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Kevin
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« on: October 18, 2010, 08:39:28 AM » |
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Deer hunters love to talk about the rut more than any other subject under the whitetail hunting umbrella. From the beginning of bow season (and even before), discussions of rattling, grunting, chasing and scrapes are the topics of choice over morning coffee. By the time mid to late October rolls around, when the leaves are changing and the weather begins to cool, it might be harder to judge who's more in heat: the hunters or the does.
But the fact is, the rut is not the only time to bag a buck. In fact, it may not even be the best time. Why? Because during the peak rut, you can throw all deer predictability out the window. Testosterone-frenzy dominates. All that scouting you've done for months goes by the wayside. While this certainly means bucks make more mistakes, for all of you relentless scouters out there, it can mean days of frustration and confusion.
However, during the pre-rut, you get the best of both worlds. Bucks are still fairly predictable (they still, for the most part, maintain feeding times, travel routes, bedding areas, etc.) but they do begin to move more often and roam farther, and their ever-growing curiosity for hot does and heated emotions toward imposing bucks makes grunting, rattling, planting scents, etc. all that more effective.
Let's take a look at a few strategies for hunting the pre-rut in Arkansas
Hunting rub lines and scrapes: During the pre-rut, bucks will begin to make numerous fresh scrapes and rubs. Setting up on these areas should be your number one pre-rut hunting strategy. Because early rutting bucks are waiting for the first does to come into estrous, at no time during the season will bucks hit scrapes more than they will during just before the peak. Obviously, once more and more does come into heat, bucks have less incentive to check scrapes hunting scrapes because a hot slick-head is waiting around almost every corner.
Grunting and Rattling: There is no better time to rattle and grunt than during the pre-rut. As the peak approaches, bucks will begin to assert their dominance on younger bucks in order to set the breeding order. Early in the pre-rut, rattling should be gentle. Rub on branches and trees, and lightly spar two sets of antlers together. However, when rattling late in the pre-rut, be as aggressive and make as much noise as you possibly can. Bucks are really beginning to stalk hot does, and they will be ready for a fight with any buck imposing on their territory. Don't forget to inter-mingle aggressive grunts as you rattle as well. It's pretty much impossible to make too much noise in this instance. You can try both short and long rattles, but just rattle like you mean it! Just remember, sometimes bucks are slow to respond. I've had them come in up to 45 minutes after the rattle, but usually waiting at least 30 is a good practice.
During the peak, you can grunt and rattle all you want, but bucks already have what their after (estrous does), so don'd expect the same kind of response and success you'll experience during the pre-rut.
Using Scents - One of the best scents to use during the EARLY pre-rut is buck urine, not doe estrous urine. Whitetails are beginning to become aggressive toward other male whitetails during the pre-rut, so this scent is more enticing to the buck you're after because he'll think another buck has invaded his territory. LATER in the pre-rut, as does start to come into heat, doe estrous urine can be used to lure in big bucks.
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