What-Would-You-Do-Wednesday: Hunting One Big Deer All Season

Posted At : September 1, 2010 9:50 AM | Posted By : Mike Hanback
Related Categories: Big Deer Blog

Mike: I enjoy your blog and articles. Can I ask you some advice? Do you have any tips for hunting one individual deer? I’ve decided to go after one big buck that I’ve been seeing on my property. Any help would be greatly appreciated.—Thanks, Joe

What would you do? I’ve kicked it off with some thoughts. comment

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1. glass buck as many days as you can and set out cams, pin down his movements and patterns and get to know his
personality
2. set several stands NOW where he travels
3. first days of your bow season BEST chance--hunt your best am and pm and make it count those days
4. after that don't pressure him too much, hunt on good cool days when wind is perfect at a stand; make sure
you have good access in and out of stands, don't want to bump him not once if you can help it
5. early NOV (7-10) sedond best shot to see him moving in daylight, hunt long and hard those days.
GOOD LUCK TELL US HOW IT GOES!

# Posted By hanback | 9/1/10 10:06 AM

Hard to argue with Mike's logic. I'm lucky here in Va., we get 3 buck tags a year. I usually hunt the perimeter fields where I can glass from 300+ yards. If I see him, I can take the shot, or if not, I can choose to take another buck. This way, I'm am not too intrusive into his territory. I have gotten a couple of good ones this way...but not THE ONE. YET!
Good luck on your quest.

# Posted By Curt | 9/1/10 10:39 AM

I made that mistake last year by hunting one certain buck. The last we ever saw of him was on a trail camera on Oct 2nd, and then he disappeared. I passed up other bucks that I would have shot any day of the week while holding out for one deer, and then let myself get to burnt out and let down by doing so. I have one main one in mind again this year, but not going to hunt with the blinders on so to speak ever again.

# Posted By Grant | 9/1/10 12:04 PM

ONE POINT HERE goes to Grant's: Never fully commit to one buck till u see him or take his picture around Oct 1; in September bucks
shuffle, some move a mile or more to lands where they'll spend fall/winter while others stay home. If you commit now and the buck
leaves your land you are guaranteed to NOT see or shoot him. Go to Plan B, a diff buck. But if you get a visual Oct. 1 or later he's
there and will be all season (except for roaming in the rut) so hunt him if you dare. but be advised Joe and all that usually the one buck wins, but still fund and challenging if frustrating to try for him.

# Posted By hanback | 9/1/10 12:21 PM

We have two buck tags here as well so it dont worry to much about that but if i only had one tag i think Hanback is right on

# Posted By Scott from MI | 9/1/10 12:56 PM

I have trouble hunting deer in general...let alone specific deer...

I'll just sit this one out...

# Posted By Trent M. | 9/1/10 1:21 PM

I think Trent is the smartest, or at least most honest, of the bunch. Good post!

# Posted By Curt | 9/1/10 1:26 PM

Mike echoed my thoughts. I don't have any specifics on hunting one deer except get as much knowledge as you can about him without alerting him to your presence. It's been said that you will never kill a mature deer that knows it's being hunted. But, my thought was if you are seriously planning on hunting only one deer, you should research some good recipes on how to eat that tag. Because that's what you will be doing most of the time. Hunt that deer, but don't pass up another big, mature buck. I have seen a lot of guys get pics on their cameras, only to never see the deer again. Don't think that just because you got a pic of him, he's still there. There are a lot of things that can happen: relocation, hunter harvest, vehicle collision, coyotes, etc.

# Posted By David in NC | 9/1/10 1:28 PM

I'll admit it! I do hunt for certain bucks that I have gotten pics of on my cams. I actually log the Dates, Times and Direction the animal is traveling and pattern their movements based off that information. (i.e. moving to the creek for water or heading for the feeder fields and food plots) This only works well during the early portion of the archery season though. Once the rut starts to kick in that technique is pretty much out the window. Then the glassing begins.

Like Curt, I to am in Va. and we get the 3 Buck tags and 3 anterless tags plus DMAP tags for an additional fee. I normally put the meat in the freezer first and then hunt for the HORNS the rest of the season.

# Posted By Buddy in South Central Viginia | 9/1/10 2:08 PM

Trent M., your comment has intrigued me, tell us what's on your mind--- maybe we can hep you out...

# Posted By Cliff | 9/1/10 3:08 PM

Lots of good advise. Here's my take. I know this is the BIG DEER BLOG, but if you are going to hold out for one buck, make sure you whack some does. For several reasons. 1- It's fun 2 - it fills the freezer 3- a little reward for your efforts 4- Did I say it was fun yet?.

# Posted By Silverback | 9/1/10 3:27 PM

I normally set a goal in mind that more than one deer can meet. For me, I'm after a mature deer in the 140 or above range here
in Southern Indiana. The goal is realistic but not easily accomplished. I guess that's why they call it "hunting"......

# Posted By jstreet | 9/1/10 4:05 PM

Doubtful Cliff...

I've had bad luck the last couple years, and still find myself hunting marginal properties...

So unless you know someone who is trying to get someone to hunt their loaded up property in northeast indiana, I'll just have to keep toughing it out...

# Posted By Trent M. | 9/1/10 5:24 PM

Trent, why do you say the property you hunt is marginal---explain.. Do you want to kill a doe for the freezer or maybe a buck
for the wall ? What personel accomplishments are you wanting to achieve.

# Posted By Cliff | 9/1/10 8:01 PM

Great topic.
Have a plan / goal for the year. Meat for freezer or horns for wall?
Dont get discouraged, MOTHER NATURE ALWAYS WINS!!!!!!

# Posted By Buckwheat | 9/1/10 8:09 PM

Small, low traffic plots of land, limited access (i.e. bow only hunting, can't hunt during gun season)...

I'm huning, does, bucks, don't care...I'm not picky. I sat over 160 hours two years ago and saw exactly 6 deer...none in bow range...

It's just bad luck Cliff...period...

# Posted By Trent M. | 9/1/10 9:56 PM

Well Trent, lets try to change that luck. Is the ground you hunt public or private? Are you an archery only hunter, you know --a die
hard I only hunt with a bow type ? More info is better than a little, ie is the deer population good where you hunt, is there crop fields ?

# Posted By Cliff | 9/1/10 10:18 PM

Trent,

Let's get you some new hunting land that allows you to hunt whatever season that is in. I have used this for over 30 years and it has produced land to hunt regardless where I was stationed while in the military. Kansas, Missouri, N.Y. or Ohio it works. What I am talking about is using whatever skill sets you have to your advantage. I am fortunate enough to have a small tract of land (15) Acres that has a 3 acre alfalfa field and I have planted (3) small food plots that I primarily hunt. I use my tractor to cut a 3 1/2 alfalfa field of an adjacent land owners 25 acres. I also posted a message offering tractor service in exchange for hunting rights. Unbelievable responses thanks to the internet. 200 Acres in exchange for plowing a garden and grading a driveway(4 hrs seat time). 53 acres in exchange for using a limb saw to cut tree branches along a driveway (3 Hrs Work). I have mended fences, repaired barns, painted, etc... I have less than a $100.00 invested of my money for fuel and have almost 900 acres total this year in all to hunt. Use whatever skills you have and make them marketable in improve your hunting situation. Make sure you get the agreement in writing first. Have the land owner walk the property with you and ask for a copy of the land plot. I use the hunters pledge cards as well that requires the land owner to sign. I knocked on alot of doors and was barked at by alot of dogs but it has always worked for me. Happy hunting

# Posted By Buddy in South Central Va | 9/2/10 12:56 AM

No other hunters except the land owner and myself on all properties in 3 different counties

# Posted By Buddy in South Central Va | 9/2/10 12:59 AM

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