ACCMan
5 year old buck +
Years ago I used to bowhunt mature bucks, sometimes successful, sometimes not and settled for less to fill the freezer. Fastforward to my recent move to southern Va, where there are more mature bucks than where I lived in SC, in spite of being the dog hunting capital of the south.
Last year, mid season I located a big, mature 10 pt and hunted him a few times but he dropped off the face of the earth after dog season started. I was not sure if he made it through season, but got one pic of him a week after season went out.
This year previous to season coming in I located him travelling with two more bucks. After shedding velvet he left the other two boys and moved to another section of the property. I have been able to locate him repeatedly but when trying to hunt him he changes up and moves again. I historically would find a big buck, slip in a set, let it cool off and only hunt it when the wind was perfect. This doesn't work with him as I am certain he picks up my residual scent from placing the set, and he immediately changes up. He is also 95% nocturnal, and I hope with the upcoming rut he will begin daylight travel.
It seems I am going to have to adjust the way I used to hunt in order to just lay eyes on him. I think what I am going to have to do, once relocating him with a camera, is immediately remove the camera and hunt him high with a climber. I am sure if I followed my traditional approach of hanging a lockon he will again adjust and the search will be on again. I have also considered trying pop up blinds, well brushed in, for next year if necessary.
At this time it is cat and mouse because he knows he is being hunted. He is used to being pressured and has a masters degree in survival. I think it is sort of comical that he beds, at times, within 200 yards of a dog pen with 40 hounds in it. It wouldn't surprise me that he would go to the pen at night and torment the dogs.
This experience has reminded me of why I love to bowhunt whitetails. So far I have passed does and multiple juvenile bucks, the mature bucks are just a totally different animal. You just have to love how they can just become a ghost in the night.
Last year, mid season I located a big, mature 10 pt and hunted him a few times but he dropped off the face of the earth after dog season started. I was not sure if he made it through season, but got one pic of him a week after season went out.
This year previous to season coming in I located him travelling with two more bucks. After shedding velvet he left the other two boys and moved to another section of the property. I have been able to locate him repeatedly but when trying to hunt him he changes up and moves again. I historically would find a big buck, slip in a set, let it cool off and only hunt it when the wind was perfect. This doesn't work with him as I am certain he picks up my residual scent from placing the set, and he immediately changes up. He is also 95% nocturnal, and I hope with the upcoming rut he will begin daylight travel.
It seems I am going to have to adjust the way I used to hunt in order to just lay eyes on him. I think what I am going to have to do, once relocating him with a camera, is immediately remove the camera and hunt him high with a climber. I am sure if I followed my traditional approach of hanging a lockon he will again adjust and the search will be on again. I have also considered trying pop up blinds, well brushed in, for next year if necessary.
At this time it is cat and mouse because he knows he is being hunted. He is used to being pressured and has a masters degree in survival. I think it is sort of comical that he beds, at times, within 200 yards of a dog pen with 40 hounds in it. It wouldn't surprise me that he would go to the pen at night and torment the dogs.
This experience has reminded me of why I love to bowhunt whitetails. So far I have passed does and multiple juvenile bucks, the mature bucks are just a totally different animal. You just have to love how they can just become a ghost in the night.