Where are the mature bucks on the 1/4 section where I hunt?

By Grant Woods,

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← Grant's Answers — Hunting Tactics
Question
I am hunting a new spot and have seen half dozen young bucks come through. Not as many does. There are dozen of scrapes throughout the property I have marked where most of them are at, some have 2 or three right next to each other. I usually access it from the west. and I can access from the south east corner if need be.
I am starting to doubt this place has any big bucks (maybe in the future). Should I continue to hunt it and wait for future years? Should I try some mock srapes, decoy buck or doe, doe esturs, etc? If you need more information don’t be afraid to ask.
The picture attached should give you a good idea where everything thing is at.
PS I am bow hunting. and this area is just under a 1/4 of a section(1 square mile).

Thank you,

Anthony Bongard

Anthony,

Sounds like you are seeing plenty of sign!  I really like properties that can be entered from multiple directions.  I suspect there are more winds from the west (north west, west, south west), than the east.  If this is true you’ll probably be best to enter the property from the southeast.  It’s critical you can approach, hunt, and exit the stand without alerting deer.

I suggest using a trail camera to monitor the age structure of bucks using the property.  It will be best to place the camera where deer use at night so you are not interrupting a day pattern when checking the camera, etc.

If you have a better place to hunt I’d split the pressure between properties. Too much pressure is a fast way to make mature bucks use a different part of their home range.

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 30, 2015