Tips for Tracking Trophy Bucks

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.

It's all about realizing that you are in their home and they know the land a lot better than you. Therefore, you need to learn the land and get to know it. This is how you can be successful at tracking trophy bucks. Just respect them.

Deer Hunting Do's and Don'ts

As deer season approaches, it is a must that we list the dos and don'ts of the sport. Some of these items may not surprise you; then again, others you may not have even thought of before. Here, we will go through a short list that is not all inclusive, but gives you a pretty good idea what to do as well as what NOT to do.

DO go the range and fire your weapon before the season begins. This means buying some of the ammunition or arrows you will hunt with and get accustomed to them.

DO sight in your scope or archery sights. When you go to the range, be sure to adjust the sights so you are as dead on as possible when it counts.

DO clean your gun regularly. Not only should you clean your weapon after the trip to the range, but after every trip into the field. You may be out there is all types of weather and you have to keep that weapon safe to fire.

DO wear blaze orange when you enter the field. Every year, we hear about hunters mistaken for wildlife. Deer cannot see the blaze orange like we do; they are actually color blind.

DO keep your weapon UNLOADED when transporting it, even when only changing hunting areas.

DO get a legal hunting license. The fees help keep the DNR running and the game reserves in good condition.

DO take water with you.  If you're going to be out there for several hours, you WILL get thirsty.

DO use scent control and increase your chances of success.

DON'T ever point your weapon at anything unless you intend to shoot at it.

DON'T wear any shades of blue into the field. Deer are color blind, but they have sensitivity to ultraviolet frequencies. They see blue as a bright blue haze and will avoid that area at all costs.

DON'T go into the field without wearing safety or blaze orange clothing. Wear it from the time you leave your vehicle and leave it on.

DON'T use illegal techniques to attract deer. Follow the rules and be the example.

DON'T leave trash in the woods. I am constantly finding beer cans, cigarette packs and other assorted pieces of garbage and I hate that. Whatever you take with you comes back out with you. Leave the woods the same way you found them.

DON'T eat or smoke in the woods. This creates odors that deer can smell and avoid.

DON'T take illegal game and be certain that you know the species you are hunting. Be able to tell males from females and only harvest legal game.

Blinds VS Stands

I have used both tree stands and ground blinds. They are both effective in their own way and have their own time and place of use. I will try to be as clear as possible here, but when it comes to stands versus blinds, it's a dead heat at the finish.

Many hunters swear by the use of a ground blind. This is an enclosure that keeps the hunter entirely concealed. There are two types: ground blinds and elevated blinds. Most types of ground blinds are portable and are designed to be set up in a few seconds, then taken down at the end of the day.

Ground blinds are usually good to use if you can get them set up and "brushed in" prior to first light. While a ground blind is made of camouflage pattern, they are not part of the natural setting, so "brushing in" is required. This is the process of using the sticks and brush around the area you set up in to conceal the blind and make it look as if it were a part of the woods.

Elevated blinds are an enclosure that is raised a little above the ground. Since these cannot be brushed in, they are usually set up a couple to a few weeks before the season to let the deer get used to it as part of the natural habitat. All blinds have shooting windows on all sides to allow a 360 degree view of the surroundings.

Stands, also called tree stands, are small portable platforms attached to a ladder. The hunter sets up the stand, goes up the ladder and either sits or stands on a platform. This is a good way to hunt since deer cannot physically look straight upwards. They may feel that you are there, but they will not be able to look up and see you.

Hunting from a blind or a stand is a matter of preference to the individual hunter. I have hunted both and can tell you that deer will come within 25 yards of either one. Many hunters prefer ground blinds because they are lightweight, weather proof and can be made to look like part of the natural surroundings. The windows with zippers on all four sides give a shot at any point for 360 degrees.

If I had to place an advantage with one over the other, it would probably be the stand, only because it is low profile and is easily transported should you want to move it mid-season.

It is still a matter of your personal choice, however, choose so wisely.

Tips for Using Deer Grunts and Calls

There is a myth among hunters that deer only grunt or snort during the rut. This is a fallacy that needs to be put to rest right now. Both males and females have been recorded making these sounds all year round. It is true, however, that grunting and snorting activity intensifies with the onset of the rutting season, when bucks are aggressive and does are looking to reproduce.

There are several different sounds that a hunter can put into his or her repertoire for successful hunting.  Each one has its own uses and times that it will be effective. What follows is a list of the calls and grunts that are available, when they can be used and what effect you can expect.

The fawn bleat is one that is extremely effective for bringing females into range. The fawn bleat is designed to imitate a fawn, or baby deer, in distress. The sound triggers the motherly instincts in does that are within earshot. They will respond out of sheer instinct and protest the troubled young one. The fawn bleat is obviously best used within a couple of months after the birthing season.

The buck grunt is mainly used by male deer as a warning to other males that this is their area and to stay away. During the rut, a grunt may trigger a dominant male to come in looking to defend his territory. A grunt is known to be effective and gas been shown in testing to draw a buck in within 45 seconds to a minute and a half.

Another rutting sound is the snort and wheeze, which most hunters have never heard in the wild. This is another intimidation sound used by males during the rut. If the buck is dominant or feels threatened in any way, he will charge in out of simple anger and throw caution to the wind in the interest of preserving his area and remaining the alpha male.

In the early rut, an estrous doe bleat can draw a buck in very nicely. The estrous bleat tells a dominant male that the female is there and looking to mate. The male will respond to this call and come in to make her acquaintance. Most times, if you are positioned right, you can get a shot within 20 yards or less, which is perfect for archery hunters and a dream come true for firearms hunters.

Using grunts can be even more effective in conjunction with other calling techniques like rattling. It is also possible to use two different calls in conjunction, like a grunt followed by a snort & wheeze. All you have to do to use deer grunts and calls effectively is scout the area before the hunt and know the area as well as you can prior to the hunt.

The use of deer calls like grunts and wheezes and bleats has the potential of shortening your hunting day significantly. Instead of sitting in a stand or blind for hours, you could bring the trophy buck of your dreams into bow range in less than half that time. Not to put you in a rush or hurry, but you can fill your freezer with more meat this winter using deer grunts.

Tips for Using Deer Rattles

Just before the start of the forearms season, Whitetail bucks start to rut. This means that they become very territorial and run singly or with one or two does. During this time, the bucks are extremely aggressive and will fight for territory. The sound of rattling deer antlers can bring a dominant buck into what he perceives to be his area.

This time of year is when the use of deer rattles is a very good tactic to use. There is a right way to use them, a wrong way to use them and a preferable way to use them. Here are some tips for you to consider.

Some hunters prefer alternative materials for a deer rattle. Hard plastics, acrylics and synthetic bone are all valid choices, but I prefer to use the antlers sawn directly off the skull of a buck. This gives more of a natural sound to the rattle and makes me more confident in using the tactic.

Effective deer rattling is best done in tandem with another hunter. One will be located on the ground within 30 or 40 yards of the other hunter, who is up in a tree stand. The reason for this is that deer are not as dumb as you may like to think they are. The sound has to come from ground level and not 15 or 20 feet above the floor of the woods. Deer know the difference.

Also realize that not every buck will come charging in to look for a fight and defend his territory. Some will do this and some will sneak around the edges of the area. This is especially true in heavy or dense cover situations. This also makes the case for having one hunter up high to scout the activity as he will have a vantage point unavailable from the ground.

The use of heavy or lightweight antlers is another personal choice dictated by experience. Many hunters want the heaviest pair of rattles they can get their hands on thinking that big rattle sounds bring big deer in. Others feel that lighter antlers suggest younger, smaller deer in battle and a larger, dominant buck will be drawn in looking for an easy victory.

In either case, the season you are hunting is vital to the tactic you use. Only use a deer rattle in rutting season. By using rattles outside of this time of the year, the bucks will not be as aggressive (actually, not aggressive at all) and the trick will not work.

It is best to have a set that is joined by a rope or lanyard, so they are always together. You can also sling them over your shoulder if you get a shot while using them. I have seen hunters with their rattles actually tied to their jacket sleeve or the bottom of their jacket for convenience. In this way, the rattle can be dropped or let go in a hurry for obvious reasons.  So the best tip I can give you for using deer rattles is to use them wisely and in the proper season. Do not sit there and rattle incessantly for hours; it isn't natural.