Evanszach7 wrote:Check out the all time tactical threads. Most beds I found don't have a bunch of hair. I've kicked many deer up, went and checked the beds, no hair. Sometimes not even deer crap.
I will look at those. Thank you
Evanszach7 wrote:Check out the all time tactical threads. Most beds I found don't have a bunch of hair. I've kicked many deer up, went and checked the beds, no hair. Sometimes not even deer crap.
backstraps wrote:Constructive advice:
I think your tracks looks to be off a little as to where I would have been searching for sign you want to find.
If you have a map that’s uncluttered with your track marks, I’d be happy to show you areas of interest
If you prefer you can send me a PM with the map of post if here and I will try and help
<DK> wrote:I dont want to give wrong advice so a few questions
*What state?
*Are there big bucks in the surrounding area?
*Is there big buck sign on the property?
You took the hardest step and that is changing your mindset leaving old tactics in the rear view!
backstraps wrote:<DK> wrote:I dont want to give wrong advice so a few questions
*What state?
*Are there big bucks in the surrounding area?
*Is there big buck sign on the property?
You took the hardest step and that is changing your mindset leaving old tactics in the rear view!
Absolutely agree with this!
Also what is the prevailing wind where your hunting?
James wrote:That looks like a really tough 40 to access and hunt. With a house/buildings in part of it the challenge only grows. A few thoughts from my perspective hunting hill country:
1. Do you have bigger bucks than you mentioned in the area? Are you seeing them driving around? Neighbors killing bigger ones? If no, then it sounds like you're killing the biggest ones around. It's a cliche saying but you have to be where the big bucks are and some areas just don't have them. Hunting just 40 acres makes it even tougher. If you don't have the big ones in the area the best first step might be getting all the neighbors on a deer management plan. Tough for sure, but can be done. If they are in the area and you're just not seeing them on this 40, then comes my next two suggestions:
2. Trail cameras - I know a lot of guys that get an occasional big buck at 3am and are "hunting" them the rest of the season off that one pic. When mature bucks are frequently using an area you'll get a lot of photos of them and definitely in daytime if they are close. If you want to run trail cameras I would recommend 1 cellular cam over multiple non-cellular. Go in prior to a rain and set it up at the best possible juncture. Use lithium batteries so you get the best life out of it and can avoid going back to change. 1 cell camera should be able to inventory a 40 acre parcel just fine.
3. Pressure - I wouldn't be stepping foot in that 40 acres unless it's a surgical kill mission in season. No checking cameras, no running around. Stop all the baiting which is sounds like you have. A mature buck needs to know that parcel is the safest place to spend time and free of human intrusion. I'm lucky to hunt some hill country farms similar in geography and the human pressure there is near 0% unless it is me or my hunting partner coming in on a kill mission. Hang and hunts only and keep the number of hunts to a real minimum. That is what it takes to keep mature bucks on small parcels. I would plan on half a dozen hunts max all season on a parcel that size. Maybe a couple more for all day rut sits where you only go in/out during dark.
4. Rut - That parcel looks like a great travel corridor for rut hunting. If you've kept the early season pressure to a minimum I would put a few rut hunts in that NE corner. Climb in the dark, hang your set, plan on staying all day. I believe the road to the NE is lower in elevation so a SW wind would make that ridge leeward. I'd be on that ridge for a few all day sits in the rut.
Those are my tips for improving your odds in hill country on mature bucks, especially for a smaller parcel like this. They may sound somewhat harsh but it will take a stark change in tactics to produce the results you want. Killing does for the freezer and killing mature bucks are two completely different things. You may also need to decide which is more important for you and your family.
Boogieman1 wrote:I’m a keep things very simple type guy. Is big bucks ever on that property? By big bucks I mean older bigger than what u have routinely been killing. If so and what u were doing was not working then it’s time to change it up and put a plan together. If not then don’t patch a tire that isn’t flat. Not all places harbor big old bucks. In fact more don’t than do. Can’t kill what isn’t there no matter how much you try. Personally I would verify this property has big bucks b4 I waste any of my precious time planning for something that probably isn’t even there.
szwampdonkey wrote:What’s your goal here? Is it to kill the biggest buck in the woods, trophy bucks, or just deer for the meat? Or does none of that matter and you’re just looking to hunt mobile and get away from baiting?
I ask as it wasn’t clear from your post as you were killing nice bucks already by legally baiting (maybe the best of what your area has to offer) and you said you had to put bait out to kill a doe to “eat on over the winter”?
Adam B wrote:backstraps wrote:<DK> wrote:I dont want to give wrong advice so a few questions
*What state?
*Are there big bucks in the surrounding area?
*Is there big buck sign on the property?
You took the hardest step and that is changing your mindset leaving old tactics in the rear view!
Absolutely agree with this!
Also what is the prevailing wind where your hunting?
I haven't figured that out yet. Trying to
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