Maybe you have a sure-thing rut stand, a place of your own where pleasant memories of big bucks tagged play in your head like a deer-hunting show marathon. Good for you. Now go away; this is for the rest of us who must constantly scout, look for new properties and put in the time for our dream bucks.
To get the most out of the rut: Spend your time where the does concentrate, hunt from the outside in and save the high-risk high-reward stands for the last two days.
Late-season bucks are simple to pattern. Spend your winter afternoons bundled up near a high-calorie food source, and you'll be piling them up in not time.
How can you tell the difference between a 2½-year-old buck and a mature 5½-year-old deer in those few tense seconds before you shoot or don’t shoot? Start by familiarizing yourself with the ever-changing features of the whitetail buck.
Haven't had the best luck with rattling in the past? Well, hang in there, keep cracking and remember these five keys. Your rattling luck will soon change.