Busted- Public Land!!
- Singing Bridge
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Busted- Public Land!!
For the last couple of years, while accessing one of my Michigan Public Land spots, I always cut a good track on my entry trail in the same spot... It's uncanny! I decided I'd had enough, and put a plan in place to make a play on this buck. I have no previous scouting on this guy, but I couldn't take it anymore! The tracks crossing my entry trail were ALWAYS going the same direction. Utilizing my prior knowledge of the area, along with some good topo and aerial study, I put a plan together. The tracks were always headed toward a point of hardwoods that jutted out into a swamp. I could see a couple of small islands in the swamp itself, but there is always a chance the buck could be bedded along the point as well. I decided I would hunt the edge of the point, just into the swamp, near its end.
The plan almost worked perfectly, except the buck was bedded a little closer up to the front of the point than I anticipated. He had the wind at his back and he had a great view of the open hardwoods downwind- which Is where I am certain he was watching. Imaging his surprise when I cross-winded him from the swamp! He jumped up and headed for parts unknown. I got a great look at his rack, he appears to be a good 8 for around here and I'd put him at 120". Those of you from parts afar, that's a good buck for Michigan public and he is nearly certain to be at least a 3 year old. The rub next to his bed supports that age.
Rather than be disappointed, I examined his runs in and out, and picked a great triple trunked maple for a future hunt that is within a hundred yards of the bed. The bed is worn to the dirt, and he or another buck use it quite often. On a nearby run, I cut an even larger set of splayed tracks heading into the swamp. I could see a small island it was headed for and approached it (this area is all new to me). I found a VERY large bed here, and a rub in the staging area that is tall and about 5" in diameter. I also picked a tree to hunt this bed on a future hunt. Both of the tree's have an excellent approach, and the future should hold some good hunting here. The day ended up being valuable after all.
Here's the bed:
Here's the rub next to the smaller buck's bed (120"):
The plan almost worked perfectly, except the buck was bedded a little closer up to the front of the point than I anticipated. He had the wind at his back and he had a great view of the open hardwoods downwind- which Is where I am certain he was watching. Imaging his surprise when I cross-winded him from the swamp! He jumped up and headed for parts unknown. I got a great look at his rack, he appears to be a good 8 for around here and I'd put him at 120". Those of you from parts afar, that's a good buck for Michigan public and he is nearly certain to be at least a 3 year old. The rub next to his bed supports that age.
Rather than be disappointed, I examined his runs in and out, and picked a great triple trunked maple for a future hunt that is within a hundred yards of the bed. The bed is worn to the dirt, and he or another buck use it quite often. On a nearby run, I cut an even larger set of splayed tracks heading into the swamp. I could see a small island it was headed for and approached it (this area is all new to me). I found a VERY large bed here, and a rub in the staging area that is tall and about 5" in diameter. I also picked a tree to hunt this bed on a future hunt. Both of the tree's have an excellent approach, and the future should hold some good hunting here. The day ended up being valuable after all.
Here's the bed:
Here's the rub next to the smaller buck's bed (120"):
- Stanley
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Looks good to me.
You can fool some of the bucks, all of the time, and fool all of the bucks, some of the time, however you certainly can't fool all of the bucks, all of the time.
- Edcyclopedia
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Excellent stuff, love reading your posts.
- Jackson Marsh
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Sounds like you gained some valuable intel! What's with the "dry bag" you planning on getting wet?
- Crazinamatese
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
You mentioned you had no previous scouting. Did you mean the deer, or the land?
The cave you fear hides the treasure you seek!!!
- Singing Bridge
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
BGHUNTER wrote:Excellent stuff, love reading your posts.
appreciate that, BGHUNTER.
Jackson Marsh wrote:Sounds like you gained some valuable intel! What's with the "dry bag" you planning on getting wet?
As you know, I've gone swimming more than once! Those electronic devices are expensive.
Crazinamatese wrote:You mentioned you had no previous scouting. Did you mean the deer, or the land?
To my knowledge, I've never hunted near this particular buck. I've spent a lot of time about a mile from here, but never cut these particular tracks in the area. The bedding areas I mentioned are new to me, I've never scouted them.
I did find a very large scrape that is rather active about a half mile from these beds- Quite a few tracks in it too.
- Buckfever
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Sounds great
- Crazinamatese
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Im hunting some areas I never scouted too. What do you look for when searching for a good set up? I been setting up on trails with some action, and finding bedding areas has been tough. I found what may be primary bedding in one area, but two hunts set up on it in the right wind produced no deer in those beds. Any advice to improve my odds?
The cave you fear hides the treasure you seek!!!
- Singing Bridge
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Crazinamatese wrote:Im hunting some areas I never scouted too. What do you look for when searching for a good set up? I been setting up on trails with some action, and finding bedding areas has been tough. I found what may be primary bedding in one area, but two hunts set up on it in the right wind produced no deer in those beds. Any advice to improve my odds?
It can be really frustrating when you know you have located some decent bedding or a good transition area... and you hunt it once or twice with good conditions and end up striking out. I hit a couple of my best bedding area stands, the ones I have the highest hope for, and ended up with a big fat zero... not even a doe. They'll get hunted again when the conditions are right and the area should be back to normal... but man, is that frustrating.
When I hit areas I've never hunted before, I look for potential bedding and make a play. I spot check some funnels close to the bedding, and through tracks / rubs and other buck sign I am normally able to tell if the bedding is holding a buck of the age / size i am looking for. I study aerials and topos, and try to piece together the likely route a buck will take from the bed based on weather / food / does, etc. Normally, I do not need to kick the buck out of his bed to know what I am dealing with. I've shot a buck when he stood up in his bed that I knew had to be in there somewhere (gun season).
Its a lot tougher go when you don't have the scouting in- but it can be done. A thoughtful, positive attitude will go a long way.
- Dewey
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Good stuff SB!
Sounds like you gained some valuable info for a future hunt.
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Sounds like you gained some valuable info for a future hunt.
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- Swampthing
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Good post SB.
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- Singing Bridge
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Two stands are now ready to rock, covering these bedding areas. It's supposed to rain on and off for the next few days... Starting this evening.
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- Crazinamatese
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Thanks for the advice. Scouting is priority in the post season. Im now hunting more familiar areas for the rut. I hunted another public area for the first few weeks of season. I know there are nice bucks there, and I haven't scouted it before. A part of me wants to go in blind and maybe bump a buck, find out his area, and maybe never see him again, and maybe I will. The other part of me wants to hunt the fringes and hope he comes in. I learned to appreciate the wind and rain this season because I actually got in some areas totally undetected with the noise made by wind, and silent approach on a wet ground. Its a gamble and I love it. This season has refined my skills and I give alot of credit to this forum for that. If I don't cash in on a nice buck this season, I know dam well I will next year. Thanks again.
The cave you fear hides the treasure you seek!!!
- Singing Bridge
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Re: Busted- Public Land!!
Crazinamatese wrote:Thanks for the advice. Scouting is priority in the post season. Im now hunting more familiar areas for the rut. I hunted another public area for the first few weeks of season. I know there are nice bucks there, and I haven't scouted it before. A part of me wants to go in blind and maybe bump a buck, find out his area, and maybe never see him again, and maybe I will. The other part of me wants to hunt the fringes and hope he comes in. I learned to appreciate the wind and rain this season because I actually got in some areas totally undetected with the noise made by wind, and silent approach on a wet ground. Its a gamble and I love it. This season has refined my skills and I give alot of credit to this forum for that. If I don't cash in on a nice buck this season, I know dam well I will next year. Thanks again.
Glad I could offer an assist- that is one of the best things about this site, we are able to learn from each other.
There's no doubt in my mind that the bucks you are after are in trouble... you are very determined.
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