So you think this is easy?

I thought I'd start a thread describing some hunts we are doing in our preserve. The following buck was photographed on our cuddeback cameras numerous times in July/August (I didn't have the date/time set correctly). I sent the pictures to over 10 hunters and without exception they all wanted to try to hunt the buck. So far we have had 19 hunters hunting the buck (3 days each) and he is still doing fine. In fact, he has yet to be seen!....We currently have 3 very good hunters (rifle) that are trying to take him. ...I'll keep everyone posted!

I just had 3 very good hunters from the Atlanta area leave with thier tails between thier legs. They all were hunting the buck with rifles and he was sighted one time crossing a field on a dead run. They did find 3 other bucks that I had seen on cuddeback in the Summer but hadn't seen hunting. However, they didn't get any of those either! They did take two preserve bucks and one hunter decided to hunt our low-fenced leased land and he took a buck. He said that was easier than trying to hunt that ghost buck!



I'll keep you updated!



Sam

This buck is one of the smartest I've seen (well I haven't really seen him in person). He has only been seen once this season (as stated earlier). We have put out 4 cameras this week to try to figure out where he is hiding and see if he has broken anything off. If I get some pictures I'll post them. I have a guy that says he is coming to get him the week before X-mas. I doubt it! In fact, I'd bet a lot of money that no-one gets him! I checked the cameras today and have some pictures of one of the other "native" bucks. I'll post it soon. We call the bucks "native" if they were born and grew up in the preserve, even if they are out of better genetics. They are smart. Really smart and know how to deal with people. A 4 or 5 year old native buck can be smarter than a low fenced free ranging buck. They pattern you and know how you hunt, when you hunt, and where you hunt. The only way to take these deer is with forced drives (which we don't do) or at night (which we have never tried but often suggested (HA)).



Thats why we call it "High Fenced, Fair Chase".

We are guessing him in the 180-190 class. We have been underestimating most of them so he may be bigger....If we don't get him we should at least find the sheds.

Thanks guys! Its fun to have deer this smart. My son Brain bought me an early X-mas present, a climber to try and hunt the buck myself. I may give it a try after everyone is through. I've hunted bucks in other preserves but have never hunted one in my own preserve. This buck REALLY intrigues me!

When it came down to it, you my be right Ram. He is not only a fun buck to have in the preserve, he is also a good buck to let breed. If I got the chance to pull the trigger, I'm not sure I could! Especially if I thought he had some good years left. I think he is only about 3-4 years old. I just want to find him on camera again. I think I spotted him in the dark the other night coming in from a hunt. He might be using a large thick cedar patch for cover now that the leaves are all gone. I'll have Brian put out the cameras! Maybe I'll get a picture to post

We still can't find him but we've got some pretty good photos of some other deer.



Our block of land is 1052 acres but of course we only have about 60-70% under high fence. So I'd guess about 700 acres. Our terrain is about 1/3 woods, 1/3 grass/foodplots, and about 1/3 draws/overgrowth. The preserve is about 1 1/2 miles North to South and about 3/4 miles from East to West. We have 12 different stands that we hunt and can handle about 4-5 hunters fairly easily. Our deer population in the preserve is maintained at about 250 deer. We supplementally feed about 2 tons of feed per week in the preserve. That equates to a little over 2 lbs of food per day per deer. The rest of their diet is made up of clovers, grasses, browse, and other foods (acorns, etc) produced in the preserve.



We don’t have much of a browse line so our undercover is fairly thick. That along with very thick stands of cedar trees make visibility only about 20 feet in some areas. We don’t have much luck still hunting. That usually ends in being busted by does and the rest of the deer leaving in a hurry. We mostly hunt in the stands and sometimes will spot and stalk if the conditions are right.



The fighting this year has been extremely bad. We have only found a couple of bucks dead, but have 15-20 bucks with their antlers completely broken off just past the brow tines. Right now, we can go out and hunt and see 6-10 bucks that are broken up. It is rare to see one with a full, un-broken set of antlers. I’m hoping the big native deer still has his.



Anyway…I’ll let you know what I find…I have some hunters coming in a week from today to try and find him!