WHERE MONSTERS LURK
To successfully hunt giant white-tailed bucks during daylight hours, search out their forest-bound secret hideouts
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When possible, hunt these secret spots in a light rain (photo: Steven Cordes/Unsplash)#4 HUNTING
To limit pressure, only hunt a staging area twice a week at the most. Bucks visit these clearing to avoid pressure, after all, and they won’t tolerate disturbances. That makes for a more challenging hunt, but it can be far more successful when approached with care and focus. If spooked, bucks will shift their staging areas deeper into the woods, and they may change their travel routes altogether.
With that in mind, keep these honey holes as the aces up your sleeve for when all the right variables fall into place. That includes a light, but steady breeze that keeps the wind in your favour, and a light rain to help dampen your scent and the sound of your stealthy approach.
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If the bruiser you’ve been capturing on camera is only showing up after twilight, meanwhile, wait for an afternoon when a high-pressure cold front sweeps through to motivate him to become active earlier in the evening. Also watch the forecast for plummeting overnight temperatures. Frosty mornings during the pre-rut lead to a spike in deer movement, creating superb opportunities.
During bow season, hunt the crosswind or the downwind side of the small clearing, ideally while tucked into the trees that skirt the edge. For gun season, maintain a clear sightline, but set up further into the brush to allow for a greater margin of error in the event of swirling breezes. As with scouting, never use game trails to approach or leave your set-up. Instead, select another route on the downwind side of the clearing.
Unless you commit to hunting the entire day, there are two prime times to be in position to further minimize your chances of being detected. The first is right at legal light in the morning while the deer are still out in their primary feeding area, allowing you to get into position to intercept them when they return. The next is early afternoon, when you can sneak in before the deer rise from their beds. If you opt an evening sit, be prepared to stay until dark to avoid educating your dream buck—and instead head home with a load of venison for the freezer.
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