“pre-rut”

Over the years the author has rattled bucks into point-blank distance many times. He’s here to tell you the practice works.

There may be fewer bucks moving at this time, but don’t forget there also are fewer hunters in the woods. Look for buck patterns to re-emerge around food sources first.

This latest Member's Hunt comes from Daryl Benish of Berkley, Mich.

You don’t need a high fence—you can keep deer on your hunting tract through a variety of measures. Consider managing the number of hunters and their locations and days hunting, setting aside sanctuary or planting preferred foods.

Many things cross your mind as you anchor, aim and release an arrow at a mature buck. This split second culminates many months of preparation and planning. Let's look at some ways to help you get there.

Just before the breeding season bucks make seemingly random decisions, forcing us to analyze their habitat’s food, water and cover and how each factor influences their behavior.

Here are 15 ways to slip in undetected and kill that buck of a lifetime.

Here’s a game plan for each phase of the whitetail rut.

Scents, mock rubs or scrapes, decoys or even upturned earth may stop a curious buck long enough to create a brief shooting window.