If you have a flourishing food plot to set your deer stand by, you are very lucky. Not all of us are so fortunate. Some of us hunt big timber or in spots without food-plot availability.
How can we successfully prepare our hunting spot without food as an attractant? Let me see if I can help you answer that question. We will examine a couple of ways to make the bucks you want get close to your stand.
I have said many times that you cannot outrun a deer. You cannot out-smell a deer, and you cannot out-hear a deer. However, his brain is smaller than a golf ball, so you should be able to outthink him every time.
That having been said, what do whitetail bucks like, besides food? Most deer hunters would answer that question like this; “a doe.” That is not wrong, however, there is one thing that gets their attention quicker than a doe, and that is another buck. Especially before and during the rut. Let’s use that against him.
For hundreds of years deer hunters have understood the coordination between rubs and scrapes and buck activity. These two methods of deer communication are valid and documented. So, it stands to reason that making mock scrapes exactly where you want them should pay off.
At this time let me introduce you to Lip Curl Scents out of Marion, Ill. Grant Carrolan has grown a deer herd there and his meticulous method of collecting both buck and doe scents is second to none. I use them in all my mock scrapes and underneath Lip Curl scented ropes. His Buck Beads are pure and effective.
The ropes do not require that you put any other scent products on them. They come pre-soaked and ready to hang. As with all products designed to be used in the field, I highly recommend wearing latex gloves when hanging the ropes and dispensing the beads.
My research has also provided me with another method to attract bucks to the exact spot that I want them to stand for my shot. This is my second year of installing horizontal rubbing poles near all my stands.
Once bucks find these poles, their natural curiosity causes them to check it out, thus bringing their scents to and around the pole. As the rut begins, I also rub Lip Curl Buck Stick directly on the pole. This is a waxy substance in deodorant-type roll-on form.
To set the poles you will need very few tools. I take a Sawzall, a drill and a pocket full of long screws. I always do a little scouting in the area to find out what kind of trees the bucks have already started naturally rubbing. If I find a tree they have already started to rub, and if it is long enough, I will cut it and use it for my rub pole.
Bucks almost always rub green saplings early in the fall. The sticky sap helps pull off the velvet. Find what kind of trees your bucks are rubbing and use these for your horizontal rub poles.
After I have the pole set, I will hang a Lip Curl pre-soaked rope nearby. I want the scent of the rope to help attract bucks to my stand site and to my rub pole. Their tendency will be to make this spot a regular stop on their rounds.
My guess is that some of you are wondering how I determine if this process really works and how I know what bucks are coming to my stand site? My Tactacam makes it easy.
For years I have relied on Tactacam Reveal trail cameras to keep me distantly informed about the deer activity at all my locations. Sending both still images and video to my phone allows me to know almost instantly all the wildlife passing in front of them.
This year the newest product in the Reveal trail camera evolution is the Ultra. Just like the Reveal Pro, the Ultra has On Demand Video Request and a two-inch LCD screen. This new version adds Live Streaming and Active GPS with battery backup.
Tactacam has also improved the aesthetics of the Reveal Ultra. They now come in a classy looking camo pattern to help them blend into the tree where you install them. And just like with the Pro, you have options to set these new cameras up so that you never have to actually go to them all season.
I love the battery pack that you can get for the Ultra. Charge this pack at home, hang it attached to your camera, and you get photos and videos delivered directly to your phone for the whole season. No longer is checking and replacing SD cards necessary for your trail cameras. Tactacam has eliminated the need for in-person attention.
Another amazing option for Reveal cameras is the attachable solar panel. This device is great for stands on field edges or in open timber where the sun can get to them. These panels are also highly recommended for late and post season since the leaves are gone and sunshine to the forest floor is increased.
So, when it comes to hunting bucks, outthink them. Prepare your stand site so that they are, in fact, hunting you. To see these tactics in action, check out my videos over on Mid-Mo Reapers on YouTube.
