Whitetail question- ANSWERED.. BIG BUCK DOWN. PICS ADDED.

[Tman]

I'm new to hunting whitetails, and have always chased blacktails.  I found an area covered in fresh scrapes and rubs, starting about 2 weeks ago, and just getting thicker.  There everywhere.  Is it too late to install a treestand in this area, or will the deer come back in after the noise, smells, and changes.  I've heard that if you set up a stand along a deers scrape line, that during the rut odds are that deer will come through several times a day if he isn't alerted to our presence.

Has anyone else noticed any whitetail pre-rut activity?  It looks like the ruts just around the corner.

[Machias]

I scout throughout the season and adjust accordingly.  When you find a spot like that make as little footprint as possible and get a stand in there.  Bucks will check scraps downwind alot of times so setting up right on a scrape is not always perfect.  I like to set up downwind of an active scrape line, but lots of scraps are made and never revisited, not all scrapes are created equal.  If you have an obvious scrape line or a huge smoking hot scrape set up 20-30 yards down wind and don't be suprised if he shows up even further downwind.  Several times a day maybe a bit of a stretch, but he will be checking.  I love finding doe bedding areas and setting up downwind of those, bucks will also check those areas as well.

[Tman]

Dropped a good 6 X 7 This morning after a half hour in the treestand.. I'll get some pics and a story soon.  Back to work getting the meat hung.

[Tman]

Heres the live pic from the trailcam.  Pretty sure this is him.

[Widgeondeke]

hurry up already. Need to see pictures of dead dear to validate your post   

[Tman]

Ok, heres the story.  Got up this morning shortly after daylight regretting that I hadn't got to the stand before daylight.  Got in the stand and let out a few grunts and a doe call, nothing, waited a while, and repeated.  Did this every 5 minutes or so for about a half hour and pretty soon, I start hearing brush break down to my right, so I position myself in the stand to watch this side and be prepared to shoot.  Now I hear brush breaking to my left, I look, a butt goes into the woods, and out of the corner of my eye, I see another deer trotting across the opening.  I let out a grunt sound and the deer stops. I see Antlers,  get a rest real quick, put the crosshairs in the killzone.. BOOM.  The deer jumps and takes off on a dead run.  I climb out of my stand and begin slowly working toward where the deer was standing.  No blood, circle some more, No blood.  I'm beginning to think that I shot too far back.  I walk to the treeline, and there he is down in the middle of a game trail.  I approach, dead.  Move him, there was only a dollar sized spot of blood in the grass where he went down, almost un noticeable as it was real light.  Begin the gutting process and find out, perfect shot, behind the shoulder through the heart/lungs and imbedded in the other shoulder breaking the leg with no exit wound.  In the end the deer had run about 40 yards before going down. 

Hanging wieght without guts, cape, legs, head was 155lbs.  Heres some pics, hopefully he'll score well.

[elkslare]

WOW, great whitetail, Congrats    Love the cheaters, like the little devil spikes on both bases.

[GoldTip]

Who cares what he scores.  Great looking whitey, congrats!

[PacificNWhunter]

Great buck! Congrats.

[Machias]

Congrats, really nice buck!!

[huntergreg]

Congrats Awesome Buck!!

[boonerboy]

great whitey!

[BENCHLEG]

verry nice buck thanks for sharing your pics.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Nice rack.

[ser300wsm]

Very nice, congrats ...