some more of my nocturnal buck

[bparcher804]

I still cant catch a break, all the bucks I get pics of are between 6pm and 4am for the most part with the random daytime spikes and sporks.  Only see does during the day.

[bobcat]

Same problem here with the blacktails:

[bobcat]

This monster buck comes in the earliest of any of them (usually):

[ELKBURGER]

Great shots. Looks like your tree needs re-stocked!

[bparcher804]

For those who bait deer, what are your thoughts on the amount of feed to put out at a time?  I put some 400lbs of corn & falfa this last go around, about two weeks ago  Do you think if there is an abundance of food that they just feel no need to come in during the day?  I was thinking of not re-baiting for the rest of the season in hopes that with the shrinking food supply and the cold weather the deer might start creating a little more competition over the bait pile.  It looks like im not the only one that had a strange and short rut this year.  Starting around Dec. 1st i was getting pics of 2-5 bucks together just hanging out at night "shootin the *censored*" by my bait pile paying no mind to the ladies.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I am getting plenty of daylight photos of respectable bucks but they are only 3 1/2 so they get a pass. Here are two of the bigger ones that show some promise.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

For those who bait deer, what are your thoughts on the amount of feed to put out at a time?  I put some 400lbs of corn & falfa this last go around, about two weeks ago  Do you think if there is an abundance of food that they just feel no need to come in during the day?  I was thinking of not re-baiting for the rest of the season in hopes that with the shrinking food supply and the cold weather the deer might start creating a little more competition over the bait pile.  It looks like im not the only one that had a strange and short rut this year.  Starting around Dec. 1st i was getting pics of 2-5 bucks together just hanging out at night "shootin the *censored*" by my bait pile paying no mind to the ladies.

Sometimes they are very nocturnal but sometimes changing the location to an area they feel more secure can make a huge difference in the number of daylight photos.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I also only place bait on established travel corridors. Usually in thick cover or on the edge of thick cover.

[bparcher804]

Thank you for the insight DB.  I guess im still a bit new to the area I hunt, its my second year hunting this piece of national forest and the fact that i still have a lot to learn about whitetail.  Im set up on the edge of an old select cut clearing between two creek draws.  I havent observed them enough yet to realy know where they are traveling from/to, it just seemed like a good spot.  There is no ag fields of any kind for miles, its just up on a mountain in the middle of the woods.  Im not to sure what thier primary food source might be up there other than just random browsing.  Due to work, not going to be able to move spots this year but I can be in stand til the last afternoon so I guess I can only hope something out of my control changes his schedual over the next few days.  Nice pics also, those bucks will be studs in the next couple of years.  My standards are not so high so they look good to go for me this year.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

The bucks in my photos are also in the national forest away from all agriculture. The mountain whitetail will browse on numerous plant species. Some are preferred over others. Some of the preferred ones are snowberry, chokeberry, service berry, kinikinnik, oregon grape and mountain maple. They will really hit a lot of the various Ceanothus plants during the fall and winter.

[Ridgerunner]

I don't think I could let those bucks walk,,,,,,they are very nice. 

[MtnMuley]

Another year or two on those and you have a winner, DB.  With the tables set, and another week or so left, I'd bet that a big boy falls.