Freak Nasty - Public

[218er]

That’s a stud. I like the write up about you dialed him in. Congratulations

[Buckfever]

Beautiful buck and great shot! I’m curious to know how or when did you check the 8 cameras wo getting detected before you hunted and how did you determine that the day you hunted was the right day to hunt?

Also, he was making all those scrapes in September? That’s interesting as well. I’ve seen a lot of early scrapes but not as beat up as the area you had sounds. I’ve only found something like that once in many years.

I did not check the cameras. I never stepped back in there after I made the set in September. The scrapes I found were the previous year when I scouted after the cameras were pulled. That was the first sit. The doe come into estrus on this property 11/1-11/21. The properties open for bucks 11/1. There was no human intrusion prior to that first sit. The wind was right for that set 11/1.

I run cameras and scout post rut to gain intelligence for the following year.

[Buckfever]

Congrats. Hope things turn around for you. Any better pics?

Here's some of him coming out the bedding area, staging thrashing some saplings

[greenhorndave]

Heck of a deer man. Congrats!!

Really liked the write-up too.

[Jackson Marsh]

He's a big old mature slammer. It's impressive how you nailed him down.

Do you do the same type of camera placement on other properties or other areas of the same property with similar results?

[PK_]

That is an awesome buck.

[Mschmeiske]

Congrats! I’d pick a freak buck every time over a typical!

[stash59]

[Homey88]

Congrats, way to go!

[Buckfever]

He's a big old mature slammer. It's impressive how you nailed him down.

Do you do the same type of camera placement on other properties or other areas of the same property with similar results?

Absolutely. Just this past wednesday I made a set for another animal about 2/3rds of a mile away, for next year. Based on the cameras, that told me where the core area was actually got pictures of him on a scrape, so that made it easier. It's interesting because his loop was on the fringe of the other bucks core area. So this told me where to look for the staging, I found more scrapes concentrated and the area where the concentrated rubs were. Actually I know his rubs so it's easier. But again 75 + rubs in a very concentrated area. But that's still not enough I need to know the primary bedding or where the multiple bedding areas from which he's coming to stage. I need this because that's how I'll figure which tree and how to get there undetected. So I read the trails coming to the staging and based on the topography, you can see how he's using the terrain to stay safe and get in there. I cut the lanes now and it's very precise, cutting adequate lanes but so that it'll all grow in and not look like it was cut. I've made that mistake where I was overzealous before.

IMO the cameras should be a supplement to the scouting skill. I like them but I could see how they would be a hindrance. You have to be able to read the sign. You need to pick the tree that puts you where you need to be but so that you will not be detected from the vantage of the deer from the many ways that he'll come through and you need to be able to get there undetected. You can't do any of that if you can't read the sign.

I think this is pretty much what you do yeah?

This is actually my favorite part of hunting.

[Buckfever]

Well ok so here's an easy question. Why was freak nasty only rubbing little saplings and not big trees?

[wmihunter]

What cameras do you run?

[Jackson Marsh]

[quote="Buckfever"]Well ok so here's an easy question. Why was freak nasty only rubbing little saplings and not big trees?

Tight rack I would assume.

Thanks for the previous explanation.

[milkweed-militia]

Wow! Awesome buck.

[Eddiegomes83]

Awesome buck! Cant believe you waited a month to tell us about him..congrats