Bumping bucks

[Rosebud]

I saw GPS tracker research of a five year old buck that would have been a trophy most anywhere in the US that was amazing. The buck only came out of its preferred bedding area at night. Then traveled widely, several miles. His bedding area was a wood lot behind a middle school along side a four lane highway and a sports complex. A spot about a quarter of an acre. He always came back before daylight, and had a way to sneak in and out without being seen from the roads. Amazing animals, Mature bucks might as well be a different species from other deer.

 

[Prairie Sasquatch]

I saw GPS tracker research of a five year old buck that would have been a trophy most anywhere in the US that was amazing. The buck only came out of its preferred bedding area at night. Then traveled widely, several miles. His bedding area was a wood lot behind a middle school along side a four lane highway and a sports complex. A spot about a quarter of an acre. He always came back before daylight, and had a way to sneak in and out without being seen from the roads. Amazing animals, Mature bucks might as well be a different species from other deer.

I've hunted two bucks that I never laid eyes on in three years of hunting them and I know both spent most of their time in a half section of land because of camera data and information from the renter when they were combining and spraying. The one I got a single daylight camera picture of and the other only night pics. I got tons of pics within an hour of end of legal shooting and early morning before light so they weren't bedded far. They both bedded in cattail sloughs. Not saying they couldn't be killed but they sure didn't make many mistakes. I tried sneaking into their hideouts and getting in early before they bedded and I could not kill them.

Most are not quite that smart but once in awhile they become almost like ghosts.

 

[Greyfox]

I have been a "whitetail nut" for about sixty years hunting them in various terrains with bow, muzzleloader, and rifle, from the small wood lots of the Northeast(where I reside), to more desolate area of the Northwest. While their territory make-up may vary, their behavioral traits are consistent and largely dependent their perception of danger….The older the buck, the greater their accumulated knowledge base. The only time you might catch him off-guard is for a short period during the rut when his senses are preoccupied. Otherwise, he WILL know that you are in his territory and determine that you are a danger if he sees, hears, or smells you……….
He possesses the rare trait amongst game of having "no" curiosity, If you are lucky enough bump him, won't stop and look back.
For a couple of decades, one of favorite methods for hunting the whitetail is hunting the Western river beds that connect the farming areas and the foothills. Quite often the whitetails regularly travel theses area. It does require some homework to establish that good bucks have been spotted in the connecting farming areas. Pick areas that tend to "funnel" the deer movements. IMO, this form of hunting is "perfect" for the long range hunter, and can provide an opportunity to harvest a mature buck. While most of the action is early and late in the day, the big guys can be spotted at any time….I'll post at a distance( usually about 500 yards), well concealed on an adjacent hill with binoculars and spotting scope. Out of sight,hearing, and smell. Lots of patience and looking, and, when a shot presents itself…Pick the shot carefully. This method isn't for everybody, and, I rarely see other hunters. But when I do, I can often observe from my position, the skilled evasiveness of the un-detected, mature whitetail at work….
I spotted this buck in a thicket at 1000 yards on a Monday. After several "no shot" sightings of him during the week, I got my shot at 10AM a few days later..
My shooting nest, and double drop-tine buck. After seeing him I passed on a few other nice bucks…Glad I did!

 

[birddog 68]

Older mature bucks are definitely a different breed. While does and younger bucks have the herd mentality older bucks don't mind thinking about themselves.
The neighboring property to my hunting area used to always put on deer drives and in some spots you could see the deer coming your way from 5-700 yards. Numerous times I've seen a large buck in with the does at a distance but by the time they reached my location only does and small bucks were seen. They slip away from the herd.
Once a mature buck realizes he's being hunted it's very difficult to get him. Definitely not impossible but you definitely lowered your odds.