Anyone willing to share there go to secrets that attract bucks. I know most methods are already documented but anyone have anything to share that maybe mainstream “habitat” gurus haven’t already put out there. Don’t be selfish, help me out. Someone has to be sitting on some self made tactics that generate results. Habitat improvements, hunting tactics, etc are welcome.
Spend 1-2 days “cutting junk” in timber. Some openings, some hinge, some crop tree release. Insanity on deer activity. Been said a million times but few do it or do it right. Variety in everyone of your plots. Tons of food that’s “unpressured”.
IMO- if a guy takes the time to put a rub post, some scrapes & water hole (whatever of those able, all if able) at every spot- very worth while. Some of them might not be the spot u shoot buck out of but the more good set ups the better.
The rest is a gazillion item long list u also have heard…. Get set ups u ain’t blowing stuff out. Get multiple farms if able. I honestly don’t think there’s a ton of “secrets” that folks won’t share & haven’t shared. There is for sure hard work and awesome set ups that pay off. There’s obviously great plots & timber that produce. It’s really no secret. The real secret is: most folks don’t do it. So- all the extra time, things done, spots set up, options where a guy can hunt & a low pressure set up- absolutely game changing.
IMO- if a guy takes the time to put a rub post, some scrapes & water hole (whatever of those able, all if able) at every spot- very worth while. Some of them might not be the spot u shoot buck out of but the more good set ups the better.
The rest is a gazillion item long list u also have heard…. Get set ups u ain’t blowing stuff out. Get multiple farms if able. I honestly don’t think there’s a ton of “secrets” that folks won’t share & haven’t shared. There is for sure hard work and awesome set ups that pay off. There’s obviously great plots & timber that produce. It’s really no secret. The real secret is: most folks don’t do it. So- all the extra time, things done, spots set up, options where a guy can hunt & a low pressure set up- absolutely game changing.
I think some of the most creative things i've done have involved making great access. I had farm that was a borderline cliff to get to a bottom on one side. I strung a climbing rope top to bottom to access a blind. Deer were NOT going to get behind you and you couldn't climb it without a rope. Maybe a hundred yards. Badass. Less extreme things for access.... lining up and stacking hay bales for screening, wooden fences, etc.
This is kind of random but take a solar yard light the kind that have the panel on top. Put 2-3 of these on the top of steel posts mid to late July within 30 yards of your stand along the edge of a crop bean field. The small amount of light they give out will stop the beans from maturing and they will be dark
green when the whole rest of the field will be brown with no leaves.
green when the whole rest of the field will be brown with no leaves.
Skip, I’m unfortunately stuck in Arizona for five more years doing my Leo thing, curious your thoughts say for a gu who gets a week and half period of hard work on the 2 farms every summer for improvements that I should focus on? I know that’s not enough time but I want to be exposing the biggest holes on this blank slate that I can. Food, Fruit, h2o, tsi, mocks, etc. is there a priority for someone in my shoes who has limited time to play farmer? I’m planting diversity as it stands but fresh off a consult and starting my application and curious on everyone’s must do projects in order if you were in my shoes.
The farm #2 is virgin and requires a little bit of everything, curious on the hierarchical approach for best bang for your buck in order to tackle?
Is there a hierarchicy for tree establishment ranking first established vs later plantings? Ie. Pear vs persimmons vs chestnut vs apple for a guy on a pretty darn fixed budget? I ask because I hit a blight failure on pears that weren’t supposed to be susceptible but lost 12 and that’s a lot of money for me trying to build a fun retirement playground.
For Ohio I have some sweet genetics and looking to be in the mix as I get the heck out of this mess they call Az!
Very happy with my consultant plan but know this forum is full of like minded guys who know protocol on planning steps.
Love this holy crap I need a class on thinking outside the box, have a 150 foot rope bought for scrapes but stinks of fuel that fits the bill and the military crest I have to go up/insane for access to the stand the property owner has killed many giants from (I got lucky with paying him in local Az coffee and beer). Literally could remake does goes hunting when I’m trying to go up this spot but it’s gold.
Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
Hunting strategy—It’s not a secret but if the wind is out of NE & we get 2+ inches of snow … I’ve had some dang good encounters with bucks, both in Iowa and Minnesota!
Take the day off or afternoon off if you can !
Take the day off or afternoon off if you can !
Windlooker
Well-Known Member
This has been put out there but here it is if some have forgotten. Keep a log of big buck movement during the rut. Many times the same buck will be in the same place, on the same date, and nearly the same time each year, if alive.