The buck deer… how I hunt it.

The opening of the male deer hunt in November is a date that is circled in red in my diary every year.

When we talk about a sporty and exciting hunt, we are certainly talking about the “Full Rut” (breeding period) of the white-tailed deer, one of the most majestic deer on this planet.

First, one thing that we need to understand is that deer have habits or routines. Generally in a 24 hour cycle, they move from their resting sites to their feeding sites. What is nice about the breeding season which usually lasts all of November and a little longer, is that with the colder temperatures, deer are much more active and move around a lot more. At this time of year we can start using scents such as urine as well as provoking the coveted buck using the “grunt call” and “rattling” in order to simulate a fight.

Males will soon finally be able to breed with females. By doing so, they will become more involved and follow females until they come into heat. They will mark their territories by scratching and rubbing, which causes them to argue and engage in violent fights with each other in order to conquer the females.

For my part, during the month of November, it is essential for me to keep my females as close as possible to me because they are the best bait for a mature male. So I maintain my main spot with bait such as carrots, apples and protein feed with oak acorns and/or corn. A little further from the bait, I make a fake scratch with male urine as well as pre-orbital on the branch above. This may provoke a male and make him come more often because he will wonder which male could have done this scratch. On the paths leading to this spot I will make several scent lines with urine from a female in heat in order to stimulate them.

Another technique I use that can be very effective is to find scrapes in your territory and set up near them with the goal of catching him when he goes to freshen up. I have had great success doing grunt calls every 30-45 minutes and one or two rattling sessions during each hunting trip. Stay alert and focused because he can come and go very quickly.

Anyway, don't forget to be careful and dress warmly. I wish you the buck of your life!

-Tom