Deer Management Archives - Page 37 of 53

14 11, 2014

How To Hunt Buck Scrapes

admin2020-06-10T09:19:53-04:00November 14th, 2014|Deer Hunting, Deer Management|1 Comment

Mike, I haven’t had much luck hunting scrapes, what do you suggest? Emory P. from PA Emory, I hear you man, scrape hunting is dang unpredictable. But here’s something to think about. A University of Georgia study found that three, five or more bucks might scrape like crazy on one ridge or in a creek bottom, while other sets of scrapes only 300 yards or so away might go cold overnight. So you always have to be looking for and hunting the hottest scrapes with the most buck activity right now. I suggest: If you hunt a set of scrapes for two or three days and don’t see a buck, pull out of there immediately and scout for hotter, fresher scrapes 200 [...]

6 11, 2014

Deer Rut: 3 Scent Strategies

admin2020-06-10T09:19:54-04:00November 6th, 2014|BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management|4 Comments

Buck Stink: One November morning I shot a 10-pointer, walked up, took a step back and said, “Man, you stink!” The buck’s hind legs and hocks were black and wet from rub-urinating in scrapes. I held my breath and started gutting. Leaves popped. I looked up and saw another 10-pointer bearing down on me, rack poised for battle and the hair bristling on his neck. I crouched behind the dead buck. A rut-crazed animal like that is unpredictable and potentially dangerous, and I figured staying put was my best bet. The intruder marched within 10 yards, grunting and giving me the sideways evil eye. When my deer didn’t pose a threat, the bad buck whirled and trotted off. Ever since that day, I set a [...]

27 10, 2014

Rut Tactic: Best Buck Sign

admin2020-06-10T09:19:54-04:00October 27th, 2014|BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management|1 Comment

The big-buck hunting is just about to get good, really good. To confirm that a shooter buck you've been seeing is still in your woods, or to learn that a "new" buck has rolled in and is searching for does, look for 3 things: Tracks: Ordinary-looking tracks 2 to 2 ½” long tell you little (could be a buck or an adult doe). But a deep, splayed print 2½ to 3 1/2” long screams buck, although the size of his rack is anybody’s guess. Lots of big, fresh tracks in the mud in a small area indicate good buck activity in that area—move in and hunt that spot. Rubs: The buck that blazed the first big rubs you found back in mid-September might still be around—or he might be 2 miles away. [...]

13 10, 2014

Hunt Dilemma: Shoot Dogs Chasing Deer?

admin2020-06-10T09:19:54-04:00October 13th, 2014|BigDeer, Deer Management, Hunting News|13 Comments

One topic floating around the Interweb right now: If you are in your stand and all of a sudden deer burst out, chased by a dog or dogs, do you shoot the dogs? In one discussion I read, a guy said he was having this problem with stray dogs in Penn. years ago. He called the game commission and the people there told them point-blank that if you see a dog chasing deer on your property, not only should you shoot the dog but you have an obligation to do so. They also told the guy that if you shoot a dog, with or without a collar, you have to report it to a game warden within 48 hours. They went [...]

8 10, 2014

How to Hunt October Bucks

admin2020-06-10T09:19:54-04:00October 8th, 2014|BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management|5 Comments

Some really good buck hunters I know don’t hunt their best covers and stands until around Halloween and into November, as the rut starts rocking. Their strategy is sound—put no pressure on the bucks until there are moving more with their guard down, and especially in daylight. But I don’t believe that kind of thinking and approach are best for most guys. You’re busy, and you hunt when you can. If that happens to be now in early October, great. The woods are turning beautiful, there are fewer hunters roaming around than there will be in November, and there are good opportunities to get your buck. My friend Grant Woods, one of the premier whitetail scientists in the U.S. and [...]