite loudly and he stopped. I put the red dot on him and the rest was history. He piled up about 40-50 yards and I heard him crash. This is my first ever crossbow deer and let me tell you, the blood trail was amazing.

The main take always from this hunt: 1. Cell cams can keep you motivated to stay in a spot even if it’s not new and sexy; and 2. Somehow find the determination to stay focused on the hunt you’re actively engaged with at the time. Being in a stand for 6 hours in wet then windy conditions can be a test of your grit but usually those tests pay off if you grind through them.
 

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Awesome buck, congrats Vince! Way to stick with the plan. A lot of guys would have climbed down at 9:30 and been sitting on the couch kicking themselves when those cell cam pics came through!
Strange thing is the bucks on the cell cam weren’t even the buck I shot! They were different deer but it kept me there. Thanks again!
 
Awesome story and great deer! Thanks for your words about praise too, I personally need to remember that part the most.
Me too brother, me too. All the glory goes to him! He blesses me in so many ways and I never deserve it. The best father we all could have!!
 
Awesome hunt with a great buck killed by a super person and well deserving hunter!!! Those cell cams sure keep things interesting during season, I’m pretty sure most of my grey hair comes from cell cams during the rut!
 
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