Find the Feed and Find the Bucks

Photo courtesy of Apple Creek Whitetails

Some areas look deer-ish, but if the food is absent, the deer will be too. Mast is a key to fall hunting.

Acorns, berries, and other mast corps will draw the deer.  .  Later in the fall deer often turn towards browse and feed heavily on leaves and stems from such ash, maple, wild rose, and snow berry. Remember deer food doesn’t always look like food to you. Learning which native plants the deer prefer in your area will improve your odds for success. A tell-tale sign deer are feeding in an area is the presence of fresh droppings.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

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Estrus Bleats

Photo courtesy Apple Creek Ranch

 

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.
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.

Jim
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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
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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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Make the buck hear more than one deer

Apple Creek Whitetail Photograph

 

 

 

During the rut it’s natural for a buck to hear the sounds of more than one deer. After all it takes two to tango. I like to carry one grunt call and two different bleat calls with me while hunting. This gives the illusion of there being more than one receptive doe in the area. Giving least three bleats to every grunt has worked best for me. Remember does don’t estrous bleat to sound their receptiveness, they bleat when they are trying to flee an overly aggressive buck.

In the end the tool that takes most deer is patience.

Jim

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Rattle Downhill from Bucks when Possible

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

 

 

Bucks like the advantage of being on the uphill side of a sparring match. Giving the buck a path to respond to rattling which allows him to come in from an uphill location will greatly increase your chances of calling. Be sure to avoid any obstructions the buck won’t want to go around. Ledges, large blow downs and the like often discourage a buck from coming in.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

More on rattling deer here

Aggressive Calling Rarely Works

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

 

Overly aggressive calling has saved more bucks lives than just about anything else. Aggressive calling is only used when bucks are a long ways off. The buck has to hear your call in order to respond.

If a good buck is responding to your call, shut-up. If he stops or hesitates, try a few subtle calls. A few doe bleats will often get a buck that is hung-up to begin to move in your direction again. Don’t get forceful with your calling until all else has failed.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

Learn more about calling here

Bucks on Does are Tough Customers

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

 

Most bucks will not leave a doe to respond to calling. Try calling in areas where more than one buck is present or in funnels where the lone buck feels comfortable traveling during daylight hours.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/ 

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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/ 

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Don’t Bet the Farm

Photo courtesy of Apple Creek Whitetails

 

 

If you’ve located a big buck close to a road with plenty of access, don’t bet the farm on him being there when the season opens. You can be sure other hunters have seen him too. While you shouldn’t over look these convenient places, your pre-season scouting should be focused on giving as many options as possible.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

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