Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Login / Join

Scouting

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,741
274
North Carolina
Headed out last night after a slight hiccup while trying to fish a tournament last night to glass the fields at a hunting property and saw 3 small bucks and 3 doe and not a fawn to be seen.... Second time down there this summer and yet to see any fawns amongst the doe present.... Curious as to why....

On a side note Phil, those binos worked great watching those bucks out at 300 yards....
 
I've noticed a shortage of fawns on my trail cameras this summer. Best I can tell, I only have one doe with a fawn at my place. But, I seem to have a shortage of does on my property year to year. Less does has to equate to less fawns. This year my buck to doe ratio is really out of balance. I estimate 5-6 bucks per doe this summer. I pulled a card on Tuesday and my wife and I checked out the 1472 photos. After going through the photos she made a funny statement. "If Greg can't kill a buck there this season something is wrong". Greg is my stepson and he has never killed a buck at our property, in fact he has never even shot at one. But, he only hunts on occasion, definitely not a die hard hunter.
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
I have seen several fawns in the fields and on camera, most does on my favorite farm have twins, and one has triplets.
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Headed out last night after a slight hiccup while trying to fish a tournament last night to glass the fields at a hunting property and saw 3 small bucks and 3 doe and not a fawn to be seen.... Second time down there this summer and yet to see any fawns amongst the doe present.... Curious as to why....

On a side note Phil, those binos worked great watching those bucks out at 300 yards....
Maybe you have gay bucks like Brian does.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Are the areas you are scouting short enough to see them? Also, if the doe are keeping close to a wood line or woods, they could be keeping them out of sight still.

This morning I had two doe in my yard and they kept the fawns in the woods. They would stomp when one would get within sight and push them back in the woods. It was pretty cool to watch. I couldn't tell how many fawns they had though, could only catch movement every now and then.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Glad you like them Jay.

I guess I don't worry too much about it because I can't change it much. I lay off them on properties I don't see many does. I try to kill coyotes. That is really all I can do.
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,741
274
North Carolina
I can see over 600 yards at this place across 2 properties, last year at this time there were 20 plus doe on both properties that would come out around 7-8 pm.... Lots of corn this year so they could be still hiding out but just seems strange not one with the 3 different doe we saw last night.... 2 were in the middle of the field.... One was in and out of the corn browsing.... We'll see what the coming weeks bring....

Chad, all them gay bucks hang out below route 70..... lol
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,741
274
North Carolina
Maybe someone has a massive corn pile going?

I picked up a new stand from Phil at the gathering and putting it on a tree line that dissects 2 fields that they use and they were all heading that direction.... It's in alfalfa so hopefully I can get some seclusion in there with that 18' stand... Lots of doe activity there last season just didn't scout that section good enough.... During turkey season I got a better feel for an area that has lots of sign and good trails from the previous season.... I'm going to split two trails and have a 30 yard shot in an east and west direction....
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
I picked up a new stand from Phil at the gathering and putting it on a tree line that dissects 2 fields that they use and they were all heading that direction.... It's in alfalfa so hopefully I can get some seclusion in there with that 18' stand... Lots of doe activity there last season just didn't scout that section good enough.... During turkey season I got a better feel for an area that has lots of sign and good trails from the previous season.... I'm going to split two trails and have a 30 yard shot in an east and west direction....
Sounds like a good setup!
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,741
274
North Carolina
Sounds like a good setup!

Time will tell... Saw a mature buck while down there groundhog hunting a month or so ago, really wide rack but no height to it at the time.... I think I've seen him there last year and if it's the same he's wide and not tall... Maybe 6" tines but 2-3" on either sides of the ears.... He hangs out across a one in a corn field, well at least he did last year.... Had him heading my way once and a neighbors dog saw him as well... Ran him off... Never saw him again...
 

Boarhead

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member

Attachments

  • IMG_20160505_141500-1.jpg
    IMG_20160505_141500-1.jpg
    89 KB · Views: 156