Every hunter
wants to bag the big one, a nice rack for the wall and a boatload of meat in
the freezer. When it comes to trophy bucks, tracking them can be a chore. To
track trophy bucks, you just need to do a few things before you ever hit the
field. There are some tips you can follow for increased chances of success.
Talk to other
hunters who have hunted a specific area and see if they have seen any trophy
sized bucks there. Most any hunter will be glad to tell you about the big buck
he saw here or got a glimpse of there. Once you know there is a trophy there,
you just need to stake out the area and watch. This is something you do prior
to the season.
Now that you
know there is a trophy that calls the area home, go afield and start looking
for life signs, such as tracks, rubs or scrapes. It is a good bet that he
wanders through a certain spot at least once every day or two. The question is
when does he come through here? Now you can do this one of two ways.
My preferred
method is to go afield two or three months-yes MONTHS- before I plan to hunt that
spot. I will sit out there and simply watch and take notes. I am as quiet as
possible and just watching and learning; stalking, if you will. Now I know that
a trophy does live here and frequents the spot every so often.
The other is a
more modern method using trail cameras. Set the cameras up at strategic places
and then analyze the photos and see when he comes through, what time he comes
around and actually SEE how big he really is. Now you are armed with all the
info you need to go get him.
Another way is
to actually follow tracks wherever they may go. This may take miles and miles
of walking. As you go, look for places that offer the three necessities that
all deer need; water, food and cover. Find a spot that has two of these readily
available and you will be bringing that baby home soon.
Tracking
trophy bucks may be a little more challenging than other deer. This is because
they are bigger than their brethren; therefore they are also older and wiser
than the rest. They have been around a bit and know how to elude you without
much effort.
In my personal
experience, I have tracked deer for a couple of miles. Then when I went back, I
found deer tracks IN my footprints. He knew I was there. He eluded me, then
backtracked on me and left me a little message. Do not let people tell you that
deer are dumb and do underestimate them.
