Bill Vaznis

How To Make Realistic Calls for Chase-Phase Bucks

Online Editors — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:30:19 -0400

by Bill Vaznis

In that frantic period just before the peak rut, when does are running in every direction from prying noses, calling bucks away from their playing-hard-to-get girlfriends may seem like a waste of time. But in fact, the chase phase is one of the best times to talk a trophy into shooting range.

Not quite ready to breed yet, does bolt away when suitors get too close. Invariably, some bucks lose contact with the objects of their affection—and become very susceptible to your calls. Suddenly alone, they use all their senses to relocate a doe, turning your estrous bleats and contact grunts potentially deadly.

What if you don’t have a grunt tube or bleat call handy? No problem. During the chase, a handful of unorthodox sound-making methods can lure these bucks.

#1 - Try tapping or scuffing the leaves with a long stick to simulate the footfalls of a doe. You don’t even have to sound like a female deer; these lone bucks will react to male company, too. Another good trick is to rub a smaller, dry stick against a sapling to imitate the noise from a buck taking out his frustrations on a young tree. Where there’s enough cover at ground level to keep you hidden (and where it’s safe to do so) waggle the sapling’s crown back and forth. A buck that sees this from a distance can hardly resist investigating.

#2 - Raking leaf litter with a stick or your hand as if making a scrape can also be very effective. I always toss the duff high into the air because the rain of debris pelting the forest floor seems to bring these bucks running. Almost any natural-sounding noise can work. Deer often snap dry branches underfoot, and I’ve lured bucks into range simply by breaking a few twigs.

#3 - Just stay on your toes. Immediately after making each sound, drop to one knee and get your gun or bow up. Trust me, when a wild-eyed bruiser charges your position looking for love, you’ll want to either shoot or run. So be ready to shoot.

Lure a Buck With A Little-Known Call

Online Editors — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:51:09 -0400

by Bill Vaznis

The first time I heard a buck clicking, I didn’t know what to think. It sounded more like someone slowly dragging a thumb along the teeth of a comb than any noise a whitetail deer might make. But since then, I’ve called in several bucks by mimicking this breeding-period vocalization.

Here’s what happens: Just prior to mating, bucks make a four- to five-second-long series of loud clicks. The sound varies, however, depending on the animal’s age. Older bucks’ clicks are deep, low pitched, and evenly spaced. Young bucks, apparently beside themselves at being near an estrous doe, seem to hyperventilate as they make a higher-pitched version punctuated by false starts.

Both noises can draw competing bucks, from the seeking phase right through the peak of the rut. But I’ve had the best luck imitating the excited clicks of an immature buck. On calm days, the sound travels well, and I believe older bucks are extra quick to respond when they believe a youth has moved in on one of their does.

To make the basic vocalization, blow slowly enough into a standard grunt tube (with ribbed bellows) so that it emits a series of very short individual notes: click, click, click. Quicken your pace a little to capture the agitated cadence of an immature buck; mix in short, stop-and-go strings by inhaling and exhaling into the tube. If your call adjusts for tone, choose a higher pitch.

Send your calls in every direction both to maximize their coverage and to give the impression that a young upstart is chasing a doe. Ground hunters might stomp the turf and rustle the leaves to add realism to the ruse. If you can convince a nearby buck that an underage intruder is about to mate with one of his does, he’ll rush in to take over the job.

4 Routes Where Big-Woods Whitetail Breeders Roam

Online Editors — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:27:23 -0400

by Bill Vaznis

In the vast, comparatively uniform cover of the big woods, rutting bucks may seem to run willy-nilly. Actually, their routes are fairly predictable. They just aren’t as obvious here as they are in farm country, where small woodlots, fencelines, and narrow creekbottoms funnel bucks. To catch a cruising trophy in the big woods now, look for the four subtler travel corridors below.

#1 - The Transition Area
During the rut, big-woods bucks love to cruise the edge where softwoods meet hardwoods. You’ll commonly find rubs of varying ages that help mark the way, and perhaps the odd cluster of scrapes, especially in low-lying areas.

Still-hunt from just within the softwoods. If you do discover a concentration of fresh rubs or scrapes, hang a tree stand in a big evergreen nearby. A mix of estrous doe bleats and tending grunts can lure a mature buck close.

#2 - The Side of the Road
Deer also parallel logging roads and ATV trails just on the downwind side. There they can easily detect human traffic. They may eventually cross over, but only where ample roadside cover lets them stay fairly well hidden.

Still-hunt on a parallel route slightly downwind of the deer trail. If you come to an area with good cover—such as a brushy stream or patch of young pines—crowding an otherwise open roadside, set up on the ground to ambush a crossing buck. Larger-than-average tracks on the road should be a dead giveaway. (Be sure to check local regs before hunting these areas.)

#3 - The Skidder Trail
Abandoned skidder trails draw rutting bucks because the easy routes save them calories. Commonly marked with rubs, scrapes, tracks, and droppings, they may be too overgrown for you to still-hunt effectively. But setting up a tree stand can pay off for the patient hunter. Avoid walking on the path itself getting to your stand. And don’t call much once you get there. Left alone, a buck that’s on the trail will likely stay on it—and walk right to you.

#4 - The Shoreline
Finally, big-woods bucks also parallel the edges of creeks, rivers, and ponds. You should have no trouble finding rub and scrape lines within sight of the water. If you’re still-hunting, look for a lightly worn deer trail along the shoreline or stream bank and parallel it just downwind.

Good spots for stand hunters include gentle slopes that lead down to the water, jutting points or peninsulas, and crossings, such as riffles, narrows, or beaver dams. Bucks also tend to hug the shore as they sneak around bays. If you can approach such an area by canoe and position a portable stand so the wind blows your scent toward the water, you’ll have a good shot at paddling a buck back to camp.

Hunt the Hot Scrape for a Rut Trophy

Online Editors — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:13:14 -0400

by Bill Vaznis

Scrapes go cold once the rut gets into full swing. But there’s an exception to the rule, and taking advantage of it can put a cruising bruiser into your sights at any time of day, all through the breeding period.

The key to finding these active peak-rut scrapes and scrape lines is to keep close tabs on the local doe population. Left undisturbed, family groups of does and fawns feed predictably on agricultural crops or mast and bed down in nearby thickets and brushy ridges.

What you’re looking for is freshly worked scrapes just outside these bedding grounds, intersecting the routes deer take to feed. This is where does spend most of their time now, and competing bucks cruise through the area checking out the females and investigating sign left by rivals. As a result, these scrapes tend to stay hot.

I’ve personally seen enough bucks working this spoor and have shot enough in the immediate vicinity to say without hesitation that they’re well worth hunting all through the rut. But the best time to tag a real monster is toward its end, after most does have been bred. This is when older bucks leave their core areas and scour the countryside for the few unbred females, and your odds of catching one flat-footed along a peak-rut scrape line skyrocket.

A Pair of Plans
When a cold front comes through and puts bucks on the move, grab a tree stand and head out early in the morning, being careful not to cross major doe trails along the way. Set up just downwind of the scrape line. Mix fawn bleats, doe contact grunts, estrous bleats, and tending grunts to lure a buck. And be patient. This setup could produce anytime from dawn till dusk.

My favorite tactic, however, is to still-hunt just downwind of a line of scrapes. The secret is spotting a buck before he’s even remotely aware of your presence, which means moving very slowly and stopping often, with your eyes and ears riveted to the cover ahead. I was doing this on a cold November morning when I glimpsed the tips of antlers just above me on the lip of a ridge. And that Pope and Young 9-pointer’s rack is still just above me…on my wall.

4 Prime Travel Corridors Where You Can Walk Up On a Buck

Online Editors — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:55:34 -0400

by Bill Vaznis

You hear a lot about sitting all day during the rut. Have you considered walking all day? It’s true, rutting bucks are active at all hours this time of year, but their movements can be unpredictable. Unless you know that the funnel your treestand overlooks is red hot, you may be better off taking the action to the deer by still—hunting. Right now, you could wander aimlessly through the deer woods and have a chance. But your best strategy for walking up a trophy is to stage several lightning-strike sneak-and-peek hunts throughout the day at the best still-hunting spots on your hunting area. Not sure where to start? Here are four of my favorite routes to walk during the breeding season.

#1 - Clear-Cut Ridges
In the big woods, 2- to 7-year-old clear-cuts are prime feeding areas for all deer, and great spots for rutting bucks to check for feeding does. In the morning, deer typically head to higher ground to bed. The secret here is playing the thermals. Get up extra early and climb to the top of a ridge overlooking the clear-cut. When shooting light comes, slowly zigzag your way downhill into the rising thermals, hoping to intercept a big buck following a hot doe heading uphill to her bedding grounds.

#2 - Swamp Spurs
Unready does get fed up with bucks’ constant harassment and often take refuge deep in the heart of water-filled swamps. But that doesn’t stop bucks from going after them—often by cruising spurs of dry land leading into and out of the marsh. This may be a long, low ridge that juts into a big-woods swamp or a narrow strip of trees that reaches deep into a grassy wetland. Either is a great spot for a slow walk. Zigzag the length of the spur, crosscutting the wind. You may be able to cover several such spots in a day.

#3 - Cornfield Edges
At the height of the rut, when many does are seeking mates, uncut cornfields have it all: They are at once feeding areas, bedding areas, and rendezvous spots. Does will hang out in and around the corn all day, frequently venturing into adjacent semi-open areas of CRP, goldenrod, brush, or pasture, where they can be seen by bucks. If you work the wind carefully, you can sneak along three sides of the field. Slip just inside the corn or in bordering woods or hedgerows, all the while glassing into those semi-open areas for bucks.

#4 - Farmland Creek Beds
In open farmland, wooded creek beds are the primary places where rutting bucks can cruise under cover while checking fields for hot does—and their linear nature makes them a natural for still-hunting. The cover, however, can be too narrow to walk undetected. So look for a creek that has at least one steep bank and use it to hide your movements, periodically peeking over the edge to look for deer in the cover below. Most times, you’ll want a crosswind that carries your scent into the adjacent field. But if the bank is high enough to keep your scent above the deer, you may be able to kill a buck in any breeze.

Track An Estrous Doe To Find Big Bucks

Online Editors — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:58:28 -0400

by Bill Vaznis

When fresh snow falls overnight, most big-woods hunters are out at first light looking for the track of a trophy buck to follow. That’s a good early-morning strategy. But if you can find and follow the right doe trail, big bucks will actually come to you.

Lady = Luck
An estrous doe, including any late-cycling female coming into heat a month after the primary rut, makes every effort to attract amorous bucks. She may stay on her feet all day, lingering near scrape lines, milling along edges, and feeding in openings where she’ll be seen easily. In short, she’s a buck magnet. Get close and you can tap her drawing power. But first, you have to get on the right track. When you find doe prints, follow them and watch for rose-colored urine stains in the snow. This is a dead giveaway that she’s in heat. Also, look to either side for the tracks of a flanking buck or two. If she’s close but not quite ready to stand, bucks will zigzag her trail like skiers running a slalom course, each using his eyes, ears, and nose to keep tabs on her exact whereabouts. You can’t miss it.

The Solo Doe
When you find only the rose-colored stains, and it’s clear the doe hasn’t caught the attention of a buck yet, follow her trail, being careful not to spook her. And keep an eye on the flanks. Eventually, a passing buck is apt to spot her, move in to check out her breeding status, and give you a shot. Should you spook the curious buck, let him go, allow things to calm down, and get back on the doe’s trail. Sooner or later, the buck will circle around and try to intercept her, or she may attract another suitor in the meantime.

Join the Chase
You have a couple of options if the tracks tell you that your doe already has an admirer or two. One is to follow her trail, staying far enough back not to spook the bucks, and wait for an advantage. She may drop down to a lower ridge, for example, allowing you to watch her trail and possibly move forward and catch an eager buck off-guard from above. Or she may skirt the edge of a clear-cut, gaining you an unobstructed shot at her pursuer. If the doe seems to be circling (which estrous females commonly do to attract as many bucks as possible within a certain range), then your best bet may be to have a seat. The doe will eventually return to the area, suitors in tow. Just be sure you don’t shoot at the first forkhorn that prances into view. It’s usually the biggest buck that brings up the rear. With plenty of breeding experience, a mature animal knows that the doe isn’t quite ready to stand yet—and he’s in no hurry. So you’ll probably have all the time you need to get ready to make a good shot.

5 Overlooked Spots Where Post-Rut Bucks Hide

Online Editors — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:50:06 -0400

by Bill Vaznis

Yes, pressured late-season bucks typically seek remote, nasty cover. But some of the biggest, savviest survivors hole up right under our noses, in oddball places we tend to overlook. By uncovering a buck’s secret lair, you can begin to formulate a plan for success. Your first step is to stop ignoring these five hidey holes:

#1 - Field-Edge Brush Dumps
Bucks do not always travel far from the food source to lay low. In fact, one of their favorite spots is a pile of bulldozed brush right at the edge of a farm field. Not long ago, I kicked two Pope and Young deer from just such a spot. Both had felt secure not
0 feet off a cut corn lot.

#2 - Rotting Logs
Most hunters know that blowdowns with many branches are big-buck bedding areas. But the far subtler dead log is also a prime spot. A branchless deadfall that’s 3 or 4 feet in diameter conceals most of a buck’s body, while gray-brown bark matches a late-season buck’s coat almost perfectly.

#3 - Backyard Bungalow
Some bucks choose to hide close to danger, bedding down near barns, backyard outbuildings, and even occupied homes, as long as there isn’t too much human traffic. I’ve seen a buck hunker down behind two ornamental cedars with his back against a cement foundation.

#4 - Old Farm Implements
Most farms feature a graveyard of rusting corn harvesters and broken-down wheel harrows. And most hunters pay them no mind whatsoever. Meanwhile, tall grass grows up around the rusting metal machinery, making a good hideout for a smart, old buck.

#5 - Lone Trees
Who thinks to look for a buck under a lone tree growing in the middle of a field? You, if you’re smart. Look closer and you may find that there’s some tall grass or brush that the farmer couldn’t till right under the tree. It’s a perfect spot for a buck to be ignored as he watches for late-cycling does.

6 Ways to Determine the Sex of Deer Tracks in the Snow

Online Editors — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:02:07 -0400

by Bill Vaznis

Biologists will tell you there is no way to sex a deer with 100 percent accuracy by its track alone. Maybe so. But when I decide to follow a track and it leads to a deer, that deer is a buck about 95 percent of the time. Here are six ways you can up the odds that you’re on the right track, too.

#1 - Study the Print
A good buck weighs 50 to 100 pounds more than the average doe. So his print is usually larger and sinks deeper into the ground. His track is also commonly splayed, and the front-hoof impressions tend to show more wear on the leading edges due to scraping.

#2 - Measure the Stride
A buck’s stride is longer than a doe’s. My friend Jim Glidden, one of the founding fathers of the New Hampshire Trophy Skull and Antler Club, holds that under normal walking conditions a 190-pound (dressed weight) buck has a stride between 231⁄2 and 24 inches. A 200-pounder’s will go over 2 feet.

#3 - Pattern the Pee
Does stop and squat to urinate, leaving their mark behind an imaginary line connecting the back of the rear hoofprints. When a buck stops to urinate, he shoots a yellow hole into the snow a little forward of that line. Bucks often whiz on the move as well, dribbling urine as they go. And they’re also more likely than does to defecate on the run, leaving a line of pellets in the snow.

#4 - Look for Tine Marks
A buck searching for estrous does will stop and sniff any deer track he comes across, occasionally burying his nose deep enough that he leaves an impression of his antlers in the snow. Look closely. You may be able to get a good read of the rack’s width, mass, and even the number of points.

#5 - Watch the Trail
Does often dilly-dally, nibbling a bud here and a leaf there as they make their way through an area. Bucks more commonly proceed in a purposeful, direct manner, especially during the rut as they cruise from one known concentration of does to the other. A steady, nearly straight-line track can be a dead giveaway that allows you to stay on a buck’s track even as he swaggers through an area littered with other tracks.

#6 - Watch the Perimeter
Speaking of tracked-up areas, if you’re in one and can’t figure out which prints belong to a buck, try circling around. Bucks will kick one doe after another out of its bed to determine its breeding status. The does don’t generally run far before bedding back down. The buck, however, once satisfied that no ready does are present, will head out for the next doe and fawn bedding area. The biggest track exiting the area in a more or less straight line belongs to the buck.

5 Calling Tricks for Chase-Phase Bucks

Online Editors — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:07:08 -0400

In that frantic period just before the peak rut, when does are running in every direction from prying noses, calling bucks away from their playing-hard-to-get girlfriends may seem like a waste of time. But in fact, the chase phase is one of the best times to talk a trophy into shooting range.

What if you don’t have a grunt tube or bleat call handy? No problem. During the chase, a handful of unorthodox sound-making methods can lure these bucks.

Try tapping or scuffing the leaves with a long stick to simulate the footfalls of a doe. You don’t even have to sound like a female deer; these lone bucks will react to male company, too. Another good trick is to rub a smaller, dry stick against a sapling to imitate the noise from a buck taking out his frustrations on a young tree. Where there’s enough cover at ground level to keep you hidden (and where it’s safe to do so) waggle the sapling’s crown back and forth. A buck that sees this from a distance can hardly resist investigating.

Raking leaf litter with a stick or your hand as if making a scrape can also be very effective. I always toss the duff high into the air because the rain of debris pelting the forest floor seems to bring these bucks running. Almost any natural-sounding noise can work. Deer often snap dry branches underfoot, and I’ve lured bucks into range simply by breaking a few twigs.

Just stay on your toes. Immediately after making each sound, drop to one knee and get your gun or bow up. Trust me, when a wild-eyed bruiser charges your position looking for love, you’ll want to either shoot or run. So be ready to shoot.

How Close is the Rut? Here are 6 Ways to Tell

Joe_Cermele — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:54:49 -0400

When does the rut peak in your area? You can check last year’s dates, talk with a deer biologist, or consult moon guides. But these yield guesstimates and generalizations. A hot doe may have bucks all worked up in one spot while rutting activity is nonexistent the next valley over. The best way to pinpoint the peak ri ght where you hunt, right now, is to observe deer sign and behavior. Here’s what to look for.

Better Buck Activity: When bucks start wandering from their beds well before sunset and also linger, often in groups, in or around doe feeding areas for an hour or two after sunrise, it’s because they’re looking for the first estrous does. That’s a sure sign the rut is about to break wide open.

Chase Tracks: If you’re lucky enough to glimpse bands of deer running through the forest, it’s obvious the chase is on. Otherwise, keep an eye out for winding paths of freshly scuffed leaves accompanied by sets of widely spaced tracks.

Cold Scrapes: When bucks suddenly stop showing up at the scrape lines you’ve been hunting, it’s a dead giveaway that they no longer need a calling card—because hot does are everywhere and bucks are busy trying to woo them.

Midday Field Sightings: Driving down the highway to grab lunch between hunts, you glance at a field and see a giant cruising nose-down in the wide open. Midday sightings like this mean the search for estrous does is now 24/7.

Strange Bucks…: If you’re a hunter who keeps close tabs on deer (through glassing and trail cameras) and you start noticing bucks you’ve never seen before, you can bet there are some fertile does in your area.

…in Strange Places: Ready does tend to lead their mates away from the herd, often to spots with good visibility. So when you begin to see deer in unexpected places—at the end of a hedgerow, amid a patch of tall grass or brush in a field, in an open grassy ditch or swale—it’s a good bet that bucks are tending does, and the rut is in full swing.