7 early-season secrets for hunting big whitetail bucks

During my decades of whitetail addiction, I’ve developed an appreciation for the finer details of each stage of deer season. Not only do the animals behave differently as the season progresses, but the strategies for success also change. Indeed, hunting the early season is vastly different from pursuing bucks during the rut or the late season.

While trophy bucks can be had throughout the fall, the pre-rut definitely has its advantages. Some of my most memorable hunts, in fact, have taken place during early archery season, just as the bucks’ testosterone levels begin to spike and their pre-rut activity ramps up. Here are my seven proven tactics for early-season success.