ChasinTail

He has a real nice coat in all the photos. Except for around his neck. It is torn up and missing hair either from fighting or mange.

The last three weeks have been dead....My game cam picked up only one small buck and two doe, and those were at night! I have hunted 5 times without any movement. This morning after another quiet hunt before work, I checked my cam with not too much expectation and found this guy. For Florida, this buck is a good deer. I am now re-motivated to sit in a tree for at least another few weeks!

I have used it with quite a bit of success. I have never used year old 307 but I guess if it was kept semi cool it should be fine. It smells like black licorice to me but the deer here seem to enjoy it. They usually come in to my wicks with their nose in the air.

Truly feeling for you man. Makes me sick knowing what you are going through...

What a neck on em'!

I shot the larget buck of my life after using the rattling bag still in my pocket. I was able to make some noise through my pants pocket but not give alot of visual movement. He was looking in my general direction and I feel if I would have used real antlers he would have surely seen me.

One miss on an opening evening 8 point and one hit the following Saturday on a 6 point. I guess I am 2 points in the hole....I will find a cowhorn spike to even things up!! :boo:

I just switched over from the WB this year for about the same reason you are. I went with the Octane Hostage and feel my groups have tightened up a bit. I had success with it Saturday, hitting a 6 point.

A little pricey but you can pick up the maintnance pack (blades, screws, and rubber stoppers) to keep them in good shape. I have had them 2 years now and have replaced a part here and there without any notice of change in their performance.

After an opening day miss 2 weeks ago on an 8 point, I needed something to restore my confidence. Not the biggest deer I have taken, but down her in the deep south, I usually take what I can get! He will eat good! I think I am sold on the Rage 2's now! I could drive my truck through those wounds...

that is encouraging then!

Earlier befor the season I laid out some corn in a few areas to see what I could get on camera. I went back to one of these areas to hunt this week and all I can smell is rotten corn in the ground from the fresh rain. Do you think this will keep deer from coming in this area (I mean it is nasty)? I know the hogs will come in looking for that smell....but thats not what Im after.

look at the hams on that gal!

I know we hear alot about the 50:50 ratio. I have put out three game cams on feeders on my property and am seeing more like a 75:25 buck to doe ratio. I know the doe exsist because I have seen several small button bucks who were born from someone. Do I have a good problem or should I try and take out some more bucks than normal even non mature? We dont take alot of does here because of the strict seasons on them but it seems we are having the opposite issue than what I have seen in the past.

Thats like your local police dept claiming they dont want to set a speed trap in fear of they might catch too many people speeding...

I figured it out. Go ahead and change your mind that you will in fact harvest this deer, then Murphey's Law will work and you will immediatly scare the deer off with movement, noise, or smell! :chair:

I enjoyed watching a spike tonight eating right under me and eventually laying down. Then I realized he wasnt going anywhere by the time I needed to get down from my stand. A possum walked up to him and I thought alright, this will get him out of here. Nope, the possum ate right next to him while he enjoyed the show. Finally I started tossing tree bark at him which he seemed amused at. Then, right at dark, I did an aggresive grunt which ended up bringing in another buck! He ran off the spike, then winded me. I caught a glimpse of him with my flashlight. Any tips on such situations with out ruining chances at these deer later in life? Next time, he may end up being dinner!

I have seen these dual sights at bass pro and was wondering if anyone here uses these. In theory, they seem they would be more accurate and get rid of bow torque. May get a set unless somebody can talk me out on here.

Going out after work tomorrow to try this again...Hopefully I will come back with some meat and a photo for you guys for redemption!

After reviewing my trail cam two days before Saturday's opening bow season, I was pumped when I saw five shootable bucks. Most of which were in daylight hours! I hunted morning till night yesterday and had a great 8 point come out to my right one hour before dark. I was down wind of him and in between him and my feeder. When he got 20 yards to my right, he did an unexpected 180 and started feeding his way away. He did not seem spooky at all. When he got 25 yards out, he offered a decent quartering away shot. Not my favorite shot but definetly do-able. Since I didn't see this buck in any of my photos I figured this may be my only chance. I let an arrow fly and watched in slow motion as he darted left by half an inch, leaving a dry arrow in the ground. He never blew and only ran away about 30 more yard and slowly walked into the thick stuff. I lightly grunted and waited with no luck for the rest of the hunt. The slap in the face was my treestand strap broke and my flashlight broke making a 3/4 mile walk back tough. I need redemption bad!

Re Well I took your guy's advice and didnt panic. I put my new trail cam up (first one i have ever used!) and left it for 5 days in my spot which I thought had gone cold. I went back this morning and changed out my memory card. On the way to my cam I jumped a spike and two hogs right near my spot. After wiping off my sweat and changing back into my work outfit, I couldnt wait anymore and threw the card into my laptop. Very first picture was of an 8 point! Not the biggest, but an 8 none the less! There were many photos of two seperate spikes and does. About 6 different photos were in daylight shooting hours. Now I am pumped again for Saturday. Im glad I didnt go tearing through the woods trying to find a new spot!

Good Point!

Good thoughts! I guess I was so excited to get permission to hunt this spot, I just started thinking "must hunt here now"! Think I will go in tomorrow and clear some lanes and not come back till the last few weeks of archery season. May put in a trail cam while Im there too...thanks!

I have recently been given permission to hunt a piece of my land I was not expecting to be able to hunt. I know there are lots of deer in there but it is real thick. With only two and a half weeks until season, would I do more damage than good by clearing a few trails to get into this area (very thick). Google Earthing it, I see some open islands and some good looking swamp but there is just no way to get in there without a machete and clippers. I dont want to go in there so close to the season opener sweating and making alot of noise if it is just going to scare everything off for a month! What do you guys think?

I am at a loss...A prime spot of my property I have hunted for going on 8 years now has gone flat. I have taken 2 lifetime bucks from this spot over the years and several average bucks. Last year, I let three decent bucks walk in hopes of them maturing this year. I haven't done anything different and as always, I remain dilligent on scent control and limited exposure. In some last minute scouting, I found zero sign! Limited track and no rubs. This is usually a place with more rubs than I can count. I always count on this spot for opening week (Sept 18) but now I don't know what to do. Should I stay hunting an area that has been great for almost a decade or should I move along? Should I try and use attractant in this area to retrieve these deer? I have found some moderate sign in other spots but this spot has always been good and offers cover, water, and food. Side note, no other hunters hunt near this spot and I have not found one bit of sign of poachers. Why would it shut down like this. OK, I am done venting....