WHERE MONSTERS LURK
To successfully hunt giant white-tailed bucks during daylight hours, search out their forest-bound secret hideouts
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Later in the season, big bucks become reclusive and wary (photo: Larry Smith/Flickr)#3 TARGETING
Pre- and post-rut activity in staging areas can be predictable, as long as the deer aren’t pressured. They’ll stick to their daily travel routes between favourite food sources and daytime bedding areas, stopping at a preferred staging area in between. By autumn, mature bucks will have also mastered the art of social distancing. Aside from a sparring partner of similar age, they’ll develop a low tolerance for other deer, and become reclusive and wary. Given the tight nature of the terrain, staging areas promise them little chance for a daytime disturbance.
That all changes once the scent of does in heat fills the air, however, with breeding bucks roaming willy-nilly across the countryside at peak rut. They will still buzz through their staging areas, but to hit scrapes rather than feed (see DIY scrapes below).
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During the late season, deer will shift back to a patternable feeding routine, with bucks needing to recover as much weight as possible while remaining secretive during daylight. Staging areas positioned near a late-season food source—such as standing corn, soybeans or turnips—can offer the security and browse they need. Such areas also provide primary entry points for evening feeding, offering the hunter an excellent opportunity to find a buck while there’s still daylight.
BONUS TIP: DIY SCRAPES
Created in staging areas during the pre-rut, scrapes can evolve into communication hubs once the rut kicks off, for both deer living in the area and those passing through. When that happens, the staging area will see more deer traffic, which in turn will lead to more bucks sniffing around. If there’s already a scrape in the opening, you’re golden. But if there’s only sign such as rubs, tracks and droppings, you can crank up the attraction by making your own mock scrape.
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Wearing scent-free gloves, bend and partially break an overhanging branch so that it dangles four to five feet above the ground. Then use scent-free rubber boots to kick away leaves, twigs and other debris to expose two square feet of earth beneath the twig. After that, just walk away. Once one buck works the scrape by pawing and urinating on the bare earth and nibbling the overhanging branch, it will have enough scent to attract others.
Ideally, the local dominant buck will investigate to find out who dared to make a scrape in his home range, then take it over. If there are enough deer around, the scrape should remain active all fall as passing bucks also investigate and add their own scent. This activity will further heighten the appeal of the staging area for the local boss, and hopefully bring him within range of your set-up.