First year on a small 140 acre tract basically all to myself so I feel like I get to "manage" somewhat even though it's small. (Plan on staying awhile) I will mostly bow hunt this tract as I have a bigger lease close by for meat and fun. About 75% of this land is really thick and it has constant water tank.

1. I have three feeders up, is that too many?
2. Put out a couple food plots last week. Will those grow in "sandy" type soil?
3. Would you hunt the actual feeders or trails to feeders? I just feel the bigger bucks are not going to go to feeder unless it's a big front or rut.
4. I got in kinda late and didn't get my tree stands up. At this point being two weeks away would you just use pop ups or try and get out there this week, do some trimming and get them up.
5. The drop tine I think I would take but what about the 10?

Thanks guys

Looks like you have a good spot.

1. Three seems good..keep tyhem near cover so the deer will use them

2. Depends what you planted and the PH of the soil...plus you gotta have rain
3. If you are getting daylight trail cam photos at the feeder I would certainly hunt it.
4. Put up the stands and try not to disturb things too much....I'd also consider a brushed in pop up if there wasn't a good stand where you wanted it.
5. Both look like shooters to me given you are low fence

Remember the season goes on way past two weeks from now..get the stands up :-)

Nice bucks. Love the drops and the double throat patch on the 10.

Thanks for the input guys

Do y'all think it has double drops? Look on the other side

I think he does. Can't tell on age but I bet he could get better with time.

Nice bucks I love the double throat also, that drop tine buck may or may not have drop tines next year if you choose to let him walk. Good luck love the 10.

If that would be my lease there wouldn't be any guns fired on the place. I would only bow hunt the property.
You said you have three feeders running on the place. If it were me I would have stand set at each location as to hunt deferent winds. Hunt the proper stand according to the wind.
Your stands need to be set no later than this weekend.
What buck would I shoot between the drop tine or the ten... Whichever one presented me with the first shot.

I would put up stands now as well. Whats the difference if you do that, or show up with a pop-up?, They will notice a change no matter what. Get it done to lesson the impact.

Your plot, who knows?, depends on what you planted, how you planted, fertilize? Since they are already out, I guess you will see in a week or so. Sandy soil can grow a great plot BTW, just needs different attention in some areas.

I don't think 3 feeders is to much, but you probably could have got by with 2 and food plots easy enough. I'd hunt where ever you feel confident since that will keep you on stand longer.

2 nice bucks for sure, which one to take will depend on your feelings at the time and opportunity. You may have something running around you haven't seen as well. Towards rut, those are likely to "wonder". and others may move in.

Just my 2 cents..

X2

Don't think I could take another buck knowing that drop was running around.

I'm weird. I would setup 2 locations tops. One for a north wind and one for a south wind. You cant hunt 3 feeders at once so you will be competing with yourself and always second guessing where you choose to hunt. Have 2 stands, 2 feeders and hunt the wind every time. My 2 cents

Hunt the one you would rather have on your wall. I've past up some really big deer and people thought I was nuts when I showed video proof... until they saw the one I was after in the back of my truck.

x2

If its your place, shoot which ever one you want.. Personally, I think the 10 is the oldest of the group, but i'll be honest and say that I could not pass a middle aged drop tine buck on a 140 acre place.

Hang your stand asap and go ahead and clear some limbs with as little disturbance as possible. I would not hunt out of a pop up on the ground, but thats just me.

X3

And I wouldn't put a pop up out there at all, its too late and my experience is not good with pop-ups for Bigger smarter bucks

x2. Hang on or ladder stands should not effect the deer much;but cover your scent and were rubber boots while putting them up, and try to do it during the time of day when deer activity is low.

I love pop-ups, but they aren't for every hunter or every location. We put out a pop-up the first week of October for gun season and harvested two mature bucks in less than an hour from the same stand.

We got lucky seeing two opening morning on a LF hunting area, but if you brush it in a little and give it a few weeks the deer will walk right by it and not bat an eye. This is just my experience using them so far.

Probably a little late for your situation unless you want to hunt it next month.

Thanks everyone! I'm heading out to get my tree stand up.

The cows destroyed a feeder so I'm down to two now. I might just throw this one out in the corner the only open field just for the hell of it. (The cows are gone until jan 1st thank goodness)

I'm pretty pumped, I don't plan on rifle hunting it unless it's the last week or something.

Here's another question. I moved a feeder where those bucks had come in on a trail cam. It's basically in between two big dry creek bottoms. Let's say there are four sides to feeder

One side is my tree stand on the fence and edge of property. Behind me is so thick you can't walk it.
Two sides left to right is the big creeks. 8-10 drops. Pretty thick and maybe 30 yards between the two
Then the side you walk in is off the trail.

It might sound stupid but would a mature buck feel "trapped"?

Mature buck IMO only feels trapped out in the open, wind direction and your smell could change all that though.

+1. Sounds like a great setup. Seems like you'll have a good chance to see him crossing to eat. Good luck and let us know what happens.

Man! I'm wore out. Got the tree stand up. After getting on the tree it's actually another huge creek bottom behind me too. It looks awesome. Checked the cam and bucks hitting it hard!!! Only at night but not bad for being up three days. I'm pumped and ready!

I stalked a group on hogs for over a hour before dark. Finally got a open shot on one of this biggest but he ran in some thick woods I couldn't walk with arrow in him! Never found him...this was far from my tree stand

Dude...those are nice. I'm excited for you.