Mr. Predictable...

[bowhunter1023]

We filmed this buck on July 31st and that was the first time I had seen this buck all summer. I was unable to get that video uploaded, so I made several attempts at videoing this buck over the last month. I saw him a total of 17 times in August, but it was always too dark to film. I moved my camera 5 times along the fence line where he was crossing and ended up with two horrible pictures of him. Last night, I was lucky enough to get some quality footage of him, but my bad luck continued this morning. I do not have a battery charger for my camera at the moment and I need it to upload video to my computer. So I decided to play the video on our big flat screen at work and just video the video with my digital camera. It does not make for very pretty video, but I think it is good enough for you to assess my No. 1 buck on the hit list this fall. I think this buck is much bigger than what his net score would indicate. I was hoping he would net OBB, but I don't think that will happen. However, he will gross well into the 140's in my opinion and that is good enough for me. Let me know what you think...

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/th_MOV02121.jpg (http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/?action=view&current=MOV02121.flv)

[deerhunt45]

Looks like a solid shooter to me!

[Bawana]

I thought 140 was OBB? He looks like he definitely hits that. I'm kinda disappointed, the BEC guru has got to get us better pics than that :whistle:

[Gern186]

I think he is a real good buck with a great spread. No doubt you should try and shoot him.

Don't take this the wrong way, but if it were me I would lay off of him until bow season. It sounds like you are putting a lot of time in trying to get video and photos of him. You might be doing yourself more harm than good right now because of the added pressure. He may be completely nocturnal or flat out move out of the area altogether before bow season if he senses that he is being pressured. By watching the video, it seems as if he knows you are there by watching his actions.

I wish you good luck with him, but he might become Mr. Unpredictable if you know what I mean.

[Buckmaster]

but if it were me I would lay off of him until bow season. It sounds like you are putting a lot of time in trying to get video and photos of him. You might be doing yourself more harm than good right now because of the added pressure.

I concur with Gern. He'd be tough trying to pass on.

[Steve]

I think I'd have to.

[bowhunter1023]

Gern:

All the recon is taking place from the township road. I sat in the middle of the road and watched him for 6 minutes one night at 60 yards and he never once acted like he cared. Last night was different because I saw him 30 yards from the road when I first drove by him. I have not intruded on the actual ground except when I was cleaned up, had rubber boots and gloves on, and right before, after, or during a rain. I have never seen a deer that paid so little attention to cars. Even at the end of the video when he runs off, he just circled behind me and began feeding not 40 yards from the Jeep and fed there until I had to move for car...

[Gern186]

I concur with Gern. He'd be tough trying to pass on.


I'm not saying to pass him up. I think this buck is at least a 3-1/2 yr old that's been around the block a few times and that he will most likely vanish if pressured too much right before the season, even if it is from the roadway.:D

[Gern186]

Gern:

All the recon is taking place from the township road. I sat in the middle of the road and watched him for 6 minutes one night at 60 yards and he never once acted like he cared. Last night was different because I saw him 30 yards from the road when I first drove by him. I have not intruded on the actual ground except when I was cleaned up, had rubber boots and gloves on, and right before, after, or during a rain. I have never seen a deer that paid so little attention to cars. Even at the end of the video when he runs off, he just circled behind me and began feeding not 40 yards from the Jeep and fed there until I had to move for car...


Sounds like you are probably OK for now then..... Let me ask you this.... because it is hard to tell from the video.... does he still have his velvet on?? If so, I'm guessing he won't be nearly as predictable when he gets hard horned. He will be much wiser and pay a lot more attention to vehicle traffic once that happens.

[bowhunter1023]

Still sporting the velvet. I have only seen one hard-horned buck so far near any of my farms and that was a 120ish 8-point I saw Sunday evening. I have a really good idea of what this buck is doing right now, but I doubt that will do me much good in 25 days. However, if he hangs around, he is in serious trouble. Our best stand is out the back door of his current bedroom. Its at the end of a finger ridge where nasty thicket meets open clear cut where all that was left were 12-16" oaks and they are loaded this year. From the end of this ridge, the deer drop down in the creek and follow the creek between to high walls which takes them 22 yards from a blind set-up. Beyond that, lies an old road that will bring him back up on the ridge on the opposite side of the farm. Lots of bucks use the road to get up on the oak flat and scent check the flat and the thickets along the ridge line. We have a stand at the top of the ridge about 50 yards from the road on the downwind side of the thicket. There is a great trail that runs 18 yards in front of the stand. Once this buck starts cruising, he is in serious danger of running across one of my set-ups...

[FinelyShedded]

Nice deer Jesse. Goodluck this fall. By his body language he acts like he's on high alert and the other deer act as though he's king. At least 3.5 and a definite shooter by most hunters standards. I do agree with Gern though, once that velvet is stripped, they usually turn into a completely different animal and go into stealth mode. I hope you get him buddy, you sure earned it.:mischeif:

[CritterGitter]

That's a good lookin buck. I would guess him at 3.5 yrs old. I know I couldn't pass on one like that. I think you are guessing right on as far as score. He aint real heavy and lacks the stud brows. Other than that though, he is a dandy.

[Shed Head]

Let Him Go So He Can Grow

[hickslawns]

Very nice buck. I have a couple like him at my backup spot. Doubt they will be there come the 26th. They are a bit taller, but not quite as wide. I am debating on them, but with his width, i don't know if I could hold out. Good luck!

[Hawgleg]

Gern:

All the recon is taking place from the township road. I sat in the middle of the road and watched him for 6 minutes one night at 60 yards and he never once acted like he cared. Last night was different because I saw him 30 yards from the road when I first drove by him. I have not intruded on the actual ground except when I was cleaned up, had rubber boots and gloves on, and right before, after, or during a rain. I have never seen a deer that paid so little attention to cars. Even at the end of the video when he runs off, he just circled behind me and began feeding not 40 yards from the Jeep and fed there until I had to move for car...
He needs to to pay more attention to traffic as some poacher is liable to shoot him from the road.:yikes:

[rgecko23]

thats a good looking buck bro, I hope I am there for that one. I doubt you want to wait that long though hahahaha

[bowhunter1023]

thats a good looking buck bro, I hope I am there for that one. I doubt you want to wait that long though hahahaha

I'll take him when I can get him!!!

I am seriously worried about him being poached. The only saving grace is that he leaves the field right after dark and to shoot him, you basically have to park in front of a house and that is the owner of the field. Obviously, it could happen at any time, but I like to think he is somewhat guarded thanks to his proximity to the farmers house.

[rgecko23]

Well for your sake and his i hope the dirtbags stay away and you actually have the satisfaction this year of harvesting a absolute "MONSTER" that you put your time into! Good Luck Bro!! That buck is a wall hanger for sure!!

[gf319804]

I'll take him when I can get him!!!

I am seriously worried about him being poached. The only saving grace is that he leaves the field right after dark and to shoot him, you basically have to park in front of a house and that is the owner of the field. Obviously, it could happen at any time, but I like to think he is somewhat guarded thanks to his proximity to the farmers house.

You and I both! I'm pretty sure it could happen to either of us. I already have the scenario playing through my head. There he is (my 10pt) standing 20 yards broadside, no clue I am around. I draw back, placing the pin right behind his shoulder, when a car rolls up, and a gun comes out the window and shoots, dropping him in his tracks right under my treestand...

Hopefully that day won't come for either of us. Nice looking deer buddy, but your video is crap! lol Get that thing uploaded right.

[bowhunter1023]

Hopefully that day won't come for either of us. Nice looking deer buddy, but your video is crap! lol Get that thing uploaded right.

I had squirrels to kill or I would have!!! I'm thinking about shooting tree rats with Firebush tonight and maybe trying to get better video. If I do, I'll come out and have you hook it up...