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November 2005 Feature Article:

Hunting Pressured Whitetails

Please use this area to post comments or questions about this feature article.

[sawman]

Tell me this young lad dosn't beleive what hes writing.He shows a real lack of experience and a greater lack of patience! These are the the kind of articles I have to gaurd against when teaching some one to white tail hunt.The guy got lucky and stumbled accross a buck bedded down no rocket science here.

[Wood Demon]

If the picture fits the article I agree with sawman, not exactly what I would call 'The Buck of a Lifetime'! I know alot of guys who would have even watch that one walk away to see what followed his tarsals. Besides if a trophy is the name of your game, first I am sorry, secondly you have to earn it. Not limiting yourself to one season or even one weapon is something to consider. I tried shotgun and it seemed to be unfair, I switched to compound bow with a stand and scents, that was better but still didnot seem to have any 'hunt' to it. Right now I am attempting Stalk hunting and it really adds to the connection to the game. My buds joke that someday I'll be out there with just my pocket knife, I'll just add that I never go out on a hunt until I trust my use of my weapon to be one shot, one kill.

[saskie]

That's actually not a bad buck for an eastern white tail. They just don't get as big on the east coast as they do further west.

Stillhunting or stalking can be effective, but I don't know very many guys that can actually pull it off consistently. I think most people just get lucky.

[Wood Demon]

Gotta admit never hunted eastern white tail.
Consistance is not a reward to hunting I look for, if I need the food I know how to kill it. But until I know the animal I have to learn everyting about it. Actions, reactions, even stupid mistakes. I'd like to say any one can 'plug' a deer from a height they won't be seen if they wait long enough or get lucky, but I've heard some dumb/unlucky stories. Best of all it seems not many people realize a deer will drop a certain amount when the shot is fired. Lot of lost wounded to die deer up here that way.

[federali]

I've hunted New York's Steuben County but not down by the PA border. However, many natives up there do indeed state that when the NY season opens, deer cross the border into PA and visa versa once the PA season opens and hunting pressure in NY has slacked off.

While there are many record book whitetails to be taken in NY, the truth is that most hunters cannot afford to be choosy in NY. It's not unusual to go several seasons without seeing a buck.

[Jim111]

I tend to doubt that deer "know" where it's safe to be, whether it be across state borders or otherwise. Certainly hunting pressure can "move" deer from place to place, but their flight is simply a reaction and where they go likely has more to do with wind direction than anything else. The photo (of a mounted deer head) taken out in the snow, is a bit tacky too. Take a camera along when hunting, next time!

[BigBuck152]

Jim111 I agree with you in saying that hunting pressure can move deer but I have to disagree with you when saying that deer don't know where the safe places are. I believe the older smarter deer especially the big bucks know where to go. How often do you hunt a spot and all of a sudden you see a track of a huge deer and it seems to just appear. I know when the rut sets in the bucks are on the move but where are they before this time. I know here in Nova Scotia seeing big bruisers in the wide open fields is very seldom and if you do it is often in the summer time. Come fall they are nowhere to be found. I believe they go to their safe areas or homes. Younger bucks can be seen but those mature bucks are gone. It is because of this that I believe that they do know where safe areas are. Maybe it is because of hunting pressure they recieved when they were young but I think they know what they are doing. Why else to they grow to be so big? Oh by the way I thought that article was very general. Heck anybody could have wrote that. And yes have a camera with you when you are in the woods, I hope he didn't think he could trick anyone with that picture.

[redrider]

I think maybe this was an essay written for a 6 th grade English course about a kid on his 1st Deer hunt ::-k
I'm with you 152, those Big Bucks know exactly where it is safe. They know every broken limb on their trail, every squirrel that lives in the area, every possible route from one place to another, every water hole, how many leaves are on every tree they pass, the square root of 576, your mama's middle name, everything :yes:
They are also masters of disguise and have more unnerving patience than any other animal I have ever seen. You could walk right past a large buck at 20yds and never know it. I've had that happen several times. They are like a pheasant in the regards that they won't take flight until they absolutely have to :yes:
Young bucks are a completely different, but if you want a true challenge go after his Granddaddy, and GOOD LUCK!!!

[bowsmacker]

A good topic....

A good read regarding this topic and one of my all time favorites is:

"Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails" by John Eberhart

check it out

[HuntnFish]

Good points. Big bucks tend to find a very obscure place to reside when the pressure heats up. That can mean heavy timber in the north and east or gulleys and sage stands in the west. This article is BS in my opinion. Tacky photo. Look in the most out of the way place and you might be surprised. I once shot a nice 4x5 135-140 class whitetail with a slug gun in western MN at about 20 feet. He was burrowed into the side of a drainage ditch used to clear lowlands of water. His antlers were full of grass and I dont believe he would've moved unless the doe that was with him didn't bolt. Strange places!

[Stand Hunter]

sawman wrote: The guy got lucky and stumbled accross a buck bedded down no rocket science here.

Believe it or not I have seen this happen.. A couple years ago they finished taking up the railway in our province. We were driving on it in the old trcuk and decided to stop and get out for a stretch and look around at the area. Well my hunting partner got out and headed off the trail and into the woods to look , and when he broke through the woods there was an eight point buck laying there resting . It never moved it figured it must have been invisible. He shot it right there never got up :) How lucky can you get.

[saskie]

redrider wrote: if you want a true challenge go after his Granddaddy, and GOOD LUCK!!!

Actually - if you want an even bigger challenge go after his Grandmammy, - smartest deer in the bush = a big old doe. She's watched you chase her big antlered brothers and sons for years; and the few times she's screwed up or been suprised chances are she was allowed to live another day because she didn't have a rack.

If you really want to match wits with a crafty critter, find the doe Grandmammy and try and get her.

[redrider]

You got me there :yes: Those old does are on alert ALL the time!