How to get more bucks in my area??
08-08-2006, 12:34 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location:
Posts: 460
How to get more bucks in my area??
I have been scouting my hunting land the past two weeks and I have only gotten one buck on camera(he was huge i might add)....I am curious if there are things I can do to attract more bucks to my area....I am getting between 3-4 different does that travel the same way everyday pretty much....i have put out corn on the ground and there are corn and bean fields bordering the land in every direction...I usually only go ut to the area once a week to check the camera...so can anyone help me?
08-08-2006, 11:00 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: How to get more bucks in my area??
I note a couple things from your post.
From Now through Oct 1st in most areas - there will be a parade of different bucks (mostly 1.5 and 2.5 year olds)moving from one area to another. Your camera (bait or trail - either way) - will note these "pass thrus".
Older bucks and Doe Family groups are another story - they LIVE there. In fact, a strong family unit of does can keep away the batchelor groups of bucks until Near October. They literally Stake out the territory for rearing their fawns, it sounds alot like you have this kind of property - I'd call that a good thing - its better than a transient population any day.
Its just not as easy as putting out a special food, or irresitable scent to attract more bucks - the whole deer population is a dymanic one, and it changes daily this time of year.
The best way to encourage more bucks to live in your hunting grounds - is to pass them up when they are 1.5 and even 2.5 years old. The more you pass - the more you'll have. All else being equal - you'll still get the same number of pass thru's and relocating 1.5 year old bucks every year.
FH
From Now through Oct 1st in most areas - there will be a parade of different bucks (mostly 1.5 and 2.5 year olds)moving from one area to another. Your camera (bait or trail - either way) - will note these "pass thrus".
Older bucks and Doe Family groups are another story - they LIVE there. In fact, a strong family unit of does can keep away the batchelor groups of bucks until Near October. They literally Stake out the territory for rearing their fawns, it sounds alot like you have this kind of property - I'd call that a good thing - its better than a transient population any day.
Its just not as easy as putting out a special food, or irresitable scent to attract more bucks - the whole deer population is a dymanic one, and it changes daily this time of year.
The best way to encourage more bucks to live in your hunting grounds - is to pass them up when they are 1.5 and even 2.5 years old. The more you pass - the more you'll have. All else being equal - you'll still get the same number of pass thru's and relocating 1.5 year old bucks every year.
FH
08-09-2006, 08:26 AM
#3
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ponce de Leon Florida USA
Posts: 10,079
RE: How to get more bucks in my area??
Attract the does and when the rut starts you will attract the bucks.Good food plots are probably the best way. Stay out of the area (bedding especially) until hunting season.
08-09-2006, 09:42 AM
#4
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Caledonia, NY
Posts: 773
RE: How to get more bucks in my area??
The above info is very good.
It appears you have a tight family group who resides on or very nearby your property. Most ranges for does are fairly small inthe summer months, and chances are that family will still play a role in your hunting season.
I'd look at adding a plot if possible, or making one out of atv trails, or a logging road. With any luck, the bucks will know where the resident does are (near your area), and when the rut gets them into gear, they'll head over to your area and stage.
I'm a big fan of having a small plot in woodlots (I hunt exact area as you described). It has been my experience that bucks who move in to stage and/or find does will feed on this during day hours if it makes it through the early fall.
Mineral licks may help, if legal. They'll be more apt to help you bringbucks onto your property during antler growth periods though.
Play the corn and wind for early season tactics pre-rut. They love the soybeans, but deer of all kinds will come from miles when those corn fields are cut down. Talk to the farmer, and ask when they will be coming down, or have him call you when they do come down. I'd set up a stand on the edge trail5-10 yards in from the fieldline(every woodlot in this scenario has edge trails used by bucks, and does every now and then). Play the wind right, and hunt it for the couple days following the corn coming down. You'll see a good amount of bucks then, who are feeding aggressively for the upcoming rut/winter.
I've kept records of my deer sightings for the DEC up here for a few years, and have done it for 6 privately. My sightings routinely go up exponentially during early season as the corn comes down. I do a bunch of camera scouting, and many of the bucks I see at that time are on top of the ones I've got on camera, so I know they come in from adjoining properties.That corn will bring them in for a few days for sure.
It appears you have a tight family group who resides on or very nearby your property. Most ranges for does are fairly small inthe summer months, and chances are that family will still play a role in your hunting season.
I'd look at adding a plot if possible, or making one out of atv trails, or a logging road. With any luck, the bucks will know where the resident does are (near your area), and when the rut gets them into gear, they'll head over to your area and stage.
I'm a big fan of having a small plot in woodlots (I hunt exact area as you described). It has been my experience that bucks who move in to stage and/or find does will feed on this during day hours if it makes it through the early fall.
Mineral licks may help, if legal. They'll be more apt to help you bringbucks onto your property during antler growth periods though.
Play the corn and wind for early season tactics pre-rut. They love the soybeans, but deer of all kinds will come from miles when those corn fields are cut down. Talk to the farmer, and ask when they will be coming down, or have him call you when they do come down. I'd set up a stand on the edge trail5-10 yards in from the fieldline(every woodlot in this scenario has edge trails used by bucks, and does every now and then). Play the wind right, and hunt it for the couple days following the corn coming down. You'll see a good amount of bucks then, who are feeding aggressively for the upcoming rut/winter.
I've kept records of my deer sightings for the DEC up here for a few years, and have done it for 6 privately. My sightings routinely go up exponentially during early season as the corn comes down. I do a bunch of camera scouting, and many of the bucks I see at that time are on top of the ones I've got on camera, so I know they come in from adjoining properties.That corn will bring them in for a few days for sure.
