WhiteoakJoe
Yearling... With promise
I have been on my land for 35 years, and you nailed it. If I had a #5 it would be water. 3 of our largest bucks have been taken at a pond. We have 3 on our place and during a drought when creeks are dry, that doe that is getting tended will go to water and bring the buck with her. She is stressed and will have to drink. The 2009 (I think) Indiana Record book for Deer, has a photo on the inside cover from our farm of two bucks tending a doe that is in a pond. She would not leave that pond for an hour due to her stress.
I have also gotten trail camera evidence that after tending a doe, that buck will many times hit water as soon as they part ways, before he starts the hunt for another doe.
I have neighbors with water, but only on one side so my ponds are hit from the South and East first for a mile when creeks are dry, its a big part of why I set all day near a pond in the rut.
The buck in the photo was shot wile drinking a couple years ago his "crown" made him a target buck that year, and is a memorable hunt because he swam across the small pond after being shot.
I have also gotten trail camera evidence that after tending a doe, that buck will many times hit water as soon as they part ways, before he starts the hunt for another doe.
I have neighbors with water, but only on one side so my ponds are hit from the South and East first for a mile when creeks are dry, its a big part of why I set all day near a pond in the rut.
The buck in the photo was shot wile drinking a couple years ago his "crown" made him a target buck that year, and is a memorable hunt because he swam across the small pond after being shot.