A couple of clarifications. The red lines are movement trails. The blue line where the buck ran off out of his island bed goes across a small strip of timber running north south and turns NW across a hay pasture. Then he turned back west a a fencerow of trees that are boarded on the north by some scrubby brushy trees that are all 10-15 years old. Its a pretty good density.
The light areas are row crops. The field the island is located in was beans and the field to the north of that island was corn.
Dave,
I usually park a fair distance away from any of this and walk in. Recently I've been coming in from the west. I could come in from the south as well.
-------------------- Life ain't a dress rehearsal. Posts: 967 | From: Weston, MO | Registered: Apr 2003
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Chris, I would try the island a couple mornings if you could hang a stand before hand or use a climber very quietly. Get in there really early and without a light. Worst thing that could happen is you spook him outta there again, and that might discourage him from bedding there and make him more accessible. I'm betting you'll see him and if nothing else take your binocs and maybe you'll see him leaving the beanfield. If that didn't work I would try the strip of timber he used as his escape route. Should be good in the evening with a north wind. Good luck:)
-------------------- "You can't have NO in your heart"- Joe Dirt Posts: 910 | From: Southern Illinois | Registered: Apr 2006
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Hunt hard. I know no way to out think or out smart an old buck. You have him located. Now, put in the time. I would try to be unpredictable by using a tree seat and ghillie. Hunt the wind and try various spots in the timber. Good luck.
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Chris, It looks to me like you have the classic funnel scenario going on with his island bedding area. I would try to get a stand up in the funnel where the island narrows. Big deer love these island sanctuaries. If he is using this island daily you'll bag him coming or going. His preference will be to use the cover to move majority of time. Hang a stand or two in funnel and only hunt them when wind is correct. Good luck.
-------------------- hunt it Posts: 3590 | From: london,ontario,canada | Registered: Nov 2003
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I'd move that south stand further south near the edge of the field. That's assuming there's something for them to eat. What do they have for a food source?
-------------------- Got wood? - Tom Posts: 4823 | From: Illinois | Registered: Mar 2003
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Chris IMO I would concentrate on where I saw him last. Big bucks are holed up there for a reason. Like a big mulie they like to be able to look around from their bed. The best ambush point for me would be the north/south line where the island sticks out. Right where your line angles up. Catch a N wind and come in from the south and hang a stand for an evening hunt. With any luck you will catch him coming either from the north fencerow or out of his bed/island. Good luck!!!
-------------------- Mike Davenport Posts: 2204 | From: Southern IL | Registered: Jan 2006
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I would Set-up a ground blind at the neck or funnel portion where the land and timber are narrow before you reach the small patch of timber He is bedding. This is the path He will be using almost every time. h Here is where He is the most vulnerable......ONE SHOT...
Posts: 452 | From: Overland Park, Kansas | Registered: Feb 2004
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I say very carefully ... You know the area and conditions more than anyne, so I am just thinking out loud from what you've told me...
Not in the bedding area, but his entrance/exit areas to food or bedding... I might would try his known travel/escape route... Either of those areas where your blue line segments meet as long as I had the approach and wind in my favor... But older bucks are tough for a reason and even when I get close, he wins more than I do... So take it for what it is worth...
Good Luck!!!
-------------------- Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes. ~Zig Ziglar~ Posts: 848 | From: Georgia | Registered: Jul 2004
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I agree with tryting to hang a stand on that corner on the south side of his escape route. The usual wind for me in MO is N-NW, so stay on the south side of where he is going to travel. In that situation be prepared for an all day sit. The other idea I had was to hang an observation stand on the south side of the field where the trees bump out a little and maybe you can watch him to get a pattern
-------------------- PBS regular UBM life member Compton Posts: 1020 | From: Imperial, MO | Registered: Jul 2005
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This is the way I see it, You have seen a pattern that maybe consistant.You say w/ a certian wind this buck was jumped from his bed and went a certian direction.I would wait for the same wind direction and setup at that point where this buck enter the feild the day you jumped him and have someone walk the same line of path the day you jumped him and see if he escapes the same way.
Posts: 1906 | From: Va | Registered: May 2004
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Do a push and put yourself in the area of the woods where he entered last time he ran. Have a buddy do a walk by and push the deer. ChuckC
Posts: 3700 | From: Deforest, Wisconsin | Registered: Oct 2003
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-------------------- "go afield with good attitude,and with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and the forest and fields in which you walk" -Fred Bear Posts: 1026 | From: kentucky | Registered: Dec 2009
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Imo I would ground blind (if the wind is in my favor) on the peninsula east of the3-bedding area closer to the point and if you enter from the south early hug the wood line to get to the peninsula.You should be able to see him cross to his bedding area in plenty of time and worse case if anything from the other bedding area besides to move you may end up with a shot from them.He makes a sharp turn to the west and if you are east of that turn you should be good for scent.Good Luck
-------------------- Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don’t have that problem. —President Ronald Reagan Posts: 7953 | From: NJ to GA back to NJ =Lost ;) | Registered: Sep 2009
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