The Key to Mature bucks

[Sweet November]

Originally Posted by Critter Chaser

I am only going by what the guy told me. This particular piece was logged about 10 years ago and he said it should be thicker and the reason it wasn’t was because of the deer. As I think about it, maybe they just don’t want to do it because all the good trees are gone and there is not enough money in it for them. Not sure. Not sure what I am going to do next. Was the area you had clear-cut high land or low land?

Our clearcuts were at the edge where the lowland cedar swamp meets the highland hardwoods. They are as thick as all get out....very difficult to walk through. Next time we're up, you'll have to come take a look at it. I think the Doc and some of the rest of us are going to try to get up in mid February.

In regards to the other question, if you don't want a tree to regen or throw up suckers a good mix is 50% water, 50% glyphosate. In our situation the clearcut areas had mixed in conifers and they are popping up everywhere.

Craig

[bigeight]

Originally Posted by Critter Chaser

What are you treating the roots with?

I usually use tordon because it is easy to carry around when using the chainsaw. Works out of a little squirt bottle, rather than a pump sprayer I use with mixes.

Others might use different chemicals to do the same

[CanOpener]

Originally Posted by scrimshaw33

One thing's for sure they have all been in areas that were more remote than doe bedding areas, away from food, about 100 yards or so, whereas my does beds have been almost butted right up to food sources (within 20 yards or so).

Well Scrimshaw, since you've already hit the nail on the head I will share with you a chunk of info that I paid for, even though most of us know in the back of our heads that this is how it is.....Doe's bed for conveinence and "Bigger" bucks bed for nothing more than security. That is their main objective. They will travel much further to food just to stay alive and bed with confidence.

[Starbux]

Don Higgins....it's unfortunate that this thread kinda died on the vine after it was established that Michigan hunters are superior. Beyond that, there was some really good information exchanged on this topic. At any rate, I'm looking forward to your presentation this Saturday in STL.

[CanOpener]

Originally Posted by Starbux

Don Higgins....it's unfortunate that this thread kinda died on the vine after it was established that Michigan hunters are superior. Beyond that, there was some really good information exchanged on this topic. At any rate, I'm looking forward to your presentation this Saturday in STL.

Wow, and right out of left field comes Starbux. I think we can all move on now hopefully. This thread is a classic. You better make sure you get a front row seat and then maybe you'll be as smart as a Michigan hunter.

[Starbux]

Originally Posted by CanOpener

Wow, and right out of left field comes Starbux. I think we can all move on now hopefully. This thread is a classic. You better make sure you get a front row seat and then maybe you'll be as smart as a Michigan hunter.

I can only hope to be almost as good as you and some of my other northern neighbors some day. Your prowess in the whitetail woods is unattainable to most mortals...

[dgallow]

Originally Posted by CanOpener

Well Scrimshaw, since you've already hit the nail on the head I will share with you a chunk of info that I paid for, even though most of us know in the back of our heads that this is how it is.....Doe's bed for conveinence and "Bigger" bucks bed for nothing more than security. That is their main objective. They will travel much further to food just to stay alive and bed with confidence.

What are your observations for buck bedding relative to food source and prevaling wind direction? Specifically times outside of the rut phases.

Wind plays a big role here based on my observations. BTW...5 of the 6 top sheds were found on food source and all within a 250 yd diameter. How far from bedding I can't exactly say at this point....trail pics/videos this spring/summer will help unwravel the puzzle.

[CanOpener]

Originally Posted by dgallow

What are your observations for buck bedding relative to food source and prevaling wind direction? Specifically times outside of the rut phases.

Wind plays a big role here based on my observations. BTW...5 of the 6 top sheds were found on food source and all within a 250 yd diameter. How far from bedding I can't exactly say at this point....trail pics/videos this spring/summer will help unwravel the puzzle.

That is a million dollar question there.....in this post I remember Don saying he figured that a buck will travel up to a mile under the cover of darkness to feed at a destination type food source. I know on my place the older class bucks travel to the back edge of my place, but usually further back onto my neighbors to bed for the day and then at night travel South to North at least 80 acres in length. But that is with good cover most of the way. It seems I get most of the doe's to hunker down on our 80 with the bigger boys going a little further back into no mans land. A lot of what North Jeff is saying about the mature bucks laying back further than the doe's is really making a lot of sense to me now.

[PalmettoKid]

Originally Posted by dgallow

What are your observations for buck bedding relative to food source and prevaling wind direction? Specifically times outside of the rut phases.

Wind plays a big role here based on my observations. BTW...5 of the 6 top sheds were found on food source and all within a 250 yd diameter. How far from bedding I can't exactly say at this point....trail pics/videos this spring/summer will help unwravel the puzzle.

This is a good read if you haven't already read it:

http://www.northamericanwhitetail.co...-use-the-wind/