The following tip is from Pete Plasmier of The Outdoorsmen's Voice and Sportsmans Choice Game Calls. Check out both websites for more information about Pete and his products as well as the hunting and fishing forums on the Outdoorsmen's Voice. The links are in this post as well as on the side of the page.
October 15, 2012
BIG BUCKS WALKING
I have to laugh when I hear hunters say that, during the rut, mature bucks get stupid or dumb or careless. In my opinion, what bucks become is desperate! They’ve only got about 2 ½ weeks to pass their genes along to the next generation by impregnating the does. One fully-mature whitetail buck may breed with anywhere from 4 to 16 available does during this short calendar period. So, for the next couple of weeks, the bucks which have been doing a good job of avoiding humans will throw caution to the winds while chasing tail. A bowhunter will have more encounters with mature bucks now than during the entire rest of the deer season. An encounter can happen at any time of day, so be prepared.
This is the time when you’ll have encounters with world-class, trophy bucks. Use vacation time from work, or think up a sudden illness—a hangnail or something. One way or another, tell your boss, wife, kids, sweetie, and all your pets that you just have to take to the field as much as you can for a while.
During the rut, I advise my hunters not to take any adult does—those are what will attract the big, elusive bucks. That property you’ve hunting all season may suddenly come alive with good rutting activity.
Here are some things I think are worth trying:
- In the morning, try pinching in very close to a doe bedding area. During the course of the morning, bucks will keep checking it to see which does are reaching their stage of estrus.
- In the afternoon, try getting into an open field or meadow where you know does and their yearlings go to feed and socialize. You can count on horny bucks to pay them a visit.
The more time you can spend bowhunting the eastern whitetail right now, the better your chances of harvesting a Pope and Young grade whitetail buck. Keep some champagne and cigars in stock—you may want them for a celebration!
At this time of the season, using a deer scent can give an archer an added advantage.
I have to laugh when I hear hunters say that, during the rut, mature bucks get stupid or dumb or careless. In my opinion, what bucks become is desperate! They’ve only got about 2 ½ weeks to pass their genes along to the next generation by impregnating the does. One fully-mature whitetail buck may breed with anywhere from 4 to 16 available does during this short calendar period. So, for the next couple of weeks, the bucks which have been doing a good job of avoiding humans will throw caution to the winds while chasing tail. A bowhunter will have more encounters with mature bucks now than during the entire rest of the deer season. An encounter can happen at any time of day, so be prepared.
This is the time when you’ll have encounters with world-class, trophy bucks. Use vacation time from work, or think up a sudden illness—a hangnail or something. One way or another, tell your boss, wife, kids, sweetie, and all your pets that you just have to take to the field as much as you can for a while.
During the rut, I advise my hunters not to take any adult does—those are what will attract the big, elusive bucks. That property you’ve hunting all season may suddenly come alive with good rutting activity.
Here are some things I think are worth trying:
- In the morning, try pinching in very close to a doe bedding area. During the course of the morning, bucks will keep checking it to see which does are reaching their stage of estrus.
- In the afternoon, try getting into an open field or meadow where you know does and their yearlings go to feed and socialize. You can count on horny bucks to pay them a visit.
The more time you can spend bowhunting the eastern whitetail right now, the better your chances of harvesting a Pope and Young grade whitetail buck. Keep some champagne and cigars in stock—you may want them for a celebration!
At this time of the season, using a deer scent can give an archer an added advantage.
Keep the tradition alive. Take a youngster hunting or fishing!
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