Around December/January is the last time I've had a buck on camera at our place. That was about the time I put BC in my feeders. Not bashing, just honest truth. But I kept with it thinking they will eventually get used to it. I now have around a dozen does coming in but not a single buck. Any ideas on how to maybe pull some bucks back out or thoughts on what might have happened? I had about 6-8 nice up and coming bucks and now they are no where to be seen. There is very low to no pressure, nothing other than the BC has changed. I've tried blocks, Quick Draw and Big&j. Nothing. And before anyone says, wait til the rut the does will draw them out, it works opposite on our place, the does leave during the rut, or atleast stop hitting feeders. I'm just kind of puzzled how we had them like clock work and now nothing for almost a year.
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I hadn't seen a buck on camera all year until about 2 weeks ago on trails..... That was at two different places 75 miles apart. -
Honestly Paul, we tried all the fancy stuff at one time and it just didnt make any difference.
Now its just corn, more corn, protein, then more corn. Go back to the basics, be patient, and if you have does and can hold them, the bucks will show back up. (at least for us)
Hope you have a good year buddy.Comment
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Have you tried moving your cameras to locations other than feeders? Like trails leading to them, and possible doe bedding areas? They might still be there, just not traveling to common areas.Comment
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Paul, if the BC is not scaring the does off, not sure why it would bother the bucks. What about acorns. Got any that are falling? Like others have said, the boys will be back when the girls get ready. But, I know it's dissapointing to loose site of them this close to opening day. Good luck man.Comment
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I agree ^^^ if the does are not bothered not sure why the bucks would be. But hey, you can always try a few other things like various blocks and or attractants and simply put them on the ground close by. I put out some BB2 on the ground and caught a couple of bucks walking right past corn laying on the ground to go straight to it.Comment
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Acorns and late summer\early fall browse is to blame. They are there but...there's enough stuff out there to eat that coming to feeders and cameras...that typically had bucks at them during the end of winter last year....it will take the first frost to bring them back.
Are your stands and feeders in areas that are semi-open?Comment
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After waiting and waiting I finally have a couple of bucks on camera. Does started in at the corn feeder right away. Not much of anything at protien. And then I started to hand corn away from the feeder along a trail a couple of weeks ago. Last week when I checked the camera there were more does than at the feeder and a couple of shooter bucks all on the hand corn.Comment
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Sure hope you're right. Thanks manOriginally posted by Jp. View Post
I've thought of doing it but I gotta ask should I? I mean, it's not like I'm just not seeing mature bucks. I'm not seeing any bucks. I had 6-8 every day, now none. So what would make them just disappear and not hit the feeders anymore. I feed all year.Originally posted by bowhuntntxn View Post
I agree, maybe just a big coincidence on the BC. My feed pen is set up in the big grove of oaks on our place so acorn crop never really has hurt me because if they were hitting acorns instead of corn, they were still in range for the most part.Originally posted by MQ32Shooter View Post
You're dead on about the browse. But in years past I had them all summer long at my feeders and then 2 weeks before season it would rain, the place would get green and then I'd lose most of them until it got cold. I have fed all summer long, corn and protein and have been feeding the doe population. It's just so odd to me.Originally posted by AtTheWall View PostComment
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I don't know. Maybe they are in bachelor groups and not using your place as a primary bedding area. I wouldn't think it was the BC but ya never know. Or maybe they found a different place feeding protein or something else tey prefer over corn. Hard to say really. Sure hope they show back up for ya soon!Comment
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You're right, my bucks have always bedded on the neighbor's place. It's not leased but some of the family hunts it. Usually the biggest deer I see each year never comes back after gun season. Funny you say that. My dad was talking to the guy earlier this year and had mentioned me feeding protein and what not and the guy made a comment like "so that's where all my bucks went", makes me think maybe he has set up feed stations and since their tanks didn't go dry this summer that the bucks don't need our place. I just wished the does would pull the bucks back in but usually it's the does that disappear during the rut.Originally posted by bowhuntntxn View Post
Oh well, thanks for the input fellas
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I hope the bucks comes around for you when season rolls in. Good luck.Comment
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it sounds like you have too many does intimidating those young bucks. i guess i could do you a favor and shoot one.
that is weird that you are not seeing any at all. have you talked to any of your neighbors and seen if they are seeing bucks.
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This is from the Whitetail Domains website from Macy Ledbetter.............It may be what you are experiencing.
Balancing the adult sex ratio is critical to improve daylight buck activity. Currently, you have so many females that the few bucks in the area have no competition for them, so he can move whenever HE wants to. He doesn't even have to chase the does but simply stand still and let the does come to him!
By working with your neighbors and shooting many more does and much fewer bucks, in two years' time you should have a fairly balanced sex ratio and therefore created competiton among the bucks. This will in turn make them move during daylight hours searching out the few receptive does and then those receptive does are bred on their FIRST estrus cycle. This means 200 days later the fawns are born in the spring time like they are supposed and so many more fawns survive and you are now producing more buck fawns into the overall herd and whalla--you have a growing buck herd.
Coordination with the neighbors, shooting more does and less bucks is critical to correct this problem.Comment
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You may have nailed it. Never even crossed my mind. And that is exactly what happens, the does go away for rut where I was always thinking the bucks would come in. Looks like it's time to whack some does. Anyone without a lease this year is welcome to come down and whack one too.Comment
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