What if you Spook the Buck you're Hunting | Bowhunting Whitetails w/ Bill Winke

[@marklohman965]

When the guy with the black mask and knife confronts me, junior comes out of the holster and barks real loud. No more guy with a black mask and a knife.

[@gordonc615]

Love that profile pic

[@specag31]

Shhhh, Lybs will start issuing carry permits to bucks.

[@bill-winke]

Love it. Great comment. Have a great day.

[@stevenschmidt5712]

I think the key is that you said he will not leave his core area. Studies on collared deer prove this. Aside from rut expansion you may just have to hunt him in a different area inside his home range. I like the analogies. Always good to self reflect on how much you spooked him and adjust. Hope you had a great Father’s Day! Thanks Bill, great info as always.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Steven. Happy Father's Day to you also. Good points and appreciated.

[@artbrennhofer8283]

Great video Bill. Really like the comparison to us being scared by something. Good luck with stinky.

[@bill-winke]

There is no hope for Stinky. We gave up on him a long time ago! Thanks for the comment.

[@keithkempenich6401]

An important thing to note on spooking a buck in his bed, I think, is that he will very likely keep bedding there. The bed did it's job - he was alerted to danger and it kept him alive. That's a bed you keep using, not one you throw away. I like these little advice episodes, keep 'em coming! Less than 90 days til the season opens in MN and I'm already starting to get antsy!

[@bill-winke]

Good point Keith. I think if it is repeated a few times he will change his bedding area to a place with less intrusion, but as you say, at first he won't. Have a great day.

[@rfb7117]

Bill you are absolutely correct. Two years ago our target buck was a 183" buck. My grandson shot him low, stayed quiet in the stand and the buck trotted off but was not spooked. We returned after dark and found a little blood that ended quickly and we quietly left the area. We saw the buck a few days later on a cell camera and he looked perfectly healthy. We stayed out of the area and one week later my grandson shot him off the same stand and the buck went less than 50 yards. thanks, Bob

[@bill-winke]

Congrats to your grandson! That is an awesome buck. Thanks for the input and the comment. I appreciate your support. Have a great day.

[@kapperoutdoors]

Very good intel based on experience Bill!

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Kapper. Much appreciated. Have a great day.

[@chasepope7915]

I’m a new hunter. I just started late last season and learning as I go. I hunt with my father in law and he knows a lot, but there’s still a lot that I don’t know until the situation presents itself. I spooked a buck last night getting out of the stand. I’m not sure if he saw me. He went running and stopped about 40 yards away and just kept blowing. I wasn’t sure the proper way of getting out of a stand with deer around.

[@tfrost33elkhunter]

Always rattled me when I spook a buck. This video definitely helps me! The next time I spook one, I will keep this exact video in mind! Thank you!

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the comment. Much appreciated. Have a great day.

[@kevinybarra5239]

What about a small wood lot with a neighboring woods? He didn’t run towards that woods, he actually ran the opposite way but I’m not sure how to go about hunting him. I was walking in and he saw me while he was chasing a doe, middle of the rut in Michigan. Great video!

[@alexpinnow6509]

Good information Bill. First booner I found myself chasing got light wind of me and I thought he was gone forever. He was back on the farm 3/5 days after that pushing does and all I got was a 75"+ shed as a consolation prize.

[@bill-winke]

Good input Alex. I am sure the shed was a nice find, but it sure would have been nice to get him. Have a great day.

[@treyclary8248]

Great video, in my experiences there is a huge difference in a buck catching your ground scent or boot tracks. A home body buck will seem to tolerate it. But if they catch your scent out of the air and know danger is present, they will stay clear of this area for the remainder of the season. But when it comes to bucks on the edge of their range or ones that only show up a couple times a year, you only get 1 chance. If they detect any negative scenario you will never see them again.....

[@bill-winke]

Good points Trey. I appreciate the input and hope you have a great day.

[@scottclark1168]

Great topic,cause it for sure makes a difference how spooked they got

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the comment Scott. I hope you have a great day.

[@grinder881]

Very interesting video. I hadn't thought that in depth about it before. This video made me remember encounters with deer and what level of spook the deer had. One night I had a deer come up behind me and saw me move. He bounded off. The 2nd night the deer came back again and I saw him 1st, but when he got closer he kept looking up in trees by me. He never came close enough for a shot and stopped then turned and walked away and never came back. I hunted somewhere else the next night, but had put a camera up and he never showed up ever.

[@bill-winke]

I had one like that too. He saw me in the tree at close range and really blew out. The next night I saw him making the same route, but this time he stopped and then detoured and went completely around the small field I was sitting along and passed on the other side. I am sure it was because he saw me up there the night before. Some stuff they really register while other stuff just kind of blows right by them. As mentioned, it has to do with how scared they got.

[@sirmize1230]

Great advice! Missed a monster last night and he jumped walked 5 yards, looked around for awhile and was standing behind a tree 17 yards from me. He turned and hopped off. Never knew I was there, didn’t make any noise, and couldn’t see a threat. Was gonna pull my stand and hunt a different run but I think I’ll stay thanks to your advice.

[@bill-winke]

You should be fine hunting there again soon. Good luck.

[@sirmize1230]

@@bill-winke I’m gonna let it sit for 2 weeks and watch my cams. Can’t go wrong for my first sit on a spot I found that day lol found out my bow was 6 inches off but now she’s dialed thanks again

[@RushOutdoors]

Bill that is some good info. I have noticed the same thing over the years. If they have a bad encounter with min risk they come back, and or stay in the same area using the same beds, and so on. But if they get hit or pin point you as a threat they will move off further than the low stress intrusion. One for instance I hit a buck in the shoulder high in 2013 a big 8pt I called double crabclaw all on film. 2014 zero pics no encounters with him. 2015 late Oct pics, and I killed the same buck out of the same tree in the same spot on Nov 4 but two years after I hit him. He was 6yrs old dressed 247# and I got the broadhead out of his shoulder which sits on the mount. Kind of a cool story, and all filmed.

[@bill-winke]

That is a really cool story. Thanks for the input and the comment. They are fascinating animals for sure. Have a great day.

[@midwesternoutdoorsandnatur8272]

Good stuff Bill, I remember you spoke to this on midwest whitetail sometime back. I always remembered that and it changed my mindset somewhat on how boogered they really get based on how much evidence they took in.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the comment. I really appreciate that and the support. Have a great day.

[@mitchellgenz1373]

Great information Bill, learning a lot from this channel.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the support Mitchell. Have a great day.

[@JayN4GO]

Hunting a mature 5 year old last year. Evening pre rut food plot. Does until dark. I make my way down the stand. The last rung popped and I heard what sounded like a horse bolt. Cell cam phots showed him about 100yards away at that point. That buck vanished for 2 months. He made it but I may never get a shot at him. I nicknamed that farm the fringe farm bc the way it lays , you have to hunt fringes or you’ll get caught. A few seasons ago my cousin arrowed a 150 once and the buck survived. Same tree 2 weeks later another wounding shot. 1 week later the same tree he finally made a good shot. Beating the whitetail nose of a mature buck pre gun season is almost impossible. That’s why I enjoy topography of farms that have high success rates of mature buck harvests. Definitely something to keep in mind when looking to buy a farm.

[@bill-winke]

It is tough when the deer can always get downwind of you. The only option in that case is to hunt from a blind that you can totally close up so the scent stays inside. I have had good success doing that. Good luck.

[@mikemellon80]

thanks. good info and something i haven't heard a lot of guys talking about

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the support and for taking the time to comment. Have a great day.

[@unclemoe5733]

Well broken down here Bill. That answered my question. I hunted a ridge last year. And graised a large buck. Was wondering if that spot would still hold him for this coming season.

[@bill-winke]

He should be there this fall Moe, if he is still alive. Good luck.

[@unclemoe5733]

@@bill-winke thanks

[@seanbalch7563]

Good subject Bill.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Sean. Have a great day.

[@MikeGreen-xm5oj]

Awesome video

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Mike. Good luck this season.

[@jakedejonckheere4874]

Hey Bill, what if your target bucks spot you and another person in the middle of the afternoon walking in on a trail to hang a stand in the end of september? They saw us but casually turned and walked off? Think they'll he back? Possibly their bed

[@bill-winke]

Jake, I don't think that is a big deal. As long as they don't run into a person there in the meantime, I would say only a few days. A week max. And he will be back to his regular behavior.

[@thomaslewis5773]

Was hunting out of a blind. Had a buck come in at 20 yards-he heard me draw back-stoped looked at the blind and rand off. He blew 4 times. Spot blown?

[@bill-winke]

Yes. I think so. For that deer for a while anyway. They are always looking for excuses to distrust blinds. After a while he will forget it but it may take a while. Not sure how long that takes. Could be a couple weeks.

[@thomaslewis5773]

@@bill-winke I got him on camera a few hours later (night) at the same spot. Would it be best to move the blind or leave it alone?

[@jasonchivis9911]

I was walking an area to scout for a stand location. The big buck saw me about 60 yards out and jumped up out of his bed and ran over the hill. He didn’t snort in any way. Will he be back there if he saw me?

[@bill-winke]

He will come back but likely will sneak back in the night sometime to check it out. I would suggest leaving that area alone for a while and letting him settle back into the area. You should still hunt him, just not in that spot. Good luck.

[@matthewwillis2389]

I had a big 8 come in last night up wind. He saw me reach for my bow and we had some intense eye contact, although I kept my eyes closed. He went about he way slowly. I noticed when he put his head down to feed he kept on eye on me out of bow range. Towards the end he trotted off. He never smelled me or never spooked. I’m staying out of that area for the next few days hoping he’ll come back through.

[@bill-winke]

Matthew, I think if he comes past there a couple times with issues he will forget about it. You are doing the right thing. Good luck.

[@matthewwillis2389]

@@bill-winke I shot him yesterday morning at 7:55. By himself, just eating acorns. Had 2 doe above me 10 mins prior. 15 yards I took the shot at. He ran 40 and piled up.

[@anthonysantillo1358]

U R right on the money.Thank U

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Anthony. Good luck.

[@lonniechartrand]

Very good analogy as to a frightened buck, in using humans as an example.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the comment Lonnie. Much appreciated. Have a great day.

[@s.e.8719]

Great content.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks. Much appreciated. Have a great day.

[@edwardclark5211]

Dream Big brother 🙏

[@ernestroger3326]

How in the world do you find out where a buck lives ? I just don’t understand .

[@bill-winke]

You can figure it out, or at least get a really good guess, by using trail cameras to give you information. It is not just where you get the photos that matters, but where you don't get them and the direction the buck is coming from when he approaches the camera that tells you a lot about where he is bedding/living. I can usually tell within a 40 acre area, roughly, the location of a buck's core area after running cameras for about two to three weeks.

[@ernestroger3326]

@@bill-winke Thank you for taking the time to respond . I will work to that end .

[@tekjack3832]

I have a 9 coming out it would be my first but he was on schedule for 715 am every morning a doe blew at me an hour later a small 5 point came out but never saw the 9 what is some advice I am hunting wind i wash clothes in scent free wash i have pine tree scent cover i havent used the pines are not super strong Any advice?

[@bill-winke]

I would look for other spots to hunt him as the rut approaches. Any patterns will disappear now. Look for funnels, spots where a couple trails come together, for your stands now. Keep playing the wind but look for spots a bit deeper in the cover. Good luck.

[@jarrodlambert3914]

Nice

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the comment Jarrod. Have a great day.

[@RushOutdoors]

Oh man Bently is going to need a bath!!

[@bill-winke]

That is a given. Bentley always needs a bath!

[@cericson3426]

Did it last year spooked about 160" buck. I was hunting a bench high up on the side of a ridge one evening the downdrafts got me. I moved to the other side of the farm quarter mile away and hunted over there for a while. I was getting some pictures of a real good Buck over there too. I did manage to kill a real good 8pt late in the season but it wasn't my target buck I quit hunting that area for close to a month I went back in there

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. I enjoy learning from other people's experiences too. Have a great day.

[@lisaannaallen6283]

you did not address the age of the deer matters. alot of your viewers are hunting 3 and 4 year olds, they don't act the same as a5 6 7 8 year old. this is why the only place on my farms i don't go in the offseason is the bedding areas ,otherwise i check my TC and putter around to get the does use to me.

[@bill-winke]

I think it is really any buck for the most part. Maybe the older ones react a bit differently to some scares than the younger ones and remember them longer, but even 3 year old bucks will react pretty much the way I described in the video. Have a great day.

[@craigkowalczyk3516]

Jealous of you mid west guys. Like bill when you said the buck was living on this ridge. Times that area by 500 in the northeast. You guys have it made in these little pockets of woods

[@bill-winke]

That is really tough hunting up there Craig. Some of our bucks are roamers, but as they get older, most of them tend to localize into a fairly small range with a very identifiable core area. Have a great day.

[@shadowdawg04]

Appreciate your thoughts here Bill... always good to be reminded of the basics 🙂

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Shadowdawg. It is interesting to me to pay attention to which bucks I see again after bumping them and which ones I don't. Some of it is their personality and whether or not they are homebodies too, but the whole process is fascinating.

[@shadowdawg04]

@@bill-winke Agreeded. There's a uniqueness to every situation, but underneath it all is the fundamental instinct of survival. Their ability to adapt to pressures and environmental changes is fascinating to me. I've always believed the whitetail is the hardest animal to hunt in North America. Yet the unpredictability is everything! 🙂

[@optimuscrime608]

Let’s say I shot at a big buck and he ran off, stopped, and started blowing. Never seen me in the tree. Will he be back?

[@bill-winke]

He will stay in that area, but it may be a while before he trusts that tree location again. I would keep hunting him in the general area, but rest that stand for at least a week or more. Good luck.

[@MollyDogg1234]

I carry a tool to take care of idiots with black masks and knifes. I will absolutely walk down that sidewalk again, but he won't. With that being said, you are obviously extremely intelligent, I've learned a lot from you. Really enjoy your content!!

[@bill-winke]

I like that comment. I appreciate the support and hope you have a great day.