Some Big Whities For Ya...

[Sitkaspruce]

Thanks Sitka!!


I have seen deer and bears walk across the exact path I took to get to my vantage point not 20mins behind me .... but I always attributed this to immature bucks and does

Have you witnessed older bucks behave with disregard for your scent as well?

From August to October, the big bucks become shy and rarely show up on the cams, but they do whenever they feel like it. I have had mature bucks and does show up 30 min after I left, morning, midday or evening.

BUT, once November shows up, there is no rhyme or reason to when they show up. Could be for a snack, but more than likely it is for the love a doe. I don't really worry too much about the bucks, I worry about the does. Hunt the does and the bucks will show up. If I get a bunch of does and they get spooky or I stop seeing them, I will leave the area for a few days, then come back if the wind is right.

Scent is really important while you are hunting, manage the wind and you can be successful. But I am not so worried about it when checking cameras.

Cheers

SS

[Redthies]

Lets bump this thread up as it is TIME!!!!!

A couple years ago I came across a story about guys hunting scrape lines and creating their own to draw in the bucks.

So I started playing around with finding scrapes and putting a camera on them. There was some action, but not a lot. Then I read about creating their own and started doing that. Last year was the first time and I did get some action, but was not serious at it.

This year, I started earlier, Oct 20 and got some started. Last year I looked for old scrapes and marked them on the GPS. I started by walking the trails, looking for spots where two/three trails came together on a main one. I then looked for a licking branch, some branch about 5-6' off the ground and "scraped" away the leaves down the bare earth right below it. I then dropped the fly and peed into it. Then placed the camera and waited a week to see who was around. I also hit up the old scrapes and did the same.

The results









Even the does and fawns are interested



This week I am trying the fake stuff - Tinks and Code Blue. Will update on what I find

The scrapes were hit mostly by those 2.5-3.5 year old bucks that are running around everywhere right now. The big boys will start to show up and the party is about to start! Lots of scrapes around and rubs are everywhere.

Time to hit the bush and get things set up!

Good luck all!!

Cheers

SS

What general area/elevation are you getting those shots at? Just curious as I have my own WT spot, but thinking it might be a bit early for it.

[Sitkaspruce]

What general area/elevation are you getting those shots at? Just curious as I have my own WT spot, but thinking it might be a bit early for it.

Apparently, according to the video Bartell posted a few posts back, you can set up a scrape in the spring. I am going to start in the summer next year and see what happenes. This year, I started a week later than normal, Oct 15 or so. I don't think it matters where you are, the rut will be pretty close to the same time throughout BC, Nov 10-20 will be the peak, but from now to the first week of Dec the bucks will be roaming and looking for love.

Can't hurt to try any time, what have you got to lose??

Cheers

SS

[Harvest the Land]

New No. 2 All-Time Typical Buck? World Record Whitetail by Crossbow?

Indiana crossbow hunter Dustin Huff's potential state record buck has been preliminary scored at 208 4/8 net.





https://www.northamericanwhitetail.c...rossbow/453795

[Dash]

How is rut activity shaping up so far for everyone? Not seeing much activity in my area as of yet. Shot my first wt (and first ever deer) 4 years ago on the 27th (rutting hard). Looking to hopefully harvest a 2nd one this year. I've learned a lot from this thread and I've got a great pocket I'm seeing a lot of general activity in so here's to hoping!

Throwback to my buck. Not a huge guy but I was sure happy with him.

[Planer99]

Nothing wrong with that buck! Continue to hunt that general area and there will be more like him....lots of big whitetails around armstrong.

[Dash]

Nothing wrong with that buck! Continue to hunt that general area and there will be more like him....lots of big whitetails around armstrong.

Thanks Planer! Sadly I still haven't figured out the area around home as of yet so this one is a bit of a drive to get to but I don't mind. Hopefully next spring and summer I can spend some time getting to know the forests closer to home.

[Ourea]

I think Sitka Spruce is offering invaluable information based on my understanding of WT.

Pay attention when he contributes.

I invested heavily on building this thread with not just pretty pictures and videos but on accurate real time info to help others.

Comment-

Most does will be impregnated Nov 20 - 25th (science based)
Most bucks will be sitting on any hot doe during that time and travelling less.

I would consider rattling like a mo foe this week.

[andrew5]

Fantastic thread for this first time WT hunter to follow as well. much appreciated everyone.

I've been reading up on rattling and scents, and it seems like people are mixed on whether to use them or not. I have the rattlin' buck bag that I tried out in October. no success. I'm wondering if rattling blind will be a net benefit, or if it potentially might scare off some bucks. my goal is to get my first WT buck, so a 2.5 - 3.5 buck would be jsut dandy.

any thoughts on whether to rattle or just focus on stealth?

same question for scent. if i am in a tree stand or ground blind facing into the wind, how does scent help? would it help to put some on my boots when i walk in?

I guess ideally i would want to hang a cloth with some scent out in the cut block, but then i am moving in the open and spreading human scent doing that.

any opinions on ideal setup using rattling and scent (or not) from a ground blind or tree stand for peak rut?

[Sitkaspruce]

Fantastic thread for this first time WT hunter to follow as well. much appreciated everyone.

I've been reading up on rattling and scents, and it seems like people are mixed on whether to use them or not. I have the rattlin' buck bag that I tried out in October. no success. I'm wondering if rattling blind will be a net benefit, or if it potentially might scare off some bucks. my goal is to get my first WT buck, so a 2.5 - 3.5 buck would be jsut dandy.

any thoughts on whether to rattle or just focus on stealth? Why not do both? I like to sit and rattle/grunt and wait. Just find a good trail with scrapes/rubs and a vantage point to see from and always hunt the wind

same question for scent. if i am in a tree stand or ground blind facing into the wind, how does scent help? would it help to put some on my boots when i walk in? I am not a big fan of scents when in a blind. I have been playing with scents this year and have a few "scent bombs" (Tinks Doe in Heat gel and Code Blue buck in rut) with a camera set up to see. Right now, my pee has been the best attractant for bucks. I think that if the competition is stiff for does then maybe the scent game might work as the bucks will be looking for any hot doe. Where I hunt, we don't have a lot of deer, so the bucks do a lot of roaming, so I hunt the does and don't worry too much about scents.

I guess ideally i would want to hang a cloth with some scent out in the cut block, but then i am moving in the open and spreading human scent doing that. Why an open cutblock? Hunt the timber, the deer feel more secure and will travel more comfortably in the timber. Find their travel trails and hunt those, ambushing them coming or going from bedding to fedding areas.

any opinions on ideal setup using rattling and scent (or not) from a ground blind or tree stand for peak rut?

I am trying the tampons hanging from a tree scent things this year as well.

My scrapes are heating up and getting some more action. This is a location about 200m away from the other scrape. Same bucks are hitting the scrapes!

https://youtu.be/EQT7meilMRY

It is getting to be prime time for deer hunting!!

Good luck to all!

Cheers

SS