Curran's 2012 Camera

First camera check of the year had a few good bucks on it, so at least I can start piecing together a little bit of a target list for the 2012 season. I put the SpyPoint IR-6 on video mode for the first few weeks just to see what I could see. After switching out the memory card, I flipped it back over to photo. I absolutely love watching the videos but, man, does it take forever to run through a two week period just to sort out the "keepers." You can learn quite a bit from the videos through, so in the end it's well worth the time and effort.

The first buck to make an appearance looked very familiar to one I had pics of last year. If it's not the same buck, it's at least a close relative. If it is the same buck, he didn't put much of anything on this year, which makes me wonder more about a recent article I read about this summer's drought and it's possible affects on antler development. While this buck is not on the list for 2012, he's got lots of video footage so I figured I would include him. Meet "Flat Top"

Last fall's picture:



This summer's video:



It's interesting to note how "Flat Top" gives the small sapling a sniff before trotting off into the woods. While watching all the clips, I noticed that several of the deer did this. With some of the younger bucks lightly rubbing their forehead on the tree. I'm guessing that this tree has turned into a social signpost for the area, with the deer checking in while they're stopping by the mineral site. There's one 1.5 year old buck that I started calling "Facebook" since he's one of the most social repeat visitors, checking in on the sapling with nearly every visit.

Next on the list was a nice buck that I was only able to get a few seconds of video at first. Then he later made another appearance a few days later, causing me to really look him over. He's on the target list so far, and I told myself that it would probably be a Game Day decision whether to shoot or not if I was presented with the opportunity. With Game Day being the theme sticking in my head while watching and re-watching the clips, the buck was then instantly dubbed "Corso."

Here's my man "Corso" with a few of the lovely ladies:



Lastly comes another really nice looking buck carrying a solid 9 point frame. I combed through last year's pictures and couldn't find anything that looked like this buck. I'm sure he was around, and could have been the bruiser laying down many of the rubs I found throughout the property last fall. I just didn't have any record of him until now. I struggled with a name for this guy... always coming back to the #9 for some reason. What resulted for this guy was the name "Trent." Now, where the heck does "Trent" come from? Well, Trent Reznor of course, from Nine Inch Nails. Maybe there's a music video in this buck's future? If so, I hope that I'm the producer.

Here's a look at "Trent":

I know what ya mean guys... I've watched some of the Corso clips over and over. The more I watch him, the more I think that if I'm lucky enough to have to make a "game day" decision it won't be that difficult. I'd be very happy with either of these deer.

Even though another year's growth would do wonders, these are also off of a smaller property that is surrounded by other properties that get good amounts of hunting pressure. It seems that deer like these guys don't make it past too many seasons in the area. In past years I've had the mentality of letting a deer like Corso go to let them grow. And while I understand and believe in that concept, the majority of other hunters in the area don't seem to subscribe to that. Year after year I'll get pics of good bucks, showing potential, only to have them go missing and never appear the following season.

I guess I'll know what to do if I'm lucky enough to get a chance to draw my bow back. If there's any question in my mind at the time, I'll let them walk. But for now, they're on the list, and hopefully in a few more months they'll be part of a successful season.

I was excited to get out this past weekend after letting the camera's have a good three week soak over the mineral sites. With the two cameras at the same farm, and placed at opposite corners of the property I was hoping to add to the inventory list for some of this season's target bucks. That's exactly what happened with the appearance of a very nice buck still to be named...

He easily makes the target list for this property, so hopefully he'll stay close and not wander onto some of the neighboring ground once season gets underway. The first pictures of him were at the back corner, which is like the toe of a boot, adjoining the neighboring bock of woods to the south east.



Next, a week later he was captured up on the outside corner near the other mineral site. He's got a distinguishable little kicker coming off of his right G2 that you can see in the picture below.





Then again, coming back to the site the next day. This picture really seems to make his legs look short & stubby compared to his body. As the rut approaches, and his neck starts to blow up, he's going to look like a bus. Hey, wait a second... let's call him Bettis.





Trent was also very photogenic when he was visiting the outside corner site. Just wish he would pick his head up and hold still for some better pictures of him. These are some of the better ones.



With Trent's front legs down in the mineral site, it really shows how much the deer have dug down.







Unfortunately, no pictures of Corso were taken this time around, but plenty of shots of Flat Top were captured. Flat Top looks to have added a bit more width and a little bit of tine length since his video footage in July was taken. Hopefully he makes it through the hunting season this year so I can see what he turns into next year. If he's able to add some tine length to the width he already has, he'll be a very nice deer. Hopefully Corso is also still out there roaming around, and is just a bit camera shy. I did notice that he seemed to be somewhat leery of the IR light from the camera, so perhaps he's just lurking off to the side.