Buck crossing the road: Fluke or not?

[greenhorndave]

Saw a nice buck crossing the road coming from marshy/swampy public last night about an hour after shooting hours expired.

I have zero Intel on this place and zero Intel on the buck.

What do you think the odds are at this time of year that he'll head back from where he came tomorrow? I feel like I could get on him, but I don't know if that was a fluke or not.

I was not planning on hunting there tomorrow, but that might change.

Thoughts?

[Smitty]

I would say give it a try, I did something pretty similar a few years ago saw a buck cross the road and just set up near the spot with no other intel sign was non existent but set up anyway and I had an opportunity at what was by far the biggest buck I’ve ever seen. The one thing I’ve learned from being mobile is that my hunting plans change all the time. Good luck either way.

[brancher147]

A good buck crossing the road is how I have found a couple of my better hunting spots. Sometimes that is all you need...As far as if he will do it again, who knows, if the sign is there hunt it.

[Swamp Stache]

Only one way to find out. I had a similar situation happen a couple days into season this year. Had it come by about sunset and walk parallel to the road. Just outta range. Had I sat closer to the road I think I would have gotten a shot.

[Eddiegomes83]

Maybe go in with stand on your back and see if you see good sign that he frequents the area. If looks good and good wind sit if not go to your other spot

[greenhorndave]

Will do. My guess/hope is that this particular chunk where he came out is overlooked. Wind will be perfect for investigation: wind direction should be decent and a lot of it 15-20, gusts to 35-40. Might just go gille/leafy.

Thanks for your $0.02

[Rich M]

Saw a nice buck crossing the road coming from marshy/swampy public last night about an hour after shooting hours expired.

I have zero Intel on this place and zero Intel on the buck.

What do you think the odds are at this time of year that he'll head back from where he came tomorrow? I feel like I could get on him, but I don't know if that was a fluke or not.

I was not planning on hunting there tomorrow, but that might change.

Thoughts?

Anyway to check the sides of the road for tracks? Would tell you if it was a common thing.

[greenhorndave]

Saw a nice buck crossing the road coming from marshy/swampy public last night about an hour after shooting hours expired.

I have zero Intel on this place and zero Intel on the buck.

What do you think the odds are at this time of year that he'll head back from where he came tomorrow? I feel like I could get on him, but I don't know if that was a fluke or not.

I was not planning on hunting there tomorrow, but that might change.

Thoughts?

Anyway to check the sides of the road for tracks? Would tell you if it was a common thing.

Not really. No real shoulder and speeds are high. It wouldn’t be stealthy (from hunters) in any case.

I will get in/stay inside cover from the road yet still close to it and look for trails.

[Rich M]

Hoping you found a great spot. At least he's in the area.

[greenhorndave]

Hoping you found a great spot. At least he's in the area.

Thanks! Will find out in a couple hours.

[Tennhunter3]

Mature Bucks don't make mistakes.
If he is going that way once he will again.

[PK_]

Saw a nice buck crossing the road coming from marshy/swampy public last night about an hour after shooting hours expired.

I have zero Intel on this place and zero Intel on the buck.

What do you think the odds are at this time of year that he'll head back from where he came tomorrow? I feel like I could get on him, but I don't know if that was a fluke or not.

I was not planning on hunting there tomorrow, but that might change.

Thoughts?

Yes I would go after him the following evening or two then I would burn thru everything around to figure out where exactly he’s coming from if possible, learn it for next year even if you ruin it for this year who cares you didn’t know about this buck/spot a day ago...

[Ghost Hunter]

Stop and check where he crossed and see if he has made a habit out of it.

[greenhorndave]

I gave it go. I stepped off the road, down a small hill and hit this. Big and fresh going from ag to where I thought he might be. I realize it was mud, but it was 4 fingers wide with a big hoof booger or whatever Dan calls those clods of dirt.

20201017_145816.jpg

Then a big fresh rub. The camera was just below chest height.

20201017_151749.jpg

Trails were beat-in and had mud on the bottom of the vegetation where it was getting kicked up. No boot tracks.

I set up by a small rub line from this year and trails that criss-crossed coming out of the swamp. Nothing showed. I probably should have kept pushing to the end of a point, but that stuff looked good and the good sign seemed like it stopped there so I set up. Windy was very strong at times and a little swirly, so that might have had something to do with it, but I think those swirls were short-lived and erased by the predominant wind before they got too far.

Definitely worth exploring more, either this year or in spring scouting. Need to hone in on bedding with more precision.

Great suggestion PK.