Last Halloween Kyle and I had an encounter with a buck we call "Redemption", but when he sauntered by our stand we were out of legal light. We never saw him on stand again. The Reconyx picked him up for the last time on Dec. 12th. We feel the buck might be one of those monarchs impossible to kill due to his minimal daytime movement. The bad news is we have taken only 1 picture out of 12 in which he is moving during the day! The good news is HE'S BACK FOR MORE! Here are some cool pics in which we have him in velvet and hard-horned, and accompanying it is a pic of him in velvet this year. Hopefully the next picture has one of us sitting behind him.
This is where you come in!! Please comment on this thread on how you might hunt this deer. We hunted him hard last year and didn't get it done. We have some new ideas this year, but would love to hear your suggestions. Remember, its only two acres, which is pretty much surrounded by fields. Good luck getting your game-camera pics and be safe while food plotting. -Team Illinois (Kyle and JJ)
15 comments:
Well, the odds are not in your favor....an old buck, small patch of woods to bed in, and many eyes looking out for danger will make hunting him very challenging.
Depending on when your archery season opens, it may be when he lets his guard down most, before you get him. November 1-10 will be the time. If he was here in Kentucky, he would be patterned the last few weeks of August and hunted starting on September 5th. Once he sheds that velvet,the switch turns on and he will be more reclusive than ever.
Rattle, decoy, grunt, growl the first week of November...good luck.
Linden,
La Grange, Ky
Thanks Linden. Your're right the odds are not in our favor. The key is can we catch him before he goes in search of the first receptive doe? Our season starts Oct. 1, good luck to you! JJ and Kyle
You guys are right about two things. The two best times to get a chance at this deer will either be while he is still in his summer feeding patern or the last wk of October or the first wk of November when he switches from his night movement to his daytime movement trying to catch up with the first receptive doe. I think the key to getting a arrow in this deer will be keeping the area fresh till the time is right and then move in and use the M.A.D. Growler, horns and a snortweez to finish the story. Congrats on becomming Drury team members and ill be watching the journal to see what happens. Good luk and hunting.
Stephen Stockman
Princeton, Missouri
Thanks for the props Stephen. Your comment would make the 2nd vote for getting aggressive in early November. I would agree with you, however, Kyle and I find it so tough to stay out of the timber when you know he is there. Discipline could be key. Thanks and good luck this season.
JJ, Discipline is the right word you used earlier. My temptation would be to hunt the heck out of that buck but hunting him just once in a while would probably give you a better chance. Obviously wait till the wind is perfect for your access then take advantage. I don't know your set up specifically but if you have a green food source that you can plant, perhpas you can kill him right when the beans turn yellow when he is forced to change his pattern. Best of luck, can't wait to see the hero shots. -Zac OFallon MO
Hey Zac, you sound like me, wanting to hunt him when you know he is there! Last year we always played the wind, and hunted him hard when it was right. We saw him 3 times, but it was always dark when he got up to move. My partner feels Halloween could be the day this year. I hope we can have the pleasure of filming a hero shot for you to see. Thanks for the post, and good luck in the fall.
Team Illinois
Another thought is if you catch a good wind on a full moon day maybe you could catch him standing up to stretch his legs a bit at midday...seems like he's got a favorite spot in that 2 acre patch. I'm sure you guys have tried the long sit approach but I also know when you're teaching it's tough to be flexible enough to hunt all day on the "right wind", you're kind of at the mercy of your time off and weekends
You are right, and we have considered this. We have surveyed the neighboring properties just to find the nearest watering hole. We figure this would make a good hot October-day ambush spot. The problem deals with getting permission to hunt some of these pieces. These are the challenges we all face, but it makes it that much more rewarding when it all comes together. I like your thinking though, and thanks for the suggestions. Team Illinos
My first thought was decoy in early Nov. but i also agree with zac about the green food source for early Oct... i shot my buck last year on Oct. 19 at just a little after 3 pm... (it was my first buck, first deer with a bow, and it was my birthday) Im only 18 so i don't know much yet but i've watched almost all the Drury movies and they've helped a lot... The last couple of days before the IL gun season is when i've always seen the most buck movement. I would try using the heat bleat too. Well good luck and i hope to see this hunt on the next Drury movies.
Colin,
Whiteside, IL
another thought since the 2 acres you hunt is almost completely surrounded by fields you could make a little food plot right in the middle of it... he might feel safer not having to leave the timber so he might get up earlier
Congrats on killing your first buck with a bow. Doing it in October is not an easy task. Corn on one side of this buck and beans on the other, but no room for food plots. We hope the corn comes out on a day we can pretty much sit by the combine and wait for him. Drury Outdoors appreciates your comments and support. Thanks, Team Illinois
I would say staying out of the area until the beginning of the pre-rut would be your best bet. A mature buck such as that one will be sure to know whick does are going to pop into estrus first. Therefore, I would set up fifty yards or so into the woods he is beddding in on a run you know are commonly used by does. A small staging area would work best. Therefore, he will be fallowing shortly behind a doe inside the woods during daylight hours, but he will not display himself in the field until dark, as seen in your pictures.
Great luck guys, cant wait to see him drop in next years videos!!!!
Nick,
White Lake, MI
Great thread guys! Love to see all the suggestions! -Matt
Thanks to everyone and Colin our latest addition. I love the suggestions, and I hope many of you speak the truth. As we all know though, these bucks don't come easy. I hope that we can capitalize on this deer, and use some of your suggestions, but there are no guarantees. But it is exciting and fun to talk about! I can imagine what it would be like if it all came together. This is a unique deer, and speaking to everyone is a good time, we appreciate all the responses. Thanks, Kyle and JJ
The corn getting in late this year is going to give plenty of hiding places for this wise buck. Although, he shouldn't leave his 2 acre parcel. You guys have proved that by hunting such a small area and not running him out. Wait for the perfect wind and hope for a resident hot doe to come in early. We also know how hot some of the early season October's can be. The need for a drink might get him out of his bed. If you can't obtain permission to a nearby water source, make one. Dig a middle of the timber watering hole. Although, it is getting too close to season to be disturbing the area. Either way, I hope you guys harvest this deer. Good Luck.
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