iDoHunting.com: Big Buck Behavior and Habits

Understanding travel patterns is a key to success

With today’s available technology that can be utilized, we are able understand trends and habits of the most sought after North American animal there is -the Mature Whitetail Buck.

The ability to monitor the travel patterns and habits of travel has allowed so many folks the ability to change and adapt as the season progresses. Probably one of the most valuable investments a person could make is one of the many trail monitor cameras available. This will give you, the hunter, confidence and knowledge of what is in your area, as well as when and how the deer move from their bedding areas to staging areas, to food sources, and when they seek cover and/or exit routes. With all this information you can then focus on stand placements as well as optimum times to sit a certain stand due to being able to pattern their everyday habits.

I normally have cameras set up beginning in May, and enter the areas with the same precautions to scent control as if it were the hunting season. Through the summer months the memory cards are only changed once a month to eliminate any unnecessary travels into the key areas. Camera locations at this point are located in travel areas between bedding and feeding areas – Here I am keying in on not so much what’s in the field or plot eating, but what routes are the most active and who is traveling these trails.

Mature old Bucks, the dandies, the monsters as so many would relate to them, for the most part have a home range or living area of 1/4 mile. 90% of all old mature bucks have a very tight living area, compared to the younger and middle age 2.5-3.5 year old bucks that will travel a few miles at times. You may have a roamer from time to time but for the most part this is very true, and a key point to your game plan. If you tend to get a few dandy bucks that are on one or more of your cameras, these would be your local resident bucks. Focus on these and put together your game plan. The lone monster that shows up one time on camera may only be walking his outer parameter of his area and to see him again could be rare. This brings up a very good point. If you’re in a stand and you see a mature buck that you have never had on camera, make your mind up fast because this may be your only opportunity on him.

Locating preseason travel patterns

Steps to success as the season progresses

1st point of Focus -Feeding Areas

The transitions as far as travel and places of focus tend to start out with feeding areas early in the season. Many folks will set up and hunt on the edges to key in on the deer feeding and then, depending on what you’re after, these deer may present themselves for a good shot. Many times the weary more cautious bucks will stage up 20 to 50 yards off of the feeding area and wait till darkness sets in. Having a stand located in these staging areas that you can enter and exit without alarming everything in the area can be a hot spot if there ever was one.

2nd Point of Focus - Bachelor Groups Breaking Up

From feeding areas, the next transition in the season is when the bachelor buck groups start breaking up. This usually causes their feeding habits to change, new food sources may be available, or their travels may also be altered. Here again the trail cameras that are set up in the travel zones can be utilized for knowing when, who, and what time the deer decide to move. This time of the year when the breakups take place you and your cameras know there has been a change in habits. Yes, good hunting can still take place; most folks that get frustrated with a lack of deer sign at this time will refer to this as the October lull.

Early unpressured scrape activity in the cover of darkness

3rd Point of Focus - Scrapes

The next transition that takes place is the increased signs of deer scrapes appearing, usually on the edges of the buck’s home turf and/or travel areas. Some folks have had great luck hunting over scrapes but for the most part, after monitoring these for some time, all scrapes are used by multiple bucks and normally the older mature bucks will tend to these during the cover of night. The ultimate best time to key in on a mature buck that’s nocturnal and only frequenting scrapes at night is in October and while heavy rains hammering your area, pay close attention to the hour by hour detailed weather reports. If according to the forecast the storm is supposed to pass at 2:00 PM for example, be sitting in that stand over the scrape no later than 1:00 PM – Being a dominant buck he will be determined to refreshen his scrapes at the first chance when the heavy rains pass. This will be about as close to catching him in one of his rare weak moments if there ever was one. The key point here is heavy rains, hot scrapes, be in the stand before the rain passes, and be ready for a great hunt.

4th Point of Focus - Rut

One of the transitions to plan ahead for is the rut. This is when folks singing the blues earlier in the season claiming that all they have seen are doe’s and doe’s, and no bucks, start to smile. I always tell these folks that they are sitting on a gold mine because the doe’s will stay and the bucks will come running. What can really help here is to take a good look at your area. You have 3 zones – Bedding, Travel and Feeding. You still need to avoid the bedding areas without a doubt, but the feeding areas as well as travel zones can be action packed, and at times hard to get a good shot off mainly due to the fast paced action. Take a look at the area between bedding and feeding – look for that secluded comfort zone that has under growth and cover, an area the buck is going to want to use to tend to the doe. Set at least one stand in that area, this could end up being your honey hole rut stand.

A great plan and a little luck it all comes together!

If you hunt public land and have concerns with all the theft, take note of the transitions and locations. Walk the area and plot out all the steps so come fall you can slide in and take advantage of your game plan and see success. Remember the key to pressured public land (Go Deep). Grab a GPS and walk, familiarize yourself in the preseason, and make that game plan. Most folks are lucky if they make it 100 yards from their truck – go the extra mile and then plan on seeing the mature secluded bucks and larger numbers of deer. Remember, while in a stand if you see a awesome mature buck that has everything you are looking for, drop the hammer on him even if you had not seen him before. Pictures or not, he’s probably walking on the edge of his turf and your odds of seeing him again could be slim

Good luck Folks