The following is part of the strategy that I use to get mature whitetail bucks in bow range during that magical first 2 weeks in November.  Now that my season is over I always think about what important lessons I have learned about hunting mature whitetail bucks, and this article represents some of those thoughts from the last 3-4 seasons. 

A Tool to Use

The use of scent elimination products during the offseason is pretty much isolated to hardcore hunters.  These are the guys and gals who live year around for hunting, some like me are bow only whitetail hunters.  I just can’t seem to get as excited about anything else.  If you are one of those people, I would suggest using a scent elimination system during all periods of the year, when scouting, setting trail cameras, shed hunting, or anything else on your prime whitetail property.     

Focus on Does

You know her; she is that big old mature doe that always knows you are there.  She is as smart as any wise old buck.   Well it is safe to say that if you don’t take precautions you will leave your scent everywhere, she will know you were there.    It is scientific fact that most of the bucks you see on your property during the rut are coming from other properties, they are looking for your does.  Say the following to yourself several times, don’t spook the does off of your best areas!  Limit the chances of spooking does; don’t just walk into their bedding areas for no reason.  Take the long way around to set that trail camera!  Minimize the scent that you leave behind, this means keeping your scouting clothes and camo clean and scent free, use a good hunting soap to eliminate body odor, spray down boots and outer wear with a quality scent eliminator.  Using a complete scent elimination system as part of your year around management plan can be beneficial.   This strategy works, and the best part is that it doesn’t take a lot of land.   You don’t need hundreds of acres of food plots or even exclusive property necessarily.  The biggest mature bucks will cruise through your property looking for does, if the does are there. 

Don’t Rush

Once you have taken the offseason part seriously, and the does in your area are comfortable, don’t go ruin it by hunting those spots on the first day of season, or for the first month or more for that matter.  Wait until the rut is hottest, and then sneak in there.  Here in Indiana that is usually the 2^nd full week of November, but the moon can move it by a few days.  By waiting until then, you will keep the does in your area; big smart does do learn to avoid certain areas.  Think about it, usually a stand is best the first few times you sit in it, and goes downhill from there.   If you have a great spot, but you over hunt it early in the season, the does will move elsewhere.  We all know that there is some amount of pressure a deer will take, and I also know that no matter how much I disrupt an area, that I will always have some deer moving through it.    I have heard many people over the years say that the deer are used to them walking all over the property or that the 4 wheeler doesn’t bother them deer, to some extent they are right.  There will always be some deer either not familiar enough with the area or not smart enough to care, and they will visit your property.  This is not what we want!  What we want is the property to hold more deer, and to do that you have to keep the pressure to a minimum.    

Find the Funnels

When November comes big bucks are thinking one thing, how can I smell the most does in the shortest period of time.  They will move with their nose to the wind, but at an angle.  This allows them to smell the cross wind, as well as some of the wind in front of them. Think about how your property works with the wind.  What is the prevailing wind direction in your area of the country in November?  If necessary do a Google search to find it.  On your shed hunting trips look for funnels on your property that will force deer walk through with different wind directions.  Keep your eyes out for any natural or manmade funnel.  One of the best I have ever found was on a property that during gun season is a freaking war zone, but a big buck funnel from heaven during the first 2 weeks of November.  It is just a strip of woods that is about 100 yards wide; it comes out of a nice big woodlot and ends at another  woodlot.  The other two sides are wide open Midwestern corn and bean fields.  This little creek runs right though the middle of it, creating some hills and cutouts that further pinch the deer to one primary trail.  Two years ago I hunted that spot nearly every day the 2^nd week of November, with multiple big buck encounters.  Some bad luck and bad shooting later, I didn’t get the deal done.  I learned a lot that season though; I now have a new appreciation for hunting big bucks in funnels.   Some other good ones, fence rows that lead to different woodlots, narrow thickets, and pinch points created by hills and down trees.  Those are just a few to give you some ideas, as every property is unique and different. You should be able to find a few spots like this on your property with a little scouting, do this in February and March, and mark the spots so you can find them again.  If there is no snow on the ground, you should be able to see the trails, scrapes, and rubs left from the rut.

 November is Here!

The most important thing I can tell you is to be flexible once November comes.  During the summer I will typically put up 20’ climbing sticks in several spots that I think are good.  Just accept that until you know a spot well, your first guess will typically be wrong.   Have some extra climbing sticks available for quick setup and get a good portable treestand system.  Like the Lone Wolf Alpha Hang On with 4 Lone Wolf climbing sticks.  The nice thing about this system is all you have to buy after the initial investment is low cost climbing sticks.  I can usually find them on sale for $30-$40 during the summer; throw a Lone Wolf Hanging Hook in for each set of climbing sticks, now you have a new setup for $40 -$50.  I carry my stand in with me on a regular basis, once I narrow down to the spot that is seeing the most buck movement I will leave my stand up overnight so it is ready in the morning.  The goal is to be flexible, don’t be afraid to move to a new tree after seeing the deer using the funnel differently than you expected.  At this point, don’t be afraid of over hunting the spot as long as the wind is right.  Don’t under any circumstances hunt your best spots if the wind is wrong.    Now comes the hardest part, sit all day.  Don’t leave at 10, 11, or even 12 to take a nap or eat.  Pack a lunch and tough it out.  There will be days when you don’t see anything between 10 and 4, but other days you may just see a buck of a lifetime.    You increase your odds the more hours you spend on stand, especially during the middle of the day.  The does have bedded down now, and those buck will be cruising downwind of bedding areas and moving from woodlot to woodlot all day, and hopefully coming through the funnel you picked out.  He could show up at any minute so be ready!!

Tags: Deer Hunting Whitetail Deer Scent Elimination

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