hunt. The first is early season is all about food, wind, and access. If I didn’t have all three of these factors working in my favor, the Skinny 8 would still be walking. I hunted the white oaks close to cover, on the right wind, and had minimal impact and great access. I also didn’t wait to hunt this hot spot. If you’ve got the right wind and a hot spot, you have to hunt it. Always strike while the irons hot.
Another thing I have learned is that if you want to shoot mature big racked bucks, you have to pass immature deer for two reasons. First off, if you shoot an immature buck, you won’t see the big one that’s coming behind him. Second, in the Northeast, you aren’t going to see young deer walking around with trophy racks. It takes until they’re 5th or 6th fall until they will become mature enough to sport impressive head gear. I believe, although I could be wrong, that the Skinny 8 was a 4.5 year old deer in 2010. While pretty, he only had about a 110” – 115” rack. That additional year of age allowed him to grow an additional 20” as a 5.5 year old in 2011, as he grossed 132”.
Lastly, I have learned that you should spend time hunting deer you see, and capture pictures of most frequently and during the daylight. There was another mature buck that lived in the same area as the Skinny 8, but I never saw him nor captured his picture during daylight. The Skinny 8, while primarily nocturnal, was sighted by myself, and photographed approximately 6 times during daylight in 2 years. This make me believe he was a killable buck and is why is he one of my top two targets for 2011, and I have already spent a good time hunting him.
"... AND I HAVE ALREADY SPENT
A GOOD TIME HUNTING HIM."
- Brett Joy