Always Assume a Buck is Nearby

Photo courtesy of Apple Creek Whitetails

When calling deer, always assume a buck is nearby. Hunters are always looking for that buck to come charging in, but this doesn’t happen very often.  Normally the largest bucks sneak in silently downwind of your location. Always make sure you have a good shooting lane downwind from your stand.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

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Antler Rattling

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

Rattling is most effective immediately prior to and immediately after the prime rutting period. Even though I’ve rattled and several whoppers, it’s not my favorite method of calling. Horn rattling can be a little too aggressive for the more timid big buck.

Big bucks are increasingly wary in areas where a lot of hunters are pounding antlers together. However, in areas with little hunting pressure it is still one of the most effective ways to harvest a big buck. Just remember the buck always approaches from downwind in hopes of catching the scent of the bucks he believes are fighting. It’s important to have a good shooting lane downwind from your rattling position.

I begin by crashing the antlers together. Then I twist and work the antlers together in an effort to imitate the sounds of two bucks sparring. My entire rattling sequence only lasts about 15 seconds. I try not to rattle more than once every 10 to 15 minutes because the last thing I want is a buck to catch me rattling. It’s happened more than once and every time the results have been less than desirable.

Today, I rely more on bleat calls and grunt calls. I still carry rattling horns with me, but use them more as a last ditch effort.

Many times I’ll have a big buck approaching my stand and for no good reason at the last minute he’ll turn and walk out of range. As soon as he is out of sight, I’ll crash the antlers together for a few seconds. Often, if the buck is not on a hot doe’s trail, he’ll immediately return to investigate and I’ll be waiting.
Jim
More on Rattling

Deer Calling Tips

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

 

Unfortunately, most hunters calling efforts only succeed in educating the deer to their presence. Consequently, the deer become increasingly wary and cautious in their response to calls. Rattling has been so overdone in some sections that when a buck hears the horns come together he instinctively runs in the other direction. Who could blame him? If every time he hears antlers crashing he bumps into a hunter, he’ll soon figure out what’s up.

Most hunters called too often and too loud. Remember, were not trying to seduce some sex starved bimbo. We are only trying to stimulate an instinctive response within the deer.

I called very sparingly, no more than once every 15 min. to half an hour. I’m trying to peque a deer’s curiosity, not running out of the county.

For detailed instructions on how to effectively call deer, read the book Buck Naked; The Straight Dope on Trophy Whitetails.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,

Jim
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Don’t Call in Open Areas

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

 

 

If you don’t have a decoy, calling where the buck can see everything is useless. You have to give the buck a reason why he can’t see the deer that’s calling, or he won’t be comfortable coming in. always take full advantage of the cover and vegetation in your area.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/ 

Get the Naked Truth on Whitetails here

Lunch Is for Wimps

Photo courtesy of Apple Creek Whitetails

 

Everyone knows dawn and dusk are the periods of greatest whitetail activity. It is also when we find the greatest number of hunters afield. Typically, we hunt in the morning, break for lunch, and then hunt again in the late afternoon.

What a lot of hunters don’t know is that a deer cannot go all day without feeding. While everyone else was eating lunch I stay in the stand. It’s proven to be a great strategy. 30% of the bucks I’ve killed were between 11:00AM and 1:00 PM.

If you want to dramatically improve your success ratio on big bucks, stay in the stand.

Lunch is for wimps.

-Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

Gridlock

Photo courtesy of Apple Creek Whitetails

 

What do you do when a buck holds up and doesn’t respond to your calling?

Usually, it’s not so much the buck isn’t responding, but rather, he’s not responding as fast as we would like.

Novice hunters feel the excitement and the pressure overcomes them. They call harder, louder, more often, and the calls become strained. This doesn’t work. In calling, it’s what you say, not how you say.

When calling deer, patience isn’t a virtue, it’s a necessity.

-Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

The Perfect Stocking Stuffer

‘Tis the Season to be Jolly


Can you imagine the big smile when your hunter finds Santa has left them a copy if the book Buck Naked in their stocking?

Buck Naked; The Straight Dope on Trophy Whitetails contains the latest cutting-edge advice, tactics, and strategies on Whitetail hunting.

Share this with your Santa and maybe you’ll find a copy of Buck Naked in your stocking instead of the usual coal and sticks.

Happy Holidays,
Jim
Get your stocking stuffer now

Black Friday is Ridiculous

One minute after Thanksgiving and the official Christmas shopping season begins. There are actually people who get up at midnight and rush to the stores to find that special gift for that special person. Why?

Looking for that special gift for the outdoorsman in your life? Give them the gift that truly keeps on giving, a copy of the book Buck Naked; The Straight Dope on Trophy Whitetails.

Here’s a gift that will be appreciated this Christmas season and for years to come. Buck Naked is jammed packed with tips, tactics, and strategies that will benefit both the novice and seasoned hunter.

At $14.95, it’s affordable for all of the hunters on your list. It also makes a great stocking stuffer.

Have a great Holiday Season,
Jim
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The Earth is Flat

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

I'm hearing some pretty strange things said about deer and deer hunting these days. It would be really funny, except - it's keeping a lot of transformational hunters from succeeding.

These "Whitetail Myths" are part of a HUGE misunderstanding about deer that many of today’s experts are perpetuating on hard working hunters. Right up there with:
The earth is flat.
Women shouldn't have the vote.

Remember those? They weren't true either, but much of society believed them for centuries.

Want to see the "Whitetail Myths" that you've been told (and have believed!) that are keeping you from the consistent success you deserve? They're all in a special book, "Buck Naked: The Straight Dope on Trophy Whitetails"
This book is only about 135 pages long, and it's packed with great information, so check it out now:

Get Your Copy Here

http://jimcollyer.com/

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
Jim

Crash and Return

I’ve been rattling whitetail deer for over 30 years. In fact, my biggest buck to date was killed responding to the horns.


Horn rattling back in the 1960's was pretty much limited to the Texas brush country. In the 1970s hunters began to experiment with horn rattling throughout much of North America. Some had good luck, most did not.

Horn rattling is most effective immediately prior to and immediately after the prime rutting period. Even though I’ve rattled and several whoppers, it’s not my favorite method of calling. Horn rattling can be a little too aggressive for the more timid big buck.

Big bucks are increasingly wary in areas where a lot of hunters are pounding antlers together. However, in areas with little hunting pressure it is still one of the most effective ways to harvest a big buck. Just remember the buck always approaches from downwind in hopes of catching the scent of the bucks he believes are fighting. It’s important to have a good shooting lane downwind from your rattling position.

I begin by crashing the antlers together. Then I twist and work the antlers together in an effort to imitate the sounds of two bucks sparring. My entire rattling sequence only lasts about 15 seconds. I try not to rattle more than once every 10 to 15 minutes because the last thing I want is a buck to catch me rattling. It’s happened more than once and every time the results have been less than desirable.

Today, I rely more on bleat calls and grunt calls. I still carry rattling horns with me, but use them more as a last ditch effort.

Many times I’ll have a big buck approaching my stand and for no good reason at the last minute he’ll turn and walk out of range. As soon as he is out of sight, I’ll crash the antlers together for a few seconds. Often, if the buck is not on a hot doe’s trail, he’ll immediately return to investigate and I’ll be waiting.

This is a tactic I called “Crash and Return”.

http://jimcollyer.com/

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
Jim

Sneak Preview

Several weeks ago I told you I would have an announcement concerning my new book, Buck Naked: The Straight Dope on Trophy Whitetails.

Here it is!

Within the next two weeks Buck Naked will come out with a second edition. We’re giving the book a complete new look. A new and exciting cover as well as new interior images.

The new cover and exterior images were provided courtesy of Apple Creek Whitetails. The good folks at Apple Creek live and breathe whitetail deer. Currently they are running one of the most prestigious and successful deer hunting ranches in Wisconsin. My deep gratitude goes to everyone at Apple Creek Whitetails for their help in making my book even better.

For the very best in Wisconsin trophy hunting contact:

Apple Creek Whitetails Ranch
Hunting Operations Manager
Attention: Chad DeBauch
14109 County Road VV
Gillett, WI 54124
Toll Free: 877-431-HUNT
(4868)

If you are fortunate enough to have a copy of the first edition, hang on to it. History has shown us first edition hunting books dramatically increase in value in just a few short years. The idea to come up with an improved cover and interior was suggested by several members of the publishing community and, of course, the hunting box stores.
Be sure to check your e-mails over the next couple of weeks as we will be announcing a launch day for the new book, Buck Naked.

There are still a few copies of the original book available through Amazon, but when they're gone, they're gone. If you want an first edition, you better order today.

Get a Copy Today
Until then,
Jim

Rape in the Forest

                                                   Photo courtesy Apple Creek Ranch

You don’t have to have a dirty mind to be an effective trophy deer hunter during the rut, but it sure helps. I was just reading an advertisement for my favorite deer call, Primo’s "The Can." I like this call because it is absolutely deadly on big bucks during the rut. I also like the way they sell it. Their pitches go like this:


"Estrus bleats tell bucks that a doe is ready to breed…"

"All respond quickly and dramatically to the quivering doe…"

"Reproduces the estrus bleat of mating does…"

Until I read these ads, I had no idea that does were running around willy-nilly, bleating about their desperate desire to copulate. The "quivering doe?” you ask. Seriously, I’m not making this up.

I have heard a lot of does bleat during the rut; the vast majorities were yearlings experiencing their first breeding season. The poor little darlings don’t know what to expect. All they know is that the buck keeps coming for them relentlessly. They feel the urge of blood calling to blood and they’re scared to death. The doe leads the buck into thick cover in an effort to escape him, not to find a cozy place where they can be alone.

As hunters we often try to impose noble human attributes to the animals we hunt. But there is nothing noble or gentlemanly about a whitetail buck, especially during the rut.

No one asks to be raped. Rape comes uninvited, even in the deer world. The estrus bleat is truly a rape bleat. The young doe is panicked. This sound is worth imitating because when an old buck hears this sound, he’ll know that some other buck is up to no good. He will think another buck is tending a young doe and will come in and attempt to steal the doe.

A doe’s bleat is considerably louder than the buck’s grunt and can be heard for quite a distance in the forest. However, man-made grunt calls tend to carry farther than man-made bleat calls. I like to use "The Can" in conjunction with a grunt call. A sequence of two grunts followed a few seconds later by two or three bleats seem to work best for me.

As with all calling, if the buck can’t hear you he won’t respond. I recommend the "Long Can” for its increased volume. I buy several of these each year. I only wish they’d make a can the size of a five gallon bucket.

Good Luck and Good Hunting, Jim
http://jimcollyer.com/
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Decoying: What it takes to be successful

Photo courtesy of Apple Creek Whitetails

In my opinion there are three consistencies to successful decoying of trophy bucks. They are; Location, Concealment and Decoys/Calling- all equally important.

Location:
Location is key for more than one reason. First of all if there are no deer in the area that you are hunting than obviously your chances are slim to none that you will be successful. So it will be very important to do your homework and thoroughly scout your area beforehand. Ideally we are looking for a small field or clearing field deer are using consistently prior to the hunt. We want to set up in the exact spot the deer have been traveling through during daylight hours. And finally, we have to be the only hunters with permission to hunt that particular spot.

Concealment:
How well you are concealed while you are hunting is just as important as your location because it gets very frustrating watching a buck coming in and then flare off because he sees something or someone he doesn’t like. The technology available in this area of the hunt has expanded immensely over the last 10 years. The field ground blind has made a huge impact on the way we hunt deer today. Treestands work well, but not as well as ground blinds when it comes to decoying big deer.

Decoys and Calling:
In this section we will look at my favorite aspect of the hunt and that is Decoys and Calling! I think a lot of guys spend way to much time calling. Everybody has there own opinion on this subject but I am a firm believer calling is only to draw attention to the decoy. Once the buck has seen the decoy, shut up, you’ll be better off. Secondly, I do believe that you need some type of movement in your decoy. I use a decoy with an electronic tail wag.

Using the Wind:
Just like all decoying it is important to face your decoy into the wind. We want the buck to smell what he’s wanting. A buck likes to circle downwind and smell the object of his desire before he approaches it. If he can approach the decoy from the rear all the better. Lastly, I use an ample amount of "doe-in rut" urine, 8 to 12 ounces minimum.

Learn more here
　

In conclusion, there are many factors that go into producing a successful hunt. It is very important to stay on the front edge of what is happening in the field these days. A little leg work in the off season can go a long way.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
Jim
http://jimcollyer.com/

How Do You Stack Up?

How does your hunting compare to top-performing hunters? Can you track bucks as they travel through your area, find highly productive opportunities, and streamline the entire process? My book, Buck Naked, reveals the secrets of the most successful hunters in America.


Now is the time for self reflection. How does your success in the field stack up? Are other hunters in your area enjoying a more consistent level of success then you are? The problem might not be with the deer or the location, it might be within you.

Learn what successful hunters do and then do the same things.

The book is packed full of tips, tactics, and strategies which allow you to stack up against even the most seasoned hunter.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
Jim

Reserve Your Copy Today

Watch Your Language

Calling deer becomes much more difficult with each passing season. The problem isn’t that there’s too many hunters calling deer, but rather there are too many people trying to speak a language they are not on speaking terms with.


Unfortunately, most hunters calling efforts only succeed in educating the deer to their presence. Consequently, the deer become increasingly wary and cautious in their response to calls. Rattling has been so overdone in some sections that when a buck hears the horns come together he instinctively runs in the other direction. Who could blame him? If every time he hears antlers crashing he bumps into a hunter, he’ll soon figure out what’s up.

Most hunters called too often and too loud. Remember, were not trying to seduce some sex starved bimbo. We are only trying to stimulate an instinctive response within the deer.

I called very sparingly, no more than once every 15 min. to half an hour. I’m trying to peque a deer’s curiosity, not running out of the county.

For detailed instructions on how to effectively call deer, read the book Buck Naked; The Straight Dope on Trophy Whitetails.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
Jim
Get Your Copy Today

Reverse Scent Control

Here’s a tactic that is so deadly on big bucks, that I hate to share it with you. I call it, “ Reverse Scent Control”.


I first came across this idea immediately after I used Limburger cheese to change the deer’s travel pattern and entice them to travel underneath my stand. Whitetail deer are extremely adaptable and it wasn’t four days later when the deer had become accustomed to the stink of the Limburger and were back to their old travel patterns and my stand was once again useless.

I knew where there was one hell of a deer highway through the heavy timber. I saw big bucks every day from my stand. The problem was with scent control. It seems no matter how careful I was the bucks were picking up faint traces of my scent and leaving the area before I could get a shot. I reasoned if the deer could become accustomed to the scent of Limburger cheese in only four days maybe I could get them accustomed to small amounts of my residual odor.

This stand location was only 20 min. away from my work at the lumber mill. Every day for a month prior to hunting season I would jump in my pickup, drive the 20 min., jog to the base of the tree which held my stand, and return to work before my lunch hour was over. It worked like a charm and I successfully harvested over half a dozen trophy bucks out of that stand over the years. Of course, I took extreme caution to keep my hunting clothes and boots clean. I entered the stand atleast two hours before I expected any deer movement, but I never had to resort to using cover scents.

*A word of caution: this tactic only works in locations you can visit on a daily basis. If you think you can visit your stand once a week or even every other day and produce enough residual scent for the deer to become accustomed to you, you are sadly mistaken. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to hunt on your own “back 40" this can be an extremely effective tactic.

*Please note: I spread my residual odor around the stand during the middle of the day when the deer are least active. It does little good to try to spread residual odor when the deer can see you. All you will be doing is educating them to the fact the residual odor comes from a man and they will more likely leave the area altogether or only come through after dark.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
Jim

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