Not seeing any mature bucks on a new property?

[Elite]

I hunt in Alberta Canada so we can produce some large deer and I have been fortunate enough to take some over the years. But I recently got permission on a 160 acre wooded quarter of land that borders a alfalfa field. This quarter is where the deer mostly bed. I watched the field for a few nights from a distance and have seen over 25+ does feeding in it and 10-15 small 1-3 year old bucks. I then moved in and hung a stand after figuring where they were coming out to feed. I have sat 2 nights and passed up small thin horned 4x4s and 3x3s. My question is how come there wouldn’t be any larger bucks in this area with the amount of does. Is it worth it to keep hunting this area or go scouting and find a larger buck else where? I am archery hunting. Any advice would be appreciated


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[WannabeHunter]

I wonder what the hunting pressure was like prior? Did they shoot most mature or borderline mature deer their last season hunting?

Do you have any trail cameras deployed beside the bedding area? Possible the mature deer avoid the open field until dark-thirty.

Are you seeing any rutting action? Are any of these bucks sparing? Might not be right for the big boys to show their faces yet.

 

[Elite]

I wonder what the hunting pressure was like prior? Did they shoot most mature or borderline mature deer their last season hunting?

Do you have any trail cameras deployed beside the bedding area? Possible the mature deer avoid the open field until dark-thirty.

Are you seeing any rutting action? Are any of these bucks sparing? Might not be right for the big boys to show their faces yet.

There was no hunting allows for a few years on the wooded parcel but who knows about the surrounding property’s, I only have the one cam up by my stand I didn’t want to walk to far into the bedding area, I do see some of the smaller bucks sparing and sizing each other up but that’s about it


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[rustneversleeps]

Are you seeing any rutting action? Are any of these bucks sparing? Might not be right for the big boys to show their faces yet.

This is my guess

 

[*zap*]

Old bucks do not get old by showing up in short crop field areas in the daylight, most will not do that unless it is rut time or before they shed velvet.

 

[Btaylor]

160 acres is a small footprint too. It sounds like you have plenty of does to draw them. I would probably continue to hunt it very sparingly until closer to rut time. That would be especially true if you dont have foolproof access/regress and perfect winds.

 

[Elite]

What would be the best way to hunt this area then for a mature buck? Or should I back out and not hunt it till November ? And for the rut would you guys set up on a game trail or field edge?


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[WannabeHunter]

Always keep encroachment to an absolute minimum. Always keep your scent out of bedding area.

Get as close as you can to bedding area keeping the above in mind. Find a major trail, that has buck sign, coming out of bedding area. Do NOT cross that trail. Back up and hunt that trail.

 

[bowtech840]

If you got does, the big boys will show up during the rut


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[WAKAN]

Always keep encroachment to an absolute minimum. Always keep your scent out of bedding area.

Get as close as you can to bedding area keeping the above in mind. Find a major trail, that has buck sign, coming out of bedding area. Do NOT cross that trail. Back up and hunt that trail.

This^^^
If you have the does the big bucks will come. I always consider my approach in every stand location. I give each stand a "token" count for amount of sets it can handle. A difficult entry spot deep into cover may only have 1 or 2 tokens that you wait and play when the wind is perfect. If you can find a stand location in a nice pinch with a safe wind exit and limit your footprints through cover that is the perfect multi token spot. For the safe early season play stay on the edges and always be aware of your wind exit.