Wildlifer
Old Mossy Horns
Starting a separate thread to add a few better pics and share some findings. This buck has been on camera for 2 weeks now and I used that information to decide how to hunt him. In the thread that asked about what time to go in, I answered with I let the deer decide that. He didn't have an exact schedule but occasional mornings, early afternoons/ evenings were pretty common. That info means an all day sit in order not to risk bumping him. I also used the camera to figure out what direction he was coming from and what wind to hunt. Thursday was the only day with a south wind for awhile which is what I needed. I believe that in order to have productive spots you need to pick the times you are in there carefully or the deer quickly figure you out and change their pattern. This took me awhile to actually follow. I was the forever optimist that they could show up at any time and I at least have a chance if I'm in the stand.
There's been some discussion about peeing from the stand. In 10 hours I had to pee several time and did so off the front of the stand. The buck walked almost right under me and didn't seem to notice at all. Its anecdotal evidence but I have yet to see one spook at a pee site.
Arrow flight and obstacles in your flight path is something everyone should understand. This buck gave me an excellent hard quartering away shot however there was a small tree between me and him with the tip of a branch and some leaves covering the exact spot I was aiming. Since the tree was pretty close to me 10ish yards and the buck was around 20 the arrow flight path was actually going to go over the small limb. It was only just going to clear it but that's all I needed. The same holds true in longer shots. If you have a buck at 40 and you put your pin on him but there is a branch in the way 20 yards away all you need to do is make sure your 20yds pin is not on that branch and you'll clear it to make the shot.
Lastly this buck was in great body condition, the best I have seen in some time especially for this early in the season. In the wildlife management world body condition is measured by kidney fat and he had ample. The pic below shows a completely encased kidney with more to spare.
Some of this info may not be new to some but we have had a lot of new guys recently so I hope it helps someone out.
There's been some discussion about peeing from the stand. In 10 hours I had to pee several time and did so off the front of the stand. The buck walked almost right under me and didn't seem to notice at all. Its anecdotal evidence but I have yet to see one spook at a pee site.
Arrow flight and obstacles in your flight path is something everyone should understand. This buck gave me an excellent hard quartering away shot however there was a small tree between me and him with the tip of a branch and some leaves covering the exact spot I was aiming. Since the tree was pretty close to me 10ish yards and the buck was around 20 the arrow flight path was actually going to go over the small limb. It was only just going to clear it but that's all I needed. The same holds true in longer shots. If you have a buck at 40 and you put your pin on him but there is a branch in the way 20 yards away all you need to do is make sure your 20yds pin is not on that branch and you'll clear it to make the shot.
Lastly this buck was in great body condition, the best I have seen in some time especially for this early in the season. In the wildlife management world body condition is measured by kidney fat and he had ample. The pic below shows a completely encased kidney with more to spare.
Some of this info may not be new to some but we have had a lot of new guys recently so I hope it helps someone out.