By Mike Reeber:
Instinctively, we as deer hunters have been conditioned to focus exclusively on buck behavior when hunting during the rut. We aggressively comb field edges for fresh scrape lines, hang estrus soaked scent wicks near our stands and always pack a trusty pair of rattling horns to smash together whenever the time seems to be right. It’s simply some of the most exciting and action-filled times to be in the deer woods from the heavy timber of the north to the thick mesquite brush of the south. And though none of us can ever argue with the successful results of traditional rut hunting tactics, there is another important thing to consider during this time of year, and that’s being where the does are.
During the height of this magical time of year, a buck’s entire focus shifts from self-preservation to locating does in estrus. And, if you can just put yourself in the middle of a concentration of does, the odds of attracting a cruising buck to stop by to check them out increases drastically, and that’s when you make your move. Remember, they are notorious for dropping their guard during the rut with love on the forefront of their minds. So being able to fool a weary buck from his safe haven can be a lot less difficult when you have a live decoy on your side.
High-Protein Spots Keep Does Anchored
When temperatures begin to fade here in South Texas and the rut begins to accelerate, a doe’s daily energetic requirements skyrocket—especially with the pressure of being constantly pushed and chased by rut-crazed bucks. I find that during this time it's important to not only create a location for them to gather frequently to feed throughout the day, but to also give them the nutrition that they need to recover from being on the defensive all day. A healthy pile of BB2 isn’t just an aroma driver to lure them in, but equally as important to replenish their systems with protein and fat. When does know of a specific site that consistently yields a satisfying and nourishing food source, they’ll minimize their travel radius, thus bedding closer and returning multiple times a day, giving you increased odds at catching your target buck who is on the hunt for them.
The Wind Isn’t Just For Estrus Covered Wicks
I’ve always found that one of the most exciting things about hunting the rut is to watch as a cruising buck crosses a scent trail. They’re curious behavior has them stopping constantly to check out areas with both their eyes and noses. As is the tactic for most hunters, using doe scents, particularly, estrus, during this time of the year to help fool bucks into thinking that a hot doe is actually in the area; but what about if you did actually have a hot doe in the area?By deploying the use of a feed site and using the wind to carry it across the area, you’re instantly increasing your odds of attracting more does to your location. I find that this is just as helpful during these highly pressured couple of weeks as hanging a scent wick. When you think about it, It’s actually the exact same strategy as using the wind with doe scents, but now you’re using the wind to attract does, not just bucks. And, if you can create an area with more real deer scent, you’re eventually going to force a buck to approach to further investigate.
Create Checkpoints Outside of Heavy Cover
Mature whitetail bucks are smart creatures, this is no secret, especially to those of us who have been fooled by them too many times to count. During this time of year, you might only get one chance at the buck that you’re after and therefore you need to be just as tactical. As tempting as it is to want to go and set your stand right in his bedding area, you run the risk of blowing him out without ever getting a glimpse of him. So, playing it safe and luring him to you is a much safer play. Big bucks know local bedding areas, fields, meadows and other likely spots that they might catch a feeding doe and you better believe that these spots are on their daily to-do list during the rut. But just because these spots are on their visitation list doesn’t mean that they’re just going to waltz right out in the middle of them. Mature whitetails have absolutely no problem putting the brakes on and lurking a few feet inside of a field edge or thicket to scan, we’ve all seen it. However, if you can create a spot where other deer feel comfortable feeding, you’ll also likely put him at ease, which could just be enough to pull him out into the open for a shot.
My Setup: When to Use Granular vs. Blocks
When it comes right down to it, there is no one-size fits all approach to what to put it out when. Deer behavior varies across the country, as does the weather. So to maximize this doe-centric strategy during my season, I use the following to help tip the odds in my favor.
BB2 10+ Apple: All of my spots are going to get a healthy dose of this whether I'm hunting a tight transition point or a wide-open field. For more concentrated areas, I'll generally pour it out into a pile a certain distance from my blind. When hunting larger spots, I like to top-dress as much of the field as I can, which helps to spread out feeding deer. I’ll also use granular to cover any blocks that I’ve set out. This tactic keeps the aroma fresh, especially during the wet weather of the fall.
BB2+ Blocks: Prior to the rut, I like to load up the four-wheeler with some blocks and drop them off at spots where I know heavier doe populations will congregate. Due to their density, these blocks hold up great to heavy grazing, so they work great for high traffic spots. These blocks also serve as a constant food source to set a trail-cam over to monitor activity while you’re not in the field, which is like killing two birds with one stone. After all, the rut is the best time to catch a buck in your area that you’ve never seen before.
During the rut, bucks are notoriously unpredictable, which can be beyond frustrating to all of us. Trying to pattern a mature buck that is traveling miles out of his normal home range chasing scent is a low-percentage game, so anytime that you can corral a concentration of does near you, will eventually force him to work in your direction. By keeping the does calm and content with a food source, you’ll turn your stand locations into a non-negotiable pit stop for passing bucks in the area, which might just make all the difference this season.
