Scouting and Deer Sign
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Joey from WI asks:Hello, how do you personaly find a bedding area? From maps or would you go do some scoutting on foot?Winke Responds:Joey, It is pretty easy to do it by map here because the deer tend to bed on ridges so I find the ridges and I find the bedding areas. They like the ends of points and certain areas where they can see well, so they are quite predictable here. You can walk it, but once you get a feel for it, you really don't have to. However, in other types of terrain it may be tougher in which case you will have to walk to find the areas they prefer. Typical terrain will still play a role, as well cover and wind direction. Pay attention as you walk and you will start to see trends in your area and then you can fall back on the maps once you figure out how the deer to relate to the terrain in your area. Good luck. (4-27-12)
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Jason from OH asks:Bill, I was out today doing some spring scouting, on some public lands, here in Ohio. I have a spot with a lot of thick bedding areas and for the past two years, some good buck sign. Even though I have yet to hunt this area regularly, I finally ventured past the bedding areas, and did not find much more in the way of buck sign (rubs, scrapes). I am almost positive that there are good bucks in the area. Is there a reason why there is no sign down past their bedding area? The sign I have found in the past is located at a slightly higher elevation. This is old strip mine, so the area is somewhat hilly. The area I scouted and really liked was located between two ridges, along a creek. There was plenty of trails, just very little in sign.Winke Responds:Jason, I never let sign worry me. In fact, I am not sure I have even looked at it except in passing for many years. I focus on likely travel routes for bucks that are out checking for does during the rut. Ideally, you find funnels between two places where the does concentrate and you have a good stand location for rutting bucks. I will also hunt right next to doe bedding areas in the rut too. That is a good morning spot. Otherwise, I am focused on feeding areas for early season and late season. I am sure that sign is nice to make you feel good about your stand choices, but I have never found a strong correlation between sign and successful hunting. Big tracks are good to see, but really rubs and scrapes can show up and never be used again. I don't try to hunt bucks near their bedding areas in early and late season, but that might work too. I have just never figured out a good way to figure out where they are bedding. Maybe a nice rub line at that time (mid-October) would be worth hunting! I spend a lot of time working in mid-October, unfortunately, so I don't have a really good game plan for that time of year. Otherwise, find the likely travel routes and you have found good stand sites for the rut. Good luck. (4-6-12)
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Kaden from IA asks:Assuming you film just in the evenings during the summer?. What time of day do you get out over the bean fields and what date do you usually start? When do you start running cameras again? mid july?? thanks.Winke Responds:Kaden, We start about mid-July to late July filming the fields with video cameras. We film the last 2 1/2 hours usually. With the trail cameras I have always waited until they shed their velvet and broke up their bachelor groups and relocated to start running them (about mid-September), but this year I may start sooner over mineral. Best regards. (3-4-12)
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Brian from FL asks:Mr Bill, Just watched your video of the G5 buck. I got kinda emotional knowing that you felt good about getting your hands on him....Ive had a few like that in my bowhunting career, so I know how you felt! Ive taken a quiet of few deer in my 11 yrs of bowhunting but none like you have..I really enjoy and learn watching your shows but of course your website...I have a question. How can you tell if a deer is using a trail mostly at night if u dont have a camera. I hunt in north Florida on our farm so it might be different than Iowa!!! Congrats again!!! BrianWinke Responds:Brian, Thanks. I reallyi appreciate the support. It was an exciting time. I felt a bit bad about killing him, after having him around for so long. That is part of the reason why I have put the the buck I call "Big" off limits for another year. I just want to see his continued growth and learn from him. It is tough to know for sure when a deer is using a trail short of using a trail cam. Even if you brush the trail off and come back the next morning to look for tracks, you don't know if the tracks are made by a certain buck or just any deer. You really need a trail camera to accomplish that goal. Good luck. (11-23-11)
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David from MD asks:Here in Maryland majority of people bait with corn in the woods. How do you find good spots in the woods that big bucks and or deer in general cruise through?Winke Responds:David, You look for funnels - anything in the terrain or cover that influences where deer travel. This really requires a lot more space to explain than I have room (or time) for here. To keep it simple, deer will move around certain features like high banks on a creek and cross where the banks are low. They will use saddle and benches when traveling. They will go around ditches, they will follow brushy fence lines when crossing open fields, etc. You really need to spend hours thinking about your hunting area, but if you do you will come up with several of these types of funnels. I realize this is a vague answer but it will at least get you thinking and that is the first step toward understanding. Good luck. (11-20-11)
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Van from CT asks:Greetings Bill, Love the show! Here in the Northeast the acorn crop this year is barren...there has been very little pre-rut sign in the woods, rubs and scrapes are sparce to say the least. There aren't a lot of farms here so bean fields aren't an option, and just about all the corn has been cut, what do you think the best strategy would be for finding the deer? Thanks, VanWinke Responds:Van, As always, it comes down to food. Look around the cut corn for starters, but I would talk to a local deer biologist to find out what the deer feed on most (browse) in your area. Study those plants until (internet search) until you can easily identify them and then go for a scouting trip to try and find any concentrations of that food source. That is where you will find the deer. I also know of people in challenging settings like that who actually open up the stomach on roadkills or deer kiilled by other hunters to see what they have been eating. Find the food, find the deer. Good luck (11-13-11)
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Tim from MI asks:I have scouted several public land areas this year in MO and IN and have found tremendous deer sign like heavy trails, droppings, beds, etc... but have not found much for buck sign. I have talked with several locals in both areas and they say both areas have good bucks and they showed us a bunch of pictures of deer they have killed in the areas. I'm from MI where big bucks are rare but you can't go outside with out finding a small rub or scrape. What do you think is going on?Winke Responds:Tim, Not sure. It could be something genetic. It could also be something in the age structure. If you have a good number of mature bucks it sometimes suppresses the rutting activity of the younger deer. I doubt that is the case on public land though. Maybe there aren't as many bucks as people are telling you and most of the sign is made by does. I could be wrong, but likely the buck number is not super high or the sign would be there. I have hunted areas with good bucks where there was very little buck sign. Our farm is a bit like that, so it is definitely possible. I think it is an age structure thing, a genetic thing and a buck numbers thing all rolled into one. Not exactly sure on that one. I would only be guessing. Good luck.
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Allen from MN asks:Bill, I started hunting a 30,700 wildlife refuge just this past season, but the problem is that it is closed to the public from March 1 to September 1. So my question is how do I go about scouting possible stand locations and such prior to the season?Winke Responds:Allen, You won't be able to scout the micro patterns and sign, but you should still be able to scout the terrain and cover from topo maps and aerial photos. These will tell you all you need to know to select a few areas and then when you can go in there to hunt, you can narrow that selection down to the specific tree. It is really too much for me to cover in the Ask Winke, but suffice it to say, that if you buy the maps and photos and study them, you will start to see places where deer can't go and where they likely will go. It takes some time, but those spots will start to jump out at you. Good luck.
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curtis from OH asks:Bill,I just got in on a gold mine piece of property. A couple of my buddies have had this piece of property for a few years and have seen some true giants. The problem is, I don't know the property that well, and I'm affraid it's getting late to go bangin around the woods. The settup is alot of beans one corn field and alot of crp and heavy timber. I know this is a vague picture but any advice would be appriciated. Also I noticed one of the nice deer on the main show promo looks to have a double throught patch. What do you think of him? Thanks!Winke Responds:Curtis, It seems that you rarely see the double throat patch on young bucks so that is always a cool thing to see - you pretty much feel like you are hunting something that is fairly mature when you see that. Now to your dilemma. I have found myself in this situation many times. I handled it by focusing on aerial photos and topo maps until the foliage started to drop. I typically waited until Oct. 15 to get out and do some spot check scouting and place the stands. You can see a bit through the timber by then, some of the buck sign is there already and if you time it so you get in during or just before a rain, you won't leave to much scent behind and impact your chances for success. This strategy has worked well for me over the years. Now to decide on a plan: personally, I would focus almost all of your efforts on finding the routes that you can use to get in and out of the farm without alerting any deer. That is the real chess match and the puzzle you need to spend most of your time solving. Figure that out first, then place your stands very near (if not right on) these low impact access routes and you will do great. You might even surprise your buddies in that you will have better success than they do even though they have hunted the area longer. The entry and exit routes are that important. Good luck.
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Lance from TX asks:When you are first going into a public hunting area that you know nothing about to scout it for hunting opportunities, what would be the first things you would look for? What is the best way to approach finding good hunting areas?Winke Responds:Lance, I think I am starting to sound like a broken record, but those who read these Questions and Answers regularly know what I am going to say next: start with the undetected entry and exit routes. Priority number one is being able to sneak in and out without the deer knowing you are there. These entry routes are often streams, ditches, fencelines, draws, thick cover, etc. Anything you hand in or behind as your sneak in to hunt. The stands themselve should be the best ones you can find along these human entry and exit routes. If you will scout this way - backwards - by finding the entry and exit routes before looking for a stand site, your ability to keep the deer relaxed and moving naturally will be greatly increased. Any time you are hunting public land, get the maps and try to find places where you can get as far from access sites and other hunters as possible. Get in deep by the most undetected routes and you will do well.
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dylan from IN asks:hey bill, i just gained permission to hunt a new piece of property is it to early or maybe to late to go out and do a little scoutingWinke Responds:Dylan, If you have a trail camera I would let that thing do some scouting for you. Also, spend some time watching the fields to see what comes out and where it comes from. Those patterns will change by the time the season starts, but you will at least have a starting point. I wouldn't do a lot of walking in the timber at this time. I would wait until closer to the time I was going to hunt and then scout right before a rain - carry a stand or two in and set them that day, if possible and then clear out. The rain will help to keep things fresh even though you were in there.
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zack from OH asks:Hey bill, i have been doing alot of scouting lately, and we have some smaller creeks on the property that we hunt on, and i have been noticing that there is alot more deer sign in the creek beds then anywhere on the property, i was wondering what your opinion would be on this? does it have to do something with the thermals?Winke Responds:Zack, It is pretty common. I think during the summer they like the cooler temps in these areas (thermals) and they also like the water nearby. In the fall, the bottoms also show a lot of sign, but generally because bucks like to scrape in these moist areas. Also, they cut across the creeks as they go from one bedding area to another looking for does. Good luck.
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keith from MO asks:are rub lines indicators of buck travel corridors that they use all year.Winke Responds:Keith, Not all year. About all you can say for sure is that they were using them at the time they made them! Actually, rub lines are pretty good indicators of buck travel routes up until the rut really starts to crank. Where you are hunting, I would say up until about early November (3rd or 4th maybe) the rub lines are good sign to hunt. Past that their patterns will change - the rut will whisk them away and as the late season comes, food sources will also change pulling them to new areas. Good luck.
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Mike from NJ asks:Bill, It's the first week of March and here in Jersey my friends and I are starting to notice alot of rubs that we haven't seen before. I don't believe there is a rut of any kind this late after the initial November rut is there? I realize there is one in December and perhaps maybe even a later one than that but in March? Even though we've seen quite a few is it possible these are bucks rubbing to shed antlers? I've never seen rubs this late.Winke Responds:Mike, Bucks can and sometimes will rub clear up until the time they drop their antlers. That is probably what you are seeing. No I seriously doubt there is any breeding activity there past January. I don't believe they rub to shed their antlers. It is just boys being boys, in my opinion.
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Curtis from IA asks:Thanks Bill for your response on spot lighting. You took the words right out of my mouth. It has a bad vib about it, why don't they make it illegal? I would think it would help with pouching a lot? No need for response.Winke Responds:I am not sure Curtis. The local game wardens I have spoken with about say there is some tradition of farmers looking for calfs at calving time or something like that. I am sure the law can be written sufficiently to permit that kind of activity.
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Curtis from IA asks:As you know we as hunters are always looking to get an advantage and I think I have read every question on here. My question is, do you think its a bad idea to spot light(I think its legal as long as no weapons are in your vehicle)deer in the summer to see what kind of bucks are on your property? I do use camera's but I probably don't have enough to see every buck on my property. Also do you think this could be a strategy to make commotion during the dark hours to make deer move more during light hours if they feel more pressure at night or do you think it would cause them to move to a neighboring property?Winke Responds:Curtis, I don't think it is a bad idea from a strategy standpoint. I don't do it for a couple of reasons. First, if I was spotlighting folks would immediately say I was killing them at night. If I was killing them at night, I would certainly shoot a lot bigger bucks than I am shooting now! Second, it feels like cheating to me. That is only my personal view. I personally think it should be illegal. I have a good friend who just retired from active duty as a game warden. He said that when they get a call about spotlighting they have to assume the spotlighter is a poacher and run with lights out (very dangerous) and then take them head-on so they can't get away. That is before they even know if the person is legal or illegal. It would certainly make things a lot simpler if it was just illegal. Also, very few landowners, hunters or not, like spotlighting taking place on their land. I always assume if someone is driving around in the dark shining a light on my land that they are up to no good. I want them stopped and searched and ideally to simply quit. So that is my view. I don't like on principle. Deer are not programmable. If you disturb them regularly at night, they will move off to some area where they aren't messed with. They will not change to daylight activity.
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Bill from WI asks:Hi Bill, while doing some scouting recently i found numerous waist high rubs on trees 4-5 inches in diameter, what caliber of buck do you believe made these, and also would you consider this sign as a possible set up for next yearWinke Responds:Bill, The research I have read suggests that sign of that size is generally made by mature bucks. Not always, but the odds are higher that it was a mature buck than when looking at smaller rubs. I would run a camera in the area to learn more before deciding exactly where to set up. I have some great areas on the farm with giant rubs, yet I have never seen a buck work those trees. Some rubs are made in September shortly after velvet is lost and not worked much after, so a camera will give you the kind of current information you need to make a good decision on whether to hunt that area.
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Jason from OH asks:Bill, Have you are anyone you talked with ever hunted the Loess Hills in Western Iowa? I am heading there again this Fall, as I have enough points and should draw again this year. I was wondering what the trophy potential and overall deer herd was like (in your opinion)? I had a pretty good hunt the last time there. It was probably a little early (last week Oct.) though. Our plan this year is to try and drew a turkey tag to do some spring scouting. What is the foliage like that time of year out there? We typically are seeing some good growth by then. Thanks Jason You have done a good job with the show thus far! Keep it up!Winke Responds:Jason, It is a good area, possibly the best in Iowa. When you break the state record book down by trophies per hunter, those counties are generally at the top. There isn't as much hunting pressure as in some areas, but the cover itself is somewhat limited just to the Hills. Monona and Harrison counties are typically the best represented among the Loess Hills counties in the Iowa record book. It is certainly a good area to hunt. There is some decent public land out there too. Let me put it this way, I can't suggest any reason why you would want to look for a different area! The turkey season spans almost a month for the non-residents so you can see anywhere from bare trees to lush green, 1/2 foliated trees and deep grass by the end.
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cameron from AB asks:Hi Bill, The season has ended where I live on nov30. Do you think now would be a good time to scout and set up stands for next season?Winke Responds:Cameron, I would personally wait until the snow comes off in the spring and then spend several days combing all the areas you hunt. You can combine scouting with shed hunting. The main thing to focus on is access routes. If you can come up with great ways to get to and from your stands without being detected, you have a giant leg up on next fall's hunting. Also, look for new stand locations that offer improved access. I think it is a good time to set up some of your stands - those back in the cover near bedding areas and funnels. However, I would not set up the feeding area stands until after watching what the bucks are doing during the summer.
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Bill from WI asks:Bill, I am looking to do some serious late season scouting for next year, any tips on where to start Also, will spooking deer out of bedding areas this time of year make them move for next year Thank you and Happy HolidaysWinke Responds:Bill, You won't have any impact on their patterns next year no matter how much scouting you do right now. I like to use the post-season scouting as a time to learn the lay of the land better. I want to see how the deer are using the terrain, but mostly, I am searching for the most difficult part of the deer hunting equation, the perfect entry and exit routes when hunting. It is always easier to find a stand overlooking good sign than to find a stand you can get to and from without alerting deer. That should be priority number one this post-season. Good luck and may God Bless you and your family this holiday season.
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Jared Grewing from KS asks:MY QUESTION IS ABOUT HUNTING RUB LINES AND SCRAPES. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THIS SUBJECT. FIRST, WHEN SHOULD THESE SIGNS BE HUNTED? HOW SHOULD THEY BE HUNTED? SHOULD I PUT DOE OR BUCK URINE IN THE SCRAPE ,SHOULD I MAKE ANOTHER MOCK SRAPE WITH DOMINATE BUCK URINE OR SHOULD I HUNT IT THE WAY THEY ARE AND HOPE HE SHOWS UP DURING SHOOTING HOURS? I APPRECIATE ANY INPUT YOU HAVE AND EJOY YOUR SHOW .Winke Responds:Jared, I would definitely only hunt them early, such as early season, maybe through about Halloween where you hunt. I guess it is possible that they would also work during the late season as long as you can tell the sign is fresh. During the main body of the rut, patterns will dissolve and the rub lines will mean nothing. I would hunt the rub lines as if they simply tell you one of the trails a buck (not sure which one) is using to get to his feeding area. So I would hunt it in the evenings as a part of a basic feeding pattern. Same with scrape lines. They only mean something when the bucks are still on patterns (feeding patterns). After about Halloween, that all goes out the window. I wouldn't worry about doctoring the scrapes, you can if you want to, but really the scrapes are only there because the buck is traveling through there anyway. The scrapes aren't the reason the buck is traveling through there. He has other reasons (food probably). Mock scrapes are a great way to stop a buck in your shooting lane, but really I am not a huge believer in them actually pulling bucks to your location. I hope that helps. This sign makes sense only as long as the bucks are still on patterns.
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Luke from MN asks:Hello Bill. This year I shot and lost 2 really nice bucks with my bow and I found out it had the wrong limbs on it. So I brought it back to the shop and luckily the dealer said he could replace the limbs for free. While my bow was getting worked on I hunted the late season B in SE MN. I harvested a nice 140 class 8 pointer. I was wondering if maybe I could send you a picture and also I was wondering if you could give me any tips for scouting late season and summer for next season. I have learned a lot from watching the videos on your website and hope to keep learning. Thanks...Luke.Winke Responds:Luke, I would love for you to send the photo. Please send it to info@midwestwhitetail.com. Please include a brief description of the hunt and we'll get it up on the site soon. Scouting is all about the right farm. I would spend the majority of my efforts making sure you have the very best hunting area you can find. If you think you already do, then getting to know the lay of the land - the terrain, including the subtle funnels (the most important kind) caused by ditches, crossings, creeks, saddles, etc. Just study the land while the vegetation is gone. Stand for long periods trying to envision how a rutting buck might move through each area. Don't worry too much about sign at this point. More than likely you will hit on the best stand locations easily that way without getting too confused by all the sign that you see. Then it just comes down to knowing which part of the farm to hunt most during the next season and trail cameras can help you with that. Photos that you get after velvet shedding next summer (last September onward) will help you figure out where to hunt. Once you know that you can go back to those stands you found this winter by studying the terrain. Good luck.
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Jamie from IA asks:Hey Bill, I have just recently gained permission on a 120 acre parcel of land. There is only one other guy with permission on that land and he doesnt hunt there much. I am 17 and have been bow hunting for 4 years now. When i gained permission here i wanted a place that i could take seriously and do my best to manage and hunt for trophy bucks. I live near Waukon Ia and as you know theres no shortage of those here. What my question is is how would you go about scouting to gain a knowledge of the bucks on this land and possibly pattern one? Thanks, JamieWinke Responds:Jamie, Of course, having grown up in that area I know it well. The very best way to do that is through summer scouting (watching beans, alfalfa with binos) and trail cameras. You will learn a ton from the cameras, especially after the bucks break up their bachelor groups in early September. After that (around late Sept on) you will start to find the bucks in their fall ranges. That is what you need to know to pattern and hunt them. Then look for spots you can hunt without spooking them. On a property that size, you need to be very careful how you get to and from your stands so you aren't bumping into deer. Look for spots that allow you to sneak in (creeks, ditches, fence rows, low areas, etc.) and then look for good stands near these access routes. Most guys do it the opposite way, find the stand first and then the access, but that is not the best way to go about setting up a property for effective hunting. Good luck.
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James from ME asks:Bill- Thanks again for you quick responses. I have a tree-line that is right off a foodplot that I hunt. Every year there are a couple of scrapes and rubs along this feild edge. However, this year I noticed that there are actually 5-6 scapes and 6-7 rubs which is duoble the ammount there normally is. I am curious to know what could be the cause of the increase in scrapes and rubs? ThanksWinke Responds:James, I would say it is just the personality of one of your bucks. He may not even be the dominant buck. Some bucks rub and scrape a lot while others don't. I hunted an awesome ridge one year back in the early 90s. It had several nice mature bucks living on it, but I never found any rubs or scrapes. Just big tracks and a few sightings. Not all bucks rub or scrape. It may have something to do with the dominance hierarchy, but not sure on that. Without a clearly dominant buck in that area, there may be more competition among bucks this year than in past years.
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Ron H. Jr. from WI asks:Just want to start by saying thanks for your advice and I was pretty shocked on how quickly you got back to me. I know you are probably out hunting your butt off now as much as you can, so thanks again for taking the time! And wish you the best of luck. My buddy wanted me to ask you a question for him. On his dad's property, we have ground scraps and rubs everywhere. But it seems sometimes the scraps will get freshed up 4 or 5 times one week than go a whole week where they wont. We know the bucks are out running around seeking at this time but why does it take them so long to come back?Winke Responds:Ron, At this time of year, it is just coincidental when a buck freshens a scrape, it is along his line of travel. He won't go out of his way to freshen scrapes. That is why it is so sporadic. I wouldn't try to hunt scrapes now. I would focus on food sources in the evenings and on bedding areas and funnels near bedding areas in the mornings. Forget the buck sign because the bucks have. They are thinking does, and so should you. Good luck.
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bill from PA asks:Hey Bill love the show,I been hunting a spot thats been showing a lot of scrapes and rubs but only seeing a couple of does.I hunted it in the morning,afternoon and all day do you think this spot is only being used at night or should I just keep after it until the big boys show up.Winke Responds:Bill, Spread your pressure around so you don't over hunt any one area, but I would just keep after it. They will start moving well in the next couple of days. I wish it was colder. If you give me a cold Nov. 7, I will shoot a good buck. A warm Nov. 7 is not as good.
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Jarred from OH asks:Bill, I don't have a lot of faith in hunting rubs and scrapes, however, at a particular stand there are a number of large trees (34'' plus circumference) that are tore up! With the rut coming into swing, should I focus more on this site or keep my normal rotation? Thanks and best of luck.Winke Responds:Jarred, I would still hunt other areas from time to time, but when the conditions are right, I would hunt the best stands I can find in that area where the big sign exists. Not necessarily overlooking that sign, but the best places you can hunt effectively (without alerting deer) in that area. They cover ground so there is no point in focusing too much on hunting the sign. Hunt good stands and let the rut move him past.
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Josh from ID asks:I recently found a buch of rubbings on one side of the property I hunt.... After doing some more looking i found 3 stands on the opposite side of the property. Do you think this is the reason for all of the rubs on the one side? I only found one or two rubs where the stands where, But how often do buck patrol there rubs? And if so when do they?Winke Responds:Josh, Bucks don't really return to their rubs as much as they make rubs on the routes they are traveling. If you find rubs along a trail in the woods that is between food and bed, the rubs basically reveal the buck's travel route. If you find a bunch of rubs along the edge of a field, they are there simply because the buck was feeding in that area recently. He may have done it after dark. Individual rubs along field edges tell you where a buck has been. A rub line along a trail back, in the cover, at this time of the season (last week of October), also tells you where a buck is likely to be in the future. Once the rut comes on strong and the bucks start roaming and wide and chasing does, they will abandon those patterns and the rubs will tell you very little. It is likely that the bucks are using the other side of the cover away from the tree stands to avoid the hunters (if they are in there often), or it may just be a coincidence. I wouldn't try to read too much into that.
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AJ from NY asks:This was the opening weekend of bow season here in NY. My question has to do with a licking branch. I had a 6pt stop, eat a few apples and lick the branch then a doe about 30 minutes later then an 8pt just at quitting time, why would they all lick that same branch? And I made the error of to busy watching the deer then getting ready for a shot so the 8pt lives to see another day.Winke Responds:AJ, I think it is a social thing where they mark an area with their scent to stay in contact with other deer. There is no other reason to do it. It is like dogs that take a leak at their scent post each day to let the other dogs know they are around. Also, scrapes kind of function in this same way. The licking branch is just a way for deer to communicate something. We don't know exactly what they are communicating. At least I have never read a study in which a biologist made more than an educated guess at the reason.
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Chris from OK asks:Hey Bill, Gene Wensel and Rodger Rotharr were both scape hunters and obviously did well that way.In your opinion why is scape hunting less effective with todays deer herd.Winke Responds:Chris, I am not sure it ever worked as well as everyone thought. It was new and the first real look into ways to use deer behavior to get them within bow range, so it got a lot of attention. I spoke with Roger recently and he confided that he doesn't really hunt scrapes very often anymore. It was one of the steps in the learning curve we as a whitetail hunting community took together. There are times when scrapes will produce, but basically it is because the scrapes are along the path the deer are using anyway (at a funnel area in their travels where several bucks' paths will cross). I have not seen bucks detour well out of their way to freshen a scrape and then go back to their regular travel route.
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Dean from AL asks:Hi Bill, thanks again for all of the great responces! I read in a recent answer you gave that you dont hunt deer sign during the rut. Could you elaborate on this a little. Right now the deer are really starting to scrape and rub like crazy here in NJ, i set up on a path leading to food with both scapes and rubs on it, could this be wrong? Also since i hunt in an area where the deer can basically bed almost anywhere, where could i start? Should i just try to focus on areas that i know for sure does bed in? There is a peice of woods that i know a lot of deer bed in, it works as a kind of "sancuary" because from the road, it looks wayyyyy to open to hold any deer, but once you go in a couple hundred yards, it is still open but has a bunch small (maybe 10 feet) hills, that form long gullies inbetween the hills where the deer cant be seen from the road. Should i dare move in there in hope he is crusing looking for a bedded doe? Thanks again Bill! DeanWinke Responds:Dean, What you are doing is not wrong. Sign is just not my number one priority when I select a stand location. In fact, it falls well down the list behind some other more important factors. Take a look at another answer I gave recently on this same subject. Regarding this particular setup. I would hunt it during the best days of the rut but not before. Then I would hunt it only in the AM or stay all day. Don't try to sneak in there during daylight. Good luck.
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Josh from WI asks:hey Bill, love the show! I saw you said in one of the Questions that you dont hunt sign anymore why not? Do you hunt land features or something? thanks Josh Huray!!Winke Responds:Josh, Yes, land features and cover. I look for natural funnels. I like to see sign around, everyone does, but that is not my number one priority in selecting a stand. Number one is the ability to get in and out without spooking deer, number two is wind advantage on stand, number three is terrain and cover (funnels), number four is food sources, number five is sign. It is on the list, just at the bottom.
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Dan from WI asks:What is your opinion on making mock scrapes in central Wisconsin and if you think they are useful and what is your technique for making, scenting them , licking branch, using cameras around them, yes or no, etc.. Thanks DanWinke Responds:Dan, I think they are fine for positioning a buck for a shot, or maybe moving him across a small area to check it out. However, I don't think they will attract bucks to an area and cause them to come back often to freshen the scrape - at least not from any distance. I have never seen this happen. However, they serve a purpose if you have a shooting lane where you want the bucks to stop or to move them slightly for a good shot. It basically just adds another stop on the buck's route, it doesn't change his route. I would freshen it with mock scrape scent. I know that Wildlife Research Center has a good mix and also they sell a Scrape Dripper that makes good sense.
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Seth from IN asks:Hey bill, this is brad and thads cousin i have about 20 acres im hunting with corn fields all around i have seen monster bucks before and never been able to pin point there patterns in the early season im in college this year and haven't been able to scout not enough time wat kind of signs should i look for and do you have any suggestions on wat to do if you need a better idea of the layout of the property thad has been there and could fill you in a little more, it will be good to here from you thanks, sethWinke Responds:Seth, Good to hear from you. With a piece of ground that size, I would be careful not to do much scouting or you will educate all the deer using it. Instead, I would look for locations near the edge (scout the downwind edge of the cover) where the deer are either funneling out to feed or funneling out to cross the cropfields to get to other timbered areas. These might be low areas, fencelines, small creeks, etc. I have even seen them funnel through grassy sloughs in standing cornfields. These are the places I would look for. Forget the sign for now and focus on travel routes. Also, look for any kind of funnel inside the timber, but near the edge. Look for ditch or creek crossings, open gates, even downed trees that the deer have to bypass. Look for anything that concentrates deer movement and just hunt those spots. Those are all good rut spots. For the early season hunting, look for the places they come out to feed, but also look for areas with thick oak stands (dropping acorns) a short ways (40 or 50 yards) into the cover. Don't go in very deep because it will be tough to get in and out without alerting deer as they will have to be fairly concentrated in that size cover. Good luck.
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Chris from TN asks:Bill,I am getting ready to go look at a 16,000 acre public hunting area up in the midwest and most of the area consist's of hardwoods and is preety hilly.Their has been some timber harvest for the last 2 or 3 years.What would you do if you were in my position.I grew up hunting in the mountains so I'm used to the hills.How do I go about finding the best stand location's without wasting so much time while I'm hunting.I know it would take almost a lifetime to learn every inch of 16,000ac.I also know mast crop will play a big role in stand locations.I would just like to know how to utilize my time scouting.ThanksWinke Responds:Chris, If it is public land (and I'm guessing it is because I don't know of 16,000 acres of private timberland in the Midwest) I would start by first marking all the access points. Get a big aerial photo of the area and mark each place where the public can access the area. Now draw a radius around each spot that is roughly 1/4 mile in length. that is about how far most guys will go from their vehicle. Take a look to see what you have left to work with (what is not inside any of these radii). Pick one area to work with so you can focus and learn enough to be effective. 400 acres that few other people are hunting is more than enough, so don't try to cover too much ground. You are right, the next step is to look for food. Learn as much as possible about what deer eat in that area. It may require a call to the regional deer biologist for that state. Look for any concentrations of this food source. Focus most of your hunting around these concentrations. Next, look for terrain features such as ditches and saddles that will tend to concentrate traveling bucks. It can be really tough to know whether to set up on food or on travel routes, so I recommend both and see which produces the best results. It is an interesting challenge. I would love to know how you do. Good luck.
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Andrew from WI asks:Hi Bill just wondering if you can tell the difference between a buck track or a doe track? Thanks for producing Midwest Whitetail.Winke Responds:Andrew, Thanks for your support. Tracks are the very best indicator you have of a buck's body size. In most cases, big tracks mean a mature buck and a mature buck usually has a good rack - at least compared to others in the area. Even if a big buck doesn't rub big trees, he can't completely hide his tracks. Just make sure you are looking at a walking track and not a running track. All running tracks appear much larger than walking tracks and distort the size of the deer that made them. Tracks will also tell you the direction of travel, and with a little detective work, the approximate time of travel. Tracks that point away from a known bedding area were probably made in the afternoon or evening and vice versa. This chart offers a size comparison for the front hoof of deer of both sexes and different ages. The most reliable indicator of sex and age is the measurement from hoof tip to the dew claw (overall length). This is only a rough guideline, but it will get you started. In the Midwest, anything 5 1/2 inches, or larger, should be considered a mature buck. Age and Sex Hoof Length [in.] Hoof Width[in.] Tip to Dew Claw [in.] Buck fawn 2 1/8 1 1/8 3 1/2 Yearling doe 2 3/4 1 3/8 4 Yearling buck 3 1/8 1 1/2 4 1/2 2 ½ year old, or older, doe 3 1/8 1 5/8 4 1/2 2 ½ year old buck 3 1/2 1 1/2 5 3 ½ year old buck 3 3/4 2 5 1/2 Another way you can usually tell a buck track from a doe track is the position of the back tracks relative to the front tracks. When walking on even ground a doe's back hooves will tend to fall right on top of her front hooves or slightly outside of them due to the fact that her chest is narrower than her hindquarters. However, since a mature buck tends to have a wider chest than hindquarters, his rear tracks will usually fall to the inside of his front tracks. They will often fall well short of his front tracks and be toed out slightly, as well. Another indicator occurs in the snow. When you have a f
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PH2 from AL asks:Bill, what are your thoughts on After-the-Season (winter) scouting? Does it provide good information for the next season? If so, what scouting strategies do you use, and what signs, foot/water sources, etc. to you look for?Winke Responds:PH2, I think you can learn a lot about your hunting area during the winter and early spring. The foliage is bare so you can see the terrain easily. I look for funnels - where the deer are going through a gate, over a fence, around a ditch, etc. I also spend a lot of time planning how I can get in and out without spooking any deer. That is usually the toughest part. That way when you determine that there is a nice buck in that area next fall, you will know a very place to possibly ambush him and you will know the best way to get in and out. Ideally, you should also hang your stand during the winter, or at least trim the tree and get it ready so you can do it quickly and easily when the time comes to hunt it. Take advantage of the post season to figure out how to get in and out. That is the true chess match of deer hunting. Good luck. Bill
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John from NY asks:Bill, On the farm I hunt we do see mature bucks and big tracks, but rarely see big rubs anyplace or any scraping in bedding areas. Why is this?Winke Responds:John, I don't know for sure on that. I have seen other farms in the Midwest like that. One farm I used to hunt when I was younger always had big deer on it but very little buck sign. Strange. Like you, I could always find big tracks and see the bucks, but didn't find much sign. I don't even think it is genetic or related to personalities of the deer. It must have something to do with the herd dynamics in that area, the ratio of bucks to does and possibly the age structure of the herd. I am guessing. Sorry, but I don't really know. Bill
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Dallas from MO asks:Recently a large buck has been spotted behind my house. I have never actually seen the deer during daylight hours. I was hunting the neighbors property towards then end of November and noticed several 'calf' sized rubs. All three of the rubs appeared to have been made within 24 hours when I found them. Is this somewhat typical of a mature sub-dominant deer that might be trying to re-establish his home range or could it be multiple bucks cruising through in search of last doe in estrus? The draw/ditch that the rubs were made in runs north/south and there is crop residue on both sides. The deer frequent this draw due to the fact that it connects a large crop field to the south, to some larger timber to the north. Any help would be great!Winke Responds:Late November is often a good time to shoot an older buck because it seems that they are still more actively trying to clean up the last few estrous does than the less dominant bucks. It is hard to say what kind of buck made the rubs, but the tracks are undeniable evidence. I would make a point of watching that area closely this late summer and then get a trail camera out there in early October and try to pattern something there for next year. Late season could be good, but it can be tough if the deer have been hunted hard. Good luck.
