You are spot on. I never paid attention to small parcels and wasted a lot of money leasing big properties with relatively small areas where deer actually hung out. I watched about 40 of your videos and became a believer in quality over quantity. I leased two properties a 20 acre and a 15 acre in N.C. and saved over $5000.00 from what I normally pay. Ran cameras on both properties since spring, does day and night. Not one buck. This week I got pics of 3 bucks on one property and two on the other. I saw all the sign when I leased both properties and was quite puzzled to never see a buck. The woods are thick on half of both parcels. Properties are 3 miles apart and all of a sudden BAM, now they are filing in. I had seen this on my 40 acres in Georgia but thought it was a fluke property. Your thought process and my years of spending all my time in small spots on big parcels has really started clicking. So glad I found someone who doesn’t just talk about how you sit in Iowa on a guides stand a boom, you kill a buck. Some of us like to actually participate in all aspects of the hunt as well as hunt different areas of the country.

that buck footage at 1.51 is wow ~~great stuff Whitetail Habitat Solutions.

I’m happy to say that I landed a 2800 acre lease in Sonora, TX. Goodbye Huntsville and East Texas and hello West Texas. Ready for the season!!!

So true about the habitat shift. Ever since we owned our property for the last 16 years I hardly ever got pics of nice bucks. But come end of august through september the cams explode with nice bucks. We manage our property specifically for the habitat shift. We have water, select cuttings, tree plantings, pear and apple trees, and lots of green food. One thing we have noticed, in our area the bucks have traveled 2-3 miles from the ag to our property. Closest ag to us is south across a river system and its loaded with ag but cross the river north and it's all woods. Great video as always.

Shared this video on my Facebook page for my viewers learning pleasure. Thanks for the great video

Good info, I came across this video while I was looking for info on "the shift", it varies from place to place but in some form it definitely happens

October 20th more or less is when I start to experience the buck shift on my small NJ parcel each year. I already have it marked down for this year on my desk calendar! Awesome video. Thanks Cris

Awesome video! Always very informative, I have learned a lot from all of your videos.

Getting ready to purchase my 1st compound bow got lots of decent bucks on multiple cameras tho, im an experienced deer hunter with firearm and after 27 yrs of hunting and learning im ready to try to take a monster with bow if opportunity allows. Got about 35 days to hone in my skills here in upstate ny. Great videos Jeff. Ive got some great advice from you!! Good luck to all sportsmen/women out there be safe out there!!

Your exactly right. We start seeing pictures of mature bucks around mid October on our 700 acre lease. 👍

True I have noticed this same thing. I like to bow hunt in brushy oak areas when the mass hits.

Saw 2 giants together on September 3rd last year and didnt see them again until yesterday over a half mile from where i was hunting them last year. Did not think i would ever see them again but now im super pumped up for the bow season that starts tomorrow

Great information on stem count for bucks habitat.

Jeff as always i really do enjoy your videos. I learn a lot and excellent information. I could sit by a fire and listen and talk all night. Good hunting to you.

You need to start A podcast the amount of information that you possess is amazing I would love to be able to work and listen to what you have to say thanks for the video 👍🏻

I started looking up this problem 2 years ago after noticing this. Long story short my buddys wife had a dandy on cam all summer, and she couldent wait. And i said he wont be there he will be probably half mile away. And her, my buddy, and land owner said that sounds dumb. Well neighbor 3/4 away killed it thursday. and i was never happier to rub it in their face lol. Your videos have taught me alot keep it UP YOU THE MAN!!

Thanks for sharing your knowledge - it's much appreciated!

Always great videos and advice. Thanks

Great video brother as always. I’m goin to get started on stuff here ASAP.

This has got to be the best, clearest and concise information I have ever seen on a youtube video concerning whitetails. This guy is super well spoken and spot on with his information. Best of luck to all the deer hunters this year. I planted 3 food plots last week and we have cooler temps coming in tonight...........we are getting close. RR

Very good information. Thank you for the video!

Heavy acorn crop this year as well. The White oak branches from what I've seen are barely able to hold them. Find the trail(s) from bedding to the oak flats and you'll be in the game.

This is so true. I hunt land where I see many bucks stay all summer into winter, and some bucks are here summer and then disappear in late august. Also most years the big mature bucks usually show up on our cameras in September or October.

Agree. Here in southern maryland our shift happens in the last 2 weeks of october. I think its because of the woods opening up, leaves falling and deer are losing cover in alot of the neighborhoods. We consistently pick up new bucks daily during those 2 weeks every year.

Jeff Just wanted to pass on some info. I'm not a real serious deer hunter as I was 30 years ago. I've been enjoying your videos. Everything you state in your videos is spot on. I live in a residential area but if I walk across the street then start walk depending on the direction I could walk 4, 7 or 10 miles without seeing a road, hydro pole house or another person. But that area I would encounter Moose more than whitetail. Now I live on a 3.5 acre lot but my land boarders over 100 acres of non posted land. I can legally hunt this land with a bow/crossbow as long as I am 100 meters from a dwelling etc. I loved your ideas so much I wanted to experiment. I purchased a 40 gallon water tank instead of your suggested size because I do not wish to have children fall into the larger tank this being an residential area. I also put up a vertical licking/rubbing stick. I also purchased my first ever trail cam the Exodus Lift II. I'm happy to say I've been getting pictures of 3 does one has 2 fawns one has 1 fawn and the other seems to be last years fawn who seems to be with out a fawn of her own. I also have 3 young bucks a nice 9 point, 6 point and another 4 point. I have videos of the 6 point rubbing the the stick I tied up and some of the others drinking from the water. As you mentioned the bucks were only here for 2 weeks and now seemed to move. I usually see bucks traveling the edge of my property every fall because the does stay here until December. Just wanted to say Love the videos and can't wait to see how the bucks react this fall around my little corner of the world. Wayne

Great info thanks!

I experience the whitetail shift every year too but I have been fortunate enough to hang on to bucks that are here every summer because I provide and implement the things you teach. The buck that usually stay are the mature ones. I believe they push the young one out because they have what they need. The bucks do typically go MIA for about a week or two but usually by the start of season they are back. I also hope to take advantage and grab a new one that wonders through and hold them but this year they would have to compete with a few home grown dandies so unless they are 5.5+ they probably won’t have a chance. Hopefully things repeat them selves from last season! Thanks for all the great info.

this is exactly why we chose the hardwood section for our plot. We have Agriculture; S / SE of our plot. All the summer forage is turning here in Michigan. A'kern is falling, yet the last time on the plot the deer activity has increased. I need a trail cam... man this White Tail / Plot & Hunting is expensive

i have a piece of public land that is working out just the way you are describing. I know bucks are in the area but haven't shifted to me yet. I am waiting to ambush them though. thanks for the awesome information.

I experience this exact scenario on two of the properties I hunt .. you will not see one buck until mid October to early November... you’re right on Jeff..👍🏻.. some of my friends can’t believe that I won’t go hunting until then.. I tell them I want to stay out of there from September to end of October... don’t want the deer to feel any pressure.. they think I’m crazy.. but just look at my wall.. Lol.

I believe your spot on Jeff. The is the final Tuesday before deer season begins for me!

Ever since I bought my hunting property, I maintain the land by mowing the fields while leaving areas for wildlife to bed. I noticed a big improvement by just mowing . Deer love freshly cut fields. I prune trees to allow easier paths for deer to walk. The bucks are usually more active in the daylight in late summer eating the crab apple that will drop. October 1 is opening day for archery in New York. I always see bucks during Halloween week and harvest a Whitetail deer.

Very informative video!!!

Good luck this season brother. It’s time to get goin on gettin ready. Be safe GOD BLESS.

Thank you

Hey brother it’s right now here. I get ready to put a plot in and rain sets in here. I’ll get it soon LORD willing Amen

You always provide great content! Thank you!

You highlighted the problem that I currently have. 40 acres with 20 in woods. Plenty of bucks throughout summer, but come October they are leaving.

I want to start by saying I love watching your videos I have learned so much from you! I never had no one to show me how to hunt I learned as I went and also watching your videos! My question is I got some really nice bucks on my cameras all summer long going into the ag field which has corn and beans but for the past week or so I havnt seen one of the bucks come to the field (atleast in the direction of my camera) should I hunt evenings on the ag field come September 14th? Or should I hunt in the thicker cover in the woods? And where are the bucks going if not the ag fields now? I hope to get a response back it seems everyone has a different opinion but I’d rather take your advice over anyone’s thank you

Hi Jeff, just wanted to say you have the best whitetail hunting channel on all of youtube. Thanks for all your hard work putting good hunting education out there. I'm 30 yrs old, always wanted to go hunting, and I'm finally going bowhunting this year partly thanks to your tips giving me the confidence to do so. I'll be hunting up in the Baldwin area in the national forest, probably from a ground blind. Do you have any general tips for that area? Thanks again!

I've watched a quite a few of your videos and I have noticed that alot of them have a vine hanging that the deer play with do you put or spray them with anything

This is a great channel. Each video is so informative.

I have a question not pertaining to this video but about tree stands I have a climber tree stand how do you climb a tree in the morning without spooking deer or is better to set up a stand two weeks before archery starts

This shift of bucks about Sept 1st always blew my mind. I never could figure why they would leave still viable food fields for withdrawn locations a mile away on a ridge. They sometimes travel back to Summer areas; sometimes not; mast production or even falling mast in back areas doesn't reveal where the Hell they are at? I wore out a lot of shoe leather trying to figure this movement out.

Man I was so excited to bow hunt this year because I had 3-4 good bucks on the property since about March. Now I’m a little down knowing they are going to leave. I have been so excited I attempted no plow planting and move a few stands on the property. Is there anything you can do to make them stay and not shift? Or is the idea to improve the land so when the shift happens they all come to your property?

Been following you for a lil bit now I like your channel next year I want to plant buck wheat as a cover crop like u talk bout doing I was wondering where u get ur buckwheat seed ?

Ready for October 1st! This year's white oak harvest has been pretty good on my parent's farm. Hoping to catch my target buck slipping early season bow. Great video as always.

Hello Jeff. Im from Alabama and I enjoy everything you do and love the info you provide. I would love more info on a southern state process. Any thoughts would help very much thanks

Jeff, I'm in central Missouri on private land. I'm just getting our food plots in Labor weekend and the first weekend in September. I wanted to plant your suggested blend of 100lb Peas, 50lbs Oats and 25 lbs Soy Beans this year. If I could have put this in back at the end of July I would have then top seeded it with 200 lbs of winter rye around Labor Day. However, since I'm getting started late should I forgo the Oats and just go straight to the the Rye? As in 100 lbs Peas, 200lbs Winter Rye and 25 lbs Beans? Thanks, Scott

When is the best time to set up a mock scrape? Thanks

Another great video! Some years, we have the same bucks year round, some years they summer elsewhere and don't show up until mid/late Sept. This year, we have 1 6yr old bruiser that stuck around all summer and the rest of the bucks did not! Just curious on your thoughts as to why he didn't herd up with the other bucks? That we know of he's never been spooked by a hunter. We've laid eyes on him and let him walk a few times and we have tons of daytime photos over the last several years! Did he get spooked from his other summer habitat early on? I have several theories, but you're expertise would be appreciated!!!

how do you feel about hunting over corn piles ? i just feel like it aint really hunting .

Here in Pennsylvania it usually opens around the first of October, the good early season lasts about a week, then 2-3 weeks pass with the lull

So I’ve been getting pictures of bucks on the edges of clearcut all summer long. These are younger clearcuts in big wood settings. If the pressure is minimal will these bucks shift as well or will they continue to feed in the cuts up until the rut?

thanks for breaking this down. I've heard it can be easier to hunt mature bucks in their summer range? after hearing this it seems like it could be easier to pinpoint where they will be in the fall, especially if you have made the necessary improvements to your land.

I’ve got a spot that I stay out of that is on the back of property that has been a proven buck cruising area during the rut. I’d like to get back there and work on my access route to my stand and brush my stand in but haven’t made it back yet. So I guess my question is as we are approaching the end of August is there still time to get back there and not blow the spot up by working on my stand and leaving human scent?

good stuff!

jeff, so from reading your comments do you believe using an atv is worse or the same as using lets say a riding mower ,tractor, or truck to check cameras? im not talking about racing around just driving up and slowly and getting out. i have deer that bed down within 200-300 yds from my house and i assume they get used to my mower and tractor because i have plenty of pics on camera. i have been in stands when they are combining corn and the deer come out after they pass.what are your thoughts? thx

How often do you change your stand location, and how many times will you sit a certain stand? If you are busted, how long before going back to that stand?

I have a 150 inch 8 on camera starting to lose velvet. But he’s in thick woods early morning, then goes through thick trails 40 yards to open woods leading to hay fields. He’s surrounded by everything. Is he still going to move?

Good vid as always!

My dad thought the vertical licking branch was some sort of trick till he saw the results from own trail cam. Lol now he want me to make more lol

Great info, dealing with the "no buck" depression right now. Every year though end of August, early Septmeber they come rollin in!

With the buried trough water holes, how do you prevent rabbits and small game falling in, dying, and tainting the water? Is there a small ramp/ incline that goes from the bottom to the top edge that small game can climb out of it at? Dad had an outdoor fish pond in the suburbs, we found a good number of dead rabbits in there, and imagine dead floating rabbits in the waterhole would make it useless to you.

I hope someone can answer this what are they eating in Northern PA in the mountains when its mostly hard woods.and not much crops around

My problem is I hunt a small pass thru woods surrounded by fields and a ditch. Next year I'm putting good food plots out to see if that helps. They always go across the highway to a big woods hunted by a family of hunters

All that sounds great but what about places that never have ag land for them to escape to like here in southern Ky it’s all mountains and a reclaimed strip mine here and there? I’m having a hard time finding sign right now. And very seldom ever see deer.

I crave high quality green all the time too 🤷‍♂️ 💨

What does it mean when the deer just never move from a spot at all,year round. Over population? I have several deer reaching the 10yr old range that just don't leave and we grow a relationship with them. They're not aggressive towards others at all either (I do feed 365 days a year)

Ridiculous amounts of food this year in Wisconsin.. I have never seen the property this thick with vegetation. . Tons of deer and tons of picture's but very hard to move through the 12ft tall ragweed and goldenrod. Also the burning nettles and poison ivy is horrible this year. I did however manage to cut trails and get 2 stand hung this past weekend.

I have alot of does that stay on my 100 acres and never get buck pics until late September and then in October there is just a explosion. I was down right sick last year because one buck I have watched for 4 years didnt show up until end of October but then he hung around for the rest of the season.

So what you’re saying, Jeff, is to find an area of high stem count cover (or have a strong suspicion of where that might be) where the wind is favorable to the deer’s bedding needs, but also look for luscious food sources that stay green throughout the fall where it’s close by and easily accessible to the deer as he exits his bed? Am I understanding this correctly? I’m just trying to make sure I have a concrete understanding of this strategy. It’s what I plan on shifting to this year in order to get closer. From listening to Dan Infalt and you, and from looking back at the places I’ve scouted and found sheds, I’ve realized that they almost always have green food nearby that is sustainable year round, thick cover to their back side and wind that blows over them with a decent view of everything below. That is the trend here in West Virginia.

What is your take on logged out areas?

When do you want to see bucks start to coming on to your property being of September

Excellent video! I hunt in NJ in a “high pressure” area and I notice that as soon as the mature bucks feel that first inkling of pressure early season bow they completely change their day light patterns. Bucks I see on my cameras during summer daylight hours quickly become more elusive as soon as opening bow season starts. Love your input and appreciate all the information!

So is it meaningless to take inventory of bucks via trail cam/ scouting during the summer, if the bucks are going to move away a mile come fall?

I am in northern michigan elk territory how much does the elk population effect the deer in the area i have more trail cam pics of elk on my plot then deer should i be worried?

Buck already begin to shift here in quebec canada since 2 week

Ok so going up tomorrow probably for 10 days or so amped up lots going on this weekend setting up box blinds Saturday then gonna take care of phase 2 of the food plot spraying/fertilizing & seeding lastly Joel according to him will be by me on sept4th hinge cutting yea very excited and it couldn’t have happened without your guidance & professionalism & most of all your willingness to deal with all the questions once again ty by the way great video

I live in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. I love watching your videos but as I see it a lot of your information doesn’t apply to me here. Would like to know if you ever hunted the pines? Would love to chat deer sometime! Hunting is everything prior to pulling the trigger Then it’s work! Learning all the WHYS are why I hunt. Thanks for your time. W

Is there any chance I could email you in regards to some questions. I have rifle hunted for over half my life and I’m just now getting into archery hunting. Would love to learn more in depth stuff and gain a better understanding if you would be okay with that

I hunt on our 40 acre property so fairly small. I’ve seen an 8 pointer on camera that’s the only buck so far this year. But my property is under a lot of pressure because we have hunters all around our property it’s ridiculous. We even have people that come from all over because the surrounding property’s have people that will pay then to hunt there. That’s why there’s so much pressure on our 40 acre property. Is there any advice that would help make it easier and maybe make our property not under pressure as much?

I find that a lot of the oldest bucks wait for hard horn, then they move into any standing corn available. There they have everything they need for the fall until harvest.

What do you mean by “water hole”?

I do have a question Jeff. Beans were planted late on private there is a swamp and cutover about 3 quarters of a mile away on public. The deer bed in the woods on public bordering private. In early October will the bucks still stick close to those beans because of how young the beans are? Note that the public woods bordering the ag field has some really good thick cover.

I absolutely love watching your videos. The only thing I disagree with is the October lull. Maybe it's just the properties I hunt or the amount of standing corn in the areas I hunt but our bow season in Wisconsin starts the 2nd week of September. I usually will try the first couple weeks of September depending on the weather and then let my properties sit until the rut. I've never had any luck around the beginning of Oct. Now that added pressure with bird hunters and other small game hunters could contribute to this but it just seems like such a dead period on my properties. I'd love to hear a video on what your thoughts are about recreational pressure. We have trails throughout our entire property and my family just loves ripping ATV's and UTV's through our 70 acres throughout the summer/fall. While deer get used to farm machinery and other loud noises I am a firm believer in mature bucks avoiding those areas. I've tried for years to get my family to get on board with limiting pressure in late summer and just having the recreational fun on the state trails. Our property butts up to over a 1000 acres of public land so it can be hard to manage but one things for sure with the amount of recreational pressure next to us on the state land the less pressure on ours the better.

I was getting buck pics up until about 3 weeks ago . Before that from June til beginning of August I was getting really good buck pics in multiple cameras. Now.. Not getting many buck pics at all

well that stinks just found 3 good bucks on camera here in northwest florida on public land ..guess they wont stay there when october 26 roles around lol figures. great video man thx God Bless.

I see them in velvet inside some of the thickest areas around so dunno about that part.

Is the pattern the same everywhere? I’m in northern Ontario. Seen a few spike bucks on camera but nothing to write home about yet.

Do you hunt opening day if your formula is not a good day to hunt?

I had some really good luck hunting white oak with acorn's dropping.

Some more of us don’t not hunt new farmers fences. Some actual Hunt northern Bush. No food plots to attract them for shooting them in a certain location.

Our White Oak Acorns don't start dropping here until Thanksgiving!

What happens if the bucks core area has everything they need and it’s the thickest cover even in the winter? Also The area I hunt is very rural there are only little plots of woods in amongst houses, and the deer density is extremely high. There are bucks on every little parcel.

Clearly I need to hit the books or talk to farmer Bob to get a handle on all the different terms and the associated definitions on high stem count an the like. Don't need college credits, just looking for insight into Bucks; Like the open airy plots in summer and dense thick bush come late fall. Ok I'm good.

I have yet to get a wall Hanger and haven’t been Hunting much the last seven years. Was a Firefighter for 31 years and Retired this Jan. My Uncle has 80 acres , about half is hardwoods that goes into a Creek Bottom. The top 40 was clear Cut about 20 years ago and recently had some timber cut off it. I had a Monster 10 pointer coming into that area on camera every night multiple times eating corn for about two weeks. Never got a chance to stick Him ,now nothing but crickets on the trail cam. I have the SPYPOINT that sends pics to my Phone so the only times I go in is to put out more corn then Hunt. There is really thick cover on the top 40 but hoping no one else has got him! My wife has been a Trooper, she knows how bad I want Him! My Brother has a Wall full and this One Trumps all of His, He Hunts there too😖

I have state land that butts up to me. We like to hunt that first any pressure pushes them to us.

#aDekeDitty3 Love Whitetail Habitat Solutions work. Check out this Buck deer hiding in a bean field. They are so freaking amazing.

Man I have some awesome bucks on my lease rn. The discussion of the white tail shift is a bit discouraging. Some open hardwood but definitely some areas with high stem counts....hope the property has what it takes to attract a mature buck and keep him around.