Mature buck avoids deer trails. How many of you have seen this behavior?

[longbow fanatic 1]

Tonight I watched a 160 inch buck walking through the woods without using deer trails. He was simply moving from one area to another and had zero interest in doing so by walking on established deer trails. I've witnessed this behavior before with mature bucks. It's extremely smart and difficult identify a bucks location in the woods when they're not using defined trails.

Has anyone else seen this behavior? Do you believe that bucks who use this tactic have realized that danger exists to them by walking on deer trails?

[Jake Scott]

He's cruising looking for hot does, in my opinion.  There may be other guys that disagree, but that is my opinion.  Did you happen to notice the wind direction?  I would be willing to bet he was walking into it to smell does in the area.

Jake

[joe ashton]

I believe that is common.  Also I've heard they will parallel to the trails on the down wind side checking for does.

[Bowhunter4life]

Absolutely!  The big bucks of any given area will rarely use the easily seen trails, but rather skirt said trails and scent check them, especially this time of the year...  

Their trails can be identified but are much more subtle then the blatant trails used by does...  That is one of the "secrets" to year in year out harvesting of mature bucks... IMO...  

With experience one finds these things out...  Most set up on the blatant trails and are tempted with does and lesser bucks that actually use these trails...  If and when a mature buck is encountered they are in "their" trails and don't present themselves  classically...  One needs to find the subtle trails around the blatant trails and set up on them rather then the blatant trails...  

If you are after meat, setup on the blatant trails...  You will have better luck getting "a" deer, but if you are after a mature buck find the trails within the trails and give yourself the best chance at that mature buck!

[Cwilder]

I see it all the time this time of year. Walking with nose to the ground with no plan on where they are going. Until they smell, hear or see something that interest them

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by Jake Scott:
He's cruising looking for hot does, in my opinion.  There may be other guys that disagree, but that is my opinion.  Did you happen to notice the wind direction?  I would be willing to bet he was walking into it to smell does in the area.

Jake

Thanks to all for your insights. Believe it or not, he was traveling in the same direction the wind was blowing. Crazy!

[eidsvolling]

Thanks to all for your insights. Believe it or not, he was traveling in the same direction the wind was blowing. Crazy! [/QB]

He's actually doing what these guys do all the time. They rely on the wind at their backs to keep them informed on what's behind them, while watching downwind to spot anything lying in wait or approaching from that direction.

Every time I find one of those oh-so-faint pathways off the beaten track, I smile at this – it's one of the many ways they get to be "mature".

[Jake Scott]

Originally posted by eidsvolling:
 

Thanks to all for your insights. Believe it or not, he was traveling in the same direction the wind was blowing. Crazy! [/b]

He's actually doing what these guys do all the time. They rely on the wind at their backs to keep them informed on what's behind them, while watching downwind to spot anything lying in wait or approaching from that direction.

Every time I find one of those oh-so-faint pathways off the beaten track, I smile at this – it's one of the many ways they get to be "mature". [/QB]

^This

Jake

[Bill Carlsen]

The Wensels talked about it in their first book. Roger Rothhaarr did as well.

[Friend]

Will attempt to position setups that afford lethal shot opportunities to the main trail, yet am focused on the more subtle parallel trail.

Due note: with the rut coming on, my focus would be on the doe concentrations in those locations.

[DaveT1963]

What I found is that larger more mature bucks walk across deer trails to pick up receptive does.  Most of the year mature bucks do their own thing and seldom walk doe trails or bed where does bed.... just my observation where I've hunted

[KentuckyTJ]

No rhyme or reason this time of year. Funnels and scrape lines go to them.

[Overspined]

They cut across trails going to different bedding areas looking for does. They smell the trails as they cross them and cover ground this way. Lay a scent drag and watch out.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I have seen this.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by Friend:
Will attempt to position setups that afford lethal shot opportunities to the main trail, yet am focused on the more subtle parallel trail.

Due note: with the rut coming on, my focus would be on the doe concentrations in those locations.

Friend,

You nailed it! Doe trails kill big bucks during rut. As far as subtle trails, that's a great point. Watching terrain and trails help to identify bucks trails.

As far as buck walking downwind to smell their back trail while they use their eyes to to watch for danger, I've never seen or heard of this. Mature bucks, while on the move almost always use prevailing winds to alert them of danger. I've heard of mature bucks bedding with their backs to the wind to smell their backwind while they watch their downwind side.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by Overspined:
They cut across trails going to different bedding areas looking for does. They smell the trails as they cross them and cover ground this way. Lay a scent drag and watch out.

[YORNOC]

Absolutely. One buck has long since died of old age, but I watched him for two years. I hunted a heavy doe trail, and he always made an appearance or two about 30 yards downwind of the main run.
As I changed stand locations in the area, I also saw rubs on trees paralleling the main runs, but way off to the sides.

[MnFn]

I have one trail that has been used only by mature bucks coming out of the creek bottom/slough to feed in my hayfield. Over the last ten years of watching that field I have never seen a doe enter the field there.  They do enter that part of the field at times, but not on that trail.  Some years, nothing uses it. But when they do they are usually nice bucks.

I assume for some reason  they feel secure coming out there, just at dusk.  Predominate wind direction and a very secure area behind them I am guessing.

[Sixby]

One might consider setting up 40 or so yards off of a main trail to the downwind side.
God bless and good hunting, Steve

[Knawbone]

Iv' seen where mature bucks will use their own trails year round or seasonal depending on food sources and of coarse the rut. Different bucks will have their own chosen trails sometimes as well, that normally only they use.