I can see him, but can't get him, ARGGGG

[96trigger]

OK boys. I saw the big one on Saturday night and on Sunday night. On Saturday night, he came out at 6ish. I got a good look at him from 75 yards away. He was pestering a doe in the hay field 150 yards away when he got bored. He left her alone and came towards me but couldn't hear my grunts or bleats because the wind was in the opposite direction.

On Sunday he and a harem came out at dark, probably 50 yards from my stand, He came in to the grunt but it got too dark to shoot him. I hunt woods surrounded by ag land. I have two stands 300 yards apart in great locations. The problem is, the deer will pop out at any time, from any location along that woodline and enter the field. Does anybody have any tips. If I had a decoy, I think that I could have gotten him in close enough on Saturday, but I have never used on or tried one. On Sunday, They came out of the woods closer to my truck than to me. Which really surprised me. Any ideas, I'm getting desperate with the gun season this weekend and the land borders state land. I figure that I have 3 more cracks at him before I don't see him again. I rattle in the morning, but only grunt and bleat in the evening. Anybody have any slick tips for getting a shot at him.

[zumbromuskie]

I've been using a decoy off and on the last couple years and it is effective. Set it up as a doe and place a canister of estrous on it's back. Also put some estrous ion the tree with you. Rattle some and use a bleat can. Be patient and he will find you.

[sticknstring]

Sounds like what I've been witnessing the past two weekends... watching a respectable buck work a field with plenty of shooting light but coming out in different places each night and staying out of bow range.

I've been thinking about using a buck decoy as well... as grunts and rattling haven't gotten him aggravated at all. More content just feeding right now but that's only a day or two from changing...

I've had mixed results with decoys but with a week to go... it's worth a shot... all depends what mood he's in.

Good luck - I hope you get a crack at him!

[Stratosman]

DO you know where the does are bedding? If so getin between there and the field. Or between two or more bedding areas. It's tough this time of year to pattern a buck.

[sticknstring]

Yeah I normally wouldn't setup on a field this time of year except to hunt does but this guys been workin it like clockwork arriving randomly at sunset... I'd expect it out of dinks but not this guy. I figure I got a few more days to get a crack at him before he starts cruisin...

[96trigger]

Where I am at there, really is no true designated bedding area. Bluff country is tough that way. The deer will bed pretty much anywhere in the woods, Usually in the thicker stuff, but there is thick stuff all over, one day they will be bedded down one place, and someplace different the next.

I have had good luck seeing some big boys archery season along field edges. I just have to wait until they come out in the open, and then call them in, usually its dark. I've thought about getting farther into the woods, but they can come from sooo many different places, its hard to even fathom finding a spot they might travel.

[snapcrackpop]

I agree with what you have said about hunting the field edge. But how about "calling them in" before you see them, rather than after? Might get a few more minutes before dark.

[FISHINGURU]

make a mock scrape and hang some scent wicks, put some dominant buck urine and some estrous in there. he'll come and check the scrape before he enters the field.

[96trigger]

As of tonight I am considering my favorite tree stand dead. I was out tonight and I saw a ton of deer, 3 confirmed bucks, hard to say how many of the other dark shadows and distant figures were bucks. Numerous does out early, getting chased. Only one little basket 8 came within shooting range of me, and even he avoided my stand. The deer have wisened up to its location, whether it be from over calling, or too frequent of use, I believe the deer are intentionally avoiding it.

On a side note, I walked back to my truck and had 3 deer eating 75 yards away from me in the field, I could make out the dark silhouetts against the light background of the corn field. The deer watched me the whole time I put away my bow and took off my camo. The didn't trot off until the dome light came on in the truck. When I was walking back they paid no attention to me whatsoever. It was kind of cool.