This is near the bedroom (I believe) of a deer that I had an encounter with after hours on two different occasions. He might be 7 years old if I am correct, and is that kind of deer that makes you lose sleep.
I talked with the landowner as I was loading my cart into the trailer, and he asked me one favor. Of course I'm here for him. He asked me to shoot that big boy. Apparently he kicked him out of the winter wheat field when they cut it. Broad daylight. I asked how big? Biggest deer he's ever seen on his farm. That's why I know he saw the same deer. I won't even talk estimated score. He's something we all would dream of. I mowed one last time that same day, and I feel lucky. East or south wind on the right day, and who knows? His footprint alone is phenomenal. A true legend!
Either way, is this early for a velvet deer to make scrapes already? Can I assume territorial markers?
Yes Pete, I am thinking territorial scrapes. Seems a bit early for the bucks to be feeling randy.
Good luck on that big boy. Hope you drop him.
I mowed my trails and cut a few shooting lanes, and bought the gear to build 2 ground blinds that I'm setting on the edge of some CRP. I'm focused on making a big move very early, and then I'm leaving it alone. I love to hunt, and maybe I love to hunt too much? I've got to hunt this spot sparingly, and smart.
Thanks Pete.
I believe every single time we enter their domain, we educate them to some level. I'm not saying they use their brains or memory, as much as they use their ingrained senses that define their lives. I am clean, but we all know you can only be so clean, and every time you walk in, set your rear end in your stand, climb up that ladder, etc., you leave some of you behind. I'm hunting on the edge of his bedroom. That means that I need a good wind. One that doesn't swirl, or slow down enough to blow my stink into his comfort zone. So, I think a steady south or east wind is best in this situation. That alone allows me far less opportunity to hunt, due to our westerly prevailing wind. I'm in a unique spot. CRP, that buts up to his wooded sanctuary. I mowed a path that the deer love to use, that also allows me easier access. I feel like by hunting the spot too much too early will only push this already nocturnal animal into an unhuntable deer. That means early season and the rut will give me my best opportunity. Leaving a good area alone in between those two timeframes will be difficult. I have plenty of land to hunt, and have some blinds up in treeless areas that I will likely hunt more, just to keep my temptation to hunt the other spot, at bay.
Of course I want to put up a trail camera or two, but I gave them up several years back, because I think they can do more harm than good, based on that same encroachment philosophy. My rut vacation starts October 29th. I have off the next 21 days, and often wish I could resist hunting any days before that, to hunt rut crazed deer that have never been alerted to my presence. I simply love to hunt too much, and need to hunt a wider range of this farm.
