Hunting on Small Tracts of Land

Where the big buck coming to the feeders before? Did you ever see the big bucks or were they just on the trail cam? I ask that question to lead into the next one. Was your stand in a good position so that the buck could not wind you?

 All were on trail cams, did see one nice buck the second day but he never came in to the feeder, there is a lot of noisy neighbors around this tract also. Its like once they split into bacholer groups, we never saw them. We always checked the wind also, even in the rut all we saw were small bucks and does. Wandering about those neighbors! It is a great little piece to hunt from time to time, alot of activity there but the big boys were nowhere to be found.

The one thought that came to my mind was bedding cover. I do not know how much security cover you or your neighbors have but most people around here that have property will usually clear it to an extent. I have watched deer feed through yards in one location and another yard at another location just a few days later. I could however tell you where they would be right before dark. They would pull out of thier bedding cover and head off wherever. If there are other hunters living in the neighborhood, I would expect them to be placeing feeders as well or something to try and draw the deer to thier lot.

  Yea, the property surrounds a lake and we have had those suspicions of other hunters in the area. The biggest problem for us is this Texas weather! Bow season starts in october and here it doesnt start coolin down till the start of gun season in November.So the bigger bucks may have stayed nocternal a bit too long.But that doesnt quite explain no pics of them at all through Bow season.This was the first year we have hunted this property so we are trying to gain the upper hand on these deer for years to come, we saw plenty of young bucks that have potential this year, so the future is bright, or so we think! and Hope!

We had a similar situation here in kentucky of course the terrain here is different im sure but we put cameras and feeders more so surrounding the property, kind of circling the property with throw and grow foodplots in small areas close to a water source,  that produced and maintained the deer traffic this year.

Have you put out any Mineral Licks? This might help keep them coming back.

 yea we tried one, with no luck. Dont remember the brand but maybe finding the right kind may make a difference.

Mineral licks can be iffy at best. Sometimes they work and sometimes nothing.

You say this area is surrounded by homes. This will sound crazy, but do any of the homes have flower gardens around? I have hunting near homes before and have found the deer zipping around my spot and heading right for the flowers. It seems crazy until you see those little suckers go to town on some lady's prize roses.