When and where to hunt island bucks?
Super early in the morning to catch them returning?
Where do you set up on the island? (Edge, center, etc.)

Are they swimming to the island or walking? I would bet they have a favorite spot where they leave the water. On the right wind I'd set up and watch that spot or trail before daylight, don't give up too early tho. I've seen bucks return to their core bedding arae after 10 am. The food source they are using has a lot to do with the time due to the distance they are traveling.

Wheeler is down so they can walk straight through the mud to the islands now. And I’ve had a hard time locking down food source. There is old cut corn close by as well as a soy been field about a quarter mile away. Other than that there are a lot of red oaks on the mainland. Haven’t seen many white oaks producing...

If they are walking in mud, finding the point they cross should be easy. I'd set up on that. Just make sure the wind is right.Good Luck, hunt safe

Giles island

Depends on size of Island but stalk hunting can be very good if wet ground/swamp areas!

Island side or main land side? Morning or evening?

Main land side....daylight to dark.

It depends on your access. If possible I'd pick island side before daylight in the morning. I'd be afraid of bumping one on the mainland side when I was moving to the stand location.If I had to hunt the afternoon and the moon was right I might try the mainland side. The problem with that is if they are pressured they may not move till it's dark.
Hunt Safe

I'd personally try to get on the island about 15-20 yards in from the edge in the AM on a trail if you have access (so you have some cover) - I've seen deer often sprint/jog across open areas like swamp edges and power lines so if you're right on the edge getting a shot may be tough and you're more likely to be spotted. If they are getting to the island in multiple ways the trails are more likely to converge there (on the island) and you're more likely to get ahead of them coming home from food sources. Like others have said if they are crossing mud it should be easy to find the more heavily used trails coming going to/from the island.

One other thing is don't use the same path to the island the deer are using / try not to stink up the trail if you have to cross it.

A sort of related story - I used to hunt some public land with a gas line where deer would cross approximately the same 100 yard stretch on a daily basis between thick bedding on one side and a large oak flat on the other (food source). I'd hunt it about 15 yards on the food source side to catch them coming in. The deer were always wary crossing that open piece and would hang out in the brush trying to scent the far side before quickly crossing, they also tended to cross in a spot with cover on both ends. I was once set up 20 yards inside the food source side up in the canopy. Another hunter set up about half the distance to the opening on the ground (he never saw me). The deer came to the far side of the clearing and blew him - he gave up and left. Both I and the deer waited for him to leave. Once he left they quickly crossed the opening. Moral of the story is be very aware of scent wind and cover when hunting a spot like that.

Sorry I'm babysitting and that post got messed up...

Nice thanks

I'm only just now learning to hunt deer in general, I haven't even began to unlock how to hunt bucks... but here are some more questions I'm researching at this time...

Q: How early is too early when going in to the island in the AM?

Q: And Perch, what moon would you hunt the island and why?

Q: I've read some stuff talking about hunting buck beds. In this scenario would I be setting up early to catch the buck returning?

Q: How far will bucks bed away from their primary food source?

Q: With wheeler having cut corn, standing corn, harvested soy, standing soy, red oaks, white oaks, and other oaks... how do you determine primary feeding spots? Other than observing obviously...

Q: I watched 2 does and three fawns cut across a creek and bed down on the side of one island where there was a good bit of brush surrounding them with my binos. Will bucks bed in similar or even the same locations?

Q: Do bucks bed near each other when they are still in bachelor groups?

Q: What time of year will they start splitting up?

Q: I've found old rubs all over the place, will bucks re-use old rubs, or does there territory differ from year to year?

Q: Will another buck use another bucks rub line?

I’ll try to run these down

(1) never really too early to get out within reason. You need to beat them home
(2) yes - catching him returning
(3) will bed very far away in fall but closer when in batch group - I personally haven’t seen enough batch groups with my own eyes over a period of time to confirm this
(4) fresh droppings and tracks - but in the middle of a field that is probably happening at 2am
(5) not generally in the exact same spot for bedding but could use same or nearby travel route
(6) deer may use similar rub lines again - but I wouldn’t hunt an old run line unless there is fresh sign