bueller
Moderator
Probably not, other family obligations :(. I do have some smaller bucks moving around on camera well within shooting hours but I'm trying to hold out for a good one this year late Oct - early Nov.
bueller's blotter
- Thread starter bueller
- Start date
-
- Tags
- land tour sandy soil
chummer
5 year old buck +
I am in the same boat. I passed a doe last week, can't justify shooting one yet. I have a couple 2.5's around and one stud but if it gets late any buck will do this year. Hopefully I can connect on a suburban deer and leave the deer at camp to rebound another year. A decent winter this year and I could be back to considering a doe in two years. If only they didn't taste so good.
bueller
Moderator
I'd much rather take a small buck for the table vs a doe.
Bill
Administrator
Even one freshly out of spots? I really don't mind eating yearlings and their easy to get out of the woods.
chummer
5 year old buck +
I agree. For years I bought into the hype of shoot a doe, better the herd. Doesn't really work when you can have winter wipe out 70% of the deer. I will be much more cautious going forward. I had a buddy bail on a hunt today because I told him no does. I Don't blame him, he doesn't think about hunting until 10/1. He has other options to fill his freezer. I would love to open up my place to shoot what you want but I do not see it happening unless it is a once every few year situation.
bueller
Moderator
No, I prefer not take a buck fawn or a doe fawn. I always get somewhat "down" when I walk up to a deer I just shot to find that it was a fawn.
browndog
5 year old buck +
They might not be safe here either;)
Bill
Administrator
Not me. But I see enough mature does that scare me for the plate. I may be way wrong but I figure a nub head won't be allowed to stay, by his family's decision . A bald doe fawn is better on my plate then Dr winter's or a Yote.
Now in NJ. I'm starting to think it would be better for the neighbors to shoot young bucks. Because numbers are low.
4wanderingeyes
5 year old buck +
I have a few older does hanging out in my woods daily, with fawns. I took a decent 180 pound doe last season because she kept busting me in my bow stand. Those big ol does are a pain in the a$$ to hunt with. SO I have no issues taking out a couple of them. The bigger bucks dont hang out in my woods, but they will wander through, you just have to be there and be ready for them. I wont take a small deer, buck or doe, but my son that hunts with me is free to shoot what ever he wishes, so as it is legal. I dont need a big rack to call the hunt successful, I have outgrown those days. I hunt for food, and because I love spending the time with my son.
dsinwi
5 year old buck +
Nothing with horns is safe around me with a bow but like the last 4 years I'll most likely hold out for one of the better bucks I have around, passing multiple lesser bucks, and have a healthy serving of tag soup again at the end. Like Bueller said the herd is rebounding but I can't bring myself to take a doe, yet.
Haven't taken a deer with rifle in maybe 7 or 8 years?? I don't know. My son and I could tag out by 9am with bucks on a typical opening morning if we chose to. I told him again this year he can do whatever he wants but I'd like to get at least one deer this year, preferably with a bow.
I'd also add that we could do likewise with tags on deer such as yours on any given sit.
Haven't taken a deer with rifle in maybe 7 or 8 years?? I don't know. My son and I could tag out by 9am with bucks on a typical opening morning if we chose to. I told him again this year he can do whatever he wants but I'd like to get at least one deer this year, preferably with a bow.
I'd also add that we could do likewise with tags on deer such as yours on any given sit.
bueller
Moderator
I've only hunted two afternoons so far this season. Saw does and fawns each sit but no bucks yet. Cameras are showing that daytime activity is increasing, better days are ahead. But it's tough when you just don't have the time to hunt more than a day or two here, and a day or two there.
This guy has been around all year but Oct. 3rd was the first time we caught him during daylight hours in about 2 months. He meets our criteria so if he presents a shot we will be taking it.
This guy has been around all year but Oct. 3rd was the first time we caught him during daylight hours in about 2 months. He meets our criteria so if he presents a shot we will be taking it.
That looks great! Was the clover planted with the rye last fall? If I remember correctly you didn't mow at all but just broadcasted into what you had standing. Did you spray at any time ? The close-up photos look just like some of the pics and videos I've watched about no-till.
bueller
Moderator
Spayed and planted buckwheat spring of 2015. August of 2015 seeded winter rye and red clover into the standing mature buckwheat. Let the winter rye mature this summer. August 2016 seeded more winter rye into the standing mature rye and clover. Probably should have added more clover also. Don't know what I'll do with it next spring/summer.
bueller
Moderator
Just got word from Pop's that the neighbor has harvested his beans and corn. Both were standing two weeks ago. Having no acorns this year our plots should be HOT now. I can't get out until next weekend but that has been the peak of daylight activity for mature bucks on our land in recent years.
