Spook a Buck Poll

[Ovis]

I kicked a "dink" public land buck out of his bed today. He took off at a good pace, but he didn't dart out of there snorting and with his tail flagging. What are your experiences with deer returning to their routine patterns?

This is one of those bucks that will haunt me in my dreams if I don't get a chance to lay the smack down on him. Sat is opening season, so the area has four days to air out.

 

[Ithaca 37]

First, are we talking about whitetails or mulies? Big difference.

 

[The Hedgehog]

How can you answer a question like this?

I chatted up a gal in the bar and told her she was hot, but not to expect anything special until about a quarter till two. She got up and left, but smiled. Is she going to come back before two o'clock? If not, will she come back next weekend or totally avoid that particular bar? Will she bring a friend? I mean, I didn't grope her up or anything, and she didn't throw her drink on me and run out. This is one of those bar tramps that will haunt me in my dreams if I don't get a chance to lay some pipe with her.

I want to know the answer to that one too..

 

[noharleyyet]

Depends Greenhorny...were the young bucks running at her? Dark moon next Friday...it's possible her selectivity could be impaired.... and most important, what's the doe to buck ratio?

Ovis..I'm still waiting on a wide 150 class I spotted a day prior to opener, although on private land, it's been my experience to get one more look.

 

[Ovis]

Sorry Ithaca...whitetail. I havn't hunted whitetail from a treestand in over 10 years. Everything has been spot and stalk for me. Trying to relearn this pattern thing all over again.

Greenhorn

Your analogy sucks. She'll be back with her boyfriend next weekend to kick your ass.

Noharley...your post gives me hope.

 

[MarvB]

Ovis I've missed (yeah I know....unbelievable isn't it) bucks with my bow and they hauled arse out of there only to have them come down the same trail or scrape line 2-3 days late (much to their demise hump ). Keep after em'. you'll have much better luck than Greeny with the bar flies

 

[noharleyyet]

....forgot to add (for Greeny)...check for an ear tag & by all means be aware of symptomatic CWD... neon hi-fence hunting is risky bidness.

..good luck patterning Ovis.

 

[280]

the buck will run like hell till he hits the high fence at that time the texans will open fire cutting him to ribbons then exchanging high fives, exclaiming how tough the hunt was, removing the abnoxious yellow ear tag, while trying to guess the gross SCI score!

 

[noharleyyet]

the buck will run like hell till he hits the high fence at that time the texans will open fire cutting him to ribbons then exchanging high fives, exclaiming how tough the hunt was, removing the abnoxious yellow ear tag, while trying to guess the gross SCI score!

It's truly amazing how an adult male, (I'm generously speculating), can exhibit such imbecility and hilarity simultaneously.

...my apologies Ovis

 

[mtmiller]

Cool word, "imbecility". I will have to use that in a sentence today.

 

[noharleyyet]

Cool word, "imbecility". I will have to use that in a sentence today.

I'll betcha 280's heard it plenty.

 

[BrianID]

I think it depends on the deer. May be the last time you see him but if it is his home range I would bet on him coming back. Considering what time of year it is, he probably has breeding on his mind. Even without being bumped he could move a few miles away to chase does.

This year during the archery season in September I was hunting a muley I've been after a couple years. I'm fairly confident he was a 6 1/2 year old buck based on his teeth and a shed from two years previous. He lived in fairly open country on public land not far from roads in an area that allows over the counter rifle and archery tags. He was a smart old buck to live as long as he did. I knew where he spent his mornings, afternoons and evenings. One day I finally put a stalk on him in his bedding area. I was able to get within 35yards of him but he was behind a juniper tree and I didn't have a shot at his vitals. After 5 minutes of waiting him out, the wind changed. He smelled me and blew several times as he ran off. Three mornings latter I found him feeding in his usual area and he headed off to the same area to bed. My friend that was hunting with me that day ended up putting an arrow in him two hours later.

 

[DKO]

depends on when and where you bumped him and what you did after you bumped him ????? was he chewing his cud or tending a doe that you may not have seen or was it first light and he busted you alot worse than you think? deer get bumped off there beds from lots of things depending on what you did may make the difference ! how accessible is the place to other hunters ?? is he being kicked back n forth. Lots at play which im sure you already knew. If he just fled and you backed out and didnt pressure him at all and he didnt wind you then he will be back, public land is tough because you dont know if anyone else is putting pressure on him. You said tree stand are you hunting a bedding area ?? if he isnt being pressured by anyone your chances are good! alternate route to the stand may be in order!

we have management areas here in fla and they can suck because of limited access points, specific permits, specific hunt dates and an assload of hunters etc.....i have patterned many deer preseason just to watch it all go south on opening day .......i found a decent buck that was tearing-up an area that was about 75yrds from a parking area, during the summer he was always within 200-300 yrd of this particular spot, i saw and photographed him a number of times. I knew on opening day there was going to be alot of vehicles parking 75 yrds away so i found a way to get back behind the swamp he was holding up in although he favored the east side of the swamp i set up in the s.w. corner near a submerged fence line and a dim logging rd. leading to a huge field of dog fennel that was about head high...he died at 6:55 am and his girl friend about 5 minutes later. point being look at the big picture and realize what the obvious hunters will do and make your move !

good luck he will be back, let us know what happens !

 

[IDHunters]

I almost hate to tell this story but in an area with lots of roads, public land, over the counter rifle tags and very little cover I found a decent little 3x4 about 25" wide with eyeguards. I had him at 75 yards but only had a head on, head/neck shot and I waited for him to turn....he spooked out of there. When I walked up to his bed, I noted that he was a mere 300 yards from where I parked the pickup, put on my stuff, opened a loud metal gate and walked down a road (to get downwind of where I actually wanted to hunt).

Whats my point? Over the next week my father and I bumped that buck no less than 3 more times from the exact same bed without getting a shot off (thats why I hate telling the story!).

Unfortunately, the buck ended up getting shot in someones headlights (I left at dark and was back at first light and there was a fresh gut pile on the road....bastards).

My opinion, if you spook a buck he will probably be back in the same spot, albeit more cautious.