Lesson one: Study Individual Bucks
For Kisky, pinpointing a given buck's core area is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. The first piece he places might be a shed antler found in spring, the next a summer sighting or a trail camera photo, then perhaps a big rub. His initial goal is to create a snapshot of a buck's preferred non-breeding range, which he says commonly encompasses less than 200 acres. Then, by continuing to compile sightings and other clues, he nails down specific core areas within that range. "These can be as small as 10 or 20 acres, letting you really zero in on your buck."

Assignment:
Put together a scrapbook for individual bucks. Note the location and hour every time you see the deer or get a trail photo of it. If your off-season scouting turned up other clues, record those as well. "Every piece of sign and every sighting is crucial," Kisky says. "There are no coincidences. Even if all you get is a five-minute glimpse one summer evening, you'll know that buck will be somewhere nearby come fall because before the rut starts, he occupies a lot less territory than you might think."