Bucks Be Creepin'

If you have ever had the opportunity to observe a group of unpressured deer, you may notice that young deer act a bit different than the older ones, and mature bucks act differently than all other deer. In my experience, this behavior difference is year round.

Last year was my first season to bow hunt, and I was very lucky to have a private piece of land to set up on and arrow my first whitetail. This is a two man ladder stand sitting on the edge between a large wooded area and an overgrown hay pasture, right over a food plot. I didn't know which direction the deer would come from, but I knew they like this particular spot.

I got in the stand super early and fought mosquitoes almost the entire time (that's why this year I invested in a Thermocell) and I was sweating a whole bunch from wearing long sleeve camo. As typical, that golden hour around sundown brought the first movement of the evening. It was a doe and her fawn, just out of spots, making their way to the food plot. I debated on whether to take the mother doe, and my excitement told me the fawn was old enough to run off and join up with her sisters.

Well, due to some bad luck along the lines of not making sure I had space around my cams, I missed way low. This spooked both does, but not enough to skedaddle, just enough to get the mom to stomp and snort a whole bunch. She was out of range so she got a pass. I was a bit relieved and a bit upset, but it was a new experience for me.

I still had 20 minutes of legal hunting light and decided to use it to make my way back to the truck. No way any more deer were going to come through there after that stomp and blow session.

I was wrong.

After getting down and passing the end of the food plot 60 yards ago, I see him in the corner of my eye. I froze and slowly turned to look at him. Once this 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 big bodied buck realized I was looking at him, he about-faced and crashed through the woods. I could hear the leaves and branches crunching the whole way to my truck.

That different behavior exhibited by mature bucks I mentioned earlier? They are the last ones out, almost every single time, not including the time around and during the rut. They are back in the woods, observing the does and fawns, waiting till those last few minutes of shooting light before they tentatively make their way to the food plot.

Now I know why these pro hunters wait in their stands for 30 to 90 minutes after shooting hours. They know if the buck didn't show up during daylight, then he was most likely out there after, happily grazing in the dark. You don't want to spook them from your stand, because then they will have a reason to be cautious around that area. If you can't wait that long in the stand, then have someone drive up to come get you. That way the vehicle spooks them from the opposite direction of your hunting spot.

Like a lot of the most important life lessons, this is one I've learned the hard way. So, take it from me and force yourself to be patient, and you just might give yourself an opportunity you didn't know was available.

Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.