In this episode of DSI, we’re visiting the property of another good friend of mine. Jim loves to chase good deer. But that instinct almost jammed him up on this Big Ten buck.
It was tempting for Jim, and indeed most of us, to hunt the spot he last saw the deer. This turned into following the deer from stand to stand — based on visual sightings and trail cam photos — all around his farm. But if you stop and consider why deer in the rut are running so wild, it becomes clear that its not the best strategy for getting that kill.
Bucks during the rut are looking for does. When they’re running wild, cruising huge swaths of property, they’re sent checking for nearby girls. I think of it as a grid search. The deer doesn’t find a doe, he moves on. So when a hunter moves into an area where he saw a good deer the day before, he’s moving into a place that buck has temporarily crossed off his list.
The better approach is to pick one place and wait it out. Yes, you might go a few days without seeing deer, but season-long you have better odds of being in position when that deer does show up.
Check out previous episodes of DSI:
Introducing DSI: Deer Scene Investigation
DSI: A Spot-and-Stalk Whitetail Hunt
DSI: Evander, Tracy’s First Bow Buck
DSI Video Tip: The Worst Case Scenario
DSI Video Tip: Shoot Your Situation
DSI Video Tip: How to Triangulate Deer Location with Trail Cameras
DSI Video Tip: Three Season Camera Survey
DSI: Video Tip: Know Your Planting Percentages
DSI: Laura & the Double Main Buck