Back at it again bush bucks 2024

[Smoky buck]

Yeah it’s that time again so let’s see what 2024 brings

I have checked most of the cameras I have out but a few more to go. Still need to get a few cameras set too

So starting out with a bit of a shake up checking out new locations I scouted and a few cameras being used to look for bucks from last year.

They are still growing but starting to show potential. Some bucks the pics were meh so I will wait to see if I get better pics of those bucks but some decent ones to start








Already located my old nemesis the buck I call nightshift. The smart old bugger is still kicking and can’t wait to see what he looks like when he finishes growing. Because he has a habit of shifting locations from lane trimming or setting a stand the plan is try target him in some ground locations I pre scouted




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[badbrass]

Wow good for you! They are showing protectional taking! Thanks for sure!

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Yeah it’s that time again so let’s see what 2024 brings

I have checked most of the cameras I have out but a few more to go. Still need to get a few cameras set too

So starting out with a bit of a shake up checking out new locations I scouted and a few cameras being used to look for bucks from last year.

They are still growing but starting to show potential. Some bucks the pics were meh so I will wait to see if I get better pics of those bucks but some decent ones to start








Already located my old nemesis the buck I call nightshift. The smart old bugger is still kicking and can’t wait to see what he looks like when he finishes growing. Because he has a habit of shifting locations from lane trimming or setting a stand the plan is try target him in some ground locations I pre scouted




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[wbl170]

You’re doing well. The work has and will pay off. I will certainly be following. Best of luck!

[Desert Eagle]

Some really great prospects already! Glad that this thread is back up, every year I look forward to it.

Have to get some cameras out myself.

[muirsy]

Thanks for sharing Smoky, your threads are some of the very small handful on this entire forum that are actually positive & valuable!

[58thecat]

Nice, bush bucks around here are showing up looking very healthy

Just the dam bugs are thicker than thieves

[Bushrat]

Some nice bucks there Smoky.

[Smoky buck]

There was a few others with real potential but pics were crap. Lots of bears and elk messing with cams too. I want a better picture before I say it’s him for sure but I think that night time picture might be the wide buck from last year. If so I might be on his core area this year because I have multiple crappy pictures of him at different days this check

Overall it should be a good season I think. Have not confirmed who or how many guests I will have this year but I know a few people who are chomping at the bit for me to say “come on out”.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by muirsy

Thanks for sharing Smoky, your threads are some of the very small handful on this entire forum that are actually positive & valuable!

Thanks

The members here dictate the content on AO so if you enjoy positive content that is outdoors related the best thing you can do is contribute threads of your own

Personally I decided that I will avoid posting on most of the garbage threads in general chat

[aragor764]

Great pics SB! getting me pumped up about the 2024 season!

[bonedogg]

subscribed and eagerly awaiting the Aaron Rogers of the North's best damn deer thread there is.......lol

[Phil McCracken]

Looking forward to your updates. Year after year this has always been a great thread...

[Sooner]

Always one of the best threads. My cams have been out for a solid month at a friends farm so hoping to see something good this weekend/year. Last year was a bust for nice bucks(except for a nice 4x4) vs the 3 prior years that had a few good ones walking the property.

I look forward to see how big some of the deer on your cams get.

[huntinstuff]

Excellent thread as always!

[sns2]

Keep em coming smoky

[Fwee6]

Love this annual thread.

Good luck in 2024!

[fishnguy]

Good stuff, Smoky!

[Smokinyotes]

Love your thread Smoky but it would be very nice of you if you could post pics of 180 class bucks and the legal land description.

With the amount of work you put in you deserve a monster every year.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

Love your thread Smoky but it would be very nice of you if you could post pics of 180 class bucks and the legal land description.

With the amount of work you put in you deserve a monster every year.

All deer are found next to a tree and if they stand still for me before the season I will try measuring the largest bucks lol. There has been a few that are around that magic 180 class on cam over the years but I haven’t had the chance to measure them to be sure yet

Unfortunately I don’t have good luck to rely on so I have to work hard just to shoot some decent bucks

Maybe one day I will reach the point of taking a monster every year but till then I will just enjoy the challenge and learning

[C&C Outdoors]

Always an excellent thread to read and follow each year.
Thanks for sharing and best of luck this coming season!

[KazIce]

Great pics. Love following and learning from this thread!

[whitetail Junkie]

Your nemisis buck looks like something my dad shot last fall.


He was the oldest deer we shot since 2017 between the 2 of us and was abit past his prime.

Good luck on your quest!

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by whitetail Junkie

Your nemisis buck looks like something my dad shot last fall.


He was the oldest deer we shot since 2017 between the 2 of us and was abit past his prime.

Good luck on your quest!

Thanks

Congrats to your Dad on an old warrior

The nightshift buck is just showing a fraction of what he will become in my opinion. This is him last year the only daylight pic during last season. First time I got this buck on camera was 2020 and even though I know his range better than any other buck I have yet to figure out how to get him

Looks like he added more to his brow tines this year so far





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[whitetail Junkie]

^^^ might be his prime year this fall...Perfect!

Looks like more mass and brows like you mentioned.


Please post a pic once the velvet is off if you get one as im curious now

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by whitetail Junkie

^^^ might be his prime year this fall...Perfect!

Looks like more mass and brows like you mentioned.


Please post a pic once the velvet is off if you get one as im curious now

He is definitely high on the list of bucks to keep an eye on and I have enough knowledge of his range I should be able to post pics of his growth

I hope the smart old bugger has picked up a case of dementia to even the odds because so far he has been one step ahead of me every season

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

He is definitely high on the list of bucks to keep an eye on and I have enough knowledge of his range I should be able to post pics of his growth

I hope the smart old bugger has picked up a case of dementia to even the odds because so far he has been one step ahead of me every season

Thing is he will screw up one day and walk out on the road for the first time this year and will stand there like a fentanyl junkie nodding off and get himself shot. Isn't that how it goes! lol.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Bushrat

Thing is he will screw up one day and walk out on the road for the first time this year and will stand there like a fentanyl junkie nodding off and get himself shot. Isn't that how it goes! lol.

Nothing is impossible and all I can do is hope I am the one to catch him being dumb. My opinion the cougar in the area is more likely to get him than another hunter

He is a strange buck the way his routine works

[Curtsyneil]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Nothing is impossible and all I can do is hope I am the one to catch him being dumb. My opinion the cougar in the area is more likely to get him than another hunter

He is a strange buck the way his routine works

The reason he is still alive is because he’s smart and unpredictable. Gotta remember the routine he shows in velvet isn’t his routine in hard horn. I would focus on finding his bedroom and go from there.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Curtsyneil

The reason he is still alive is because he’s smart and unpredictable. Gotta remember the routine he shows in velvet isn’t his routine in hard horn. I would focus on finding his bedroom and go from there.

The issue not that I can’t get him on camera after velvet it is the time of day he moves during the hunting season is often between 10pm and 1am. Come hunting season I get the odd daylight pic. This is covering an area well beyond the velvet picture I posted

So over the last few years I have been running cams throughout this area testing this bucks range. I get him on camera the whole time I have cameras out. He actually wonders a circuit the whole time that covers a few miles. He doesn’t actually leave the area but does spend more time in the evergreens about 1 -2 mile away. Hence the picture from last November I posted. I had him on cam last November in 5 different locations just not in daylight

The most likely scenario is during hunting season he is spending most of his daylight movement in the bush that is basically un hunt able. Majority of the bush in this area is just ugly and it’s tough to find small pockets to even hang a stand. It is a big part of why it holds a good number of mature bucks

Smart definitely but the reality of hunting the bush is you can only target the buck in the areas the bush allows and it’s just a small fraction. There is so many areas that the deer go you will never get a shot opportunity

Right now I don’t have an answer for him but I am always looking

[Curtsyneil]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

The issue not that I can’t get him on camera after velvet it is the time of day he moves during the hunting season is often between 10pm and 1am. Come hunting season I get the odd daylight pic. This is covering an area well beyond the velvet picture I posted

So over the last few years I have been running cams throughout this area testing this bucks range. I get him on camera the whole time I have cameras out. He actually wonders a circuit the whole time that covers a few miles. He doesn’t actually leave the area but does spend more time in the evergreens about 1 -2 mile away. Hence the picture from last November I posted. I had him on cam last November in 5 different locations just not in daylight

The most likely scenario is during hunting season he is spending most of his daylight movement in the bush that is basically un hunt able. Majority of the bush in this area is just ugly and it’s tough to find small pockets to even hang a stand. It is a big part of why it holds a good number of mature bucks

Smart definitely but the reality of hunting the bush is you can only target the buck in the areas the bush allows and it’s just a small fraction. There is so many areas that the deer go you will never get a shot opportunity

Right now I don’t have an answer for him but I am always looking

I would do some tests on what the dominant wind is in the area because a deer like that is always moving with the wind in his nose. Ultimate survival experts they are.