Let The Games Begin...

Last year during hunting season I saw the best crop of younger bucks I can ever recall. They were not jaw droppers by any means, but they still had potential to make some jumps this year.
Now, to be fair, our hunting property generally doesn't hold mature bucks. It never has. They come around for the ladies; we make it that way, and are fine with keeping it that way. After a few months of getting quite a few mature does on camera I was satisfied with the typical ‘wait and see’ approach. That is until I checked my trail camera a few weekends ago… 

A Ghost from Seasons Past

My Dad noticed that we had some new crabapple trees producing fruit for the first time in a long time, so I went and checked it out. After seeing some quality buck mud, I popped up a cam. Much to my surprise, a ghost decided to make an appearance. The buck I call Beefy (Beefaroni).

He showed up last year along a pine tree scrape that my brother put a camera over. We were instantly impressed with not only his antler size, but body size. He looked more like a beef cow, hence the nickname Beefy.

From my estimation I would say he is a 5.5 year old buck, which around our parts is like being a 40 year old playing for a Community College football team! If a buck makes 3.5 around our parts it is above the curve.

After checking the camera again this weekend and looking at some fresh tracks in plowed fields (thanks to the recent rain), I know where he is coming and going from; but I have only one way to close the distance on him.
I believe he is living about ½ a mile west of our property in either a long timber cut or a homestead grove. Regardless, that is not Swanson territory. My only option would be to intercept him along his route by hoping he slips up and crosses the open field in shooting light, and skirts by cover. With that said, I still think it is going to take a hot doe to pull him out of his night to night pattern. I feel that all I can try and do is be at the right place at the right time with this buck!

A New Hope

Another shooter buck that has been appearing regular on my cams is this very nice 12 pointer that I nicknamed ‘Twelf’. I would say he is around 3.5 and I would be tickled to take him with bow or rifle. The best part about this deer, besides matching split G2’s, is that he has already started showing up during shooting light! I am also very confident that he stays in our woods. Based on the times he is appearing for photo shoots, he would have to be in our woods or extremely close by in a CRP slough. So keeping my expectations moderate, I would say he provides me the best opportunity to fill my bow tag.