Cabin Fever

I practice out to 40 yards, but have never shot at a deer beyond 25 yards.

Check out this link. Had a coyote whizzing in my mock scrape, then 2 1/2 hrs later, a mature buck comes to freshen the same scrape. http://huntingny.com/forums/index.php/topic,1911.0.html

I'm not 100% sure if he is one that was around last fall or not. I got a buck on video that was very close to this bucks size. If I had to put money on it, I would bet it was NOT the same buck. "If" it is the same buck, I don't think he grew like I would have expected him to at this age class. BUT, it has been in the back of my mind... What do you think? IM000660.AVI

WOW!! That's one hunt to remember!! Those cubs must have been making quite a racket!

He'll have LOVIN' on the brain here in the next week or so, and you'll be the least of his concerns! That obsession has probably gotten a lot of us in trouble before....

I was comparing the velvet pics (taken on 8/1) with the most recent pics. It doesn't look like he grew at all or very little between 8/1 and early Sept, when they rubbed out! I had always heard and read that they continue growing up until they shed their velvet.? It's NOT just this one that I've noticed this with, but all bucks, big and small. I made the same comment regarding some small bucks that I was getting pics of all summer long this year also. That's pretty much what I do. I just pick a spot, close to my treestands, that looks good to me (ie. along a trail, 4 wheeler path, logging road, along a field edge), make sure there is an overhanging branch, clear the leaves/debris with my foot, and give it a squirt! I try to "budget" by bladder contents, depending on how many scrapes I have to make or freshen! This pic is proof that it's not just the dumb young bucks that fall for the "human-urine-in-the-scrape" trick! Don't know if you saw another post that I made, but 3hrs before this buck showed up, a coyote was taking a squirt in this same scrape! THAT surprised me more, as wary as coyotes are! Some scrapes will be completely taken over by the bucks and I won't have to do anything else. I've created scrapes in some spots that have become so popular, that bucks will open them up the following year in that spot themselves!

VERY Cool!!! Congrats!! Been trying to get my 15 year old his first with a bow also, but so far, no luck.

Still nothing! I just pulled a few more radishes and turnips for myself though!

My son and I were out this morning. Nothing! I HATE full moon periods! Better days are coming... Been in the stand for a total of 22hrs and have seen 3 deer. If it weren't for the cams letting me know that there are deer around, I might have thrown in the towel! Average so far: 1 deer/7.33hrs stand time.

Yeah, but it would be awesome if he wandered past his "Dad" also! LOL

Checked the journal, been in the stand for 20hrs so far. I've only seen 2 very small bucks (3pt & 6pt) and 1 unknown. That's 1 deer/every 6.67hrs stand time. OUCH!! Another thing that I was thinking about this morning is that I've seen 3 in the past week and ALL have been between first light and 7:30am. Nothing after!

As I sat in my treestand this morning, I listened to 100+ shots from duck and goose hunters across the road in the cut cornfield, just pounding the snot out of them! A neighbor that I know that bowhunts over on that side of the road. I just kept thinking, "I'd hate to be that poor SOB!" Sucks for him, but probably good for me on my side of the road!

.... at 11:56 last night. Then, about 2 1/2 hrs later (2:32am), this buck shows up to freshen the scrape also. Doesn't seem the least bit concerned about the fresh coyote urine or scent.

I posted pics of this buck back in early August. I got 200+ pics of him, passing by a couple of my stands and even within ~40 yards of the cabin! The, he disappeared after 8/22. I checked my cams this morning. One cam is over a mock scrape that I made last week. I looked at the scrape today and there was a BIG track in it! As I pulled the card out of the cam, I had hopes it was of the elusive big boy's track. Popped the card into the PC when I got home and WHALLA! FINALLY!! The pics were taken this morning at 2:30am. I was pulling into camp at 6am! Gives me hope that our paths may cross sometime this fall!

LOL! Going through the SAME thing myself! I go to one stand, then when I check cams a couple days later, find that there were deer passing by other stands of mine while I was at another stand! Maybe we'll pick the right stand one of these days!

Congrats!! Nice birds!

Congrats!! Great lookin' buck!!

I sat out yesterday evening in the wind, then it started pouring ~30 min. before dark! Got soaked! Never saw a deer. On my way home, I saw a guy hit a deer with his car! WTH???

Since season opened, I've been out 5 times (17hrs stand time) and I've only seen 2 small bucks (3pt and dink 6pt). I've seen NO does or fawns!

Nice! They do like those over hanging branches!

Lots of nice bucks!

Nice lookin' buck!

I certainly wouldn't want to take that chance! They aren't going to know that you're duck and goose hunting and NOT deer hunting.

Oh my God what a BEAUTY!!

Pretty cool! They're gettin' frisky!!