may have spooked my target buck

[OrangeBlood]

Saturday morning my target buck and a smaller buck was in the feeder pen shortly before I walked in. While getting settled into my tri-pod I hear 2 blows.

I don't think they could have winded me, north wind & I heard the blow what sounded like to the east of me.

My only assumption was I made a little too much noise climbing into my stand and they were still pretty close.

I didn't go back to hunt that evening or Sunday evening due to wind changes and also didn't want to take a chance on bumping him again.

Now to my question, I know mature deer are fickle and unpredictable, but do you think I've ruined my chances with this old guy, or will he be back?

[jed1226]

Been he will be back, especially if he didn't wind you.


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[AgHntr10]

Saturday morning my target buck and a smaller buck was in the feeder pen shortly before I walked in. While getting settled into my tri-pod I hear 2 blows.

I don't think they could have winded me, north wind & I heard the blow what sounded like to the east of me.

My only assumption was I made a little too much noise climbing into my stand and they were still pretty close.

I didn't go back to hunt that evening or Sunday evening due to wind changes and also didn't want to take a chance on bumping him again.

Now to my question, I know mature deer are fickle and unpredictable, but do you think I've ruined my chances with this old guy, or will he be back?

Maybe...Maybe not. Good thing is they didn't see you if it was still dark.

[Drycreek3189]

Better question is, at least to me, why were they in your pen in the dark ? Are you feeding too early ? Was there too much corn left from the day before ?

I learned to set my feeders for an hour or so after daybreak to keep this from happening. This applies to mesquite country more so than where I hunt now. These E Texas deer come to feeders when they get good and ready.

[OrangeBlood]

Better question is, at least to me, why were they in your pen in the dark ? Are you feeding too early ? Was there too much corn left from the day before ?

I learned to set my feeders for an hour or so after daybreak to keep this from happening. This applies to mesquite country more so than where I hunt now. These E Texas deer come to feeders when they get good and ready.

Yes, there was too much corn on the ground. I had a terrible time with pigs and only few deer because of it. I decided (too late) to put up a cattle panel feeder pen a week before season started and deer are just now starting to show back up.

But in that time there was a lot of corn building up. I have my feeder turned off currently until the deer/racoons clean up the corn on the ground.

That was good observation

PS, if you have a pig problem, cattle panels are expensive, but you'll probably save more money on corn than you'll put into the pen in a single season.

I've had 1 pig on camera since building the pen, and it was on the outside looking in. Used to I would have herds coming in, like 15 to 20 at a time. Corn Vacuums is all they were.

[Smith2001]

He will be back still got lots of hunting left this season

[ShawnG]

Good luck, I bet he comes back.

[Veschels]

My guess is that they will be back. If I have learned anything about hunting whitetail, it is that they are the most unpredictable animals out there. One minute they are gone, and the next they are back.

[WCB]

Yes, there was too much corn on the ground. I had a terrible time with pigs and only few deer because of it. I decided (too late) to put up a cattle panel feeder pen a week before season started and deer are just now starting to show back up.

But in that time there was a lot of corn building up. I have my feeder turned off currently until the deer/racoons clean up the corn on the ground.

That was good observation

PS, if you have a pig problem, cattle panels are expensive, but you'll probably save more money on corn than you'll put into the pen in a single season.

I've had 1 pig on camera since building the pen, and it was on the outside looking in. Used to I would have herds coming in, like 15 to 20 at a time. Corn Vacuums is all they were.

I put up panels a few years ago for same reason. PIGS!! Now I have nothing but deer, And squirrels. And coons. And rabbits. And birds. And skunks. And bobcats. And ...
I bought the cattle panels as they were cheaper than the shorter hog panels. Cut the top down 2 rows and this year I added fawn entries as I moved to a new lease and had to rebuild anyway. The fawns love them and now that they can get in I have a ton more does in there. Every couple or three panels I put in two t-post side by side leaving a gap of 10" or so.

And who knows if he'll be back. Had a big buck wind me once and I never saw him again at that stand...

[DeadEyeB]

Yes, there was too much corn on the ground. I had a terrible time with pigs and only few deer because of it. I decided (too late) to put up a cattle panel feeder pen a week before season started and deer are just now starting to show back up.

But in that time there was a lot of corn building up. I have my feeder turned off currently until the deer/racoons clean up the corn on the ground.

That was good observation

PS, if you have a pig problem, cattle panels are expensive, but you'll probably save more money on corn than you'll put into the pen in a single season.

I've had 1 pig on camera since building the pen, and it was on the outside looking in. Used to I would have herds coming in, like 15 to 20 at a time. Corn Vacuums is all they were.

If you don't have cattle you should cut those panels down with bolt cutters to about 30-32"

Some studies about hog panels have actually taken place and they found that the absolute shortest you can make it while keeping pigs out is best. Some deer just don't trust the tall panels.

I'm sure over time it wont be an issue, but since you just put it up I'd advise shortening them.

[bowsticker]

He will be back.

[OrangeBlood]

If you don't have cattle you should cut those panels down with bolt cutters to about 30-32"

Some studies about hog panels have actually taken place and they found that the absolute shortest you can make it while keeping pigs out is best. Some deer just don't trust the tall panels.

I'm sure over time it wont be an issue, but since you just put it up I'd advise shortening them.

I have a few cattle, but do have a few hog panels in the bunch and that seems to be their prefered entry points.

[TSUswampdonkey]

Saturday morning my target buck and a smaller buck was in the feeder pen shortly before I walked in. While getting settled into my tri-pod I hear 2 blows.



I don't think they could have winded me, north wind & I heard the blow what sounded like to the east of me.



My only assumption was I made a little too much noise climbing into my stand and they were still pretty close.



I didn't go back to hunt that evening or Sunday evening due to wind changes and also didn't want to take a chance on bumping him again.



Now to my question, I know mature deer are fickle and unpredictable, but do you think I've ruined my chances with this old guy, or will he be back?

I had my target buck sneak in behind me last night about sundown, I'm 17' up a live oak and the sucker is standing at the fence looking at me through the only freakin hole in the limbs that I could be seen through

Anyway after about a 5 min Mexican stand off he turned around and walked back into the brush, followed by blowing, I was ****** and knew he couldn't have smelt me because he was 100% up wind of me

I didn't know what to do so I hit the grunt call a few times, about 2-3 min later I heard a deer jump behind me and not long after he skirted my tree downwind @ 30ish yards, never smelt me, he ended up standing under an over hanging oak limb about 40 yds in front of me until it was to dark to shoot, of course he then strolled by @ 25 yds but I just couldn't see him good enough

As long as your buck didn't smell you I think you should be fine, if he did smell you I'd give it 3-5 days and get back after him

Goodluck


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[Saltyag15]

I had my target buck sneak in behind me last night about sundown, I'm 17' up a live oak and the sucker is standing at the fence looking at me through the only freakin hole in the limbs that I could be seen through

Anyway after about a 5 min Mexican stand off he turned around and walked back into the brush, followed by blowing, I was ****** and knew he couldn't have smelt me because he was 100% up wind of me

I didn't know what to do so I hit the grunt call a few times, about 2-3 min later I heard a deer jump behind me and not long after he skirted my tree downwind @ 30ish yards, never smelt me, he ended up standing under an over hanging oak limb about 40 yds in front of me until it was to dark to shoot, of course he then strolled by @ 25 yds but I just couldn't see him good enough

As long as your buck didn't smell you I think you should be fine, if he did smell you I'd give it 3-5 days and get back after him

Goodluck


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Cool story! Deer can be so smart/cautious at times. I’m in agreement with everyone else. He’ll be back

[OrangeBlood]

Well, good news. I had to go hang a new set for a south wind and pulled my cards while I was there. He was back the next morning, still too early for shooting hours but at least he was back. Thanks for all the good mojo!