Thanks for the input, but I will wait until the temps drop. I have sat a few days this year from daylight until dark and passed on a fork x 3 about the size of the one you killed this year. I am after the big boys, which means I may eat tag soup.
I am a bit obsessed with patterning blacktails during the late season and have been photo documenting feed patterns in relation to temperatures going on 4 years now. The 3 cams I am running now get between 500 and 600 photos of deer per day combined. I go through a lot of apples. Over a ton so far this year.
For the last 3 years December 1st, 2nd, or 3rd has been the start of the big bucks feeding during shooting hours. It has been the days that the temps. fall, and it looks like it is going to hold true this year. At least in my area. I am on public land and these boys are wary. If I was on a private farm where there was no pressure, I would expect a lot more daytime activity, but these boys are being pursued and pushed. I plan to hunt during the week next week when most guys are at work. Big buck behavior is primarily dictated by the temperature and hunting pressure of a given area.
Every buck is different and the bucks I have patterned right now are nocturnal. I would rather bump them at mid day when I go into my cam than bump them coming out of the blind at dark when they may be on their way in. We all have a method of doing things and this has suited me fairly well.
