Where Early Bow Season Bucks Disappear To

[@Kurtdog63]

Always good info to ponder Jeff. All bucks still in velvet here on trail cam. Season starts in one week. All big bucks nocturnal due to squirrel season opened. Won't see much mature buck daytime activity till pre-rut and good weather patterns for movement. Hot weather, mosquitoes, ticks, and bucks still in the velvet, may be time to fish.

[@alexboael25]

Great information for rookies here!!! Thanks!!! Good to understand basic of the buck behavior summer vs fall.

[@z06supervette13]

My food plot has a huge variety! Its always changing and new food growing all the time. Can't wait to see what happens this season. Jeff thank you for what you do. A true master in the woods.

[@kurtcaramanidis5705]

I've noticed that for years, but never put it together like you do in your videos. Well done.

[@ryanjohnson1480]

I was thinking the same thing. Every summer my wife asks me where all the big bucks are. I always tell her that they will show up in October, and they always do. Ive thought about the reason for it but I never thought about this angle

[@Grizzlife]

I implemented your model to my farm early last year. I had 33 different bucks young and mature on trail camera and a ton of does in July 2019. This year not any mature deer on camera until yesterday. Within 2 days 4 different mature bucks showed up. Maybe just checking out the new set up I made for them. All of my plots are planted and coming on strong and I dropped large areas of timber to mill last year with gaps in between for stand placement. Easy in and out. It takes time but my prooerty is a perfect example you just showed . 😊

[@Cblack0x]

Jeff, I've hunted since I was 13 n im 36 now n I still learn so much each year from you! Big thanks man! Keep the vids coming!

[@dustinbeaulieu3502]

This is the type of information that got me hooked on deer hunting, many years ago after going through a seminar with the late Charles Alsheimer. I used to go with my dad as a kid but I didn't "enjoy" the hunt. That all changed after spending a few hours with Mr. Alsheimer and learning about the rut, the moon phase, and all the other aspects that makes chasing whitetails so thrilling. I CANNOT thank you enough for taking the time to teach. I enjoy watching each and every video that you post, and I hope you know that we are truly thankful for the time and effort you put in! God Bless!

[@chrisboyd1408]

This year I am shifting back to public land to show people it can be done on public land. Bow season starts in Indiana on 10/01. Hopefully no need to wait until gun season to fill the tags. These videos are always well done and thought provoking. Great job 👏

[@treyrobinson15]

Jeff, Have you seen the latest Mississippi State University podcast on population shift? They documented a buck traveled 14 miles from his spring/summer range to his new winter range. GPS confirmed he's made the trip 3 years in a row! 14 miles is insane!!

[@studentoftheoutdoors3348]

Thanks AGAIN Jeff! Have learned SO much from you over the last year. Lightyears ahead of where i was

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thank you very much...really appreciate that! You are VERY welcome 👍

[@bucksbucksoutdooradventure4973]

I can agree with this

[@josephcioni5293]

I would like a video showing what the hardwood regeneration, woody stem tips, etc, look like. thanks for the videos, love watching them.

[@MayhemTrickshotting6]

This year we’re hunting a new lease, the property wasn’t hunted last year and it’s very steep and thick, the farm was logged in the last 10 years but has mature stands of red oaks on the hilltops. It also has a spring fed pond and a permanent creek on opposing sides of the property. The cover is very thick and so far we haven’t had shooter deer on camera. As hunter new to learning white tails your videos have given me the mindset that we have stumbled into a great fall property. Last year the farm we had was all big timber and we watched several monsters all summer and they all disappeared after the first week of September. It’s been a much different experience but the rut sign is there on the new farm. Excited to see what happens when the shift happens!

[@josephduffelmeyer7893]

I live in wv i am going try the oats and peas along with the winter rye plot on a 40 acre spot that i own there is not alot of deer on my farm in the summer so i hope the move in on the farm this fall/winter thanks for all you share

[@stevedenoyer5956]

I have seen this occur on my land, as I make improvements to thicker cover and better food, my property has been getting better each year. Not getting a big buck every year, but every other year so am getting closer. Enjoy the content as always. Thanks Jeff.

[@paulwakefield5255]

Jeff awesome video. You give the most comprehensive breakdown that I’ve heard on bucks changing ranges. Great job man.

[@allentodd5436]

Its funny this morning I had the local 8 pointer come and return checking a scrape and showing up on 2 cameras. He hasnt been here most of the summer but he decided to check out his fall spot today. Good stuff Jeff👍

[@stevegermain1222]

Good to see the videos again went to Tennessee for mini vacation back in South Carolina and Seasons only 25 days away or so getting ready thanks for all the info Jeff

[@jasonblood4556]

Jeff, always a pleasure learning from you. I appreciate all you do.

[@stacyray6549]

Thanks Jeff, your information is great. I’m so glad you are passing it along. Thanks again.

[@sureshots8155]

Just got my first big one this year thanks Jeff!!! Love the videos.

[@scottgorman7166]

Boy Jeff that was a treasure trove of information. I hunt a large farm in SE Ohio and now have a completely different view of the property vegetation. Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@rfb7117]

Great comments....we have our food plots sitting waiting for rain. We have had NO rain for 3 weeks. Really worried about how late it is getting for the food plots to be of any benefit.

[@thegreatawakening7990]

What do you think of putting quick oats out in the fall with corn?

[@billkerr1704]

I think I got 2 years in to this channel and love it its help me ....mock scrapes NO. Big helper for me i thanks you for given up your tips hunts safe and good hunt

[@chriskillian5713]

So I have a question for you. What are your opinions on bucks territories affecting the summer transition. I hunt on my family’s private farm that is around 315 acres. Lot of ag, surrounding and going thru the middle of the farm, I also have installed many foot plots and a good portion of the ag (corn and beans) in left each year.There is a lot of thick cover on the farm and in my opinion the deer in my farm have everything they need. We run cameras almost year round and in my experience there is almost no shift. Most deer that show up in certain spots will be using that core area in the fall. And what I have found is that certain bucks may move the different parts of the farm based on what deer live where. Two of my main hitlist bucks are 6.5 this year and I have pretty much been watching them since they were 2.5. And they run together all summer. And have every summer since I have had them on camera, but come fall, it seems like one moves and the other one stays. The first two years the one deer controlled his summer area and was very visibly the dominant buck in the area but the last two it has changed and seems like they completely flipped fall locations. Now granted they are only moving 5-600 yards it is still a core area shift and I was wondering if you think that the amount/dominance can be a factor is summer shifts I know I have my opinion but I would love to here yours, thanks!

[@scottlewis8386]

Likewise Jeff, I absolutely have learned a heckuva lot from your videos. Thanks! Good hunting to you this year.

[@Natedwebb]

That's interesting. A few years after I bought a house on 40 acres I saw a nice 10 pointer. He was young but smart. I never saw him during the summer and he would show up late October. Like clockwork year after year he showed up in October. The older he got the earlier I noticed him showing up in October. I decided at 5 or 6 years old that it was time. He walked 30 yards in front of my blind 2 hours before daylight in a small food plot with a doe he had been breeding. I never once pressured him or spooked him during the hunting season and he was as calm and relaxed on my property as I am. Success is sweet when everything falls into place. On my property I hunt smart...not hard. I use to joke that I never saw bucks until hunting season because all my neighbors pushed all the deer to my land. Maybe that is still the case or perhaps it's just the whitetail shift you are talking about.

[@ryanjohnson1480]

Thats interesting, I have the same experience on my property. I had always assumed that they were just gearing up for rut to chase all the does I have. What's more interesting to me is how many mature bucks show up in December after the rutvis is over.

[@josephduffelmeyer7893]

Thats what im going to try and do this year i know i have some good deer in the area, going to try and let them push the deer to me

[@Natedwebb]

@@ryanjohnson1480 It seems every year a mature buck will show up on my property like you said in December that I havnt seen before. Mid December in South east Tennessee where I live is usually the second rut. I dont see those deer for long so my window of opportunity is short.

[@Natedwebb]

@@josephduffelmeyer7893 my dad owns 80 acres, and I have told him this for years. Let the neighbors pressure their land all around yours then go in when the wind and everything is right and take the deer you want. I have done this for years now and I usually take the big boy in the area every year. My dad hasn't headed my advice yet lol...he has yet to kill a big buck. He loves to get out into his property and roam around with his gun. To bad he wasnt my neighbor!

[@Woodsweapon]

Hands down the best info out there for private land strategies! I’m ordering a couple of your books here in a few mins haha

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thank you very much Jacob I really appreciate it!

[@camofamilyoutdoors]

Great video, I am one that suffers from the shifts every year. I Will have great deer numbers early. I have 2 acres of a perennial clover fields. Should I shrink down the clover and increase annual plots to offset this? Thanks

[@virgilholmes6688]

On our farm in Delaware bucks shift from corn fields to the woods and marsh each year after harvest. I have seen 8 bucks at one time leave the last few rows of corn just ahead of the combine and travel 1/4 mile to our woods. I think our shift is related in part to high insect populations. They are very tough to hunt before harvest. Any thoughts?

[@southernlightsoutdoors3644]

Where can I get one of those whitetail habitat solutions hats Jeff?

[@zachrobinson5040]

I hunt a 54 acre property next to beans, corn, and hay. I have got plenty of pics of good bucks this time of year in the more open hardwood part of the property but the property is also about 2/3 swamp thicket/thicket. Is it reasonable to think that some of the bucks will still use the property frequently since it has the requirements of fall habitat too?

[@mikeforbes6620]

See this in Vermont every year on national forest no ag all mountain really hard to refind the same deer from summer to fall they move for miles and it's all the same terrain.

[@uncletwowrong]

What branch or vines you are using to make your mock scrap? Deers seems to love it.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Old grape vines, jack pine, white oak, beech branches... You should check out my mock scrape playlist! 29 videos... kzbin.info/aero/PLmV8Ilexgmhee-6E06udW874E3ZoYWRfz

[@uncletwowrong]

Thank you so much! I’ll have to try it. This will be my first year doing mock scrap! Once again thank you!

[@rossmunro1830]

What is your total hunting arrow weight?

[@southoutmcknight3263]

Thanks for these videos they’re great. I’m gonna check out your online classes.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks a lot...hope you like the class!

[@thomas9565]

From your experience does this hold true for the big woods bucks in the UP of MI? I’ve noticed more of a spread out during the fall due to the rut getting closer and competition but it seems usually one of the 2 bigger ones in the group sticks around relatively close to where his summer pattern was until a hot doe makes him chase or the migration starts. We don’t necessarily have the same food changes as farm country deer of course.

[@L8nightride1]

I have 4 1/2 acres. Small in comparison to most of you guys. I have to be smart because my property is only 250’x880’. I have massive 250-300 year old oak trees that drop acorns. I put out two salt blocks, was going to plant beet tips this last spring but didn’t get it out. Bought over 80#’s of different clover seed but didn’t get it out either and yet the huge bucks graced me with their presence this summer as evidenced by my trail cams. I have my cameras up between 4-5’ off ground. One deer was nibbling on camera even. Why would he do that? I cleared about 1.1 acre and a long 10-15 yard wide run for 860’ along East property line adjacent to heavy cover giving open field appearance. All the brush I cut I made a wall about 6’ deep by 7’ tall until I would be able to grind up into mulch. Turns out after watching your videos maybe those bucks like that heavy cover of dead branches because you can’t see through it and it is only 30 yards from open low area with fallen acorns. Trees: 3 types of oak burr, pin and white. Maple, shag bark hickory, black walnut, black cherry, sycamore and cedar. They seen to love to rub on the cedar. Absolutely destroyed a couple 4 footers last fall. 1st time hunter. Need advice. Not too proud to ask for help. One thing I know I am great at is judging distance in field and wood situation. Not a bad shot either but need help with set up and sneak attack knowledge is power. Willing to share and accept that. Using centerpoint crossbow for ease of shoulders.

[@outdoorfamilytraditions9352]

Awesome video once again! Hey Jeff.. so I hunt the edge of a pretty big bedding area but 40-50 yards out into the bedding area from my tree stand there is a big oak tree and the area is a bit opened up by the oak, and it’s pretty much an intersection of deer trails.. I put a cell cam on that oak tree looking at all the deer trails. You think that’s ok without me going in there to check cards and what not or do you recommend not even putting a camera there for a big MI bucks sake? Thank you🙃 Aaron

[@ajburns9915]

Awesome content as always. I’m really hoping for some rain soon here in mid Michigan. Haven’t had many bucks pop up on trail camera this summer. Hoping they come through during the shift and stay!!

[@swmplvr]

how about a video about bucks that have no actual 'crops' to eat and live in hardwoods,marsh, etc ??

[@lukeonderko8696]

I hunt some public areas where the summer range is public and they "shift" about first or second week of sept to thier private fall ground. You have about a week to get on them then they are completely gone till the following June

[@jasonhunt3300]

How far do you think a mature moves in an average 24 hour period during the fall? Thanks for the great video

[@bengrosz144]

When killing off buckwheat after seeding should I lay it down then spray or spray while standing the crush/lay it down?

[@dbike10]

Does this shift always happen? Is it possible for the summer and fall ranges to be on the same parcel? My property is very thick in spots and I have done multiple bedding areas with your strategies, but it also has a couple of sections of mature pines that are very open. So I'm just wondering if the bucks that are on camera during the summer now, will still be there in the fall?

[@jhart3003]

Great info again. I have property by you, in Ontario Wisconsin. When can I expect the shift to take place? Or is there something I should be looking for that would indicate that it's about to happen? Thanks for all the great info you put out for us hunters.

[@coreyarnold4949]

I’ve been doing food plots and feeders for a few years now. All the bigger bucks show up early October till March. Then leave. All the young bucks stay year round.

[@ajdale4517]

Why do the bucks shift due to food but the does do not?

[@joeslaughter1162]

Great info Jeff,cant wait for the season to start here,stay safe hunting 🦌brother

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks a lot Joe and man...coming in HOT for sure!

[@richardneal1644]

Hey Jeff, i hunt on MD Eastern Shore. It seems all the land is the same, ag surrounded by thick pines and thick undergrowth and lots of pressure' it seems that if the bucks move, they will be in the same situation around here. PS. hunters use tons of corn for bait, could that stop them from moving?

[@dancalder6696]

Im from the Eastern Shore also Vienna, Mardela, and Sharptown area. I know exactly what your talking about. From what I've seen the corn makes a difference. But it is also how you use it. The bucks for sure and most deer in general head for the thickets once the green cover around the fields and in the edges starts to die. So I tend to hunt as close as possible to the thickets or even better if you can find 2 big thickets with a divide between them that is a for sure hot spot. You will get them traveling back and forth I've been hunting a spot like this for 10 yrs or so and has taken some of those yrs was figuring where to actually be and how to get in and out without them knowing I was there. So I learned to do as much of my work in woods as far as making my setup up, clearing branches, setting up blind, and then baiting and checking cameras to do this between 10am and 4pm in summer and 10 and 2 in fall and winter and only check cams ever two weeks or more and bait at the same time. Try and put enough food to only last the 2 week interval this way here you don't have corn rot on you. Start with small amount in September like 25 to 50 lbs at most then by end of October you will probably b putting 50 to 100 out maybe more depending on what's left on the ground when you come back. Try not to use 4 wheelers. Only use them to go in to pick up a dead one. This is some of what I do to get the job done.

[@richardneal1644]

@@dancalder6696 Thx Dan, I hunt a couple of leased properties in Westover and Snow Hill. I've had pretty good luck hunting over bait , but i'm just getting tired of sitting over corn. i was just wondering if everybody's doing the same thing, do bucks need to relocate

[@dancalder6696]

@@richardneal1644 They are going to make a move from their summer spot to their fall/ winter area no matter who is putting bait out. But the ones being slick and not letting the deer know you have been coming and going is going to be the guy with the most action. Mainly the closer you get to mid October they are really starting to hold close in their territory they are starting to mark. At that time depending on how many people you have on your property and how big a piece you have to play on. And pending on how many thickets you have and how big they are makes a difference on how many mature bucks your area will hold. At this time mid October you definitely want to have at least 1 mock scrape at each stand site and not within 20 to 30 yds of your corn. Keep them apart. Put the corn in the most active spot in your area and then put scrape off to the side of you but within 45 yds or less if bow hunting. you only want 1 corn pile for every 40 acres or so to much corn around means they don't have to fight for it or be the first one there before it all get ate and they will start coming at night or whenever they fell like it small amounts of corn puts more pressure on them to stay near it in my area I have a saying bout corn piles, corn brings the girls to eat and the girls bring the boys looking for action. I do 3 things every 2 weeks when I visit my stand. Change my cards in cams put out corn and freshen up my mock scrape with some kind of doe in heat starting in mid to late October

[@rontorsiello2327]

Dan Calder A

[@coyotekilla3684]

Would they cross a paved busy road when traveling between these places

[@brycerose3813]

I have the same question

[@dbike10]

Yes, I have a main road right next to my property and deer cross it every morning coming from the fields

[@coyotekilla3684]

@@dbike10 thanks I see that they bed 20 -30 yards right beside it as well

[@patrickdupree6742]

Have you ever seen a road-killed buck in the fall? What do you think was happening there?

[@lucascoppenger3425]

Hey Jeff! I purchased some of the PLOT START I’m going to be doing some winter plots next to an ag field September 1. Should I still go back to apply Plot Boost even though it’s closer to hunting season October 1 or would I spook most deer. Would I be better off applying the Plot Start and would it thrive no matter what since it’s a winter food plot?

[@connorklevesahl7846]

What do you mean deer don’t eat beans after September? I see them browsing them in January when it’s been combined months before and leftover beans are laying on the ground

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Oh for sure if they are still standing in January...most good farmers harvest them in October tho. But in most ag areas unless the deer numbers are extremely excessive...deer begin to ignore beans when the mature and turn brown in Sept. I've seen beans rotting in the spring too...but that's not the norm either.

[@connorklevesahl7846]

Whitetail Habitat Solutions ok well here in northeastern Wisconsin deer feed in combined bean fields into the winter even if there is corn nearby

[@eaglegriffin4371]

On my property the only time we see bucks is for 2 weeks in August and a few after the rut, what should I do.

[@austinpope6137]

That first clip of b roll with the 6-7 bucks was one of the coolest I've seen! If I could buy only one of your books which would you suggest? Thanks for sharing your knowledge jeff. Keep um coming!

[@ajburns9915]

Can’t go wrong with any of them! I’ve read them and each one holds different but very valuable content

[@mikebutler5317]

@@ajburns9915 yep have them all. In some sections the info repeats but it just reinforces the importance of it. You'll be better and your hunting success improved for reading them.

[@thomasfuller9797]

So Jeff would you say that early to mid September is the time to leave your property until you plan to hunt?

[@MrChulaFreak]

I’m curious how this would relate in the Deep South where there is no ag or appreciable planted “plots” during the summer time Jeff? Just big woods and cutovers, how do U feel this would relate?

[@monsterhog1118]

I was gonna ask the same question. Some bucks in my area don't shift much at all and bed in the same area all year

[@MrChulaFreak]

MONSTERHOG 1 I’ve seen the same. I’ve had pictures of bucks all summer long get killed within 100 yards of that camera in December and January. At the same time, we had one old mature 10 point that would only show up in January in a particular clear cut. U could leave cameras out all year and never get a pic until after January 15th. Is was also killed there around January 20th after about 4 years of that same pattern. So yeah, I would definitely be interested to see or hear how all that relates!

[@FarmallFanatic]

I have a variety of food sources on my property. I had a 3 year old leave October 10th and return November 28th. I figured he was related to my does, so he left. He's a 4 year old hog now lol

[@manvsdeer]

Awesome info Jeff!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thank you very much!

[@samshepherd9252]

Shift happens way later in texas! Why see lots scrapes in bottoms that looks amazing and then oct first they are gone!

[@allstaralex0776]

When around does this shift happen? And also would they cross a paved road(not a busy one) to get to their fall range?

[@kybucks5086]

I got a spot they cross the road every morning and afternoon. Road doesn’t stop them

[@lindbergd24]

As always, great content, Jeff! You're the best in the business. Very impressive velvet bucks in the vid, hope you've been able to create enough cool season habitat to keep them close this fall. -Dave from the Thumb

[@bartz056able]

Jeff, all I gotta know is if the buck on the cover photo is the one Diane missed couple years back ?

[@philmcafee343]

What about an area that literally has zero agriculture? The shift still happens but what is driving it when the food source and cover isn’t particularly different a mile down the road?

[@robertfulton2224]

Thanks Jeff! Nailed it again!

[@omen2098]

I sure hope this Mature buck switch is true because on my 2 hunting properties I've yet to have a Shooter buck on all summer long. What's weird is I have in the past also I've killed 10 deer 130+inches off these 2 properties I'm a little down this year to be honest I guess will see what shows up

[@JayN4GO]

It’ll happen;)

[@mikebutler5317]

Did you re-plant food this fall and were you impacted by the rain shortage? I'm in Southern Michigan and I'm seeing them on camera the last few weeks. Some starting to shed velvet already which seems early. We need rain.

[@omen2098]

@@mikebutler5317 I don't use any food plots my 2 spots always have shooters on them I'm wondering if they are just eating beans right now because there is a bunch of agg 1000+ yards away

[@kiltman1961]

yeah! you mention my state! Georgia

[@jeremykane686]

Are there property where bucks just travel to check for does but never bed there in summer or in the fall?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

There sure are! But that is only for a few days a year...really limits the timeframe you hunt those bucks.

[@kevinjessel8809]

Yeah Whiteboard!

[@skullwhitedesigns3451]

Am I the only one curious about the giant double droptine in velvet on the thumbnail?!?

[@danplanck2896]

Thanks for vid Jeff!

[@jonathonhedrick966]

Great video very helpful!

[@kyle.b.]

Jeff I dont think you've introduced us to that buck in the thumbnail and I would really like to see more of that thing

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Kyle he is coming soon! An incredible buck that we believe to be 3.5 and is off limits to everyone but Diane ☺️

[@linthicum75]

You made a statement food plots are almost a must when would they not be asking cause I own that big open timber property with no food plots trying make property better I don’t believe food plot is a option for me

[@mr.skeptical3071]

That's why glassing bucks in fields in late afternoon before season is a waste. They always leave as the food changes

[@Tyler-nt9gy]

Not a waste though right? It tells you what bucks are in the area and its up to you to have the property they go to during the season

[@Twitchisatrick]

Wanna share some of those bucks?

[@dswish1730]

2 drops??I bet Diane wants that one too..

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

2 drops on both sides, split brows, split G2s and G3s...crazy buck D!

[@shaunhilliard2418]

Haha I seen the thumbnail and thought the bubble said "the shit?"

[@bamafever92]

Your not in Alabama that’s for sure lol. Very different this way.

[@mike81399]

👍🇺🇸