Do you think mature bucks avoid game cameras?

[Anders]

i've seen plenty of big bucks no trail cams, just stick to it, have you tried putting mature buck piss or doe estrus in front of the camera to see what would come check it out? tried putting it on a hot scrape? I had a buddy put a camera up in front of a hot scrape and had six different bucks visit it by the morning.

hang in there, eventually it will happen and sounds like in three years there will be more mature bucks than you can shoot

[Captain Michael Buffington]

i've seen plenty of big bucks no trail cams, just stick to it, have you tried putting mature buck piss or doe estrus in front of the camera to see what would come check it out? tried putting it on a hot scrape? I had a buddy put a camera up in front of a hot scrape and had six different bucks visit it by the morning.

hang in there, eventually it will happen and sounds like in three years there will be more mature bucks than you can shoot

that is the plan. As soon as they start thats what I'm doing. Our rut is much later. They should start making scrapes anytime now but the peak of the rut here is around christmas.

Mike

[calebw]

Buffington, I noticed that your trail cameras are located about waist high. Try putting them up about 6-8 feet pointing down. Reason being, this way the flash is not right in there eye and spooking them. It looks more like its just lightning when they are also placed up high. Think about a constant flashing in your eyes would scare you away.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Buffington, I noticed that your trail cameras are located about waist high. Try putting them up about 6-8 feet pointing down. Reason being, this way the flash is not right in there eye and spooking them. It looks more like its just lightning when they are also placed up high. Think about a constant flashing in your eyes would scare you away.

that makes sense, thanks Caleb

Mike

[Tenacious]

that makes sense, thanks Caleb

Mike

I don't know, the one I have and Mike has is no flash. Lightning I know one thing I don't want is to have deer now looking up in the trees for me. I think it's all about location, location,location to see the big boys!!! Once the girls start coming into estrus I think we will see more of the bucks of past. Fingers crossed!

[OneMoreBite]

We've noticed on our lease with flash cameras that we will get 1 pic of a good buck and then not again. But if we use a IR camera we will get the same good buck over and over again.

[Catcher's Mitt]

and I just find it extremely hard to believe all I have is babies. I have killed some quality bucks on this place but the camera thing is almost a curse...I have 1500 pics of babies on there and just am not motivated to sit out there. Thanks for the input. I know they are not smart but damn...

This is my biggest one on there this year

Then these little bastards show up...they are dead, they just don't know it yet

Mike

you notice those tall trees and openness??? are those pine trees? big deer like pine trees when they are about this big
|-------------------| after that they are outa there. i agree with what offshore and the fellow that talked about the IR. i have seen several posts in forums where there are some multiple photos and it is one big buck lit up and then does and coons and such in later pictures. in general if you get one or two pictures of a big buck over a multi day period and it is at night. that camera is taking pictures 24/7 and you have one or two seconds with a big buck. what are the chances of seeing him in the daylight where that camara is? none. just about everybody i talk to that kill big deer.....it is either the rut and the deer ran in or they were hunting in a spot where a 20 yard shot is a long one.

bottom line you dont have the camera where the big ones are feeding at night. right now it is acorns x 3 or a bean field.

good luck with the swords this weekend and with your son on sunday.

[offshore]

Mike,
We have learned a few things over the years that really help us out. If you dont mind the pun you have to think outside of the "BOX" for those older big bucks. They don't get that way by mistake. All we can do on our 1000 acres is bow hunt without bait and you learn to improvise to get close. We have been on this same property for about 10years now and every year we look at the last years videos and photos and wonder why we never see some of the deer we let go again. That is the big mystery where the "H" do they go?? Do they leave the property? Do they die? Who knows but many of them we never see again.
The biggest problem is that we educate the big boys and they are fast learners.We make lots of mistakes when hunting to make them smart. We hunt stands that shouldn't be hunted because it is not the right time of year, We hunt the same stands way to often,We hunt a stands when the wind is wrong, and we do a lot of other things we shouldn't.
A few adjustments to your strategy while hunting your property will go a long way.

A few changes we made are as follows.
1. Do not hunt stands when the wind is wrong or marginal.
2. Try not to go to a stand or stand location the same way every time.
3. Be more mobile and don't use as many permanent stands.
4. Don't hunt a stand location more than one day a week.
5. Hunt trails you can get to easily in areas as thick as you can possibly stand to hunt.
6. Don't hunt right on the food source hunt between where they are bedded and where they are going.
7. Natural funnels or pinch spot in thick areas are the ticket for big buck movement.
8. Don't walk the edges of transition areas find another way to get to a stand.
9. Don't park close to where you are hunting.
10. Change things up where you hunt don't let the deer pattern you, keep them off guard.
11. Shoot more does and fewer bucks. They don't get bigger if you don't let them walk. This will pay off in a few years.
12. Certain stand locations are better certain times of the year make sure you hunt them when they are at there best.

Anyway the above are just a few things we have changed in the way we hunt our property........Mark

[weekender]

words of wisdom from someone who walks the walk, and sticks the big bucks consistantly, THANKS Mark.

[Tenacious]

Mike,
We have learned a few things over the years that really help us out. If you dont mind the pun you have to think outside of the "BOX" for those older big bucks. They don't get that way by mistake. All we can do on our 1000 acres is bow hunt without bait and you learn to improvise to get close. We have been on this same property for about 10years now and every year we look at the last years videos and photos and wonder why we never see some of the deer we let go again. That is the big mystery where the "H" do they go?? Do they leave the property? Do they die? Who knows but many of them we never see again.
The biggest problem is that we educate the big boys and they are fast learners.We make lots of mistakes when hunting to make them smart. We hunt stands that shouldn't be hunted because it is not the right time of year, We hunt the same stands way to often,We hunt a stands when the wind is wrong, and we do a lot of other things we shouldn't.
A few adjustments to your strategy while hunting your property will go a long way.

A few changes we made are as follows.
1. Do not hunt stands when the wind is wrong or marginal.
2. Try not to go to a stand or stand location the same way every time.
3. Be more mobile and don't use as many permanent stands.
4. Don't hunt a stand location more than one day a week.
5. Hunt trails you can get to easily in areas as thick as you can possibly stand to hunt.
6. Don't hunt right on the food source hunt between where they are bedded and where they are going.
7. Natural funnels or pinch spot in thick areas are the ticket for big buck movement.
8. Don't walk the edges of transition areas find another way to get to a stand.
9. Don't park close to where you are hunting.
10. Change things up where you hunt don't let the deer pattern you, keep them off guard.
11. Shoot more does and fewer bucks. They don't get bigger if you don't let them walk. This will pay off in a few years.
12. Certain stand locations are better certain times of the year make sure you hunt them when they are at there best.

Anyway the above are just a few things we have changed in the way we hunt our property........Mark

Thanks for the write-up Mark !!!