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stoneam2006

By stoneam2006,
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stoneam2006 Newbie

stoneam2006

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So I'm tracking this buck for a few weeks now. he's been hitting the scrape I've been peeing on but not when I'm there. My uncle jumped him today so I have a pretty good feeling i know where he beds but with the crunchy woods and the uphill hike I've been waiting at the base near his scrape for him to show. This is first time I've pursued a buck like this so I was wondering should I try and get closer to his bedding sight or keep being patient and stick out the scrape sight he has been tearing up...

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Terry Newbie

Terry

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Wait for perfect conditions and get as close to his bed as possible. Rain will quiet the leaves. I would do it ASAP, his routine will be all out of whack soon. And when you get closer, sit between his bed and where you believe he's headed with the wind in your favor.

Edited by Terry
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NFA-ADK Rookie

NFA-ADK

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I would try to wait.  If you do go in try to do under wet conditions for stealth.  Otherwise its risky, wind would have to be in your favor.  Next time your out and you think he is close try calling him in.  I would start with a doe in heat sequence if after 25 min no response try a deep buck grunt or two and give it another 25 min. 

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stoneam2006 Newbie

stoneam2006

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Thanks for Input guys I'll take all I can get... as of right now I think he's bedding about 300 yards up hill from my spot in some beach nut trees...i have tried a very lil bit of calling....think sat will be only time I can get out in wet weather as friday I gotta take kids out will also be only second morning sit there...now should I change tactics in am hunt?

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nyantler Contributor

nyantler

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with crunchy leaves you don't stand a chance... I would try a grunt call if he has been active... everything else isn't in your favor right now... wait until you get the right conditions to sneak closer to where he beds... use the wind or he'll bust you every time.... if he feels too much pressure you won't see him again... I'd wait him out for now and hope for snow...

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stoneam2006 Newbie

stoneam2006

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Thanks guys I'm gonna set up over scrape again today and see if I can grunt him out carefully. If this wetness stays today I may try and come up back side to see if he's marking back there too. Ik he's moving just gotta figure out his pattern and be patient (not my strong suit). Thanks for Input feel free to add any other ideas.

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nyantler Contributor

nyantler

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Thanks for Input guys I'll take all I can get... as of right now I think he's bedding about 300 yards up hill from my spot in some beach nut trees...i have tried a very lil bit of calling....think sat will be only time I can get out in wet weather as friday I gotta take kids out will also be only second morning sit there...now should I change tactics in am hunt?

uphill bedding spots are tough to sneak up on... best bet is not to sneak uphill towards him but rather find a spot a ways away where you can get up the hill level with him with wind in your face then sneak in that way from on top... rule of thumb is if you think you're moving slowly your probably still going too fast... if it takes you all day to sneak up to him that's okay.

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stoneam2006 Newbie

stoneam2006

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uphill bedding spots are tough to sneak up on... best bet is not to sneak uphill towards him but rather find a spot a ways away where you can get up the hill level with him with wind in your face then sneak in that way from on top... rule of thumb is if you think you're moving slowly your probably still going too fast... if it takes you all day to sneak up to him that's okay.

Yea problem is he's only maybe 50 yards from top and walking up back side is almost impossible as it has never had paths on it so it's very thick...now I can walk up side toward him a bit and try and get closer but if I risk jumping them all
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phade Mentor

phade

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Yea problem is he's only maybe 50 yards from top and walking up back side is almost impossible as it has never had paths on it so it's very thick...now I can walk up side toward him a bit and try and get closer but if I risk jumping them all

 

Classic hill country bedding and tactics - Terry has alluded to it a bit. You can get in to kill him but it takes alot of thought and effort.

 

He's probably bedding on the leeward side of the wind, 1/3 of the way down from the top. There should be a thermal tunnel or military crest that he travels on that hillside. The tunnel is basically where the wind circulates picking up thermals rising or falling and then the wind (basically the spot where the two meet). You would need to set up to take advantage of that trail to ensure your thermals/wind are off to the side of where he is bedding, allowing you to get the shot off before he winds you.

 

I'll be honest, I'd take a stab at him as soon as I am confident I could make an attempt to get in there. With the time of year, his activities are going to be a variable you can't account for. In my mind, nothing gambled, nothing gained here....and nothing to lose with the time of year coming into play.

 

Look at your topo map...might clue you in to his bedding or likely movements from the bed.

Edited by phade
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stoneam2006 Newbie

stoneam2006

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Classic hill country bedding and tactics - Terry has alluded to it a bit. You can get in to kill him but it takes alot of thought and effort.

He's probably bedding on the leeward side of the wind, 1/3 of the way down from the top. There should be a thermal tunnel or military crest that he travels on that hillside. The tunnel is basically where the wind circulates picking up thermals rising or falling and then the wind (basically the spot where the two meet). You would need to set up to take advantage of that trail to ensure your thermals/wind are off to the side of where he is bedding, allowing you to get the shot off before he winds you.

I'll be honest, I'd take a stab at him as soon as I am confident I could make an attempt to get in there. With the time of year, his activities are going to be a variable you can't account for. In my mind, nothing gambled, nothing gained here....and nothing to lose with the time of year coming into play.

Now how can I locate that tunnel. I've hunted there my hole life so if there's a way to identify it I should be able to without going up there...is there a way to find that area?
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phade Mentor

phade

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Now how can I locate that tunnel. I've hunted there my hole life so if there's a way to identify it I should be able to without going up there...is there a way to find that area?

 

Topo map, some scouting, and looking at wind directions. Darn near every hill will have some element of it where a mature buck is bedding. Likely won't be too far from his bed.

 

Buy the Hunting Hill Country Bucks DVD if you hunt that terrain alot. That dvd is a learning tool...not for entertainment.

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stoneam2006 Newbie

stoneam2006

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Yea he's bedding 50 yards or so down front in a thin patch o beach nut apples and underbrush they always are there. If I come up side I can get to just outside the apples I believe without jumping them and unless the wind gets real freaky I should be able to shoot before winded. Only issue I have with going up is the does are rather unpredictable with bedding sometimes are closer than I think they are and could jump them. I'm glad many of you ate saying to slowly make my way up and set up closer as I'm very impatient. ..

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Terry Newbie

Terry

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Since you know where he beds, I would stay at the same level. He is bedding there for a reason. Get as close as you can without bumping him. All this rain should help.

The other option is to try and shoot him out of his bed, in which you want to listen to nyantler's post. It would be one heck of a hunt!

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nyantler Contributor

nyantler

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Without really seeing it myself its hard to make a good plan for you... you may actually have an advantage if you stay below and wait him out.. Like Phade says.. he will likely change his routine once things get going a bit... he may use the same bedding area but be up and about longer.. come back later and leaving earlier... if there was snow on I would give trying to catch him in the bedding area a chance... the conditions right now are so not in your favor that it will be hard to get close enough without being busted... killing a mature bedded buck takes a lot of experience with snow and even more without... he's going to be hard to pick out if you do get up there... you could be looking right at him and not see him... and 99.9% of the time he'll see you first... I would get there early in the morning once he gets active and try to catch him coming back late to bed... the truth is he may not even bed there once the breeding season hits hard... but you might still have some time until that happens.. good luck.

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grampy Veteran

grampy

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Patience is a virtue not gained easily. But at times can pay off big time hunting big bucks. I would try to half the distance from your current set up to where he is bedding and wait him out. The scrape line you are watching now won't matter much as soon as the first doe is ready. And he is now bedding close to the does. So you need to get a bit closer to them. Very soon he will be mixing it up with them. Stay close and wait him out. Whatever you decide to do good luck!

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