Close Menu
North American Outdoorsman
    What's Hot
    Seed environment for a dog paw

    Hunting Dog Training – The Dangers of Grass Seeds

    August 28, 2025

    Being on a Hunting TV Show is a Dream Come True

    August 24, 2025
    Thompson Center Arms rifle

    Thompson Center Arms: History, Firearms, and the Legacy of Innovation

    September 4, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    North American Outdoorsman North American Outdoorsman
    • Audience
      • North American Outdoorsman
      • North American Deer Hunter
      • North American Bowhunter
      • Crossbow Magazine
    • Authors
    • Partners
    • Newsletter
    Facebook Instagram YouTube
    PREMIUM
    • Hunting
      • Deer Hunting
      • Bowhunting
      • Elk Hunting
      • Bear Hunting
      • Big Game
      • Dogs & Hunting
      • Exotic Hunting
      • Hog Hunting
      • How to Hunt
      • Predator Hunting
      • Small Game Hunting
      • Turkey Hunting
      • Waterfowl Hunting
    • Fishing
      • Bass Fishing
      • Fly Fishing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Walleye Fishing
      • How to Fish
    • Gear
      • Gear Reviews
      • New Outdoor Gear
    • Recipes
      • All Wild Game
      • #eatwhatyoukill
      • Bear Recipes
      • Fish-Recipes
      • Venison Recipes
      • Wild Goose Recipes
      • Wild Hog
      • Fishing
      • Bass Fishing
      • Fly Fishing
      • How to Fish
      • Ice Fishing
      • Walleye Fishing
    • News
      • 2A & Carry
      • Conservation
      • Editorial
      • Women In The Outdoors
    • SWEEPSTAKES
    North American Outdoorsman
    Mossberg SA Series Shotgun
    Home»Hunting»Big Game»Ghost Busters: When Big Bucks Disappear
    Big Game

    Ghost Busters: When Big Bucks Disappear

    Josh HoneycuttBy Josh HoneycuttNovember 21, 2022Updated:November 21, 20229 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Telegram Tumblr Email
    big-bucks-catch
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Thereโ€™s an explanation for why that mature buck youโ€™ve been following suddenly disappears.

    Deer hunters who run trail cameras have experienced voids left by monster bucks that suddenly disappear. Oftentimes, we call these ghostsโ€”and bestow them synonymous names for their cunningness and ability to evade death. But bucks arenโ€™t ghosts. Theyโ€™re just ghosting us. Or, at the least, there is a very real explanation for their sudden disappearance. Here are eight reasons why these disappearances can happen, and what you can do about them.

    big-bucks
    Big bucks sometimes disappear. Thatโ€™s just part of deer hunting. (Honeycutt Creative photo)

    1. Environmental Changes

    One of the biggest reasons deer leave is a result of changes to their environment. These adjustments can be due to a wide variety of causes. From elements as intrusive as urban sprawl to seemingly minor issues such as brush hogging a grassy field on the edge of a bedding area, these types of variations can cause bucks to depart for new lands.

    โ€œThey are only thinking about food, water, and survival,โ€ says Grigsby Host Mike Stroff. โ€œSo, if they change it up, one of these factors is the reason. It is hard to say where they go, but if you are not seeing them, it is a good idea to shift to figure it out and get on them.โ€

    2. Rut Ranges

    trail-camera
    Cellular trail cameras are an excellent way to relocate ghost bucks. (Honeycutt Creative photo)

    Another cause is directly linked to the biology of the Whitetail species. According to research, a vast percentage of bucks (of all ages) have different summer and fall ranges. This means they spend the rut in a different location.

    โ€œThey have seasonal home ranges, and many of those bucks you watched all summer feeding in ag fields shift to their fall range and suddenly seem to disappear,โ€ says Kip Adams, chief conservation officer for the National Deer Association. โ€œTheyโ€™ve disappeared because theyโ€™re using a different portion of their home range.โ€

    Some say that some bucks spend the summer nearer to their birthplace, and then, during the rut, spend rut time elsewhere. That could be true, but if so, it could be much more complicated than that. Consider that bucks just want to find a place where theyโ€™re the dominant male. That may be the biggest factor in where they settle down.

    โ€œI have conducted an annual summer trail camera survey on our property for nearly 20 years,โ€ Adams says. โ€œEach year, I photograph 20 to 25 unique bucks during the survey. Of those, about half disappear after they shed their velvet and I donโ€™t see or photograph them again until the following summer. Fortunately, I also have numerous bucks move onto our property following velvet shedding that I didnโ€™t photograph during the summer survey.โ€

    3. Seasonal Changes

    deerOne of the most significant causes of disappearance is a change in bedding area necessities. This issue is linked to seasonal changes. โ€œ[Try] different bedding [areas] due to possible cover changes with leaves falling or plants going dormant for the winter,โ€ advises Own the Season Host Art Helin. โ€œOnce you locate him again, play the ingress, egress, and wind game to not pressure him.โ€

    Oftentimes, the change is temperature related. In summer, bucks need cooler bedding that gets them out of the heat. These areas are generally found on north-facing slopes, in low-lying areas, and near water. In winter, deer need the opposite bedding areas that offer more heat. They find these spots one of two ways. First, solar bedding provides more sunlight throughout the day. This is only found along south-facing slopes. The sun rises in the southeast, and sets in the southwest, so northern slopes receive little sunlight in winter.

    The second way is via thermal bedding. This is best defined as densely packed conifers, such as cedars, spruce, and some pine trees. These materials hold more heat at ground level, block the wind, shield the ground floor from rain and snow, and provide better cover when all other leaves are off.

    4. Minor Shifts

    fresh-signs
    Canโ€™t seem to relocate that big buck? Scout around and look for fresh signs. (Honeycutt Creative photo)

    One of the more common reasons bucks seem to disappear is for a much subtler reason. Itโ€™s when they change just enough that you stop seeing them on camera or in person, but they havenโ€™t really altered their overall patterns. It could even be as subtle as walking behind the tree the camera is on, shifting to a trail that paralle ls the previous one they used, or something similar. All it takes is a slight adjustment to start seeing this deer again.

    โ€œSometimes they are there and just not moving much in daylight hours,โ€ Stroff says. โ€œIt sometimes is best to back out and wait until the conditions and movement get back to what you are looking for, so you donโ€™t apply unneeded pressure.โ€

    5. Food Sources

    Food is king. Deer need quality bedding cover, but without food, they wonโ€™t survive. Thatโ€™s why deer behaviors and patterns shift as food sources change. Whitetails follow the food. They eat the best of the best. Itโ€™s that simple.

    When I asked Buckventures Host Jeff Danker about his Number One reason for bucks disappearing, his answer was: acorns. โ€œBucks need to put on enough fat to make it through the rut,โ€ Danker said. โ€œAcorns put on more fat than most food sources. Therefore, bucks head to the oaks.โ€

    On a broader scale, in the Midwest, deer eat green soybeans and other crops all summer and early fall. Then, they shift to hard mast crops, such as acorns and chestnuts. Soft mast, such as apples, pears, persimmons, and plums, also become viable. Afterward, itโ€™s back to waste grains, standing crops, food plots, etc. Deer are browse animals, too. They eat woody plant parts, such as buds, twigs, leaves, and more, especially in winter. Itโ€™s all about offering deer what they need.

    โ€œPlant spring crops, put in water tanks, and then plant more plots,โ€ Danker says. โ€œSoybeans, milo, and alfalfa are my main ingredients. Figure out your entry points and have a plan for the season. I figured out a long time ago that if you have food and more food, you will keep big bucks. For a minimal amount of cash, a person can get some food planted.โ€

    hunting-apps apps
    Hunting apps, such as HuntStand, can be great tools for determining where big, old, smart, mature bucks are hiding from you. (Honeycutt Creative photo)

     

    6. The Rut

    If itโ€™s already the rut, and your target buck suddenly vanishes, itโ€™s likely that heโ€™s not far. This time of year, deer cover a lot of ground and frequent areas where they generally donโ€™t go. Theyโ€™re spending less time in buck bedding areas and security cover, and more time in areas does inhabit, as well as in odd spots that bucks push does once the does are in estrus.

    โ€œIf you are seeing and/or getting pictures of a specific buck, keep hunting him and donโ€™t give up,โ€ Adams says. โ€œHowever, if you havenโ€™t seen him for weeks and canโ€™t even get a nighttime picture, donโ€™t completely give up. I wouldnโ€™t pass up another buck that makes me happy. Even if a buck has shifted his core area, that doesnโ€™t mean he wonโ€™t wander back through during the rut. Anything can happen in November (or whenever the rut is in your specific area).โ€

    author
    The author poses with a big Missouri buck that had disappeared
    for quite a while. (Honeycutt Creative photo)

    7. Hunting Pressure

    One of the more common reasons bucks disappear is because hunters spend too much time in their core area. Bucks are very loyal to their primary beds, even after being bumped from them. But theyโ€™ll only tolerate so much, especially if you keep alerting them to human presence.

    โ€œBucks and does can vanish when we apply too much pressure on them,โ€ Adams says. โ€œHunters do this by hunting, scouting, hanging stands, checking cameras, etc. When we suddenly spend more time in their home, they quickly change their movement patterns to avoid us.โ€

    Danker adds, โ€œHunters tend to be a little too intrusive, and especially big bucks move to where there is less pressure or they become very nocturnal,โ€ Danker concurred. โ€œBig bucks go where they feel safe.โ€

    8. Theyโ€™re Gone (Forever)

    Sometimes, bucks truly are gone. They really are ghosts. Thatโ€™s because someone has tossed them in a truck, ground them up, and stuck their meat in a freezer and their rack on the wall. For them, thatโ€™s great. For you, it stinks. But thatโ€™s deer hunting, and thereโ€™s always another one to chase. So, regroup, dry those man tears, and get to work. We donโ€™t live in the past.

    I asked numerous hunters when a hunter should give up on a big deer. The answer for all of them was, โ€œonly if it is killed.โ€ Otherwise, Helin says, โ€œThey should never give up unless the deer gets killed elsewhere. Then, give up on that deer. But it only takes one second to change an entire season.โ€

    catching-up-deer
    Finally catching up to a deer that has eluded you is an excellent feeling. (Honeycutt Creative photo)

    Finding Them Back

    Other than reason Number Eight, most bucks that vanish can be rediscovered โ€” if theyโ€™re still on ground where you have access. That said, thereโ€™s a right and wrong way to go about this.

    โ€œAlways be scouting, but do it very smartly,โ€ Danker says. โ€œAggressive scouting can push deer even further away. Run cell cams and stay disciplined to make your farms a safe place for your deer. I say always dedicate some of the farm as a sanctuary. Never go in [except] during shed season. And some deer never leave. They are right under our noses but have a knack for avoiding trail cams and such.โ€

    Obviously, itโ€™s important to understand the different reasons why bucks disappear. Itโ€™s equally necessary to understand how to respond. When it happens this season, make the right move.

    By Josh Honeycutt

    Per our affiliate disclosure, we may earn revenue from the products available on this page.

    deer hunting January 2022
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous Article6 Mistakes Every Deer Hunter Should Avoid
    Next Article Patterning Whitetails: Is it Possible to Learn and Predict Deer Movement?
    Avatar photo
    Josh Honeycutt

    Iโ€™ve been an outdoor communicator since 2010. Since then, Iโ€™ve been blessed with a full-time career in the outdoors, and Iโ€™ve worked for most of the major hunting magazines and websites, including Field & Stream and Outdoor Life. As a deer and turkey hunter, these are the topics I cover most, but I also dabble in other areas, too, including conservation, predator hunting, small game hunting, and more.

    Related Posts

    Seed environment for a dog paw

    Hunting Dog Training – The Dangers of Grass Seeds

    August 28, 2025

    Being on a Hunting TV Show is a Dream Come True

    August 24, 2025
    Hunter with tree squirrel hunting gear and his dog

    Squirrel Hunting with your Gun Dog

    August 12, 2025
    Ringneck Pheasant

    10 Pheasant Hunting Tips: Pheasant Hunting For Beginners

    September 4, 2025
    how to elk hunt

    Ultimate Guide to Elk Hunting: Gear, Tag Applications, and Key Tactics

    August 12, 2025
    Hunter education in the field

    Learn How to Hunt

    May 28, 2025
    Mossberg SA Series Ad
    Don't Miss
    Seed environment for a dog paw
    Dogs & Hunting

    Hunting Dog Training – The Dangers of Grass Seeds

    August 28, 2025By Scott Haugen6 Mins Read

    Early summer may seem like the most dangerous time for grass seeds and dogs, but…

    Being on a Hunting TV Show is a Dream Come True

    August 24, 2025
    Thompson Center Arms rifle

    Thompson Center Arms: History, Firearms, and the Legacy of Innovation

    September 4, 2025

    Top Eight Topwater Bass Fishing Lures

    August 12, 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Be the first to know about new issues, premium industry gear discounts, access to exclusive content, & more!

    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    Mossberg SA Series Shotgun
    Recent Articles
    • Hunting Dog Training – The Dangers of Grass Seeds
    • Being on a Hunting TV Show is a Dream Come True
    • Thompson Center Arms: History, Firearms, and the Legacy of Innovation
    • Top Eight Topwater Bass Fishing Lures
    • Squirrel Hunting with your Gun Dog
    Quick Links
    • Sweepstakes
    • Authors
    • Partners
    • Advertise With Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    Useful Tools
    • Join Our Newsletter
    • Save On Gear
    • Where to Hunt
    • Where to Shoot
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Affiliate Marketing Disclosure
    © 2025 Outdoor Specialty Media. Designed by Crossroads Marketing.
    • North American Outdoorsman
    • North American Deer Hunter
    • North American Bowhunter
    • Crossbow Magazine

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.