Game plan help for a big buck

[cofen380]

I’ve been hunting a new piece of property this year and have had 3 cameras out since July. Since then I’ve had a handful of photos of some nice bucks, but they were inconsistent and few and far between.

3 days ago I go in to check them and had a couple decent bucks, and then one video of a deer unlike anything I’ve ever seen on camera or in person, and it was on 10/15 at midnight. That was the first and only video I’ve seen of him, and he was walking the edge of a thicket that runs the length of a patch of hardwoods.

The property is a mix of rolling hills, open hardwoods with oaks and lower elevation thickets, about 200 acres in all, but surrounded by other woods beyond the property.

I don’t know exactly where to start with only one image to go off of, and I’m curious what other people would do to begin trying to locate a buck like this, or how to setup and hunt the area. Especially considering it’s the rut and he may not even be in the area anymore. I know theres bo easy answer, but would love to hear other people’s thoughts.


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[voltage]

With only 3 cameras and one sighting, there just isn’t enough intel to really pattern this buck specifically. Honestly, I’d treat him like any other big deer in the rut. He showed up cruising a thick edge at midnight, which tells you he’s doing the exact same thing every other mature buck does this time of year: checking cover for does when the pressure is low.

I’d set up based on the terrain and doe movement, not one camera clip. Hunt those hardwood-to-thicket transition lines, sit funnels, play the wind, and be persistent. He or another like him will swing through again.

Don’t overthink the one video. Just be happy he is around. Now hunt the rut hard and kill the best buck that gives you a chance. That might very well be him.

Good luck! I hope you stick a giant.

 

[go_deep]

Where did the trail go to and from that you have the pictorial of him on? Likely points of bedding or feeding?
He might be there a lot more, just not in front of your camera.

 

[brancher147]

Scout. Find freshest and biggest sign. Hunt.

Forget about cameras, you know there are good deer around. Scout and hunt.

 

[3855WIN]

What state are you in and is this archery? Rifle?

 

[cofen380]

With only 3 cameras and one sighting, there just isn’t enough intel to really pattern this buck specifically. Honestly, I’d treat him like any other big deer in the rut. He showed up cruising a thick edge at midnight, which tells you he’s doing the exact same thing every other mature buck does this time of year: checking cover for does when the pressure is low.

I’d set up based on the terrain and doe movement, not one camera clip. Hunt those hardwood-to-thicket transition lines, sit funnels, play the wind, and be persistent. He or another like him will swing through again.

Don’t overthink the one video. Just be happy he is around. Now hunt the rut hard and kill the best buck that gives you a chance. That might very well be him.

Good luck! I hope you stick a giant.

Appreciate the response! This is the direction my mind has been going as well. Other bucks were on the same camera doing the same thing, so I would have to think they’re just checking the down wind side of where they know does will be. It makes it difficult with how many areas the does could be bedding, my thought has been trying to hunt these edges as bucks are cruising them. Even to see one of the other bucks that I have on camera would be a big win. This is one would have my knees knocking if he walked out, but that’s why I love it.


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[cofen380]

Where did the trail go to and from that you have the pictorial of him on? Likely points of bedding or feeding?
He might be there a lot more, just not in front of your camera.

I totally agree, as I’ve jumped bucks before that I didn’t have on camera, and those 3 camera only cover a small portion of the property. It runs a north-south edge of a thicket where the north end leads to more open terrain and a different property, and the south end of the thicket ends with open hardwoods on the south and eastern sides. He was walking north to south on the video. I’ve jumped bucks bedding at the north end of the thicket where he was walking from


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[cofen380]

Scout. Find freshest and biggest sign. Hunt.

Forget about cameras, you know there are good deer around. Scout and hunt.

Now that I’ve seen he’s there that’s essentially what I’m trying to do. Unfortunately I’ve walked this property quite a bit since August and there hasn’t been much heavy sign, just a few scrapes here and there and the occasional rub. I think my hunting will be more aligned with terrain features and where I think does will be


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[cofen380]

What state are you in and is this archery? Rifle?

North Carolina. Muzzle loader is in now and rifle season is in on the 15th. There’s a good chance I’ll be carrying my recurve though since that’s pretty much all I hunt with


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[3855WIN]

Set up on the best funnel or pinch point that you have. That’s easy to find with a map. If you like the spot where you got the pic, set up there.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Hard during the rut,they can trick you every time you think you have them figured out.
I would focus on the ridges leading to food,trying to pin point were the does may be eating and setup a ways off that till you see more action and get aggressive.The buck may be there a day or two.
See were he pushes her and try and get closer the next set.

 

[3855WIN]

If you want to kill the deer, carry a gun and set up where you can cover the most country. Power line, field, cutover, long woods road.

 

[cofen380]

Set up on the best funnel or pinch point that you have. That’s easy to find with a map. If you like the spot where you got the pic, set up there.

That may be what I do with the right wind. He was walking towards the corner of the thicket and I like how it sets up. Even if he doesn’t come through maybe one of the other bucks will


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[brancher147]

Now that I’ve seen he’s there that’s essentially what I’m trying to do. Unfortunately I’ve walked this property quite a bit since August and there hasn’t been much heavy sign, just a few scrapes here and there and the occasional rub. I think my hunting will be more aligned with terrain features and where I think does will be


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Sounds like a good plan. I don’t know what it’s like where you are but the rut is still heating up in WV and the heaviest sign is just showing up now, so you might find something still.

 

[cofen380]

Sounds like a good plan. I don’t know what it’s like where you are but the rut is still heating up in WV and the heaviest sign is just showing up now, so you might find something still.

Very true. I’m interested to see how things change here in the next couple weeks


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[cofen380]

Hard during the rut,they can trick you every time you think you have them figured out.
I would focus on the ridges leading to food,trying to pin point were the does may be eating and setup a ways off that till you see more action and get aggressive.The buck may be there a day or two.
See were he pushes her and try and get closer the next set.

I like it. Even to see this deer would be something pretty special. I go back and forth between sitting the more open hardwoods near the thickets hoping to see bucks moving and hunting more along the edges of the thickets where visibility is less but they’re more likely to be moving in.


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[CJ_BG]

Might just be me but that sounds like he was on a pre-rut excursion to check out what's around and where the does and travel routes are before the rut. New piece, three cams, one picture, I'd find the place you think a big buck is most likely to travel through looking for does and hunt it on the best cold front each week if the wind is alright.

If it's a place he could be checking bedding or feeding areas then sit all day, if it's only bedding hunt the morning, and move closer to food in the evening

 

[cofen380]

Might just be me but that sounds like he was on a pre-rut excursion to check out what's around and where the does and travel routes are before the rut. New piece, three cams, one picture, I'd find the place you think a big buck is most likely to travel through looking for does and hunt it on the best cold front each week if the wind is alright.

If it's a place he could be checking bedding or feeding areas then sit all day, if it's only bedding hunt the morning, and move closer to food in the evening

I actually hadn’t thought about that, but it would make sense. I don’t feel like the rut is super hot here in mid October, so maybe that’s what he was doing.

We’re supposed to have a cold snap Monday night, so I’m excited to sit Tuesday morning. Temps will go from mid 60’s in the day to a low of 25 mon night/tues morning


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[MCS]

Just put a corn feeder on the property.