scent

A Beginner's Guide to Bowhunting

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 07:00:00 -0400

Glory Days, Part II; Nov. 16--Dec. 1

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 04:05:00 -0500

NOVEMBER 16
It's the mating season, bucks are tending does, and this part of the breeding period usually has little activity. Today's full moon counters that, however, and you can expect heavy deer movement during midday. Dawn and dusk will be strangely quiet for mid-November in the deer woods.

1. The Situation:
It's All Quiet on the Deer Front
It's a shock to novices who look forward to the peak of the rut to see how abruptly things change when the breeding phase arrives. Since the majority of does are now in estrus, all mature bucks have partners and are mostly staying put. But things don't totally throttle down. Bucks still move when they have finished breeding one doe and are looking for another. And when they're not traveling, you can make them get up and go with a drive.

2. Primary Tactic:
Time to Drive
Put on morning and late-afternoon drives. These are normally supposed to be conducted during midday, when deer are sticking to dense bedding cover. With the moon full and the rut in the lull of the peak breeding phase, however, dawn and dusk are the times on this day when deer will be holed up.

The key to pushing a rack buck is to drive small, precisely defined thickets near areas where does concentrate, and the bedding locations themselves. Unlike most of the year, when they'll sneak out before a drive is even set up, or move through a break in the line of drivers without being seen, bucks will now remain with the doe they are tending. When you see a doe break out of cover during a drive, get ready, as the buck is likely just a few steps behind. Drive with a crosswind or the wind blowing toward the blockers, and make sure everyone knows the safe shooting lanes and is wearing blaze orange.

3. Backup Plan:
Still-Hunt The Edges
Since bucks move less during the peak breeding phase, this is a good time for still-hunting. It's especially effective when there's a drizzle or light snow falling and the ground is damp and quiet.

Step slowly and pause often. Sneak along the downwind edges of bedding areas and the buck routes connecting them. Check out clear-cuts, old logging roads, and semiopen fields with cedars, plum thickets, sumac, and greenbrier. Stay above where you expect to see deer and work into or across the wind.

4. Don't Do This:
Hunt the Home Front
It's a waste of time to hunt in bucks' core home ranges. Mature bucks have largely abandoned these spots and will not return to them while peak breeding continues. They are camped out in doe territory in lower, gentler terrain or moving between the areas where females hang out.

5. Do This:
Crow About It
If the cover is too thick to keep in contact with your partners on a drive, periodically use a wildlife call such as a crow, owl, hawk, or pileated woodpecker. This is less likely to spook bucks than whistling or calling to one another. When you're still-hunting, give a contact grunt every once in a while in case there's a buck hidden nearby.
Be Inhuman
Since you will be driving or still-hunting, use cover scents such as fox, raccoon, skunk, evergreen, or earth to mask your human odor in case there's a wind change or a deer appears from a direction you didn't expect. Be sure to wear scent-absorbing clothing, and spray your gear and boots with an odor neutralizer. [NEXT "The Situation: Weekend Warriors in the Woods"]

NOVEMBER 19
Hunt this date if you have to work during the week. It's a Saturday, so you'll need to adjust your tactics a bit from noal rut hunting strategy. Not only are bucks moving less because they are hooked up with does, but they are likely feeling more pressure on this day than at any other time of year except the opener. That can work in your favor if you plan wisely.

1. The Situation:
Weekend Warriors are in the Woods
Where there is heavy hunting pressure on weekends, there's a good chance that deer will be forced back to thick, remote escape cover. This could be at higher elevations in hilly country or in swampy thickets in low, flat terrain. Take this day to hunt for a wary buck in the backcountry, far from the road.

2. Primary Tactic:
Find the Escape Routes
Look for the sanctuaries and escape cover that bucks head to when hunting pressure is intense. You can hunt the hideouts or the routes leading to them. To find the latter, take out a topographic map or aerial photograph and look for funnels created by terrain and vegetation, such as brushy hollows, overgrown ditches, or sheltered saddles.

Pressured bucks will seek safety more than half a mile from vehicle access spots, in rough terrain and dense thickets of conifers, greenbrier, laurel, plum, honeysuckle, and grapevines. Swamps and overgrown clear-cuts are also worth checking. In general, look for cover so dense that you have to fight your way through it. Circle wide, get on the entrance points to these spots on the downwind edge before daylight, and wait quietly. You may have a buck show up that's more concerned about survival than breeding-at least on this Saturday.

3. Backup Plan:
Hunt Rut Rubs
Find a secluded or overlooked spot and search for fresh rubs made during the rut. Hunters associate rubs with the early season, but bucks also scrape the bark off trees and thrash them with their antlers when they are hooking up with does. They do so to vent energy and to declare their presence to other bucks in the vicinity.

Find rubs that are super fresh-ones that weren't there earlier in the season-and you've found a mother lode. Stake out a spot downwind of the newly blazed trees, and wait.

4. Don't Do This:
Hunt Easy Cover
There's no point in hunting accessible prime cover because so many hunters will be out now. Deer will be fleeing these spots or, in some cases, staying in thick brush until after dark.

5. Do This:
Turn Them On
When you're hunting fresh rut rubs, place doe-in-estrus scent near them in hopes of attracting their maker. You can also use buck urine and tarsal gland scent to rile up a buck's competitive instincts. For hunting sanctuaries, use cover scents.
Shhhhh
Use no calls at all for your primary tactic. You are trying to be invisible and ambush deer that are fleeing from other hunters. For your secondary approach, hunting rut rubs, use a doe bleat or make an aggressive, drawn-out series of buck tending grunts.

Rut Myth No 3: Does are Receptive for Less than 24 Hours.
The length of time that a doe will remain receptive is highly dependent on whether or not she is bred, according to recent studies. In one study conducted at the University of Georgia, biologist Lisa Muller found that unbred does remained in heat for an average of about 55 hours, but does that were allowed to breed stayed in heat for about 31 hours. Unbred does will undergo regular estrous cycles every 21 to 30 days and may continue to cycle up to seven times. This means that a doe could continue to come into heat until late winter or early spring, but this rarely happens in the wild. -K.V.M. [NEXT "The Situation: Big Bucks on the Move"]

NOVEMBER 25
This is the perfect hunting day. Thanksgiving is over, you're off work, and you can hit the woods early and remain until dark. The moon is in its last quarter and fading fast, encouraging whitetails to move during the day. Hunting is challenging, because there aren't as many deer left now, but some of the biggest bucks in the woods are on the hoof.

1. The Situation:
Big Bucks Are on the Move
Most does have been bred and have gone back to their core areas to rest and feed. A few females are coming into estrus, however, and the competition for them is intense, with mature bucks traveling hard and far, searching for the few remaining potential mates. You won't see as many as during the seek-and-chase phase, but there's a noticeable increase in action from the mating phase.

2. Primary Tactic:
Look for Fresh Sign
Now is the time to find newly activated scrapes near the edges of brushy, overgrown fields, doe bedding areas, and transition zones leading to major evening feeding spots. Bucks largely abandoned these signposts when the first does began to enter estrus, but as the number of ready mates dwindles, they start rechecking and freshening those pawed-out oval patches of earth.

As you examine scrapes, make sure there is a branch overhead where bucks can deposit scent. Also check that the area is not too close to a road. Bucks have become extremely wary by now and won't visit any in territory that hunters have been pounding. A promising one should be large and clear of leaves, indicating that a buck is tending it regularly. If possible, locate several in a cluster and set up downwind.

3. Backup Plan:
Glass and Stalk
With fewer bucks in the woods but activity beginning to pick up, this is a prime time for moving through semiopen areas with a combination of still-hunting and glassing and stalking. Use hills or ridges to glass fields overgrown with tall grass or sprinkled with cedars, low bushes, and plum thickets. Bucks like to travel in these areas, searching for late-cycling does, so scan them slowly.

Sneak along the edge of doe bedding spots and still-hunt near funnels, keeping your eyes peeled for traveling bucks. It can also pay off to scan brushy draws, stream bottoms, and overgrown swales in open fields. Late in the day, still-hunt through transition areas between doe bedding spots and feeding areas. Finish the day by glassing fields before dark.

4. Don't Do This:
Watch Rut Rubs
Bucks made those markers in the throes of the breeding game between mating sessions to release excess energy andove"]

4. Don't Do This:
Watch Rut Rubs
Bucks made those markers in the throes of the breeding game between mating sessions to release excess energy and

Glory Days, Part I; Oct. 27--Nov. 8

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 04:05:00 -0500

Call in sick. Vote late. Get engaged next spring. Whatever you do, just make sure you're in the deer woods on these seven dates, because there won't be a better time to tag a buck all year. PLUS: The Myths of the Rut, from Dr. Karl Miller.

No doubt about it-there is something of the occult in the way a veteran whitetail buck can dodge and dance. It doesn't seem possible that mere animals can pull off the stunts they do, leaving us baffled time after time. I'm going to vanish like smoke now and leave you feeling like a complete jerk. Want to see?

Ah, you say, but what about the rut? Doesn't even the smartest buck eventually start thinking with his gonads instead of his brain? Yes, but not the way you think, and if you assume that on one magical day every big deer in the woods is going to turn into a suicidal Romeo, you're wrong.

The rut can actually be broken down into four main phases that stretch over five weeks. It all begins for most of the country around October 27 with the pre-rut, scrape-checking stage. That is followed by a period of seeking and chasing, then mating, and finally the post-rut. To maximize your chances of getting a buck, understand the differences between the rut's four phases. Then strive to be in the woods on those days when the hunting should be best.

Remember that intense heat or cold, high winds, and hunting pressure can all affect the rut and throw it off schedule. We can't guarantee a buck for you, but this information will give you one heck of an advantage.

Phase 1: Early Pre-rut
Phase 1 occurs from October 27 to November 3. Bucks aren't fighting with one another yet, nor are they chasing does, but they are in peak condition. Testosterone levels are building. Eventually, bucks shift away from their patterns of bedding most of the day and feeding at dusk and night. With cooling temperatures, they travel more in the mornings and arrive earlier at staging areas where deer congregate before moving to food sources later. At this time, bucks are searching for older does that come into estrus ahead of others in the herd. They do this by making scrapes, marking them with scent, and checking them periodically.

Key dates: October 27, November 2
Tip: November 2 is the new moon, so be prepared for deer on the move.

Phase 2: seek & chase
Phase 2, commonly known as the pre-rut seek-and-chase phase, stretches from about November 4 to 11. Whitetail bucks are constantly on the move now, seeking mates, and their swollen necks are evidence of peaking testosterone levels. More and more does are coming into heat at this time, and the woods are becoming chaotic. Whatever you do during deer hunting season, don't miss out on this period. It is the ultimate time to kill a mature whitetail buck. Be it with a bow, muzzleloader, or modern firearm, you need to be in the woods now. November 8, in particular, is the one date you should stay in the woods all day if possible.

Key date: November 8
Tip:A first-quarter moon won't greatly influence whitetail behavior.

Phase 3: mating
You'll know when Phase 3, which is all about mating, has arrived. Running from November 12 to 24, this stage is marked by woods that have become quiet. If you didn't know better, you'd think all the deer have disappeared. Most does are in estrus now, and bucks are with mates except during those periods when they have finished breeding one doe and are looking for another. In some areas, a buck may stay with a single doe before, during, and after her normal 24- to 48-hour estrous cycle. In regions with an abundance of females, a buck may linger only for the peak of a doe's cycle, then move on to service other does.

Key dates: November 16, 19
Tip:The full moon on the 16th means heavy midday movemt.

Phase 4: post-rut
By Phase 4, from approximately November 25 to December 2, most adult does have come into heat and been bred. Bucks are tired but are still searching for late-cycling females and any does coming into heat for the very first time. While many younger bucks have totally dropped out of the rut, worn out more by chasing than actual breeding, the older males stay active as long as necessary. As they search for does, they will often venture into territory they haven't been to this season, so don't be surprised if you see a big buck you've never seen before. This year, December 1 is your best last-chance date for getting a trophy.

Key dates: November 25, December 1
Tip:Deer activity will pick up at the tail end of the waning moon phase. [NEXT "Transition Time"]

OCTOBER 27
Don't miss this date, when the early pre-rut starts to kick in. It's a Thursday, and deer have had a chance to settle down from the previous weekend's hunting pressure. Bucks are emerging from mid-October doldrums and the first early frosts have them feeding heavily on crops, forbs, fruits, and acorns.

1. The Situation:
Transition Time
This is an in-between period. Bucks haven't totally vacated their core summer ranges to hang out with does, but they are gradually shifting from elevated, heavy cover to the lower, gentler terrain that the females prefer-by way of transition corridors, staging areas, and feeding spots. The moon is in the last quarter and fading fast, encouraging daytime movement. Rising testosterone levels and cooling temperatures enhance activity. Bucks are on the prowl. This is a great time to tag a trophy.

2. Primary Tactic:
Hunt Food Sources
Set up in an oak flat that has abundant acorns, scuffled leaves, fresh droppings, and large tracks. Get in before dawn. This is a prime morning stand location for the early pre-rut, when bucks are bulking up on high-carbohydrate foods to layer on fat for the winter.

Besides the acorns that attract them, bucks know they have a chance of encountering early-estrous does thereabouts. Bow and blackpowder hunters should pay particular attention to the wind in these areas and set up within range, but downwind, of anticipated activity. Expect a buck to show anytime from dawn until 10 A.M. Make sure you're not in an air pocket or eddy created by a cliff or nearby hill, which could cause your scent to swirl around and blow toward your quarry.

3. Backup Plan:
Get in a Zone
Take a midday break. Then, at 2:30 or 3 P.M., move to a transition corridor. These are broad areas, anywhere from 30 to 100 yards wide, that lead from doe beds to prime feeding locations. They might feature tall grass, weeds, honeysuckle, sumac, greenbrier, raspberries, blackberries, and olives, as well as a variety of forbs and saplings. Transition zones will have a mixture of food and some cover but are never thick.

Does leisurely work through these areas on their way to agricultural fields, food plots, orchards, or oak flats. The corridors often lead from midlevel benches and hillsides toward food sources lower down. Bucks are starting to shadow does in these transition areas now, so find a spot with heavy sign and watch until dark.

4. Don't Do This:
Rattle
Rattling antlers won't work now. Deer are only beginning to feel the pull of the rut. They aren't fighting yet. The sound of bucks battling would be unrealistic, more likely to spook mature animals rather than attract them. And even if a buck were to investigate, the cover is so thick at this time of year that it might be difficult to judge antler quality.

5. Do This:
Put on a Mask
Bucks are barely emerging from their summer patterns at this early stage of the rut, so forget using doe-in-estrus urine or similar scents. Instead, choose red fox, skunk, raccoon, earth, hemlock, or other masking scents. Food scents, such as apple or acorn, are another option.
Grunt Work
This is the time for soft contact grunts. Expel short breaths, one second or so in duration, with pauses in between. Blow three or four in a series, then wait five to 20 minutes and repeat. Deer often communicate this way, as if to say Hey, I'm over here. Where are you?

Rut Myth No 1: The moon influences the timing of the rut.
There is no scientific evidence indicating that the moon phase influences when the rut will occur. On the contrary, studies have shown that the major factor affecting the rut is decreasing daylight. Deer perceive the shortening daylight hours via the pineal gland, which results in rising hormone levels. This, in turn, ensures that breeding occurs during a certain time frame each fall. Most fawns are consequently born in late spring or early summer, to maximize their chances for survival. In contrast, timing by moon phase would not provide any survival advantage. -Dr. Karl V. Miller [NEXT "Situation: Bucks Making Their Marks"]

NOVEMBER 2
The moon does not determine the onset of the rut. Every year the rut takes place at basically the same time, caused by a decline in daylight that triggers reactions in the deer's pineal and pituitary glands, leading to a buildup in testosterone. Weather, hunting pressure, and other factors may influence how dramatic and visible the rut seems from year to year, but its timing does not change. Moon phases, however, do influence deer activity levels and when they move. That's why this day is hot in 2005: It's the new moon.

1. The Situation:
Bucks Are Making Their Marks
Shortly after daybreak and just before dark during this lunar phase, bucks will be on the move. Be out before dawn and hunt hard the first few hours. Also be on stand for the final two hours of daylight. Bucks are busy checking scrapes near doe bedding and feeding areas, freshening them with urine, saliva, and scent from their forehead glands.

2. Primary Tactic:
Watch Those Scrapes
This is a great time to watch scrapes, but make sure you are positioned near active ones made because of the rut, not boundary scrapes dating from August or September. Look for large, freshly pawed ovals near doe bedding and transition zones. A small, chewed branch 4 to 5 feet abov judge antler quality.

The Intruder Fake

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 05:15:00 -0400

As the peak rut nears, bucks stake out breeding territory by establishing primary scrapes, which advertise their availability to does and send a warning to other bucks against territorial infringement. Any sign of intrusion by another buck will be met with aggression, which is why so many hunters carry grunt calls. Used properly, they can draw the attention of a territorially minded buck.

But a grunt call alone can merely put a cautious buck downwind of you, where he'll try to smell what he hears. So take this strategy a step further by using scents to confirm his suspicions and bring him running for a fight.

Below, Don Bell, an expert whitetail hunter and the founder of Code Blue Scents, shares his advice for setting up a realistic scenario of an intruding buck.

1] Neutralize human scent. "You're trying to lure a deer from downwind, so minimizing your scent is essential," says Bell. Use masking detergent, shampoo, and soap before the hunt, then spray your boots with an odor suppressant after leaving your truck.

2] Lay a scent trail. Drag scented rags upwind to the scrape you've scouted. Bell uses coon or fox cover scent for the first 50 yards to discourage a buck from heading in the wrong direction. Then he switches to a double dragline to mimic a buck trailing a doe: On a short line, he pulls Code Blue's Whitetail Doe Estrous; and on a longer one, buck urine. "When you're done, hang the rags and a tarsal gland waist-high and pour doe and buck urine into the scrape," he says.

3] Hang your stand. Choose a location that allows clear shooting on a buck approaching straight into the wind or quartering. Picture the scrape as the middle of a clock and place the stand at six o'clock, which will provide a good shooting angle on a buck approaching anywhere from three to nine o'clock. "By the time a buck gets within 20 yards of the scrape, he'll be able to see that there are no deer around," Bell says. "So your stand should offer good angles on the periphery of this 20-yard arc."

4] Sound the alarm. Blow your grunt call to simulate the sound of an intruding buck tending a doe. It's usually best to start out conservatively by mixing soft grunts with periods of silence. If that doesn't work, however, pick up both the volume and the frequency of your calls. Be patient and be ready. It takes some time for a buck to circle downwind, Bell says, but once he picks up the scent of what he thinks is an intruding buck, he can charge in very quickly.

5] Rinse and repeat. According to Bell, your best chance to kill a buck is on the first try, so don't put up your stand until the day of the hunt. If you don't fill your tag the first day, however, leave your stand hanging. Reseal the tarsal gland in an airtight container and pack it out. Also, bring home your drag rags and either wash them or throw them away and have some new ones handy. "The first hunt may be your best chance," Bell says, "but it's certainly not your only. So try again tomorrow."

The Intruder Fake

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 05:15:00 -0400

Below, Don Bell, an expert whitetail hunter and the founder of Code Blue Scents, shares his advice for setting up a realistic scenario of an intruding buck.