| Looking to harvest that elusive big buck? Are you | | | | experienced hunters who have shot big bucks.... |
| sold out to getting one or do you just dream | | | | most of them will tell you that big bucks like to |
| about it? There is no education better than being | | | | frequent the heavy cover and are loners in these |
| out in the wilds seeing, experiencing, reading signs, | | | | areas. They like the thick cover the wetlands |
| adjusting to seasons, weather and other factors. | | | | produce because it gives them security. Also, |
| You must understand that your ability to harvest | | | | deer are excellent swimmers. It is nothing for |
| a big buck will completely rely on your willingness | | | | them to swim major rivers, let alone creeks and |
| to adjust your thinking, your tactics and your | | | | lakes. When pressure increases the big bucks |
| determination to find and ultimately harvest that | | | | head for cover. |
| animal you have your mind set on. Let start: | | | | 5. Let the experienced and successful hunters be |
| 1. Taking Big Bucks Requires Exceptional Tactics. | | | | your role models. It is no different than any sport |
| You will not bag a trophy buck by using standard | | | | or avocation. If you want to be great, if you |
| techniques like everyone else. In fact, it probably | | | | want the big prize, if you really want that big |
| does not matter if there are big bucks in the area | | | | buck you need to learn and do what other |
| you hunt. The truth is that if you're using all the | | | | successful whitetail hunters have done to harvest |
| normal tactics you will not get the monster. The | | | | their big bucks. While no situation is identical, |
| really BIG bucks are old bucks. They do not grow | | | | remember that the 1% or 2% of the top deer |
| old by falling prey to the normal tactics the | | | | hunters are very disciplined and have developed |
| majority of hunters use. Make sense? | | | | methods and skills that work consistently. They |
| 2. You must hunt where big bucks live! It is so | | | | know and talk to others about deer locations, |
| obvious, yet how many days or seasons have | | | | sightings, behavior, etc. Luck has helped some |
| you spent hunting in areas where you never saw | | | | over time but by and large the hunters who take |
| a really big buck? You must realize that not all | | | | the big ones year after year know things you do |
| areas hold even one really big buck, let alone a | | | | not. Or perhaps they are more persistent. |
| few. But it is a fact that some parts of different | | | | 6. Big, Old Bucks are unique and you must adjust |
| counties in the country hold many large bucks | | | | your hunting accordingly. Some say you have to |
| within a given area due to quite a few factors. | | | | treat them like a different animal or a different |
| Things like cover, food sources and other | | | | species if you're going to take one. Besides being |
| nutrition, hunting pressure, and genetics play a | | | | older, they are wiser, heavier, more mellow, |
| huge role in finding areas that hold big bucks. We | | | | slower, and much more deliberate in their actions. |
| sometimes deceive ourselves. We HOPE they are | | | | The fact that they got to 4, 5, or 6 years old is |
| there. If your overriding goal is to find that | | | | an indication that they found a safe way to exist |
| monster - you need to find out where they are | | | | and avoid the hunters. These big boys will not |
| and hunt there. You cannot shoot what does not | | | | typically run at the slightest pressure - they may |
| exist. | | | | hold tight. I have heard story after story about |
| 3. Be selective in what you shoot - do not shoot | | | | how smart the old bucks can be - they will swim, |
| small bucks. Think about this - in most cases after | | | | crawl, hold tight in cover, and use their natural |
| you harvest your buck you are done for the | | | | color and stealth methods to avoid even the |
| season - so if your goal is to shoot a monster | | | | most experienced hunters. You must use |
| why do you harvest a smaller one? Let the | | | | different tactics for these big boys. |
| smaller ones go, let them mature into bigger | | | | 7. Hunt long and often. There is no exception to |
| bucks, and wait for your monster to appear. Most | | | | this rule. Big bucks are seldom taken by hunters |
| veteran hunters that shoot big bucks will tell you | | | | who don't spend lots of time in the field. If you |
| that the larger bucks follow the smaller ones out - | | | | only hunt a couple hours in the morning and a |
| the big ones are much more weary. That is how | | | | couple more in the evening you're missing some |
| they get to be monsters. If you are satisfied with | | | | of the best hours to bag a big buck! Lots of B+C |
| shooting a smaller buck than you set your goal to | | | | bucks are taken in the late morning and noon |
| shoot, then you are compromising and your | | | | hours. Surprised? Also, during the rut lots of big |
| interest and desire are lacking. If you are | | | | bucks have been seen checking their scrapes |
| committed to taking the big one, do not take the | | | | during the noon hour. |
| first buck you see unless it meets your goal! | | | | Get out in the field, scout those areas, then plan |
| 4. You will find that big bucks will frequently have | | | | your approach and tactics. There's so much more |
| wet feet. Huh? Yep - find areas where there is a | | | | to deer hunting tactics and methods but these 7 |
| creek bottom or lowland wet areas such as a | | | | Hot tips are a start. |
| swamp and other wetlands. Talk to the | | | | |