WHITETAIL ACADEMY
What I've learned while hunting, photographing and observing trophy whitetails
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16. If a buck sees you, he won’t approach your set-up. There’s no point skulking along field edges once the sun has brought detail to the landscape—any buck within sight of your approach will learn your location. Instead, get into your stand or ground blind before daybreak; use a small LED flashlight directed toward the ground if necessary. Before the season begins, be sure to clear the pathway of any eye-gouging branches.
17. Approaching bucks have an effect on does during the rut (below). If you see a doe watching her back trail and frequently urinating, get ready. The same goes if you see a doe trotting friskily with her tail out to one side—it’s a sure sign she’s in estrous and almost certainly being followed by one or more lovestruck males. The biggest buck is usually the first in; he’s the tending buck. Any smaller bucks will hover around in hopes he’ll drop dead from something (this is where you come in), giving them a chance to breed. Even if a doe is not in heat and she’s within sight of your stand, keep an eye on her—she’ll be aware of an approaching buck long before you. If she snaps to attention to stare along her back trail, it’s time to prepare for a shot.
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18. Bucks love transition zones, so hunt the forest fringe. Habitat transitions that offer shelter for a quick escape on one side and a lush meal plan on the other are some of the best bets for pre- and post-rut hunts. Deer thrive where habitats merge, and they feel more secure moving along these borders.
19. During the rut, it’s all about the girls.Use a buck decoy during the pre-rut, but remove the plastic rack once the rut is underway, changing the decoy into a doe. Big bucks are far more concerned about finding a date than a barroom brawl during the peak of the rut.
20. Bucks love a good shower (above). They’ll move more during the day if it’s raining, as long as it’s not pelting down and the winds are mild. They also expect the woods to be vacant of humans when it’s wet. Indeed, fewer hunters are likely to be afield when it rains. Plus, the rain significantly reduces scent, making it a good time to be hunting. All you need is a small, portable pop-up blind to keep you dry.
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