WHITETAIL ACADEMY
What I've learned while hunting, photographing and observing trophy whitetails
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21. Bucks can surprise you at any moment.Never rush to or from your stand—you never know when you’ll come face to face with a trophy deer. Always walk slowly along field edges or brush to break up your outline, all the while keeping watch for sign.
22. Bucks know when you’re not calling properly, instantly dampening their curiosity (below). You can’t simply show up at your set-up, start blowing on a grunt tube and expect deer to come running. The point of calling is to convince a lovesick buck that some serious deer foreplay is unfolding, so your calls should mimic both sexes. First, make two doe bleats five seconds apart to break the silence. Wait another five seconds and follow up with a guttural buck grunt. Then 10 seconds after that, make a drawn-out buck-tending grunt. It should last about four seconds, gradually increasing significantly in volume. After that, stop calling and freeze in position for 20 minutes. If you’ve succeeded in tricking a trolling buck, you’ll soon know.
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23. Bucks love to hide on islands. Small islands close to shore, especially in cattail marshes, are prime bedding areas for pre- and post-rut bucks. During the rut, tending pairs will also bed down on these islands. You don’t have to hunt on the island itself: you simply need a vantage point to watch the deer as they come and go.
24. Bucks deserve excellent marksmanship. You must be 100 per cent confident in your bow or gun, and your ability to make a clean kill shot. This is one aspect of the hunt you have total control over, so master your firearm or bow before heading afield. We owe it to these magnificent beasts to ensure a quick kill.
25. Bucks live in amazing landscapes.Take the time to enjoy the forest or fields where you hunt, breathing in the fresh air, listening to the sounds of nature and sitting motionless as the world moves around you. The experience is as rewarding as the delicious venison you’re sure to take home. Class dismissed.
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Long-time contributor Mark Raycroft shoots whitetails with rifle, bow and camera in southeastern Ontario.