Cloudy, Foggy, Sunny

[357MAX]

Critter summed up a thread recently with the premise that if it is cloudy you should stay on the stand, if it is foggy stay and be ready, and if it is sunny maybe you should go home and get breakfest.:16suspect1: So what do you think? My opinion is that it doesn't matter what kind of weather is occuring you still have a chance of killing a deer, be it a doe or a buck.

[CritterGitter]

Most of that was tongue in cheek. I may have forgot to add a smiley.....I can't recall. I have seen plenty of deer on sunny mornings and evenings. I have spent all morning in a stand when there was a heavy fog and didn't see squat(though I don't dismiss the fog theory as I have seen it produce).

All this talk about weather conditions. In all my years of bowhunting I have only seen one trend related to the weather prove to be somewhat consistent. If we have high pressure, then I am on stand. I am very likely to see deer when there is high pressure. I might not see a buck, but I know deer will be on their feet and moving under high pressure. My theory is that they recognize that this is a stable weather period and they need to take advantage of it. However, I don't fully understand why I see many deer out and about when we have high pressure above. I just know it has proven to be a relatively consistent weather pattern where I can count on seeing some deer up and moving.

[CARPN-JAKE]

I see more mature deer on dark days. My ideal day is anytime the 1st week in Nov. with a misty rain and a temp in the 30's or low 40's

[Mountaineer]

Im aware that bucks may be on their feet more when its cloudy or foggy..but who's to say they will come by your stand..Sure..the bucks are somewhere..but where? i think when hunters hunt on their OWN terms they are not as consistent at being succsful...I hunt on the BUCKS terms..What i do is..i take 5 or 6 consecutive days to hunt..How many hours in a day? 10? Ok thats means i have 60 consecutive hours on stand...the chances of me seeing a mature buck increases..I'm hunting on his terms..he can do whatever he wants..but sometime in the 60 hours im on stand..he will come by...The odds of me getting a chance at a mature buck goes way up because im there waiting for him to come by..I gauruntee one will come by..the question is "when?"...To solve the "when" problem..i must be there. I must wait at least 60 or 70 hours of daylight for him to do whatever he does in his daily routine of life to eveuntually come by my stand...For me to skip a day of hunting would mean i would have to start all over..i hunt regardless of weather..rain..snow..heat ..cold..fog.etc etc..All that is irrelevent.

Random hunting..an evening here..a morning there..is not for me...I cannot allow myself to hunt like that..it goes against what ive been taught. Random hunting means you know exactly when and where that buck will be...in reality..nobody can answer that question..only god.:D

[Fish-n-Fool]

While I agree deer move more in lower light conditions and I also see more deer during such conditions, personally when it comes to bucks 3.5 & older I have KILLED more in the late morning & mid-day hours while the sun was blazing. I changed hunting tactics and began hunting bedding areas back in 2002. Since 2002 I have killed 3 bucks 3.5+ from 11am-1:45ish pm on above average warm temp sunny days. I also shot one in weather very few hunters would hunt in - 20-25mph wind, intermitten pelting rain, etc.

I'll be the first to some right out and say it - I was almost taken aback at first. I remember vividly the almost shock I had in 2003 hunting the flat lands of Fayette County. This area has the thick fencelines like you saw pre-1980, large ag. fields and small woodlots; 5-40acres at most. I believe it was Nov 5th; I know it was Sat. I was 50 yards deep in a thick 8 acre woodlot on the downwind side of a popular doe bedding area perched 25ft. in a tree. I saw nothing all morning and the sun was high in the sky and it was getting pretty warm - high 50s or better (the pics I am in a tee shirt and sweated my butt off). I was at peace that I was going to be blanked for the hunt when at 11:40am I spotted a HUGE bodied buck that popped out of the neighboors standing corn at least 500 yards away. He didn't waste any time and came to me as if on a string - the wind was in his favor. Lucky for me he took a path to my south to stop and check a scrape line on the fencerow on "my" property about 150 yards from the woodlot. From there he walked the water-way in the cut corn field and I was ready for him. He actually entered the woods, but only came 15 yards or so in -stopped and tossed his nose high in the air. He was still south of me and didn't catch my wind, but I figured he would. As he moved closer to me walking at a slow, but steady pace I took a 32 yard shot with him on the move - this is unlike me and I must have been feeling confident as I'm pretty conservative and haven't taken a shot like this since. It hit too far back, but was a clean passthrough. I watched him run 600+ yards across open fields and enter a fencerow - he didn't come out the other side. I waited 90 minutes and did a slow stalk down that fenceline - he dies on his feet form the position he was in - liver shot. He was a HUGE deer; his rack is a typical 5X5 and nets in the mid to high 130's with roughly 10 inches of deductions. I have him mounted on my wall and his head is larger than all my other deer; larger than all my old man's mounts except one that is truly the largest buck I have ever seen that he killed back in 85 in Muskingum County. I wish I could post pics on this site, I would like to show off my old man's buck - he took it to the OBBC banquet and EVERYBODY stopped over to see it. Not for the rack - it netted like 148 and change, so it was small potatoes for an event like that.

I'm rambling now, but my point is not to buy into that sunlight theory. I can't count how many good bucks I've seen traveling during sunny days (I drive a lot of miles for work). Pack water, something to eat, a book if you need it and stay on stand - you won't be sorry. I'm to the point I refuse to leave; I've climbed down and napped for 30 minutes to an hour at the base of my tree and then right back to it.

Mountaineer - you barely beat me buddy, but we sound a LOT alike. I try to get 10 consequetive days during November and get things with the fam arranged - I go in well before light and come out far after.

[Hawgleg]

Im aware that bucks may be on their feet more when its cloudy or foggy..but who's to say they will come by your stand..Sure..the bucks are somewhere..but where? i think when hunters hunt on their OWN terms they are not as consistent at being succsful...I hunt on the BUCKS terms..What i do is..i take 5 or 6 consecutive days to hunt..How many hours in a day? 10? Ok thats means i have 60 consecutive hours on stand...the chances of me seeing a mature buck increases..I'm hunting on his terms..he can do whatever he wants..but sometime in the 60 hours im on stand..he will come by...The odds of me getting a chance at a mature buck goes way up because im there waiting for him to come by..I gauruntee one will come by..the question is "when?"...To solve the "when" problem..i must be there. I must wait at least 60 or 70 hours of daylight for him to do whatever he does in his daily routine of life to eveuntually come by my stand...For me to skip a day of hunting would mean i would have to start all over..i hunt regardless of weather..rain..snow..heat ..cold..fog.etc etc..All that is irrelevent.

Random hunting..an evening here..a morning there..is not for me...I cannot allow myself to hunt like that..it goes against what ive been taught. Random hunting means you know exactly when and where that buck will be...in reality..nobody can answer that question..only god.:D

I agree Mountaineer. Every hour you spend on a stand for consecutive days the odds go up that big boy will present himself. Miss even an hour and you may be starting all over again.

[CritterGitter]

Im aware that bucks may be on their feet more when its cloudy or foggy..but who's to say they will come by your stand..Sure..the bucks are somewhere..but where? i think when hunters hunt on their OWN terms they are not as consistent at being succsful...I hunt on the BUCKS terms..What i do is..i take 5 or 6 consecutive days to hunt..How many hours in a day? 10? Ok thats means i have 60 consecutive hours on stand...the chances of me seeing a mature buck increases..I'm hunting on his terms..he can do whatever he wants..but sometime in the 60 hours im on stand..he will come by...The odds of me getting a chance at a mature buck goes way up because im there waiting for him to come by..I gauruntee one will come by..the question is "when?"...To solve the "when" problem..i must be there. I must wait at least 60 or 70 hours of daylight for him to do whatever he does in his daily routine of life to eveuntually come by my stand...For me to skip a day of hunting would mean i would have to start all over..i hunt regardless of weather..rain..snow..heat ..cold..fog.etc etc..All that is irrelevent.

Random hunting..an evening here..a morning there..is not for me...I cannot allow myself to hunt like that..it goes against what ive been taught. Random hunting means you know exactly when and where that buck will be...in reality..nobody can answer that question..only god.:D

Are you hunting the same spot all 5 days? If so, aren't you educating that buck?

[OLDHAT]

Well based on what Moutaineer said I'll go a step further:

Hunting consecutive days is a must in what I consider the trophy hunter world (not that I have a lot, but P&Y min is typically in place and may be passed up)...but anyway, I think the best way to go about it is not only consecutive days, but to hunt with someone you trust! I feel that at least 2 sets of eyes and ears are a lot more beneficial in an area in seeing what is going on, you have to be able to trust the other hunter with you in not screwing things up and making right decisions on what stands to hunt according to wiind, etc and trust that that person actually can identify a "shooter buck" (most guys overestimate what they think the seen). I think hunting with 2 guys increases your odds a lot.

THe idea is just like was mentioned "here and there hunting" is tuff, you do not know what happened day-day. Over a 3-10 day period any hunter that is observant knows what his deer are doing and can make adjustments. The other set of eyes and ears lets you know if something is happening "over-there" that isn't happening "right here". We hunt 600 acres, 2 of us, we do our own thing and may be a mile apart, but if we know good bucks were sighted from either one of us we can move in closer and cut them off...for instance if you've been hunting for 2 days with a friend and he comes and tells you that he seen 2 shooters moving into a certain thicket...well, there are only a few ways out of that thicket so you take your skills as 2 people and you set up to catch the deer coming out. Hunting by yourself you may never know where the deer are...but if you seen a shooter moving into thick stuff, then you try to surround that thick spot on the evening hunt, you have around a 50% chance in one of you seeing the deer come out....when one "knows" the deer are in the immediate 300 or so yard area then it gets easier...just getting a "shooter" pinched down is tuff most of the time going at it as a lone hunter.

Trohy hunting takes 2 guys that are on the same sheet of music and a hell of a lot of pre-hung stands. I guess at any given time 2 of us will have 20 stands in a 600 acre area and self-climbers ready to go if need be...then you "get on them" when you find them, during the peak of the rut it's like they are "over here" for a day or so, then "back over there" for a day or so...kind of like fish schooling up around bait fish and where the wind blows the bait...here one day gone the next...drives me crazy.

Oldhat

[mrex]

Im aware that bucks may be on their feet more when its cloudy or foggy..but who's to say they will come by your stand..Sure..the bucks are somewhere..but where? i think when hunters hunt on their OWN terms they are not as consistent at being succsful...I hunt on the BUCKS terms..What i do is..i take 5 or 6 consecutive days to hunt..How many hours in a day? 10? Ok thats means i have 60 consecutive hours on stand...the chances of me seeing a mature buck increases..I'm hunting on his terms..he can do whatever he wants..but sometime in the 60 hours im on stand..he will come by...The odds of me getting a chance at a mature buck goes way up because im there waiting for him to come by..I gauruntee one will come by..the question is "when?"...To solve the "when" problem..i must be there. I must wait at least 60 or 70 hours of daylight for him to do whatever he does in his daily routine of life to eveuntually come by my stand...For me to skip a day of hunting would mean i would have to start all over..i hunt regardless of weather..rain..snow..heat ..cold..fog.etc etc..All that is irrelevent.*Random hunting..an evening here..a morning there..is not for me...I cannot allow myself to hunt like that..it goes against what ive been taught. Random hunting means you know exactly when and where that buck will be...in reality..nobody can answer that question..only god.:D And how do you "guarantee" a big buck will come by? Do you average killing a big buck every 60 hours on stand?

I know a couple guys, (Oldhat knows one of them), who rarely hunt from the same tree twice. Their theory is, the first time you hunt any stand it's the most productive. So they're always hunting new stands. Between the 2 of them, they probably have 60 P&Y's. On the flip side, I've got one tree I've killed 4 BBBC's from and I usually hunt it 20 plus times a year so they haven't convinced me. These two gentlemen also SCOUT A LOT MORE THAN THEY HUNT.

I agree that a trustworthy hunting partner can be an asset. And as Oldhat points out, especially one who can accurately field judge a deer. However, they can also be a liability. For example, your huntin buddy sees the legend of the Moue Grande' over on the south ridge of the property. He now claims eminent domain over the south ridge for the rest of the rut. If you go over and kill the deer, you "cherry picked" his spot.

If you’re traveling far from home to hunt and time is limited, I would agree that every minute you spend in the woods puts you one minute closer to getting it done. However, if time isn't an issue and you're hunting close to home, our bow season is 4 months long. Hunting smart, when conditions are right for any particular area is a much more effective way to consistantly kill mature bucks.

[CJR123080]

Like many who have posted, excluding weekends, I'm forced into hunting between say 7 and 11 straight days during November depending on my work schedule. I actually prefer it that way. With that being said, I think it's critical to give much thought to your stand selection on any given day based upon whether conditions, time of day, etc.

I've hunted a 70 acre piece of land for three years and definitely have a favorite tree (I've killed one P&Y out of it and have seen three others), and as much as I hate to do it, I often times avoid it because the conditions aren't right - the last thing I want to do is "burn out" the stand on the third day of a consecutive day hunt. To me, having multiple stand locations is critical.

Mountaineer - Agree that spending as much time on stand as possible increases your odds, but I believe hunting the right stand can only further increase your odds. To me, that's being efficient as a hunter. If I can put myself in position to get a shot in 10 hours versus 60 hours, by all means I'm going to do it.

As far as gaurantees, well - I think we'd all agree there are no such things in hunting. I think you just do your best to put yourself in a position to be successful and pray for lady luck to be on your side.

[Mountaineer]

Yes..im at a disadvantage because i dont live in ohio...and i'm also at a disadvantage that i hunt publicland..I have 2 whammys against me. mrex..yes..your right about overhunting a stand..but that would be the case before the rut..during the rut..Hunt hard..hunt all day..If i hunted privateland and lived in Ohio..well..then i could maybe hunt alittle more effieciently..but i cant. So..this is how i hunt this is how i ive been hunting most of my life.
While you guys are able to rest your privateland spots..My publicland spot could possibly never get rested..remeber..i had a guy @ 40 yards from me the first day of slug..He knew i was there..but he wouldnt leave..This is the kinda of crap im up against.
Im at a hugh disadvantage..I only have about 5 days to hunt in the season..Thats it.

mrex..how do i get my bucks in the BBBC?...is it to late?..I just found out about this club

[Gern186]

And how do you "guarantee" a big buck will come by? Do you average killing a big buck every 60 hours on stand?

I know a couple guys, (Oldhat knows one of them), who rarely hunt from the same tree twice. Their theory is, the first time you hunt any stand it's the most productive. So they're always hunting new stands. Between the 2 of them, they probably have 60 P&Y's. On the flip side, I've got one tree I've killed 4 BBBC's from and I usually hunt it 20 plus times a year so they haven't convinced me. These two gentlemen also SCOUT A LOT MORE THAN THEY HUNT.

I agree that a trustworthy hunting partner can be an asset. And as Oldhat points out, especially one who can accurately field judge a deer. However, they can also be a liability. For example, your huntin buddy sees the legend of the Moue Grande' over on the south ridge of the property. He now claims eminent domain over the south ridge for the rest of the rut. If you go over and kill the deer, you "cherry picked" his spot.

If you’re traveling far from home to hunt and time is limited, I would agree that every minute you spend in the woods puts you one minute closer to getting it done. However, if time isn't an issue and you're hunting close to home, our bow season is 4 months long. Hunting smart, when conditions are right for any particular area is a much more effective way to consistantly kill mature bucks.

Couldn't agree more. You just need to be patient and confident that it will come together when the time is right.

[Fish-n-Fool]

I'll hunt the same stand multiple days in a row - IF the conditions are right which they seldom are. I know last year I hunted the same stand 3 days straight - daylight to dark. The wind was steady (as steady as it can be) and the 5 member doe group that bedded in there had at least 2 of thsoe does putting off enough secnt to draw in bucks. In those three days I don't remember how many bucks I saw, but it was at least 4 different bucks. It was the third day that I had the buck I had hoped for within 20 yards; he had finally "claimed" this doe group and I know he was with them for a couple days. He was mature and easily a 150's gross buck. He was within a 50 yard radius of me for 25 minutes and I could not get a shot:dizzy: The previous day a mature 9 pointer came into the area and rustled these does off their beds - he chased them off and out of sight. I would have been happy with him too, but he moved like a red squirrell. Never saw him again and I suspect he wasn't a "resident".

I could be wrong, but I don't think I burn a stand out or educate deer by hunting 2-3 days consequetively. As long as the wind is right, I make a good entrance well before daylight, and I don't come out until well after dark. I bet I leave less scent in the area than some guys that pull their morning/evening 2-3 hr sits. Not to mention I often see the same deer (be it does or bucks) each day and they are relaxed and don't have a clue I am in there.

It's all about having the right conditions. In some areas I have 2-3 stands within a 100 yard radius and choose the stand based on wind and how I choose to enter the area.

[CritterGitter]

Some really, really good information in this thread. I have done dawn to dusk sits before, but only on a rare occasion and in the heart of the rut. I think I may need to ratchet up my all day hunt tactics. Thanks for sharing this information guys. I greatly appreciate it and hope to put it to good use this fall.

[bowhunter1023]

I see more mature deer on dark days. My ideal day is anytime the 1st week in Nov. with a misty rain and a temp in the 30's or low 40's

:yeahthat:

[CJR123080]

I'll hunt the same stand multiple days in a row - IF the conditions are right which they seldom are. I know last year I hunted the same stand 3 days straight - daylight to dark. The wind was steady (as steady as it can be) and the 5 member doe group that bedded in there had at least 2 of thsoe does putting off enough secnt to draw in bucks. In those three days I don't remember how many bucks I saw, but it was at least 4 different bucks. It was the third day that I had the buck I had hoped for within 20 yards; he had finally "claimed" this doe group and I know he was with them for a couple days. He was mature and easily a 150's gross buck. He was within a 50 yard radius of me for 25 minutes and I could not get a shot:dizzy: The previous day a mature 9 pointer came into the area and rustled these does off their beds - he chased them off and out of sight. I would have been happy with him too, but he moved like a red squirrell. Never saw him again and I suspect he wasn't a "resident".

I could be wrong, but I don't think I burn a stand out or educate deer by hunting 2-3 days consequetively. As long as the wind is right, I make a good entrance well before daylight, and I don't come out until well after dark. I bet I leave less scent in the area than some guys that pull their morning/evening 2-3 hr sits. Not to mention I often see the same deer (be it does or bucks) each day and they are relaxed and don't have a clue I am in there.

It's all about having the right conditions. In some areas I have 2-3 stands within a 100 yard radius and choose the stand based on wind and how I choose to enter the area.

Agree with this statement. I haven't been bold or aggressive enough to hunt bedrooms, but have strongly considered it. Do you believe it's has dramatically increased you're odds at getting an opportunity at a mature deer? What are some of the challenges you've encountered incorporating this approach?

[mrex]

mrex..how do i get my bucks in the BBBC?...is it to late?..I just found out about this club

There’s no statute of limitations on entering a deer in the Buckeye Big Buck Club.

We’ll accept score sheets from any certified P&Y or B&C scorer. The buck must “net” a minimum of 140 typical or 160 nontypical. If you've got Ohio bucks that qualify, let me know and I'll get you the score sheets.

[TheCream]

Are you hunting the same spot all 5 days? If so, aren't you educating that buck?

I was thinking the same thing. If you hunt the same stand, use the same routes in and out, etc... you would run the risk of becoming patterned, depending on the type of location you are hunting.

[Fish-n-Fool]

CJR - yes, I do think it has helped me have more encounters with mature deer. It is not without challenges however. I think the single largest challenge is scent. I know that is cliche, as scent is the biggest challenge IMO with hunting whitetails period; we will never understand how important and how involved scent is in the world of a whitetail. Rather my point is you are going into an area that deer use often and feel secure in. You get human scent flowing around and they will no longer feel safe; they will know something is amiss. To combat this, you have to be careful about when & how you hunt bedding areas. I've found playing the wind and entering the woods way before sunlight and staying on stand all day has helped me be sucessful. I travel in creeks to half my spots when possible to avoid walking where deer walk (although I've seen them travel in the actual creek itself too).

Another factor is that deer may be in close proximity to you most of the time. I hunt assuming there are deer within sight of me. I think most hunters move more than they think. I also believe hunters are seen by deer they don't see. The best way to combat this (we all HAVE to move) is stand placement. I hunt pretty high 1st of all, but that isn't as important as picking the right tree ans stand set up. I could type several paragraphs about choosing the right tree, but I'll keep it short. Find a large, multiple base/limbed tree when at all possible, place your stand on the "backside" of the tree facing the opposite direction of where you expect deer to be, and add natural cover if need be.

Lastly, IMO you can overhunt a bedding area easily. You can't just decide "I'm hunting bedding areas now" and hunt them as you would a funnel. IMO you cab bump deer from the area a few times throughout the year and get away with it - at least where I hunt the deer see & encounter people albeit not in the area I am hunting them in. Pick your days carefully, adhere to the above and it will work.

[Mountaineer]

Im hunting like this during that period where a 220lb mature buck will drop to 170lbs..there's a reason for the dramatic weight loss..Its because he's on his feet..seaching..roaming..doing his thing..this is the period i try and sit for 60 plus strait hours.and if that doesnt work..ill doit during gun season..hopeing somebody will bump one to me...im not worried about the buck patterning me..If i do get a chance at a 3.5 plus year old buck it will probably be the first encounter with him..If anyone knows about mature buck hunting..you rarely see him twice..You get 1 encounter and thats about it...these type of bucks are un predictable..these bucks survive because they are unpredictable..Now..how does one effetively hunt an animal that is so Unpredictable?..you hunt them the way i hunt them...If he so Unpredictable then i must hunt on his terms. For example..if the law was chasing after me..I would easly becaught if i created a pattern..if i was unpredictable..well..i could never be caught..How would the law figure me out if i was so Unpredictable?..The only chance the law would have is to wait in a spot that i have ties too and wait me out..that would be their only chance..Its the same with these bucks..They are Unpredictable as hell..and thats why they survive.

Here's a prime example of what im talking about..This is an ohio buck caught on a trail camara at 1pm..The trail camara was actually tied to the tree where the hunter has his stand...At 1pm this brute came by his stand..the hunter wasnt there..now..whose to say the buck will ever come by again..probably not..You have to wait em out..They will come by..its just a matter of time.
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq13/flog/Ohiotrailcampic.jpg

[Fish-n-Fool]

I've seen a mature buck multiple occasions using the same area. I agree whole heartedly with hunt "hard and long", but I don't think for a second a mature buck roams without purpose or that you will only get one encounter. It is my opinion that in most cases when a hunter thinks the mature buck he saw once has moved to another area, or is busy with does in another area (outside of his typical core area) - more often than not that buck is there right under that hunter's nose. A mature deer is not going to stop doing all the things he does because he is being hunted. Rather he will adjust his activities and continue - this may be a slight adjustment or extreme.

Some mature bucks tend not to move much at all regardless of rut until they have the cover of darkness. Others seem to know how to avoid trouble and are in the vicinity - it doesn't take much of a deviation to avoid a hunter (for instance a 100 yards will do it easily). And some are just plain lucky too.

There are many people hunting the area I hunt the majority of the time in Greene County close to my home. There are 5 other guys hunting the property I hunt alone. Fortunately for me only 1 of these guys has the patience to sit in a tree for more than 3-4 hours; heck one young guy is back in bed at 9am. I honestly believe this to be the reason I see soo many deer moving after 10am in this area - they HAVE patterned these guys. It isn't that the deer are so dang smart they know "Joe the hunter" only sits 3 hours after daylight; it is that they consistently don't encounter danger during late morning through mid-day. They pick up on that - I am confident of this.

[bowhunter1023]

I've seen a mature buck multiple occasions using the same area. I agree whole heartedly with hunt "hard and long", but I don't think for a second a mature buck roams without purpose or that you will only get one encounter. It is my opinion that in most cases when a hunter thinks the mature buck he saw once has moved to another area, or is busy with does in another area (outside of his typical core area) - more often than not that buck is there right under that hunter's nose. A mature deer is not going to stop doing all the things he does because he is being hunted. Rather he will adjust his activities and continue - this may be a slight adjustment or extreme.

Some mature bucks tend not to move much at all regardless of rut until they have the cover of darkness. Others seem to know how to avoid trouble and are in the vicinity - it doesn't take much of a deviation to avoid a hunter (for instance a 100 yards will do it easily). And some are just plain lucky too.

There are many people hunting the area I hunt the majority of the time in Greene County close to my home. There are 5 other guys hunting the property I hunt alone. Fortunately for me only 1 of these guys has the patience to sit in a tree for more than 3-4 hours; heck one young guy is back in bed at 9am. I honestly believe this to be the reason I see soo many deer moving after 10am in this area - they HAVE patterned these guys. It isn't that the deer are so dang smart they know "Joe the hunter" only sits 3 hours after daylight; it is that they consistently don't encounter danger during late morning through mid-day. They pick up on that - I am confident of this.

Well put...

I've slept in until 8:30 during the rut and hunted from then to dark. I am also a believer that mature bucks are as adept at patterning you, probably more so even without cognitive thought, than you as a hunter are at patterning him.

[Mountaineer]

The way you guys hunt is just fine..Picking and chosing your days is effective..i just think if you want to be consistent..My way may be more efective.

Look at it this way..For those of you that have Trail cams...Would you turn you trail cam off on certain days and certain times Like you hunt certain days and certain times? I dont think you would. I hunt just like a trail camara operates..24/7...or in my case 12/7..because of daylight issues.

Each guy has his own way of doing things..this is just my way thats all..If i can learn things from you guys then great..if you can pick up a few things from me...well..thats great to.:)

[jbrown]

Mountaineer,

I think we may be comparing apples and oranges here. The decision to hunt consecutive, long hours on stand is dependent upon certain circumstances. Your circumstances are that you come from out of state, during the rut, and can only hunt for a week or two. I do the same thing... I'm not from out of state, but I make a trip to the Wayne every November. This a trip... a vacation... a quest to shoot a big public land deer. My vacation is not worthwhile if I don't spend every minute of daylight in that tree and make the most of it. I'm sure your intentions are pretty similar. Now compare that to a guy that's got 100 acres in his back yard, and he's the only one to hunt it. He'd be foolish to burn out a stand because he has the ENTIRE season to hunt that area... he can pick and choose when to hunt a particular spot based on the conditions. I don't want to call this hunting "smart" because whether it is smart hunting or stupid hunting is all relative to the situation. What I'm getting at here is that whether someone hunts all day, only hunts during certain conditions, or only hunts a certain stand once is a decision that has to be made based on the circumstances. The consistent deer hunters are the ones that consistently make the right decision.

[mrex]

For example..if the law was chasing after me..I would easly becaught if i created a pattern..if i was unpredictable..well..i could never be caught..How would the law figure me out if i was so Unpredictable?..The only chance the law would have is to wait in a spot that i have ties too and wait me out..that would be their only chance..Its the same with these bucks..They are Unpredictable as hell..and thats why they survive.


Ya', but what if the cops stake out the wrong house?

Again, your way makes sense for the limited time hunter.

[mrex]

I am also a believer that mature bucks are as adept at patterning you, probably more so even without cognitive thought, than you as a hunter are at patterning him.

For us it's a game. For them, it's a matter of life and death. ;)