Hunting Techniques:
Where: As we said earlier the whitetails range is almost all of North America. So you need to make a decision do you want to harvest a deer or a trophy class whitetail. Believe me whether you are a beginner or a veteran hunter the techniques are the same, for us veteran hunters the thrill of harvesting a whitetail is still as strong today as it was when we began. If you decide you want to harvest a deer you can hunt almost anywhere as long as you have permission. But if you want to harvest a trophy whitetail buck my suggestion to you is to research as much as possible. Generally the northern variety grows to be larger so of course the antlers also grow larger. There are a number of states that have record book quality bucks, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota to name a few. But there are also states that have quality management programs with harvest limits that persuade the hunter to let the smaller bucks go. Check the Boone & Crocket Club records. This will give you an idea on where the largest typical and non-typical scored deer are taken by state and county. You may be lucky enough to live in an area where trophy deer are regularly harvested. If you are, then there are probably relatives or friends land on which you can hunt or maybe even public land. If not then you may consider a guide service. You can find an extensive list of outfitters from Hunting Information Systems. Again, I stress research is very important!!

When: The most productive time to harvest a trophy whitetail is undoubtedly during the rut. It varies somewhat depending on region, climate& most important when the does come in. Basically there are three periods of the rut and are as follows:
The Pre-Rut: The pre-rut is a period of preparation for the bucks; it is the time immediately before the does go into estrus. As the does get closer to this stage, bucks become more active they begin making rubs and scrapes. Activity during daylight hours increases slightly. This is the time when the bucks are most vulnerable to hunters. In some places with numerous bucks, you can expect to see action at any time of day. They walk with their head down, checking their scrape line, and looking for a receptive doe. Concentrations of large rubs indicate an area used regularly by a good buck. Well-defined scrape lines mark used travel routes. The pre-rut is a prime time for rattling and grunting techniques.
The Rut: The rut is the breeding period which is marked by two characteristics of buck behavior; chasing and tending. Many hunters have seen the chase phase where a doe runs followed by a grunting buck. The "tending phase" of breeding and actual breeding, however, are seldom seen. The period just before breeding can be one of the most frustrating or exciting times of the hunting season for the hunter. The key to hunting during this time is to move your stand into doe activity areas. Funnels and travel corridors between bedding and feeding areas are excellent locations. It is during this time that doe bleats and tending buck grunts are highly effective. The art of horn rattling also works very well in some areas. The success of these techniques frequently depends on the buck to doe ratio.

The Post-Rut: This is the time following the breeding period, when activity slows down and buck sightings are less frequent during day light. Although most of the doe population returns to a normal schedule, many of the bucks are still hoping for some action before winter. Some does, particularly fawns and yearlings, may still not have been bred due to a late cycle. Any doe not bred the first time around will go into estrus again approx. 28 days later. Some of the old scrape lines may bring in another buck again, and rattling will also show some results. This can be a highly productive time to hunt. There is an excellent potential to bag a smart old buck, forced out of its nocturnal routine by hopes of breeding with one last doe. Records from all across the United States and Canada show that many of the truly record-class bucks are taken in the last few days of the post-rut.

How: There are three, most common, means of harvesting a whitetail. They are Archery, Muzzleloading and Modern Firearms. Most states have separate seasons for each. And though many of the techniques we will mention can be used in any type of hunting they will be more critical in some.
Archery: Generally this type of hunting requires short-range shots. (Within 30-40 yds.) So it means you must get pretty close. Therefore you must be more concerned about stand location, cover, wind, etc. before hunting. These things are more important in bow hunting than the other methods.
Muzzleloader: This type of hunting requires shots up to 100 + yds. This is not to say that you do not have to be concerned with the same things as bow hunting but you can get by easier. For instance if your stand location was off a trail by 60 yds.your cover would not have to be as good as it would have to be if you were 20 yds.
Modern Firearms: This type of hunting could offer opportunities up to 400 + yds. This too is not to say that stand location, cover, wind, etc. are not important, they are! But due to the fact that your shooting window maybe 800 yds. (400 yds. both ways) verses 60 yds.(30 yds, both ways) you can see who needs cover the most.

Stand Location: The first step in stand location is: Find the deer and where they are traveling from bedding areas to feeding areas. Find primary trails and secondary trails. The does and smaller bucks will use primary trails. Secondary trails will normally run parallel in places to the primary trail and are used by the larger bucks in my experience. Intersections of two or more trails are also good bets for deer and if the rut is in a large buck might be more apt to use such a trail hoping to find a doe. Also look for rub lines and scrape lines as soon in the pre rut as you can. This is where post- season scouting helps a lot because rub lines and scrape lines are usually in the same location next year. If someone else did not harvest your trophy there is a good chance he will be using those same places.Your stand needs to be located off the trail for a distance that is comfortable for you and the type equipment you are using. I normally set up several stands in areas I have scouted. You can be busted because of the wind as quick as anything. A whitetails ability to sense danger from the air he breathes is unreal. When you go to your stands know what the wind direction is before you leave. This will help you know what stand to use that day. It also depends on if you are hunting in the morning or afternoon. In the a.m. you want to be down wind of the feeding areas. In the p.m. you want to be downwind of the bedding areas. The direction your stand faces should be important to you also. For a mourning stand face your stand west. For an evening stand face your stand east. And for a combination stand place your stand facing north or south. This will keep the sun out of your eyes and scope if you are using one. Height is dependent on how bad you need cover. For archers this is very important. Most hunters don’t realize that height also helps with the wind too.

Scouting: There are three types of scouting, Pre-season scouting, Seasonal scouting, & Post-season scouting.
Pre-season scouting: The period of time immediately before season opens. This is important to find out if the trails that the deer have normally been using have changed. Depending on how early in the year you are scouting you may find rubs where bucks have rubbed their velvet off. It has been my experience that normally this time of year is to early to find where deer are feeding due to the abundance of food. Believe it or not the nearest country store could be your best scouting trip you take. Farmers, shoppers, or people just going to work might tell the clerk about this big buck they almost hit. So you can ask the clerk to keep their ears open.
Seasonal scouting: Personally I myself do not do a lot of seasonal scouting because I spend most of my time hunting. There is another reason too though. If you spend any time at all in the woods it is more likely that the deer know you are there too. I do keep my eyes open though for rubs and scrapes and try to make sure if they are being tended or not. I have been known to move my stand if a better area has been seen to and from my stand. Keep a journal of sign and sightings of deer each day you spend in the woods. This information could be useful later on and great reading for a young hunter getting started.
Post-season scouting: During this time of year the season is over and you do not have to worry about spooking the deer because they have got all year to get over it. Scrapes and rubs are still evident and on occasion are still being used. I spend more time this time of year than any other time. It is probably used by the average hunter the least. If you want atrophy spend as much time in the off -season scouting as you can. Half the battle is getting to know your quarry, where he sleeps, eats and travels. If you find where a big buck is seen more than twice. My advice to you is to find out which direction and what time. Then proceed to find out as much about him as you can. Spending every available moment studying what you have learned about him. You will be surprised at what this will mean come hunting season.
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