Need expert advice On Big Bucks

[muleskinner]

I need some expert advice on bagging a trophy buck. I hunt in S.E. Ohio and there are plenty around but i have never managed to harvest anything over a basket rack 8 pointer. I have averaged 3 bow kills a year over the last 20 years. I have absolutely no problems with does and basket racks. I passed up around a dozen bucks and a ton of does each of the last 4 to 5 years waiting on the big boy I have had a couple close entcounters, but they always come up behind me. I don't shoot does when I am hunting bucks until it is the last day before going home. I wear scent lock, rubber boots and go to extremes with scent control. It has to be something with my set up. The area I hunt has a lot of hills 800 to a 1000 feet elevations. lots of agriculture. I tend to set up 2/3 of the way up the hills in the morning between beds and feed. I often sit all day. Any expert tips will be greatly appriciated. i am definately missing something

[timberghost]

Try finding funnels that contain the deer travel in which a cruising buck would have no other choice but to pass through. Think "hourglass" with woods, brush, scrub or any other type of cover a buck would use being the top and bottom parts of the hourglass which extend into the middle causing a pinch. A rutting buck will use that cover more than trotting the field but that will still happen where a buck stands in a field but more times he'll use the cover and funnels. Instead of field setups try to setup back in the woods maybe 50 yds or so. Or locate any sign that a buck is working that area. With field setups you may see a few doe trails coming into the fields but go back into the woods and try to find a cross cutting trail that bucks use to scent check the doe trails. If you have any swamps in the area that is a killer setup. One with beavers could be even better. A beaver dam backs water up to where it becomes too deep to cross easily. Where the dam is is where the deer will converge together to cross. To me swamps hold monster bucks too. If your hills are fairly steep look for a generous incline where the deer can ascend easier. Also, you can walk the ridge top looking down till you come across that easy incline, just make sure that the sign is there. Creeks are great too, look for the indents in the bank where the hooves tear it up coming out of the creek and follow the trail and hopefully you will have another crossing trail meet up with it (funnel.) I could go on forever about funnels but I don't want to put you to sleep. I love swamps and funnels, a funnel in a swamp is a golden opportunity. I hope this info helped you out a little. Write back anytime man, I like to help out anytime I can. By the way, OHIOS AWESOME WHITETAIL COUNTRY I WISH I LIVED THERE. LATER.

[critter gitter]

Whatever you do don't let the bucks pattern you

[critter gitter]

Whatever you do don't let the bucks pattern you!

[nybowhunter]

Have you tried using a trail came to help you scout? I've had success in locating deer crossings and travel routes with them instead of having to sit on the stand all day hoping I was in the spot that the buck would be walking by.

[joel the signman]

Originally Posted by muleskinner

I need some expert advice on bagging a trophy buck. I hunt in S.E. Ohio and there are plenty around but i have never managed to harvest anything over a basket rack 8 pointer. I have averaged 3 bow kills a year over the last 20 years. I have absolutely no problems with does and basket racks. I passed up around a dozen bucks and a ton of does each of the last 4 to 5 years waiting on the big boy I have had a couple close entcounters, but they always come up behind me. I don't shoot does when I am hunting bucks until it is the last day before going home. I wear scent lock, rubber boots and go to extremes with scent control. It has to be something with my set up. The area I hunt has a lot of hills 800 to a 1000 feet elevations. lots of agriculture. I tend to set up 2/3 of the way up the hills in the morning between beds and feed. I often sit all day. Any expert tips will be greatly appriciated. i am definately missing something

wind you are probably experiencing thermals/convection currents.get yourself a little squeeze bottle and fill it with cornstarch.squeeze and it'll tell ya the wind direction.During different times of the day the wind will rise or fall depending on temp and your surroundings.Since you set up on a hill i'll garentee this is whats happening,i sit in a similar location.the fact that they are sneaking in behind confirms this. experiment with the bottle and you'll see what i mean.It also gives ya something to do besides count trees while waiting.

[muleskinner]

Thanks to everyone, for the advice on this topic. Sorry for the late response I have had a rough couple of weeks. i took the 1st week of November off to hunt. On the 5th day I got a call that my father in law unexpectedly passed away at 68 years old. Something like this really puts things in perspective. We buried him today in the Western Reserve National Cemetary with full military honors. He flew 43 combat missions in Vietnam. It is people like him that fight for our freedom to do the things we love.

Again, great advice, especially looking for the cross trails and funnels. That is something I can do better. I am pretty familair with the thermals, i do use a trail camera and a puffer bottle. I do think the bucks are patterning me. I believe they were watching me entering the woods and climbing the hill to my stand. My son watched, from the opposite ridge, a buck circle me as I went to my stand.

[buckfever]

Sorry to hear about your rough month. All due respect to your father-in-law. Its men like that that gave us the freedom we have today. Hope things get better and the family is doing ok. Good luck hunting.

[BruceBruce1959]

I'm so sorry to hear about your father-in-Law. Best wishes and prayers to you, your family and your in-Laws..
If you do go back out hunting Good Luck to you.

[timberghost]

Originally Posted by buckfever

Sorry to hear about your rough month. All due respect to your father-in-law. Its men like that that gave us the freedom we have today. Hope things get better and the family is doing ok. Good luck hunting.

GOD BLESS YOUR FATHER IN LAW!!!!!!!!