I see the same thing where I hunt. I have a theory that the deer have us patterned better than we have them patterned. I think we (without thinking) do the same things the same way each year. The deer probably have us figured out. Neighbors see big deer all the time, usually while working the fields or just driving by. Usually the big boys are spotted right behind the barn, chomping on corn, casually waving a hoof to all vehicles that pass, on the day I decided to hunt the back cornfield...

Are you saying you didn't see any deer at all or just the large racked buck?

I know nothing about where you hunt, but at least here elk and deer behave differently when its in season as opposed to out of season. I'm not sure that it is the deer themselves behaving differently or just the fact that they get pushed around more during the season, but the end result is it is not unusal to see one consistently during the off-season then not during the season.

casually waving a hoof to all vehicles that pass

Wisconsin deer must be more friendly, around here they give us the bird.

Just the large buck, I have seen several smaller bucks and several does in the field I'm hunting. The buck is at least a 10pt. with G-2's at least 12in long, or so I'm told by the guy that shot at him.

Today (WED) I stopped by the Forestry Service shop to talk to the guys up there since they are the ones that have been seeing this deer the most and the director told me that on Mon (the day I first posted this thread that)when he came by our place the buck was standing in a field between our field and the road but I couldn't see him from our shooting house because of a creek with large trees and bushes between the two fields. I have changed location to get a better vantage point and have made it apoint to be over there as much as possible till season ends on JAN 31.

So I gotta go now just finished lunch and headin back! See ya'll later

The deer are most likely doing it in jest, Bitmasher. I'm sure the snickering starts when we slow down to watch them. Probably are flipping us the hoof. What they probably say to each other is...
"Hey, check it out...its those two-legged freaks again in that red wheely thing. Wave to the nice freaks, everyone!"

Heh Heh. Two legged freak. Bet that sounds interesting deer grunt vocalizations.

Bnow, do you think these guys might be pulling your leg? Their taking shots and seeing this buck, but no proof. Were you seeing scrapes, tracks, poop, or anything else to suggest that this fella was in the area other than the hearsay of the other folks?

Anyway sounds like you are hitting it hard, so good luck!

[ This Message was edited by: bitmasher on 2004-01-09 22:52 ]

Oh yeah there's scarpes and Large rubs on trees as big as my lower leg. There's been several sets of large tracks in our field.

And at first I thought like you said Bitmasher they might be just kiddin' me but then one of them asked my grandad for permission to hunt our property so I think it's the truth. I haven't caught him yet but seasons not done here until JAN 31. I'm hunting as much as possible but it is 25 miles one way from home to where I hunt and I have to work from 12-1 pm every day so it adds up to around 100 miles of driving if I hunt morning and afternoon and My jeep gets about 15mpg so It takes about 1 tank every two days. Yesterday I emptied out all my dimes and nickels to pay for gas come monday it'll be the pennies.

But on a better note I was able to take a 4pt that was injured. It had been hit by a car and had suffered extensive damage to it right front side and kind of hopped instead of walked. The same guy had seen it before but couldn't shoot it but I was able to end it sufferin' this morning about 9:30. So at least I won't go out of this season empty handed.

Large mature bucks have survived several hunting seasons and have learned to hide and move mostly at night. They will almost always find a thicket or bottom so dense humans walk around. During hunting season he hang in this area tight. It may be just a small patch with water nearby. Scout this buck after season and look for the thickest brush around and u will probably find he was bedding there. Next year set up on that spot. Your best bet may be to rattle him out during the rut. Seen it before. Good luck

Well its all over for this year and as far as we know the big boy made it through. Season ended on JAN. 31 and haven't heard from anybody that he was taken so I'll be ready for him come this fall!

Willhunt- The area that he was seen in the most is in two fields both are planted in grass and our field is surrounded on the north and east sides by planted pines about 4-6 ft tall and on the west and southern sides there is a large creek with thick cane poles and poplar trees. Then on the southern side across the creek is our nieghbor's field (The second he was seen most in) And on the west it has a small hill with very thick pines and underbrush. The south side of that field is bordered by a road and the east runs back onto our pines. I think He's holed up in that creek bottom and pine thicket. Most of the times that he was seen was in the middle of the day during the rut. So I'm going to wait a couple weeks then go in and see if I can find his sheds or some more sign.

But from what I was told the deer has at least ten points and G-2's a foot long so maybe He'll be bigger next year!

ONLY 268 Days until opening day rifle season !!

_________________
BORN TO HUNT, FORCED TO WORK!!

[ This Message was edited by: bnow0707 on 2004-02-02 09:25 ]

Maybe you should target him next year around the same time of the rut that he was seen during the day.