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Post by Handcannon on Oct 20, 2006 9:43:02 GMT -5
I have a stand along a thin strip of woods that separate a beaver swamp from a fallow field and ultimately, buildings and a road. I have hunted it lightly the past two years, with only a few doe sightings. This year I have fresh rubs, heavy trails, and lots of hoof prints. Opening day afternoon I saw a doe and a fawn. Here is my question. Do I take the doe if I can, or do I let her live, to act as "walking bait" for a buck to chase in the next few weeks? If I take her, there might be more doe in the area to attract a buck, or I could place estrous doe scent. What would you do?
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Post by Hollywood on Oct 20, 2006 12:22:20 GMT -5
HC-
If you've got heavy trails its unlikely that doe & her fawn are the only ones around. Either way- whether you take her or not bucks will still be trolling that area during the rut. The fewer does around - the more looking the bucks have to do. We hunt for meat more than for horns & a nice sized doe tastes great- a doe in the hand beats a buck in the brush or something like that. But taking a doe out of there should'nt stop the bucks from cruising the parcel, IMO. Scent all over & busting deer out everytime would cause more trouble. Then again, I may be wrong. I'm wrong alot! Good Huntin'! Tom
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Post by Fletch on Oct 20, 2006 12:28:09 GMT -5
Is it a good size piece of land? I would think more than one mature doe would be around. I would say if she gives you a good shot and you want a doe take her. If you do not want a doe take her anyway and send her to my house!! ;D
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Post by fasteddie on Oct 20, 2006 16:01:56 GMT -5
I agree with the other two responses . Shoot the doe . It's good quality Deer Management . It will make the bucks move to find the does.
I have let does walk early in the season and then get skunked .
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Post by Contender375 on Oct 20, 2006 16:14:38 GMT -5
Let them fly!!! Take the doe NOW before rut really gets going. It sounds like a good funnel that will bring the bucks by you sooner or later....You dont wanna be dragging a doe out when the bucks start staying on there feet all day... I try to get the does early in the season (sometimes doesnt work out) so I can buck hunt in the prime time....
Good luck
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Post by huntingfreak on Oct 20, 2006 19:46:37 GMT -5
Rob, if the run is that beaten down I would take that doe as long as that fawn is big enough, because there are more deer there.That thing about the fawn is just my personal thing it's your call.As for the estrous scent don't use it yet it's to early.Get some plain doe or buck urine that should bring they in looking.Good luck tomorrow.
Chuck
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BigD
Six Point
Posts: 141
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Post by BigD on Oct 20, 2006 20:32:42 GMT -5
If you do not have meat in the freezer in 2006, take the doe if she gives you a good shot. This early in the season, I may let her walk if she was moving by my stand first thing in the morning in hopes of seeing a buck during the a.m. hours.
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Post by Handcannon on Oct 23, 2006 8:30:31 GMT -5
Well, I had a hunt just like Buckshot's.....NOT!! I got to my stand about 4:00pm for a quick hunt till dark. After a little while, I could hear an engine running. I figured an atv was being operated on the trails to my north. Then I saw this Jeep mudbogging across the beaver swamp! He came right over to the land I was hunting, drove within 5 yards of my stand, turned around, and went back, the whole time peering intently into the woods. I was standing in my stand, hoping he would see me so I could share my frustration, but he never looked up at me. This is the same stand the atv riders used to buzz two years ago. AAARRRGGGHHH!!!! After that I did have a buttonbuck come in, but that was it. I'm not sure if it was him coming back, but something spooked when it got dark and I raised my arm to unhook my safety harness from the tree.
I need to buy some stinking land so I can enjoy the woods in peace. People suck.
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Post by huntingfreak on Oct 23, 2006 19:28:31 GMT -5
I think he would have noticed an arrow in his windsheild. I agree with you [glow=red,2,300]PEOPLE[/glow] [glow=red,2,300]SUCK.[/glow]
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Post by Handcannon on Oct 27, 2006 20:23:16 GMT -5
My season seems to be picking up. This morning I saw two deer bounding across the swamp. (No Jeep) They were out of range, but I'm just happy to see a deer at this point. I went to a different stand in the afternoon, but I skipped the stand, deciding to hunt on the ground a few hundred yards away. I got to the top of a ridge and was cutting through a thorny bramble when a deer head popped up 10 yards in front of me. A spikehorn, with nice long curved spikes. I had my facemask on and we stood there for about 2 minutes facing each other before I sent him on his way. Good times. While sitting on a stump in the woods I had about 20 turkeys walk up in front of me, from left to right. A few of them were as close as 7 yards or so. Atleast I am enjoying myself now. Three weeks of bow season left.
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Post by huntingfreak on Oct 27, 2006 20:41:37 GMT -5
Rob you should have poped one they are open or atleast they are around here.
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Post by fasteddie on Oct 27, 2006 22:03:15 GMT -5
Handcannon - Are you seeing any woodchucks ? ;D ;D
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Post by Handcannon on Oct 28, 2006 8:43:46 GMT -5
Freakofnature-
If I had the chance, I would have. I was sitting on a stump, totally exposed. If I drew back, I would have been spotted.
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Post by Handcannon on Oct 28, 2006 8:44:21 GMT -5
Yeah, I see woodchucks, everytime I drive out to Marion! LOL
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Post by zemmer18 on Oct 28, 2006 13:06:20 GMT -5
Had a great hunt last night but I'm confused about what to do today. I had 2 doe come in last night. They were the same 2 that was with the third one I took last Saturday. Well old Bucky was in tow and I didn't see much of his rack but he was chasing. The doe came in and stood behind a tree 20 yards out. When the buck started chasing her, she ran in the field and he slowly worked his way to the exact spot she was standing behind the tree. He stood there for over 10 minutes and I caught a glimpse of his left beam. Well a sudden gust of wind and he starting running and all I saw as he ran away was his rack. It was HUGE!!!!! I grunted a few times and I see a deer coming back towards me. It's another buck who comes to within 15 yards but again is behind a tree and the one small shrub between 2 shooting lanes. He stands there for 5 minutes and then blows. Both of them gone.
I'm going back out in this crud in about an hour because that is the biggest buck I have ever seen and I want him. I use Scent-Away neutralizer but I picked up some Doe Pee just for insurance to hang in a circle around me in case that wind plays tricks again. Is this a good idea? Do you think I'll see the BIG guy again? God I hope so. Wish me luck.
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