Looking for advice

[Bionic]

I have a deer repeatedly on camera that I never imagined I would share space with.  This 9 pointer, only shows in daylight,  and always between 5:40pm, and 6pm.  Once he showed at a few minutes past 7am.  I don't remember which way he was headed at 7am, but the afternoon pics, he is always headed the exact same way.  I was wondering if anyone can give input as to if you feel a bed of his is nearby,  or what?  I simply have never been able to pattern a deer, and deer are never repeatedly pictured on my cameras, and I leave cameras untouched long enough to be able to see if a deer repeats visits, etc.  My father, and I bought this property in the spring, and its 200 miles north, so scouting has not been something we have had time for.  A treestand was left there with the purchase of the property,  so I literally just put a camera there at the end of August, and just checked it last week.  The 9 pointer shows up once every 4-5 days, and once skipped 8 days.  Any input on this, on why he travels the same direction, but skips 3 or 4 days before showing up again?  Absolutely zero agricultural fields, just 100% woods for hundreds of square acres.  

5J zone 

 

[DanielT]

He is headed to eat in the evening...coming from his daybed...area

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[biggamefish]

I would agree with dan.  When rut comes you might not see him till it's over.  Get the winds right and hunt it early or late.

[stubborn1VT]

Sounds pretty normal for a mature buck.  He's making a 4 day loop in his home range.  He went through during the 8 days, but you didn't get a picture of him.  Especially where there's no fields, he will make his loop and browse.  The rut may mess up his pattern, so I agree with Biggame.  You should hunt him now while there's some kind of pattern.  My only other advice would be to set up a 2nd stand.  You need to be careful of the wind when you hunt an older buck, or he will be gone.  Good luck!

[TreeGuy]

Better get on him while he's on the summer pattern. Chances of you seeing/getting him decrease drastically everyday. He may stick around or be in and out for rut but most likely he will vanish. Wind is your first priority. If the wind is wrong, stay home. Good luck !!!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[Bionic]

Ok, great thanks a lot everyone!

 

What source do you guys get your wind info from prior to actually walkung out the door?

 

Is Scoutlook or handstand reliable? I have watched accuweather, and weather channel before on my phone, with the hour by hour info, but feel its not pin pointed enough.

[DanielT]

Huntstand works well..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[TreeGuy]

Apps are good, but a scent checker doesn't lie. If you could, set 2 stands on the run he uses. Then you can hunt almost any wind.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[NFA-ADK]

I was going to reply but most of it was covered.  Get in that locations ASAP and get  him as he might change his pattern with pre rut approaching.  Like stated play the wind. 

Good luck, hope you get him! 

 

[Bionic]

I appreciate it guys, thanks a lot.

 

It's a shame but Friday will be the earliest I can hunt it, being so far from hone, and work. 

 

Get in early as possible? Or sneak in around noonish?  I rather sit dark-dark, but I dont want to negatively affect this opportunity.   I am over thinking it a bit, but a deer like this is few, and very far from where my mind tells me to set cams, etc.  

 

[G-Man]

15 hours ago, Bionic said:

I have a deer repeatedly on camera that I never imagined I would share space with.  This 9 pointer, only shows in daylight,  and always between 5:40pm, and 6pm.  Once he showed at a few minutes past 7am.  I don't remember which way he was headed at 7am, but the afternoon pics, he is always headed the exact same way.  I was wondering if anyone can give input as to if you feel a bed of his is nearby,  or what?  I simply have never been able to pattern a deer, and deer are never repeatedly pictured on my cameras, and I leave cameras untouched long enough to be able to see if a deer repeats visits, etc.  My father, and I bought this property in the spring, and its 200 miles north, so scouting has not been something we have had time for.  A treestand was left there with the purchase of the property,  so I literally just put a camera there at the end of August, and just checked it last week.  The 9 pointer shows up once every 4-5 days, and once skipped 8 days.  Any input on this, on why he travels the same direction, but skips 3 or 4 days before showing up again?  Absolutely zero agricultural fields, just 100% woods for hundreds of square acres.  

5J zone 

 

He may not be skipping but simple walks a path parallel to the one your cam is on.. Many time I've simple turned the camera 90 Or 180 degrees and picked up the monster that you would think you only got 1 pic of and never came back..deer will avoid a cam and simple learn to walk behind it .or they simple are on another trail 20 to 50 yards parallel to it depending on wind direction..

Don't fall into the he comes this way on this trail.. I had a spike that one day would walk in front of the stand and the next day behind it. I watched him all week every morning same time 730 am.. My friend never killed a deer with bow so I told him hunt that stand he will come thrugh at 730 from the left behind the stand tomorrow and in front the next day.. He killed him the next morning at 725 in front of the stand

[Bionic]

G-Man-  thanks for that info, it may sound hard to believe, but that never crossed my mind to simply rotate a camera.  Sounds like such an obvious no brainer, but thats why I ask about these situations.  When I do get in there to hunt, I now wonder if I should add a cam to the same tree but about 120 degrees in a different view.  Also, when you personally try to pattern a deer, how do you personally start if you dont mind me asking?  Do you just put a cam in an area you saw clusters of rubs in the previous year? Or do you scout in spring, and walk in the thickest of area you have on your huntung land? This is my biggest challenge,  I can never seem to get reapeated pics of a specific deer, more than once, or twice.  I hunt two areas, one in zone 3k at my home,  and the previous deer it at our other property in 5J.  I want to say both zones I hunt are relatively familiar,  no agriculture in the area, and big chunks of land that are hundreds of acres, if not not thousands, with a house, here, and there.  I feel like the deer really don't have specific routines, or routes here, but part of me says of course they do.

 

Thanks again.

[stubborn1VT]

I have a buddy who turns his cameras 180 degrees every week or two.  He says the deer just start walking behind the camera to avoid it.  

You're hunting some areas where it's tough to nail down the food source.  If you can figure that out, your odds would go way up.  It does sound like you're doing pretty well though, getting pics every 4 or 5 days.  I'd hesitate to do too much scouting now, for fear of pushing him out.  That's a really nice one.  It sure makes each hunt more exciting when you know there's a buck like that in the neighborhood.  

This time of year I wouldn't put in tons of hours.  I'd only hunt him in the afternoon, but get in fairly early.  Noon would be too early for me to head out.  I think you're in pretty decent shape.  I totally agree with Treeguy about a 2nd stand to account for different wind direction.  Good luck!

[Bionic]

Thats so funny the deer will walk behind the cameras,  but makes so much sense.  I had a big deer show up on camera last year down at home, absolute monster for the area, he looked directIy at the camera, and his facial expressional looked like he was saying a four letter word by getting caught.  I was blown away, I only showed a few people, all family but 2 people, lol.  Anyways, I wish I knew THEN to rotate the cam, or move it 10-20 yards facing the old camera site, never saw that deer again. 

 

Thats just it as far as food goes, there really is nothing anywhere that stands out to me that would make one place different than any other.  I have notice oak tree patches, and have had seen deer to notice the benefits,  but its not like its 95% dense pine forest, with blocks of oaks, its mixed hardwoods, and soft woods, but I do have dense pockets of pine....this is why I struggle.  

I am honestly not going to do any scouting, I am nervous just at the thought of putting an additional stand in the woods where that 9 is.  I have dreamed about just being able to see a deer of this caliber while hunting, so I want to impact as little as possible.  

Noon is too early you think? I might be reading in to deep on whats said here, but is that simply because you wouldn't want to sit there that long, if the cams show hes coming through nearly 6 hours after.....or is it to minimize the possibility of your sent drifting to him, or to limit the possibility of dropping something, or just a squeek of a stand i'll be in.  

Come to think of it, the direction in which the 9 travels FROM, is extremely thick, almost impenetrable.... i'd say that area starts at rough 100 yard to the right of the pic, where he comes from.  Not 100% sure he hides in there, but that spot is there, and dense.

Im writing a lot here, but I appreciate the input guys.  

[stubborn1VT]

I don't mind sitting for hours, but that's usually not part of bow season for me.  I don't want to saturate the area with scent.  I also don't like to sit when it's warm.  He won't be on his feet, so why be there?  

I think it's smart to think low impact, but I would want to be able to hunt north and south winds.  I would risk putting in a second stand because it will end up lowering your impact.  Totally your call.  It is bow season, so maybe you don't want to muck it up.  I move stands during season all the time.  I have also hunted in hedgerows, islands of trees in fields, and blowdowns with just a little trimming.  Hunting from the ground isn't always ideal, but it gives you other options.  

Next year I would focus on looking for deer sign around the oaks.  If there isn't a ton of food then they will key in on acorns.  I don't have a ton of experience hunting acorns, but I have seen serious deer sign where they have fed on them.  

Also, have fun with it.  The worst would be that you spook him.  The best is that you get to hunt him.  

[G-Man]

Well a specfic deer is hard to find to begin with but you can do it.. First I put my cams in funnnels and feed areas that have easy access to check.. You don't want to be bumping deer checking cameras. In thickets and bedding areas that said

I run 23 cameras sometime 3 on same tree differnt directions. I also run video after it takes a pic for 30 sec. This does a few things the video can show deer that are following the leader of you will . I have one pic of a button and a small 4pt. But the 30 second vid shows another 12 different buck crossing after the photo was taken( this was a ravine crossing early Sept ) a nice big bachelor group.  It also show direction of movement and I keep track of weather and prevaling wind that day so I can match up photos with wind and  temp and weather conditions. 

Of you have a buck consistently at earl night or early morning and its moving same direction you can move camera up or down the trail to try and catch it in daylight. A good arial photot will help you trace trails. To thick areas that are bedding..and find feed areas. 

This may seem overwhelming but done over a period of years you will find the best spots for your stands.. Then when you kill a good buck off that stand you know the next year one will take it's place.. As long as good source and bedding remain the same...logging crop rotation all play a part in what trail deer will use..

I also pull all my cams by end of October as I dont want To scent up area by checking and to many tresspassers cams tend to dissappear..

[Bionic]

G-Man & Stubborn1VT - GREAT info, thank you both for taking the time to share that.  

G-Man, see thats where I havd gone wrong in the past, I have found what was assumed bedding.  OLD logging landing, that is built up, and covered in tall grass, matted down in spots, etc.  Well I put a cam on the edge for a week once, did not get the outcome expected.  I have even put cams directly on a trail l, that was so beaten, it looked like moose, or cows use it, beaten to that degree, well I put the cam directly on the trail in-line with it.  Again, not what was anticipated once I viewed the card.  I need to back off a bit, and start with oaks, and try to find pinch points, but even pinch points seem sparse honestly.   

When you say aerial photo, how do you acquire aerial photo's?  I try google earth, and its just not enough for the two properties to decipher enough.  I'm not sure if there is a searchable website im unaware of, or maybe drone(lol). 

I think I will keep watching sales, and pick up maybe another 5 or so cams over winter, and spring.   My two $35 50% off cams are my favorite over the 3 other middle of the roax cans I have.  

Thanks again, I appreciate it

[G-Man]

https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov this is best site I have found.. You can order prints but I have done screenshots and printed the. On normal paper and taped them together to make a large detailed map.. Larger than any print.. Current and past photos will show you fields grown up and logged areas as well as farmfield and crop rotation.. Some of the fall and spring ones you can see the deer trails through field and old fencelines thru woods

[G-Man]

You can create pinchpoints by felling trees . planting and a myriad of other methods.. I manipulate my habitat immensely.. It allows my camp to consisitanly take 18 to 21 Deer a year ( usually 10 doe or so rest buck) it's not really hard and you can Do a few acres at a time.. Over years.. Giving you browse and cover and food in different stages.. Selective logging for wildlife also works wonders.. My longest shot in much of my woods is 70 yards or less.. 

[Bionic]

I'll check that site out,  thanks.

 

Our camp upstate is 21 acres, once im more familiar with the land, I will see what can be manipulated in the lay out of the land.

 

Thanks again for all this info, really has given me a lot to think about!

Good luck this season.

[sethf11]

He is making his loop. Days you didn't see him just means the camera missed him. I tried an experiment last season and put 3 cams all within like 10-15 yards of each other. Some cams got deer the others didn't. If you have that 4 day loop down then pattern that. Count the days and be there.

 

Im in the same boat. I have an awesome 8 that I'm closing in on his pattern. Seems to be every 4-5 days as well. Just gotta get lucky now and hope the pattern sticks.

 

I have a good amount of does around too so I'm hoping he stays close and makes a mistake.

 

Also the camera I have gotten him on is like 10 yards from my stand. Follow your instincts. Make a decision and go for it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bionic]

Definitely going to try the multi-cam tactic, it NEVER crossed my mind. 

I will hunt it hopefully Friday, thats the 5th day, can't get there Thursday.

 

Good luck with you scenario!

[TreeGuy]

You have to keep in mind as well, with smaller parcels that the big guys can also pattern YOU. They can smell your trail the day after you have been in or out. Sometimes the big guys will lay where your trail is down wind or in plain sight. I had a hot rut stand and wouldn't touch it till it got good. Always checked cam's though. Had a giant I was hunting for 3 years, consistently on camera but never during daylight. I spotted him one time in daylight and new my chances were good. I decided to forsake my trail and walk the roads all the way around ( bout a mile ) and come in from my neighbors side. Did that for 2 all day hunts, except on the second day I had an arrow in a 6.5 year old ! You have to think outside the box. I found out that for years he was fooling me and was bedded right by my stands or close by down wind. The point is this, learn from the site, learn from the woods, but just get out there and give it a shot ! Can't kill him on the couch !!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[Bionic]

TreeGuy-  Great advice!  That males me think about changing my entry route to the stand.  As said earlier, the stand was included with the property, and the 4 or 5 times enteding that area is on this this trail i assume was from the previous owner, it basically enters from behind the camera in the direction of the cameras field of view.  I wonder if i walk in From the left of the cams field of view, if that would not alarm the specific deer.  

[TreeGuy]

Leave that stand up and hang another close by.... There's your in for fooling him. I'm certain he looks at that stand before coming through, especially if it's been there awhile.... if it's empty, you have him fooled... My .02

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk