I endured two hours of torrential down pours and 20MPH winds yesterday to hang two sets on Hippie Ridge where I hope to intercept Jack this weekend or the 4-5 stretch I hunt over Thanksgiving. The first is on the E end of the main ridge near the spot where my buddy encountered him last year. There is a small hogsback that funnels deer out of the bowl to the S and brings them up to the main trail heading to my sanctuary. I'm almost positive this is how he gets to the bottom when he doesn't drop down in to our main N/S running holler.
The second set is on the W end of the main ridge about 600 yards from the first stand. There is a little cove just above the main ridge line where 2 flats come together, with a third just below that where a community scrape is usually present. This is the same scrape from the daylight video from last season. There are 3 distinct trails coming together at this pinch point. The only draw back is access sucks and I will no doubt blow deer out going in. However I'll be there Saturday if we have a southerly wind and I'll just go in early. I really feel it is a great stand for Jack, or any other big buck on the prowl. There's a lot more to it that is hard to describe, but a lot of things come together at this one spot. I may not be in the right tree, but I'm in the area.
The last camera check only revealed him on the main creek bottom inventory camera. I have 75 pictures from basically 3 nights, but he made return trips 11/1 in to 11/2 and 11/7-11/9. His visit 11/12 was the only one that time. I saw him at 9:30 on 11/9 on the shelf just above where he was at 6:10AM and E of there 150 yards. (Still haven't changed the time on this cam.) The information from this cam just tells me how he approached (sometimes) and how he left (sometimes). And that he is still alive! I set up 2 cams to the E/W of here to get me started as I gradually use cams to back track his steps as he becomes more dependent on this corn.
This angle shows the G2's split this year...
This picture is typical Jack. Shrouded in mystery...
You can see the G4/kicker on his left MB here, as well as the weak G3 on his right side...
And this angle gives you a look at those long beams and all that real estate in between!
Here is my guess on score. I'd welcome other guesses...
Left Side: G1 = 2.5" G2 = 11" w/ 1" split G3 = 1.5" MB = 26.5" for a total of 42.5".
Right Side: G1 = 2" G2 = 10" with 1" split G3 = 8.5" G4 = 2" MB = 26.5" for a total of 50"
Spread: 19.5"
Mass: 33"
Total Gross Score: 145" as a 4.5 year old.
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I plan to put some serious effort in to killing just him in the next 4-5-6 days of hunting I have before gun season, then I have a decision to make. Do I try and kill him with a gun or let him be and keep my fingers crossed. There is a big part of me that wants to see this deer get to 5.5 as I wasn't very prepared to battle him this year. I know his core area and I can get myself in much better position to kill him next year. Time will tell what happens...
