Misc Hunting Strategy
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Patrick from IN asks:Bill- I'm looking to purchas out of state ground. When it comes to "neighborhood", what do you consider close enough to benefit from the practices of a particular area(assume a 2000-4000 block) for both a lease and a ownership situation? My guess is within 1 mile for a lease and within 3 miles for ownership. I feel like I'm being very picky holding out for that "special" farm that falls into those criteria. What are your thoughts?Winke Responds:Patrick, I would say to truly benefit, you have to border it. By that I mean, your immediate neighbors need to be deer managers or a permanent sanctuary. Never assume that just because the elderly lady next to your farm isn't letting anyone hunt that it will always be that way. It can change with one phone call from her nephew. So look for areas that are intentionally managed. That is the best chance for success. The farms that border you need to be good ones as your farm will ultimately reflect theirs. If half your neighbors ar management-minded, that is probably enough. 25% or less can be very frustrating. About 1/2 to 2/3 of my neighbors are letting young bucks go. That is the key. As you state, you need to control a very big block to control your own destiny, so you need the neighbors to be good. Good luck. It is worth the wait. (5-2-12)
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Brett from ME asks:Bill, Just want to start off but saying thanks for puting out such a great show and website. I stumbled onto your website last year and have been following you on Midwest Whitetail and MW Properties since. I have been through all the current shows and am now digging into the older episodes. Onto my question: I can see the "writing on the wall" regarding hunting property in the Midwest and forsee a future when I will not be able to simply knock on doors to get permission anymore. I have been saving up some money for a while now and want to purchase a small parcel(40-80 acres)to hunt. Nebraska is out due to high land and taxes and unavaliability of land. Iowa is out for me due to the tag draw system. Therefore I am down to Northern Missouri or SE Kansas as potential areas in my price range. From my research both areas are good and are relitivly inexpensive(about $1500 per acre). It also seems that Kansas is on its way down and Missouri possibly on its way up as far as trWinke Responds:Brett, I am not sure I would write Kansas off that fast, but for sure MO is getting better. The nice thing about MO is that you can find a lot of parcels that size with primarily timber on them. That is what you need - lots of places for tree stands. SE Kansas has some good cover areas too. In my mind, KS would be better right now, but MO is definitely getting better. Focus on the neighborhood. Find areas where the neighbors are letting young bucks go. Good luck. (5-2-12)
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George from MO asks:Hi Bill! I have a question that has weighed real heavy in my thoughts the last two deer seasons. I hunt a big hill that we call the bluff. Most of the time I have not thought twice about driving my four wheeler to the top of the hill on a old logging road. I normally get off and walk another 600 yards to my stand. Do you think I'm messing up my hunting area doing this? I have shot deer doing this before but no big ones? Thank you.Winke Responds:George, I have seen deer shy away from ATVs if they are not used to them. Personally, I think I would almost rather drive a truck to that location than an ATV if the deer aren't used to an ATV in that area. They shy from the sound of it approaching. I have seen it several times while on stand when someone drives within 1/4 mile of my stand in an area where that is not common. The deer even get nervous at that distance. I am sure that wouldn't have happened with the quieter pickup. Maybe you should consider adding an exhaust silencer to the ATV. To answer the question, you might be. Deer may become more nervous and less likely to move naturally in that area as a result of just hearing the ATV approach even if they don't encounter it directly. Personally, I don't like it, but 600 yards is a pretty long ways. On windy mornings it is not as big of a deal, but on still mornings that thing is going to sound really loud in the pre-dawn. If there is any other way to do it, I would do it that way rather than use the ATV. That is just me. Again, if they are used to ATVs there, no big deal, but if they aren't I wouldn't use it. Good luck. (4-25-12)
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Seth from IN asks:Hey Bill I'm a 16 years old and I don't have the money for food plots. Two years ago we got three decent bucks for our area in one day so it's good land but where did all of the good bucks go? And do u have advice on how to get deer without food plots? Oh yeah and I shotgun hunt. Thanks!Winke Responds:Seth, Without a lot more information, I can't really guess where they went - probably to an area with more food. That is usually what happens. If your area has a normal supply of food, then I have not idea. Maybe they are still just there or they roamed away and will return. We have seen this happen before. During the gun season you are normally hunting places where the deer pass through when bumped on neighboring properties. That means funnels near thick cover. Look for anything back in the cover where the deer get bottlenecked slightly (end of a ditch, creek crossing, edge of thick cover, fence crossing, etc.). If the pressure is light, consider hunting those same areas in the mornings and then closer to food sources (crop fields) in the evenings. Good luck. (4-21-12)
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Eric from NC asks:Bill: I just acquired a property to lease that backs up to my 100 acres (the lease is also 100). My property has bedding and food plots and the other is just big timber/oak flats with bedding on the opposite side of it (with no access). I've manipulated my property pretty well to create funnels and good stand sites with good access. The only "perfect" access to the lease is through my property. The only way to hunt the oak flats on the lease is to go across my property and up a hill so I can perch on the ridges. Should I stick the borders of my property without encroaching on the neighboring property? I guess I'm worried about having to move in the the lease 100 or so yards just to get to a good spot and in doing so bumping deer on the way in. I've created funnels on the border of the lease so that I can catch deer moving from lease onto my property for food or bedding but am worried if I don't hunt the lease by actually "hunting" it then I'll be wastingWinke Responds:Eric, If you can't get to it without messing up your ground, you are better off not hunting the lease. It is that simple. If you leased it just to hunt it and the area wasn't hunted in the past, you may very well have wasted your money if that is situation. If it was hunted in the past, you can still benefit from the lease even if you don't hunt it by letting it be a sanctuary. In that situation, I would be tempted to do that the first year. Now you may be able to hunt your side a bit more agressively because you have the sanctuary nearby to keep the deer comfortable. 100 acres of sanctuary is not overly large in its own right, so don't crowd it too much if you can help it. After the first year you can figure out if there are opportunities to hunt the lease itself more aggressively. Again, if no one was hunting it before, and it is very hard to get to without bumping deer, you were better off before when it wasn't leased, I would say - at least better off financially! Good luck (4-21-12)
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Buddy from IL asks:Bill, I look forward to watching episodes of Midwest Whitetail every week and find myself visiting your web site 5-7 times per week. They are both invaluable in making me a better bow hunter. Here is my question; I hunt public land here in Illinois that is mostly timber with some grass fields. What advice could you give me in identifying bedding areas and food sources? Also would you recommend putting up trail cams on public property?Winke Responds:Buddy, Bedding areas are often slight rises or high areas, like ridges. Deer love bedding where they can see well so that is a starting point. Other options are the edges of any really thick areas. They like those too because they can see but with one jump they are cover. You will have to scout to find the exact areas. For food, if there are no ag fields nearby, you will have to look for mast (acorns) and browse. Contact the IL DNR and get the number to the local regional deer biologist and ask that person what the deer browse on your area. Look those plants up on the web until you can identify them easily and then go scouting in late summer to find the best concentrations. That is my best advice: acorns first and browse second in order of priority when it comes time to hunt. Good luck. (4-19-12)
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bryan from MO asks:You have a great show and website. How many acres do you hunt in Iowa? If you were starting from scratch, how many acres do you believe are needed to consistantly produce mature whitetails and reduce/minimize effects neighboring hunting pressure? I am buying land in North Missouri and would like your opinion as to the size of tract needed and trophy potenital of the area. thanksWinke Responds:Bryan, I have been able to put together 1,000 acres over the years. To be honest, that is not nearly enough. I know it is not what you want to hear, but realistically, it takes several thousand acres to really control your own destiny. If you have good neighbors it would be much less. My best advice, pay extra, get in a good neighborhood and become part of the solution. Trying to blaze your own trail in an unmanaged neighborhood is far too frustrating long term. Please take my advice, I know of which I speak. Good luck. (4-17-12)
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Ryan from WI asks:Bill, I've come to love your show and website and really appreciate your insight into bowhunting for whitetails. I've learned a lot from what I've seen and read here. I hunt private land in an area of southern Wisconsin that has high hunter pressure, but also has good numbers of bucks (2-4 yr olds) each year, with the occasional trophy buck in the 160"-190" range that'll show up on trail camera or somebody will kill in the area every year. However, most of the bucks remain nocturnal and are rarely seen by myself or the other hunters during hunting season, despite getting tons of photos of them (at night). Is there anything I can do to increase my odds of killing a good buck (3 or older) under these circumstances? Thanks, RyanWinke Responds:Ryan, First off, thanks for the support. The answer is: not really, unfortunately. The best you can do is spend time studying your trail cam photos to find the bucks that seem killable (daylight movement patterns). If you really want to hunt a mostly nocturnal buck, you have four windows when they can be vulnerable. First is right when the season opens, especially in areas with an early to mid-Sept opener (like WI). Second window is when the first hot doe in the buck's core area comes into estrous. This can be anytime from about Halloween to roughly November 9, but around the 3-7 is typical. That is a time when you can sometimes find those bucks on their feet looking. Hunting near thick cover often helps to increase your odds at this time. Third window is when the last doe is in estrous, probably around November 22-26 timeframe. Finally, on a cold winter, a late hunt over a good food plot can sometimes pay off. That is all you really can do, or forget those bucks and focus on more killable deer and take the odd gift if one of those nocturnal bucks happens to show up as just that, a gift. Good luck. (3-29-12)
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Rusty from AL asks:Bill, First let me say how much I enjoy watching your show. It's down to earth and informative. Good hunting without celebs and such! What is your opinion on the quality of hunting in zones 7&8? I understand that it is esier to draw in those zones than it is in the southern part of the state. I already have one preference point and plan on applying again this year. In your opinion should I go ahead and try for 7&8 or wait until I draw for 4&5?Winke Responds:Rusty, I think 7 and 8 are OK. I think 8 would be better if you can get good access as you get into the drainages and bluffs leading to the Missippi River. More habitat in 8, but since 7 is a large unit, you can likely find something there too. Alot of big deer come from river drainages in 7. Overall, it will come down to access. If you have access to a good farm in one of those units you will do just fine. Good luck. (3-16-12)
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Jack from IL asks:I booked a hunt in Illinois for the first three days of muzzlelader with IMB Outfitters. I dont expect you to answer any questions about the outfitter but can you give me some advice on what to expect hunting in Pike County? Should I plan on using calls and scent products like I do here in West Virginia? This is my first trip to this part of the country. Thanks,Winke Responds:Jack, I have hunted there some. The county definitely has good neighborhoods and not so good - like all counties. The hunting pressure has really increased over the years. Where the outfitters have consistent age restrictions - that area can grow as big of deer as it did back in the glory days, but where the bucks are just hunted openly, the number of bucks 3 1/2 years old and over really drops. So it comes down to the neighborhood, not surprisingly. I love the terrain. Very beautiful. It is classic whitetail country. Probably the prettiest and most classic deer country as you will ever see. I think the outfitter will have better input on the strategy. The guys that are there all the time know what to do to kill the deer. My guess is that sitting quietly in a good funnel for a week during the rut will be the best strategy. But a bit of calling to bucks that are passing out of range can often even the odds and bring them in, so be sure to carry the calls. I am just not so sure I would be calling a lot overall. Good luck, sounds like a great trip. (3-15-12)
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Dick from AL asks:Can you try and explain the difference between a funnel and a pinch point....or is it the basically the same thing? And would you consider hunting in the deers "sanctuary" if you are finding the mature bucks aren't getting to your stand until just passed shooting hours?? I hunt on the edge of a thick cedar swamp and a lot of times i can hear the deer milling around the edge just before legal hours end however my cameras show they do not come up and out until just after dark. i hunt dead center in the State of Wisconsin, and on private land ,120 acres(3-40's which run north n south,the two northern most 40's are hardwoods and the last 40 is the cedar swamp) of which that is surrounded by other private landowners,and farm/crop fields, however we do not border any of the fields.Winke Responds:Dick, They are the same thing - anything that squeezes the deers' travel routes down to a narrow area is a bottleneck, funnel, pinchpoint, etc. I don't ever hunt the santuaries. Wheneve I have tried it in the past it was always a mistake so I don't do it no matter how bad my season is going. If you have a foolproof way that you can sneak in and out can't be smelled on the stand then it will work. I don't make such spots sanctuaries in the first place. My sanctuaries are the areas of the farm that are the hardest to hunt because you have to bump deer to get there or the wind swirls. By simply staying out of all these areas, I have a ton of santuary on the farm. So, stay out of those areas unless you can slip in and hunt it completely undetected (much harder than you think). Good luck. (3-6-12)
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Brandon from IA asks:Hey Bill thanks again for putting on a great show both during the season and off season. Lots of great information here. My question stems from a post I saw on here before in regards to you giving advice on locations to place stands on personal property. Was curious if you had given this any more consideration? Ive been hunting now for about 8 years and after watching your videos of using a "backdoor" to get into your stands left me thinking Im not sure where my "back doors" are. We own roughly 1600 acres. Our biggest tract being about 600ac in which my house sits on. We have 100' switchgrass filter strips along every ditch. Sometimes can be very tough getting into stands without being seen or heard because the deer can literally come from anywhere with all this cover. Maybe Im hunting too deep into the middle of our farm? Should hunt edges more? Thanks again you truly have the best show out there.Winke Responds:Brandon, There is so much to cover when coming up with a game plan that it is literally a day long job to figure it out and offer any really good advice for someone. I did that service for a short time but then quit because it was just too time consuming. You have to figure out a few things on every property. You have to know where you can access from (which directions - the more the better). You have to know where the deer are likely to be at any time of the day (mornings near the food and near the bedding areas during the day. You should stay out of the deep cover except for the occassional morning hunt because you can bump a lot of deer fast hunting that way even if you don't realize it. They sneak off and you never know they saw, heard or smelled you coming and going. Keep the entry and exit routes as priority number one. You want to be able to get in and out without alerting deer. Select your stands near these low impact access routes and you will enjoy good hunting. Keeping the deer from knowing that you are hunting them will eventually lead to success. Good luck. (3-6-12)
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Jeff from WI asks:Hi Bill- First and foremost, congrats on another successful season and on your Sportsman Channel Award. I truly believe that you and your crew go above and beyond compared to any other show out there to educate hunters who are just as passionate about the sport as you are. Now my question. When searching for a property, is looking for geographical layouts crucial? Example: Ridge tops, natural funnels, etc. going North and South compared to East and West. Is there any advantages to one than the other? Keep up the great work and can't wait till next season!Winke Responds:Jeff, I like a property that has some (or a lot of) topography. I think such farms are prettier, funner to hunt, permit you to find terrain related funnels easier and actually hunt much larger than they really are. However, I have never worried too much about which direction the terrain runs. For example, I don't care if it is a N/S ridge or a E/W ridge. I guess I have killed deer on all of them. Prevailing winds might suggest one or the other (you want the wind to blow across ridges not along them), but otherwise, I personally have never seen an advantage to one over the other. Good luck. (3-4-12)
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Jason from MO asks:Bill- I really enjoy the educational aspect you put into each show. I have a split G2 buck that I have been watching for two years now and he just showed back up on camera Febuary 13, first time since early September ten days before season. Where does he go? Getting trailcam pictures 400 yards from Corn field and 400 yards from thick timber. I have planted a small 1/4 plot in between the timber and the Ag fields. How should I approach him this year being a 5 1/2 year old buck?Winke Responds:Jason, Don't know. Some bucks have a different fall range from their summer range. He likely wasn't too far away. They can change ranges from year to year, but it is not a common thing in my experience. I have had bucks like that too - here all summer and then they leave about the time they shed their velvet and break up their bachelor groups. I guess I would try to find him back after he leaves the area you are used to seeing him in the summer. Maybe place cameras in some fringe areas to see if you can pick him back up on his fall patterns. You may have some chance when the season opens to catch him before he completely leaves even if he does relocate off the farm. So that would be my plan - try to run cameras in less obvious spots and try to find him back after the velvet shedding. Of course, getting access to more areas nearby might also help you find him back. Good luck. (2-28-12)
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dan from NY asks:hey bill, i have been watching your show for a few years now. the question i have is that i'm planning a bow hunt in unoin county illinois during the first week of november this year.would you recommend hunting pinch points or food plots? shaun from southern illinois trophy outfitters hooked me up with a private landowner with 110 acres that i will be the only one hunting.i really don't know the property untill i get there. i have a map if there was a way to show you i will. thanks for any advice danWinke Responds:Dan, Better hold off on the map. I get pretty busy and if people start sending me maps there will be no end to it. I would be hunting near bedding areas in the mornings and near feedings in the evening. Also, good stands would be spots between two bedding areas (funnels). These are good all day stands. I would try to find a few of these at first so that you can keep your impact to a minimum by not having to walk in and out as much. That is a basic starting point. The real chess match is trying to keep the deer from knowing that you are hunting them. That can be a big chore so take it very seriously. Good luck. (2-23-12)
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chris from LA asks:bill do you have any experience with marion county in iowa? i will be hunting in southeast marion county this year and just looking for some advice or pointers on the quality of hunting there.Winke Responds:Chris, I have never hunted Marion but we drive through it all the time. I would say it is one of the better counties in Iowa. There are a lot of good counties, but Marion is in the top 20% for sure. There is not anything really different about the habitat or terrain in that county. Depends on the farm you are hunting as to the best strategies. Get the aerial photos and topo maps in advance (you can order from MyTopo) and study it relentlessly. Eventually the funnels and travel routes will jump out at you. That is the best starting point. Then when you get a chance to scout, you can confirm what you learned from the map study. Remember, like all other areas, entry and exit routes are the key to a successful season. Good luck. (2-19-12)
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Cade from AL asks:Hey Bill, enjoy your column in Peterson's BowHunting plus I purchased your book on "Setting Up The Perfect Hunting Bow" when it was published. Great book! I've read it from cover to cover! There was a question you answered earlier about the top spots to put "meat on the table". One of those top spots was creek/ditch crossings. My question is when is the best time to hunt creek crossings? AM or PM? Sorry, not into trail camera's (obviously at one time they never exsisted), plus my club is a hour and a half away, so I don't have time to always "blow" down there and chase pictures. Thanks for your time and advice.Winke Responds:Cade, Thanks for all your support. Both morning and evening. They work great at all times of the day, really. During the rut ideally, but if the crossing is between food and bedding, they will work produce at all times of the season too. They are fairly easy to find and fairly easy to hunt and generally quite productive. Good luck. (2-9-12)
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michia from MO asks:Feeding deer pellets? I saw where you answered a question about feeding deer right now and how it is expensive and results vary in areas, I am with you on that especially if you have already done the work like all your food plots! But on the other hand, I have several deer that made it through the gun seasons and I poured the deer pellets to since I knew he was there and I noticed 40'' jumps on those few deer! I think its worth it when you know the buck your after for the next season is eating it!Winke Responds:Michia, I know it. I have been trying to get confirmation from experts that in my situation it will make a difference. There is still the standing bean field right there and I am not certain how much of the supplement this buck would actually get given that a number of other deer are also concentrated about the bean field. My guess is that I will spend a bunch of time and money to supplement his intake by 10%, and maybe less. I am not sure he needs it. There is really plenty to eat there and the winter is mild. It is tempting and I am still considering it. I just don't really like micro-managing deer. I would rather set things in motion and then see where this ends up. It feels more natural to me. Not that supplemental feeding is a bad thing, I am just not sure it fits my psychology. I even had a few people tell me I should put wormer and/or antibiotics in the feed. For now, I am not making plans to supplement. I want to see what nature (and my food plot) provide. Best regards. (1-27-12)
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Kevin from IA asks:When is the ideal time to start putting a feeder out? Is it specifically to just get good pictures of the deer in the area, or attract deer to the area? What kinds of things do I need to keep in mind? I'm on an 800 acre farm, but it is mostly crops, just draws and fingers along creeks and a couple 20 acre patches of woods. Corn and Beans, 70% beans. Thanks, love the show, first year watcher. KevinWinke Responds:Kevin, I would say now, but in your situation you may not need one. To actually feed deer or attract them, you need to put out a lot of feed - too much. It is better (cheaper and more pleasing to look at) to actually grow the food and leave it. Mark Drury used to supplemental feed on his Iowa farm for a few years to see if he could produce bigger deer. He eventually quit because it got too expensive and was too much work. He wasn't sure he was seeing the benefit here in Iowa. In other areas it likely would produce more measureable results. I just use food plots - no supplemental feeding. The little bit of corn I put out in front of my trail cameras is like a drop in the ocean, not worth considering. I would not worry about supplemental feeding in your situation. Best regards. (1-23-12)
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Josh from VA asks:Hey bill, what time do you think i should start putting liquid supplements out???Winke Responds:Josh, I don't much about those products. I am assuming they are like some sort of mineral? I think if you are going to put them out, now would likely be a good time. I doubt they are actually supplements so if they are not mineral either, they are primarily attractants and those may not have much to offer deer nutritionally. If they aren't at least mineral based, I don't think I would put them out at all. Save them. Again, a true supplemental food source is likely not a liquid - it would disappear too quickly. Good luck. (1-24-12)
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Mike from IA asks:If there are the same food sources(corn) on both sides of the woods what are the factors in determining which side to hunt? One side they have to cross a road.Winke Responds:Mike, Wind for sure. You need a wind that won't blow to the deer before or after they get to the field. After that it comes down to which side a nice buck is using. Scouting (glassing) or trail cameras will tell you that. That is how I would approach it. Find the buck and then figure out how to hunt him. Good luck. (1-19-12)
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john from AR asks:Bill thanks for sharing the chase for the G4 with us. I have really enjoyed it. How many buck tags can you get in Iowa... :) just kidding I have about 6 weeks of season left and have word on 3 nice bucks. (havent seen any of them but I would like to) Ive never killed a big buck late season any tips on how to get started?Winke Responds:John, Good one. I answered that question a few times didn't I? Now to your Q: It is all about the food. Find what they are eating and find the deer. If you are not sure, find a local/regional biologist and learn all the things that deer commonly browse on in your area and then locate concentration areas of some of them. That is where you will find deer. A trail camera will help you determine which areas to hunt. I like finding them first before just randomly hunting and hoping for blind good fortune. If possible, move the camera around until you locate one of them and then start hunting the best food sources in that area. That plan will work best. Good luck. (1-13-12)
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Josh from VA asks:Hey bill, where is the best place to hunt when it is warm? Funnels, Food, Cover, Water?Winke Responds:Josh, Food and water are always a good bet, but when it is warm, the deer can and do browse more so it is harder to identify the best feeding areas. Hunting in the timber is better in warm weather than in cold weather when the deer are move locked on agricultural fields. Good luck. (1-8-12)
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dan from WI asks:I hunt the mature forests of northern Wisconsin which are largely devoid of agricultural fields. It's really difficult to understand deer patterns. Will winter scouting when there is snow cover showing heavily used trails as well as deer beds provide information I can use to choose stand locations for November or is there no correlation in deer movement/bedding areas between seasons? Thanks Bill!Winke Responds:Dan, The very best time to scout is right after the season if there is no snow. If there is snow, then scouting after it melts will reveal most of what you are looking for. Focus on old sign. The new sign can be a bit misleading because in some areas the deer have different fall and winter ranges and patterns. So you have to focus on the older trails and the older rubs, scrapes. You will be able to tell them apart fairly easily. They will just look older. That simple. Beds will be tougher to find, but definitely worth looking for. In that area, rub lines are also often useful. Look for those and hunt them in October, especially late October. Good luck. (1-6-12)
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Paul from MS asks:Bill, Your show is head and shoulders better than anything else out there. Keep it up. How do you determine whether a stand location will provide a steady wind? I've been hunting mature bucks with a bow for the last 5 yrs. Last year, and now this year even worse, some of my stand locations never have a steady wind from one direction. Some are on ridge tops and some in creek bottoms. I tie a thread to my stabilizer to watch the wind and it's not uncommon to sit and watch it sway one direciton for a couple minutes, then swing 180 deg for a couple seconds, then back to where it was. Some times it rotates like a helicoper. Very frustrating! Again, keep up the great work.Winke Responds:Paul, That may be something to do with the local weather patterns. Normally, here in the Midwest a stand on a ridge will produce steady winds because our winds generally will blow pretty consistently from one direction for long periods. When the wind gusts, all bets are off, however. Gusty winds swirl even on flat ground and for sure in areas with the ridges and valleys. I always figure that if I am protected from the direct flow of wind, I am likely to encounter swirling. If I am in the direct flow (like one a ridge) not likely to have swirling. Best regards. (1-3-12)
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Bob from IA asks:Hi Bill, What do you feel is the best hunting strategy for hunting the very windy days of the late season? I want to go this afternoon but with 50mph gusts forecasted I'm thinking it will be a waste of time...your thoughts?Winke Responds:Bob, I can't always get to these in time to give real time advice, but based on what I saw from the the blind this evening (not a lot of deer movement and skittish deer) I don't think you missed much by not going. 50 mph is pretty dang high winds. I have done fine in high winds, but not usually that high. Tomorrow evening should be good, I think. Good luck. Happy New Year. (1-1-12)
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thomas from IL asks:hi, i have watch almost all your videos i am 15 yrs old and a big bowhunter i am going down to my uncles farm for a late season bow hunt but im not sure where to go to there is a riveer bottom and then a creek bottom also a feild for good bedding and cover so if u can let me know wut u would that would be great thanksWinke Responds:Thomas, I would be focused on the food sources. That is what the deer will be looking for. Find the best foods (corn, beans, clover, etc.) and you will find the deer. Hunt near the food source (wind blowing from the direction you think the deer will arrive from) and you should see some deer. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-30-11)
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Jack Norman from OH asks:Hello,I live in Athens ,Ohio I got trail cam pics with 2 shooter bucks and lots of deer poop .But ever time I am in there hunting I never see these bucks. I have been in for morning hunts and I have been there for evening hunts. I have even been in for noon hunts and have seen nothing.I need some help to put 1 of these guys in my freezer.:) Thanks and bless!Winke Responds:Jack, Some bucks are mostly nocturnal. It is hard to kill these bucks. I would focus on the most likely beddding areas and sneak in very early in the AM and hope for the best. I don't like this too much because it is high impact, but if you are determined to try to shoot one of them, this is your best approach. Personally, I would likely be looking to shoot a few does if the big ones don't come out and focus on food sources, but that may mean not shooting a buck. They will likely still be there next year and possibly more visible then. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-30-11)
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If I spook a buck with a squeaky stand and he runs off, should I try to call him or just let him go?Mikey B from WI asks:I was wondering what the best advice is when a buck sneaks up on you and u shuffle to grab your bow and your stand creeks a little and the buck freezes and then stairs at our tree? The buck then runs off into the field and turns around looking in your direction? Would you grunt or just let him calm down ? Thanks Mike p.s love the showWinke Responds:Mikey, He isn't going to come back to the call. All you are going to do at that point is educate him. Let him do whatever he is going to do. He may leave. You can hunt him in the same area in the future. But I would not try to call to him at that point. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-28-11)
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Gary from VA asks:Hey Bill, I am planning on hunting zone 3 or 4 next year during one of the firearm seasons. I am hunting with an outfitter that maintains 3,500 acres and takes than less 15 hunters a season. I've never hunted Iowa and I am trying to debate whether I want to hunt 1st season shotgun, 2nd season shotgun or the late muzzleloader. I know you are a dedicated bow hunter but wondered if you had a choice to pick one of the gun seasons, which one would you pick. Shoot straight, GaryWinke Responds:Gary, I would say that the weather really dictates that, but year in and year out, either of those seasons is about the same. The bucks are back on food by early December making the first season a good choice. I think if it were up to me, I would probably go for the first shotgun season and pray for cold and snow. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-28-11)
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Bruce from WI asks:Bill, Your game plan for double G4 is awesome. I like the strategy and I hope that plan works. I know what it is like to be a bowhunter....a gun just would not do him justice. Is it legal to sleep in that house of a blind you have? Ever given it a thought? It would be a long haul, but if it paid off....what a story. My question (and it is Christmas, so please take your time you workaholic :) The shed to the buck I am after was found in a food source last year. How much emphasis can I put on that to find him? Due to lack of funds I don't have the number of trail cameras I wish I could and still have not been able to pin him down. Only night pictures. With the season getting late should I just go try hunting that area closest to the south facing ridge that is a good bedding area and pray that it works. Or stay out until I find him on the trail cameras I do have? I would hate to push this buck around with a gun season opening this weekend. He is my "G4" bWinke Responds:Bruce, Generally, where you find the sheds one year is a good starting point, at least, for looking for the buck during the late season the next year. I would not push until you have a good idea where he is. Move the cameras around until you get him nailed down, or if you do hunt him, do it cautiously and hang back so you don't risk bumping him when it is time to leave. You can sit a food plot and watch it from a ways back without committing so deeply that you risk bumping the deer when you leave. This time of the year, I like to figure it out first before I make a move because the bucks are pretty patternable, making this approach very possible. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-31-11)
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dao from MN asks:hi there! well im wondering if you can help me out here..i hunt on a public land and on the other side of the street is the corn field..but it is occupied by geese hunters... now how do i hunt deer if that corn field is heavily pressured and thats the only food source they have left? thanks!Winke Responds:Dao, I would guess you need to hunt them farther back in the woods. If that is the only food source (there are likely others you aren't noticing) then the deer will go there after dark, staying in the woods until then. I would also look for other, less obvious, feeding areas too. Good luck. (1-2-12)
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Jake from WI asks:Bill. I love your website! Anything and everything a guy would want to know about hunting big deer can be found on your site! I'm looking at 2 different properties to lease and wanted to get your thoughts about a couple of things. Both properties are primarily agricultural land with smaller chunks of woods. The woods of one farm is part of a pretty large chunk of woods but I think the access would be difficult. There is no access from the east (our wind is predominant out of the west) and there are no good drainages or ways to get into the woods without letting the deer know you are there. The other farm doesn't really have any big chunks of woods but has great ways to get in from the east and undetected. Would it be better to take the farm with better access even though the woods is smaller? I guess I'm assuming that with no big sections of woods around it has less potential to hold a mature deer but I would have a better chance of killing any deer there.Any thoughts would beWinke Responds:Jake, That is a tough one. All else being equal, you go with the better access for sure. But all else may not be equal. For example, if there are better deer in the area with limited access that makes it tougher. I would likely go with the area with the better deer as long as the difference is significant. If not, then go with the better access. Access is a big, big deal in any hunt. Good luck. (1-2-12)
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Bruce from WI asks:Bill, I just received your book (Hunting Hard for Whitetails) and read it in one sitting. Thank you for offering that sale on your website. It was a good read and put some reasoning behind whitetail habits that are usually learned by many mistakes that teach a hunter over a lot longer time. I really liked the beginner's luck reference you made to making sure you aren't over pressuring a buck, it definitely isn't all luck. To my question, what time do you like to be set up in stand by for an afternoon food source hunt this time of year? Thanks again!Winke Responds:Bruce, Thanks. I appreciate the kind words. Some days the deer will move very early especially if the air is wet or cold and the food source is isolated. I ran a Bushnell camera on field scan on a food plot just a few days ago to find out and I had deer coming out at 1:30 and after feeding for a few minutes, they bedded on the edge of the field for two hours. I think if you are serious, you need to be out there by at least 2:00, earlier is definitly better. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-23-11)
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Luke from IL asks:Hi Bill this is Luke Holthaus and I live in central Illinois and and the question that I have is how you guys hunt your farms from archery season compared to gun season. I have two different farms that I hunt, one of which I only bow hunt, and the other I just gun hunt. I get on big deer every year during bow season but I think that I am not doing enough scouting on the gun farm. I usually dont even go in the gun farm until about 2 weeks before gun season to set stands and scout and I see big deer just have a harder time sealing the deal. I was just curious what your strategy is with this.Winke Responds:Luke, My opinion on gun hunting: plant a few good 2 acre food plots, put a box blind in the middle of each one. Don't go near it except maybe to check trail cameras you have on Field Scan or Time Lapse mode and then arrive opening evening. Sit (or better yet sleep) on the bottom of the box until sunset, peek out the window, select the buck you want to shoot and ease your gun up. I am serious, that will work almost every time as long as there isn't a lot of pressure around you. Most people try to make it too complicated. By the late season they are coming to food. By keeping your face out of the windows and your movement to a minimum you won't spook nearby deer and clear the field early. It is a typical mistake. Finally, arrange for someone to drive up to the food plot at the end of legal shooting time to move the deer off so you can get out of there without alerting any of them. If you have three such locations and rotate between them you should enjoy a very good gun season. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-23-11)
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Jeremy from IN asks:Winke I have to say that this is my favorite show on television and I am often times on your website checking out the Indiana shows; well, because thats where I hunt. Keep up the good work on your productions. Anyway, My father and I just purchased a 40 acre plot here in midwestern Indiana and we have been out quite a few times hunting the property. It is mostly hard woods with 2 streams running through and a small pond. We have seen many deer moving through the area, but we believe they are moving across the road to feed in a very large corn field. I am curious how you would approach hunting a property of this type? Thanks Winke and keep up the good work, Happy Hunting all!!Winke Responds:Jeremy, Thanks so much for the support. Two things would be priorities to me: creating a couple of good small food plots (probably clover and a brassica like Big N Beasty from Frigid Forage) and I would look at making the timber as thick as possible so that you can sneak to and from your stands without being seen. Consult with a local forester about some timber stand improvement you might be able to do to help out the cash trees and make the cover thicker at the same time. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-19-11)
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Patrick from IN asks:Bill,first off love your show,your living my dream,it was awesome seeing your boy Andrew kill that big buck,love to see my boy Patrick Jr. kill his first buck,hard though when you hunt mostly public land,finally after 3 years hunting hard he did harvest his first doe in gun season,and as a father it was the best feeling ever.Ok to my question it has been a rough season this year still no buck,Sunday the 11th I decided to hunt a open corn field by a creek bed,and at 4:30 or so I could'nt believe my eyes a whopper buck came out to eat in the field,unfortly he was out there around 500 yards or so.I have seen him twice more,but can't get close enough for a shot,he comes off some property I can't hunt,then jumps the fence to the corn field,which I can hunt,but being a open corn field I only have the creek bed with very little cover to try and get a shot,I can make a 200 yard shot with my muzzelloader,but he stays out around 400 to 500 yards,how can I lure him closer so late in the??I only hWinke Responds:Patrick, I am living my dream! Good luck with your son's first buck. Congrats to you both on the doe. I can only imagine that public land is hard to hunt, however, I think there has to be places where you can get on some private land. It will take time and work, but private access is not a thing of the past entirely. To your question. What if you get a closed cell ensolite pad and laid right out in the corn, make a blanket of netting with corn woven into it and throw it over you. It will work. You do what you have to do. Just be sure not to move much. Good luck. Merry Christmas (12-15-11)
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Brian from OH asks:Hi, you've had some amazing hunts this season. Congratulations on Daggers and G5. Just amazing to watch. Great job by you and your staff. I hunt two public properties in Ohio. Property A is nearly entirely crp with private agriculture fields surrounding the property but only one huntable and the deer know theyre hunted there. Property B is much larger with a solid mix of cut corn/beans, hardwoods, & crp. Both properties get moderate to at brief times heavy hunting pressure. I have seen 3 bucks this season on Property A over 170... however with out a dominant huntable food source, late season hunting for them is going to be very inconsistant. Property B has a much higher doe to buck ratio and the number of mature bucks isnt nearly as high (though there are a couple over 140), but there are several available huntable food sources to hunt them by. My question is if you were faced with the same choice, would you concentrate your time at the property without a good food source but holdsWinke Responds:Brian, Thanks. I would spend several evenings watching both areas from a distance with good optics (of course I recommend Nikon) to see what is happening. I always say that in late season hunting, there is no reason to make a plan until you know what the deer are doing. It is different from the rut, the bucks (and does) will fall into a pattern if not bothered. They may be nocturnal most evenings, but the deer that do come out will show you where they like to feed. If you can get away with it without getting it stolen, I would run a couple of cameras to see what is happening at night. In the CRP you may need to drive a post to hang it on. You need information and lots of it. There are too many things the deer can do and if you are left just guessing, the chances of guessing right are too low. Late season is all about being a good detective. Learn before you make a move. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-15-11)
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Zachary from OH asks:Hey Bill. I don't know what it is, but this year I've spooked and have gotten busted this year more than I can count. It's not my scent program, its my movement. Everytime I reach for my bow, try to stand, or just move to get a better look, they always seem to spot me. I try to be slow, quiet, and stealth-like, but it seems to not work. I was wondering if you can give me a run through of what you do when you get into a position to shot. Do i grab my bow first or stand? This maybe a stupid question but thanks for the help! Keep it up! #Winke for president!Winke Responds:Zachary, The biggest thing is knowing where the deer are looking. You can't move when they are looking your way. In other words, even if they aren't looking at you, their peripheral vision will pick up your movement if they are looking in that direction. I am about 20 feet up. If you are lower, you run a greater risk of beeing seen. Also, I generally try to hunt standing most of the time, facing the tree with the tree between me and where I expect the deer to come from. That way I can hide behind the tree when they are close and use it to block my movement when I have to move. I also try to set up where the tree forks or where the are several brancches coming together, again to break up my outline. I think you are simply out of position in the tree. Set up a differently - yes, less comfortable, but more productive. And then learn to move only when they are looking away. If you have to move when the deer is heading your way, do so very slowly and watch the deer's eyes the entire time. If you see anything enter his eyes (you can tell when they pick something up) quit moving. That should help you a lot. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-16-11)
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Chris from IA asks:I own a small farm of 40 acres in souteast Iowa. I have food plots ( clover , radish , and turnip ) that the deer are using. Bow season has been tough with trail camera pics showing almost all nite time actvity , and lots of it. Would you recommend that I leave it alone until the last couple of weeks of the season in hopes that less pressure and colder weather will get them to move earlier? Thanks for you time. Great show and site by the way!Winke Responds:Chris, I would keep monitoring the trail cameras and not start to hunt until you start seeing daylight activity. There is no point in putting pressure there when the deer aren't even coming out during legal times. They will start to move during the daylight eventually and then you can make your plan. Good luck and Merry Christmas. (12-12-11)
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John from MN asks:I'm sure right now with your food plots and such on your farm you dont use salt blocks but have you ever used them or do you know anything about how effective they are?Winke Responds:John, I don't know much about salt blocks. I have never used them. However, I think the deer will hit them. I just don't think they will hit them hard, nor will they hit them in the fall. I think deer like them best in the summer (I think mineral is actually more attractive and benefiicial). Good luck. (11-21-11)
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Ben from VT asks:Bill, I have been seeing a lot of does and have been good at going undetected. During November I try to hunt near doe concentrations. The funny part is that there have been no bucks trailing them. To make matters even stranger, all of my trail cam pics of bucks have been during the cover of darkness. Now that it's the 19th of November and the rut is begining to fade, do you have any suggestions for the last ditch effort? Could it be that the bucks are feeling the hunting preasure more than the does? Should I keep hunting the doe groups in hopes one will come back into estrous and pull a buck along?Winke Responds:Ben, Some years are just strange. I have no idea what causes this. We have seen it here too over the past couple of years. I realize I am too late to help you this year, but for future reference, I would just stick with the does until after roughly Novmeber 26 when I would focus entirely on hunting feeding areas. At that time, I stop hunting mornings, but if you are going to hunt mornings, I suspect you will need to hang back well into the cover so that you get set before the deer get to you. Good luck. (12-10-11)
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Hunter from OH asks:If you cant find the deer in your favoite hunting spot in the woods and you cant even kick one up in the brush and you know that the only spot they can be is in the corn that is still up what do you do? Do you just wait till they come out or what?Winke Responds:Hunter, Two options: wait for them to come out along the woods (or wait til the farmer picks the corn) or go in and hunt them in the corn. This can be effective. You need to slip across rows, look in both directions and then step through the next one. You can sometimes see them bedded and pull back a few rows and sneak up on them. I used to do this when hunting in MI. If there is a tree in the field or brushy fence line through the field, these are also natural spots for a blind or stand. Good luck. (12-8-11)
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jason from NC asks:Hunting here in Eastern NC is a trip for the still hunter. PRESSURE!!! from every direction. Hunting with dogs is a southern tradition. I encounter dogs on a regular basis where ever i go. Early season i find sign, hang stands and hunt only to hear crashing in the woods and it be dogs. Do you have any stratagies up your sleeve for this issue?Winke Responds:Jason, No I sure don't. It is not something I have experienced and would only be offering theories. I would be looking for a different place to hunt, that is what I would be doing. Try to find some land that is not dog hunted. Maybe it is hard to do, but that is the direction I would be going. Good luck. (12-8-11)
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Jonathan from GA asks:First off Congratulations on two fantastic bucks this season! I have a question in regards to a bully buck. The property we hunt is suburban property that consists of about 200-250 acres. Last season we had a buck that was a 2 1/2 year old 8 pt. He traveled more and was seen more than any buck on the property. This year he has grown quite a lot but still has the same movement patterns. Based off lots of trail camera photos and sighting of this buck he seems to be very aggressive towards all other bucks. Last year we had record of several other good bucks on the property through out the season. This season however when we do catch a good buck on camera he doesn't seem to be staying on the property. One picture then gone. Could our resident buck be running all these other bucks off? We've decided to pass on this buck this season because he does have the potential to be a quality buck next season. I've passed him twice this season. Should we consider taking him in hopes more qualityWinke Responds:Jonathan, Yes, for sure. However, if he is exhibiting those qualities I think I would let him grow and then you have a very good chance to shoot him next year when he is bigger. He likely will retain the same movement patterns making him easier to kill. Most bucks aren't daylight movers so when you do get one, it is nice to see him get some age on him so he gets big before you go after him. Yes, he may be keeping the others away during the season, at least in part of his range, but I think the payoff when you get him next year will be worth it. In other words, if they have good potential I let them go even if they are bullies. Good luck. (12-2-11)
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laithen from IN asks:Hey man i got rubs on 13 inch round trees everywhere and i keep seeing all this sign fresher and fresher and i just cant see him i no hes still alive because the farmer tells me he keeps seeing him how do i approach this because the farmer sees him in the early morning and middle of the night do you think he nocturnal please help me with this and jus little advice to get this giantWinke Responds:Laithen, It is never easy, but the key to success is either pure luck (I'll take that) or you have to learn as much as you can about the buck and then rely on a bit less luck (but still a lot of luck). To do that you need to run a trail camera or two to figure out what the the buck is doing and when he is doing it. That will help you to learn much more about the deer. In the meantime, I would focus on the areas where the farmer has seen him and hope for the best. Funnels and the fringe of thick cover (back in the timber) are the places I would focus. Good luck. (11-27-11)
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chris thompson from LA asks:me and my buddy now have 3 preference points in iowa. do you feel we should draw for zone 5 for the 2012 hunting season? also i would like to know since we will be leasing land, what areas or what suggestions we should look for? any help would greatly be aprreciated, thanks. we are experienced bow hunters that hunt the mid west every year, just never been to iowa.Winke Responds:Chris, I think you should draw. It usually takes four years in the more popular units like 5. It is a giant unit so I have a hard time telling you where to start, however, I know that in recent years Decatur County has been producing some whopper bucks. That county stands out. Wayne is also kind of overlooked but has limited good habitat. That is probably where I would be looking if I were coming in from the outside with no local ties. Good luck. (11-25-11)
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Randy from PA asks:I've been hunting hard the final two weeks (Oct. 31 thru Nov. 12) of our "early" archery season in PA. Have put about 85 hours in the tree. I can usually sit for about 3 hours on a morning hunt and about 2 hours on an afternoon hunt. I rarely see a deer on an afternoon hunt until about a half hour before dark or right at dark, so the morning hunts are just more fun. About how long are your normal morning and afternoon hunts? Obviously, when you're seeing deer it is easier to stay motivated and stay in the tree. Had two really good days for deer movement this season. Oct. 28 because of colder weather got the deer moving and Nov. 4 when bucks were chasing.Winke Responds:Randy, My morning hunts last from daybreak to about 11:00 or 11:30, usually. That is about four to five hours. Then my afternoon hunts usually last from roughly 2:00 until dark (another 3 1/2 to 4 hours). I don't often sit all day as I generally change stands, but I know that people are seeing and shooting some good bucks during the middle of the day at that time of the year. It has been my experience that if you hunt every day of the rut like I usually do (last week of October and all of November) you have five really good days. That is all. The other days range from dead to OK. I have my theories on this related to does coming into estrous, but very few people have lots of great days. It takes a lot of time in stand and some serious patience to be there when it comes together. Not everyone has that amount of time available, but we can also discipline ourselves to be more patient on those days when we do have the chance to hunt. Good luck. (11-23-11)
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Cade from AL asks:OK...in a nutshell, how would you set up on the south side of a mature hardwoods/cedar ridge with a nice "saddle" running through the middle that eventually forms a gulley? Time of day and winds?Winke Responds:Cade, I would hunt it mornings and evenings favoring mornings more. Depending on the width of the saddle, I would set up on one side of the saddle as close to the top of the slope as possible while still being able to cover at least that side all the say to the bottom. I would hunt it on a wind blowing 90 degrees to the ridge (through the saddle) or slightly quartering away from the saddle to keep the scent from going into the saddle. They can be tough to hunt from the standpoint of wind, but this setup usually works. Good luck. (11-22-11)
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Rob from IL asks:Bill congradulations on our nice bucks. I think the show is amazing. I hunt an oak ridge that is between food and bedding area. Where my stand is set up there are 3 main trails one about 20 yards in front another 20 yards behind and the other about 60 yards in front. Last weekend all the deer of any size were taking the trail farther away do you have any suggestions on how to bring them to the closer trail? Someone told me this winter to block the other trail with brush. Does that work? thank youWinke Responds:Rob, I would do something to block that trail and move the deer your way slightly. If the landowner permits, dropping a junk tree or two on top of the trail and then opening up a trail closer to the stand would be a possible way. Otherwise, about all you can do is call to them. If a buck is on the low trail, I would try to call to him as soon as you see him. The sooner the better. They don't like hearing calls at close range when there is obviously no deer close by. Good luck. (11-21-11)
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Steve from WI asks:Congrats on two GIANTS!! My question is, I was hunting with a decoy November 11th. I got out of my stand to warm up after my morning hunt. I left my decoy and when I was returning to my stand (I was approx. 125 yards from my stand at this time) my number one hit list buck was right at my decoy. He smashed into it sending it 4 ft in the air. He circled the decoy once more and strolled away. Do you think this buck will stay out of this area now? I was just sick! Should I hunt for him elsewhere on the property now? I hope he returns.Winke Responds:Steve, It always works that way doesn't it? Bummer. I doubt he was spooked. He just didn't understand why his rival fell apart on him! That is not normal. I think you can keep hunting him in the same area, maybe not with a decoy this time though. I am not sure how he would react to seeind the decoy again. He might have had so much fun he will come over and smash him again or he may be a bit more reserved. Good luck. (11-20-11)
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JR from MN asks:Hi Bill, love the show and daily blogs! I hunt about 200 acres of land, half pasture and half woods which lies on the top the Mississippi river valley. Mostly large draws and fingers that come up and out of the valley to corn and alfalfa fields. I had 2 giants on camera until mid October coming to mineral and have yet to see them in the field. What advice to you have for patterning these bucks (camera placement) and would you advise puting a small food plot in one of these big draws? I am guessing I am only going to be able to hunt these bucks early season?? Thanks for all the help and congrats on the 2 GIANTS!!Winke Responds:JR, Man, that is such a tough question to answer. Every buck is so different and every situation is different. We know a lot about some of the bucks we hunt because we have many years of intense hunting in the areas they live, summer video, trail cam photos. We use all the pieces to put the puzzle together to figure out where the bucks live, something about their personalities. I try to know as much as I possibly can about each buck without doing a lot of on the ground scouting. That means I rely heavily on trail cameras to find the bucks. If I can't find them with several trail cameras, I assume they aren't in that area. Then I have to go looking for them elsewhere. If they have left the farm completely, I have to write them off until late season and look for them again. I do this every year, right before the rut and right before my late season hunting. If those bucks are on your farm early and then gone every year (and you know they are gone, not just gone from those two cameras) then you have no choice but to hunt them early. My guess is that at least one is still around, just not in the same place he was in early October. He may be slightly off on your neighbor's and comes back occassionally during the rut. Either way, your solution about having an isolated good food source is a smart one. I would not put it in the valleys though - too much wind swirl. Instead, I would find an isolated place or two on the ridge where you can leave some food. As I said, you will need to learn these deer individually so you have a lot of work to do (mostly with the cameras) before you know for sure what to do next. Good luck. (11-17-11)
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Leng from AL asks:Hello Bill, I really enjoyed watching MW shows. Your shows are awesome, keep it up My question: I have two shooters in the area where I am hunting and my trial cam only have pics of them at night, how do you hunt bucks like this? I hunt in N.central Wisconsin(Clark county).Winke Responds:Leng, You have two options. Either wait for daylight photos (likely not the best strategy unless you have other bucks you want to hunt) or start hunting them carefully from conservative fringe stands until the cameras show daylight photos and then you can be more aggressive. Good luck. (11-15-11)
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Keshone Johnson from IL asks:I have a real good stand that I have been bow hunting in for the last couple of weekends our shotgun season here in Illinois is coming up the weekend of November 19th, should I hunt this stand this weekend or hold off until shotgun and hunt another stand.Winke Responds:Keshone, If you are just hunting once per week and then resting it a week, I think you can definitely hunt that infrequently without fear of burning it out. No worries about that. Good luck. (11-14-11)
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Cade from AL asks:Hey Bill, I hope you are having a great season so far, I know it's about to get even better. I'm down in Alabama, and have a question relating to ridgetops, and the saddles that run between them that eventually lead to a bench. I know I will probably be vague on my description, this is one of those "talk in person" questions. Picture a ridge that forms the number "7", with the inside of the "7" being a "bowl", with a gulley running down the center, or actually closer to the slanted stem of the number "7". The inside faces South, while the other side faces North. The saddle is at the top left of the "7" shaped ridge. It would be WAY to noisey to try and approach the saddle from either side or the top. However, coming down the south side of the ridge a little to the west of the saddle there is an awesome "bench"/"trail" that runs along the edge of the "bowl". (All this leads to a 2 acre green field,Winke Responds:Cade, I apologize that the entry field cut off your question. There is a word limit on that field. Usually, I can tell where the question is going, but I have a bad feeling you want me to try to sort this whoe property out. I would have to spend a lot of time on that in order to be of any help. If you can hit me with a shorter question, I will be happy to see what I can do to offer some help. Just remember, I do tons of these each day and I can't spend more than a few minutes on each one or I will never get anything done around here. Sorry for the inconvenience. Best regards (11-14-11)
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Larry from MI asks:Hi Bill, Thanks for all the great advise on my food plots this season, they are doing great !!! question I have is any advise on hunting opening day here in Michigan with the warm wet weather being advertised. I know the deer will bed down and where my property is there is no pressure. Any advise would help. ThanksWinke Responds:Larry, During that time of the year, you need to figure the bucks are still rutting a bit, but mostly it is the lockdown time for bucks. Lots of does in estrous so the bucks aren't moving a lot. Even if you think there is limited pressure, the deer still sense the increase in activity in adjacent farms and will move toward security cover shortly after daylight. Personally, I would be dug into the edge of the thickest cover you have and sit there all day long. That is almost always the best way to hunt Michigan opening day. Forget rut activity for a couple of days and focus on security cover. If you hear very little shooting in your area, consider sitting near the food in the evening, but even then I think I would stay on the edge of the thick security cover. Good luck (11-14-11)
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aaron from MI asks:I have been hunting in a thick swamp surrounded by corn fields lately and I have multiple pictures of bucks but yet they are all coming through from 10pm til 1am, what would be your suggestion to start seeing them on a situation like this?Winke Responds:Aaron, You just need to keep hunting carefully and hope a hot does brings one of them through during daylight. That is about all you can do. If they are cruising at night, a hot doe is about the only thing that will break that cycle. Good luck. (11-14-11)
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Jason from IN asks:Hey Bill, I am torn on which stand to hunt on November 12. I have a stand that sit in a little slither of woods about 70 yds wide seperating a small 2 acre field surronded by woods and a large field, it has labs running the deer at times. I have a stand secluded where no man goes very often on the back side of a field about 60 yds in the woods, surronded by thick cedars. Both have scrapes. Then I have a stand that is about 100 yds in the woods behind a field with a small winter wheat plot. It will be sunny and high 52 SW wind. A cool front will move in 2 days before the hunt.Winke Responds:Jason, I apologize, but I can't give you day by day stand selection advice. It just takes too much time to do that. I can answer general questions about strategy and maybe some about the philosophy of how to hunt, but I just don't have time to select stands for people to hunt on a daily basis. However, I can give you some advice on how to figure that out for yourself. First, I always want to hunt stands where deer can't detect me when I go to the stand and when I return from it, so the wind has to be good both for the stand sit (blowing away from where you expect the deer to be located) and for your trip to and from. That may mean you have to change your routes and that will also help you decide which stand to hunt each day. Remember, we are not just trying to keep from being smelled on stand, but also on the way to and from. Also, you don't want to be seen on the way to and from either. Now that you understand the basics, you can select a stand more easily or change either the stand locations themselves, or the routes you take. Good luck. (11-14-11)
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Sebatian Bucheit from MO asks:If a deer has spotted you, should you close your eyes so the deer doesn't see your eyes and spook?Winke Responds:Sebatian, I don't think that will make a lot of difference. If the deer has spotted you, the most important thing you can do is stay very still. I think you can look at the deer. Some people think deer can feel it when a person is looking at them. This may be, but I always look at them anyway. I don't think there is much to that notion that they can feel our stare. Maybe it occurs once in a while (I can't say for sure since there are so many variables related to what causes deer to spook), but staying motionless is the key. If you feel that squinting may help you, that is fine. I think avoiding eye contact is also a good idea. I think you can look at the deer, just don't lock eyes. Good luck (11-14-11)
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Matt from MN asks:Due to my work schedule and other items I haven't been able to spend much time in the woods. Only been out 7 times. Tomorrow starts the Minnesota gun season which runs through next Sunday in my area. I usually shut it down during this time due to all the hunters. What would you suggest for a stratgey for next week since there won't be any hunters on this property during that time?Winke Responds:Matt, I guess I would hunt it just you would if you were bowhunting without the gun hunters around. Stick close to the bedding areas in the mornings and see what happens. If there is a lot of gun pressure in the area, stay their for the afternoon. If not, head closer to the food sources to catch the deer as they move toward food. Does head to food, bucks follow them. Good luck. (11-5-11)
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Joe from ME asks:Congradulations on the great buck last week. Looks like things are starting to ramp up here in Nebraska. Is there a time during the season that you switch from hunting more in the evening to hunting more in the morning and why. Thanks for all the great advice you give out.Winke Responds:Joe, If I hunt prior to the rut I hunt only evenings and I hunt only evenings in the late season. From October 25 through about November 30 I hunt mornings and evenings. The morning activity really starts to slow down after about November 25 or 26 around here. The bucks aren't cruising and seem to be in their beds well before daylight. Good luck. (11-12-11)
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Todd from MI asks:Congrats on the Buck Bill. Very impressive. I'm curious as to what you do if you bump a deer on your way to a stand? I've read various things from running to snorting back at the deer, etc. It doesn't happen too often to me, but when it does IT drives me crazy. Thanks!Winke Responds:Todd, Depends on whether the deer heard you or smelled or saw you. If it only heard you, you can try grunting softly and changing your cadence to match that of a deer. This works to soothe does, but be ready to climb once you get to the tree because this can bring any nearby bucks fast. If they have seen or smelled you, there is nothing you can do but suffer through it. Good luck. (11-11-11)
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Garrett from ME asks:Bill, congrats on a great buck. Im hunting a food plot for the second season but I moved my stand about 40 yards to be closer to where the deer travel and its working great. The problem is that i cant see much of the field due to a few trees in front of me. I dont want to cut them down because deer are using it as a scape as well as it covers my movement. I also dont want to move the stand. Any advice so I can see the field better without cutting down the trees or moving? ThanksWinke Responds:Garrett, I bet you can climb up in there and cut a few branches out to open up the field a bit more. I would not open it up too much because then it will be harder to climb down at the end of legal shooting time without being seen. A branch cut here and there is a good way to see that field though. Good luck. (11-8-11)
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JOSH from OK asks:I am hunting a buck that beds on the edge of my property and the neighbor’s property and they hunt right on the edge of that bedding area. Last year I had the same problem and they ended up shooting and only wounding the buck I was after and we never saw him again. The bucks do come to my property but a lot of times they shoot them before I have a chance to get a shot at them. Do you have any suggestions is to how I can get the deer to move to property instead of theirs? I know that many people deal with the same problem I’m sure there is no real solution to my problem but I am open to any suggestions you may have. Thanks Bill and keep up the good work.Winke Responds:Josh, It will always be food. They travel to food. If the other guys have better food (whether natural or planted) the deer will favor their property during the times when they are on their feet. That is about all you can do, as well as not putting too much pressure on the bedding area itself. Let them feel safe on your side of the line. Good luck (11-8-11)
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Chuck from MO asks:Bill, I have been getting pictures of a nice 150 class buck since mid July that I have some history with the past 3 seasons. As expected he vanished about the 10th of October. Any advice how to hunt him the rest of the year? The neighbor claims he saw him at 6:45 a.m. two days ago along the road. Wanting to get on this buck, but as always don't want to over pressure any stand. Love the show and all your advice! Best of luck the remainder of this season.Winke Responds:Chuck, You have to go with prior year's experiences and hope they repeat. He is likely to be living in the same areas where you found him in previous seasons. If he has never stayed on your farm in past seasons, he likely won't this year either. That has been my experience. Once you have an idea where he is, you have to hunt him aggressively right away before he moves. That is my advice - get after him. Good luck (11-8-11)
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Eric from MN asks:Bill, thank you for the response on the "Bully Bucks." It makes sense that they are culled to let better antlered bucks to occupy their old area. And it is a ton of fun to hunt them. Okay, so I know it is ideal to have a farm that you can manage, but a majority of people don't have that luxury. Even though you can get permission for area, it is still hard. From the hunting I have done, I have found that public management areas are often neglected and get overlooked for harboring a giant buck. I have had some encounters (bow hunting) with great bucks on public land. There is one area with a small management area (hunt-able) right next to a conservancy (non-hunt-able). I know they cross through the management area often. And there are so many other details I could go into. If you have ever hunted management areas, how did you go about hunting them? Do you believe you can have success hunting these areas? Great Buck already, and good luck with your other tag!Winke Responds:Eric, I have hunted public land at various times in my life and I always found ways to access the deepest areas where other hunters don't generally venture. Or I hunted small areas that others overlook. I think those are the two keys to success on public land. Thanks for the congrats. I appreciate it. Good luck to you too. (11-8-11)
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Darin from IL asks:Hello! I have been hunting the same stand ,facing south at CRP and cornfield behind the CRP(100 yds away)for the last couple of years. While I have taken 4 bucks out of this stand ..none have been the mature buck I am looking for. I have seen very few mature bucks from this stand and other hunters are located thru out the woods behind me...further more I have seen very little doe activity in the last 2 weeks for the upcoming rut....Only immature bucks! Should I hunt this stand or move deeper into woods?? I do have 1 stand presently in woods located apprx 100 yds to NE ...but have seen little activity in few times I have hunted it! Is it to late to move to another location? What do you suggest I do to harvest a mature buck during the rut???Winke Responds:Darin, There is a time and place for just about every stand. I like to hunt farther back in the woods in the mornings and out toward food in the evenings. You don't have to hunt right on the food, but getting close to it will really make the hunting better since that is where the does are heading. If the does stop showing up on the food, you should stop hunting those plots and focus on areas of thick cover where they are holed up. The bucks will come through looking for them. Good luck. (11-8-11)
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Mark from NC asks:I have a couple other questions for you. One is...how do you deal with "swirling" wind when in the stand? If the wind is constantly shifting, do you pack up and head elsewhere? Also, I was curious about how much you will hunt a particular stand. I hunt approximately 300 acres of land, and will hunt stands based on the wind, but do you think I am still affecting/pressuring the deer just as much if I hunt a stand that is only 200-300 yards from my previous stand I hunted? I have a lot of time off the next couple weeks and want to hunt as much as possible, but do not want to pressure the deer too much. I am just curious what you can tell me about hunting stands as long as the wind is right and how much you will hit a particular spot. Thanks, keep up the awesome work. God BlessWinke Responds:Mark, I think you should spread the pressure a bit more. I would try to hunt stands on consecutive days that are farther away than that. Also, you need to focus on stands that you can get to and from without leaving scent in places where the deer will find it or you will burn out the area very quickly. I would not hut the stands where the wind swirls. If it is just the variable nature of the day's winds, I think I would focus on your least productive stands on days when the forecast calls for variable winds. Some stands I can hunt often because my entry and exit routes are very hard to detect. With these, you may be able to hunt them every two to three days. For others, it might be closer to once per week or once per five or six days. Good luck. (11-6-11)
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Mark from NC asks:What is your opinion on hunting swamps; primarily those that have dried up over the summer and create funnels for the deer to use? I've known a lot of big deer to fall to a swamp, but I have one about 4 acres on my property and a 15 acre 4 year cutover that borders the back side of it. My issue is whether or not to hunt the actual swamp, or try to identify travel routes on the outside/edges of the swamp. I love the show by the way. My favorite by far and I look forward to it every week. I respect your opinion and experience and have learned a lot. Thanks for everything.Winke Responds:Mark, Thanks for your support and for your kind words. I think I would look for funnels around the edge to start and then as you learn more about what the deer are doing (mostly by watching) you can fine-tune your stand location to make it better. That is the way most great stands come about - little by little based on experience in the tree. Good luck. (11-6-11)
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Eric from IL asks:Using a climbing tree stand, I have found a bur oak tree that over looks a pond that is about 50/70 yards way. There is plenty of good deer sign in the area, and I am curious to know you thoughts on hunting over a pond vs. hunting over food plots.Winke Responds:Eric, I think deer will visit the pond during the rut especially if things stay dry. If not, then I think I would way rather sit over food. The pond might be a good option for morning hunts, but definitely sit near the food for the evenings. Good luck. (11-6-11)
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Matthew from OK asks:Hey Bill. I saw a big 8 on a 5 acre wheat feild with 3 does. this isn't the first time he has done this. The feild is right next to the road. How should I hunt this buck? -MatthewWinke Responds:Matthew, I would be looking at trying to hunt him in any blocks of adjoining cover. I would hunt him there in the mornings too, deeper the cover close to where the does probably bed. Try to find big tracks where he is entering the field for your afternoon hunts. That is the simple approach. You will have to sort out the details (like finding funnels) once you get in there. Good luck. (11-5-11)
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Aaron from WI asks:I hunt in the bluff country of western Wisconsin. What strategies would you recommend for hunting valleys? Thanks.Winke Responds:Aaron, I stay out of them. The only chance you have is when the wind is blowing parallel to the valley (and then you still get swirling) or when there is no wind and you get the downward moving thermals in the morning and evening. Otherwise, the winds will swirl too much and you will educate too many deer. Trust me. Unless you hunt from a ground blind and close it in to contain your scent, the swirling winds will give you away. It will happen. Good luck. (11-3-11)
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milo from IL asks:Hi Bill- I have recently started following you on your website and have found it to be an excellent source of deer hunting information. You should also be commended for your "simpler" approach to deer hunting. That certainly runs counter to the trend of many hunters in this age of technology! My question is related to a ground blind techinique that I developed a few years back that has produced some very nice bucks during the gun season in NW Illinois. I do not hunt out of a tree stand for two reasons: it is statistically dangerous and I am afraid of heights. While I use typical pop up blinds for bow hunting, I use a "foxhole" for gun season. I actually dig out a pit on the side of a hill overlooking a trail, feeding area, scrape area, etc., then I place a bucket seat in the hole and I am set. The hole hides most of my body, generally protects me from the wind, provides me with a nice view of the hunting area, and the edge of the hols makes a nice rest forWinke Responds:Milo, I think that is a great strategy. I like it. Thanks for sharing the tip. I know guys that do that with bows too, using recurve bows that allow them to cant (lay over) the bow so it is flatter to the ground. Good luck. (11-3-11)
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Tim from IL asks:One of my stand placements is on south western edge of a cut bean field. The deer bed in timber to the north, west and south of the field, to the east is more field. What would be a good wind direction for this setup? Thank you for your time.Winke Responds:Tim, I think you answered that one yourself. You need to find a wind that blows your scent into the area where the deer aren't bedded. I think I would move my stand a bit and get to the far east edge of where you think deer will come out and then hunt it on a W or SW wind (both are fairly common this time of year in IL). Then approach from the east. Good luck. (11-3-11)
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Cody from NC asks:Bill, What happens when the time of year is right but the wind just isn't 100 percent perfect to hunt my best stands. Should I go in and hunt them anyway and rely on my scent control efforts or should I just wait risking not getting in there when the action is hot and heavy. I don't want to take a chance of missing out on my good stands during the best time of the year but don't want to ruin them by being overly eager. Thanks, I love the show by the way, I am a big fan. Keep up the good work.Winke Responds:Cody, No, for sure not. Wait for the right wind. If it doesn't come, you have to set another stand in that area for the winds that are in the forecast. Never compromise on the wind. It will bite you everytime. Maybe not the first time in, but it will soon enough. Good luck. (11-1-11)
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Erik from MO asks:Bill, very informative, fact based info on your site and in videos! Thank you. I have access to hunt ground that is mostly open (90% ag fields/10% creeks with narrow woods along the creek). I have seen very large bucks over the course of the last 7 or 8 years, but only on occasion (1 or so sightings per year). B&C deer are taken in the 5 mile radius almost every year. All stands are along creeks as it is the only cover. I hunt them sparingly so as not to contaminate with scent. I see deer once out of every 4 or 5 hunts. Any insight on how to best hunt this property? My concern is that the deer only move through the property every so often so the less I hunt it, the less chances I have with an encounter on a big buck.Winke Responds:Erik, All I can offer to your strategy, which sounds like a solid one, is to have a few small (1/2 acre) food plots scattered around to give you places to concentrate the deer for hunting and then possibly hold them on the property for longer periods. I think that will make a difference. Good luck. (10-30-11)
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Jeremy from NH asks:I've been hunting 2 weedfields on either side of a clearcut bedding area.The muzzleloader opener is Sat.and I have yet to see any of the bucks during daylight but have nighttime camera pics. Should I push the envelope and set a stand in the cut or wait it out in hopes the will start moving as the rut approaches?Winke Responds:Jeremy, That is the million dollar question. I think you need to wait it out as long as you can. Give the deer the time to start moving during the day. The other strategy is to set up the stand and then wait until a cold front comes through and then sit it in hopes for even a one day change in buck movement. That is probably what I would do. Good luck. (10-30-11)
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Kevin from WI asks:On our property that we just purchased this year we built 4 wheeler trails to access different parts of our property. We keep these mowed to provide quiet and easy walking access to different parts of our property. The problem with the leaves dropping is that we make a ton of noise walking to and from stands. We are considering blowing the leaves off the trails this week before the rut starts so we will be able to access stands quietly for the rest of the season. Do you think that the noise walking to and from stands impacts the deer movement, and would you recommend removing the leaves this close to the rut?Winke Responds:Kevin, Absolutely. There is no doubt the noise is a problem. I would clear them off. If the deer are used to the 4-wheeler, consider driving through slowly while raking the trail off. I am not sure I would use the blower. That introduces a new sound that would put them on red alert and likely move them off the property for the time. If the deer aren't used to the four-wheeler, you may as wel blow them off because the four-wheeler is going to move them off anyway. Good luck. (10-28-11)
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Drew from KS asks:Hey Bill, I know your busy, but I have a quick question. I have my cameras out and I am getting some pics of 3 nice bucks over a scrape. The scrape is on a field edge about 400 yards from my closest stand which is in a good funnel. I am getting these pictures about an hour after dark and an hour before light. Can I expect to see these bucks in the daylight or should I concentrate on other deer I am getting pictures of in daylight. Thanks for what you do, and good luck.Winke Responds:Drew, Probably back in the timber. Possibly as you get closer to the rut they will start to show more during the daylight. Each buck is different so it is hard to predict. However, my guess is that if you can hunt carefully, you will eventually see them in daylight. Personally, I would hunt other bucks until these three show some daylight activity. That would be a higher odds deal, but if you are dead set on these three, you may be able to see them in daylight in early November. Good luck. (10-28-11)
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Brian from NY asks:Hello, I have a cousin who has a 30 acre piece of woods in just minutes west of Vanlue and about 10minutes east of Findlay. The area has a lot of crop fields with small woodlots scattered in the area. I was wondering if you've ever hunted in that area and if not, what you think of that area as far as deer hunting? I've hunted paint creek park down in Ross county a few times and was just wondering which place would be better. Thanks for insight BrianWinke Responds:Brian, I am not at all familiar with that area. I would do a quick scout and see which area has the most sign and then start hunting that area. I would look for trails, rubs, tracks in open areas, scrapes and then decide which area has the most sign. Also, a good feeding area nearby is a big bonus. Good luck. (10-26-11)
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roger from IL asks:last nite i was leavin a stand at dark and spotted a mature buck walking toward me as i was on edge of timber. i kneeled down and he became curious. he walked within 50 yds of me before running(actually jumping with tail up) off....should that stand be hunted the next day or should i wait? whats my chances of seeing that buck again? thank you.Winke Responds:Roger, I would wait a few days. He will be shy of that area for a while. You likely will see the buck again though, but give it some time. He may also show up at a different stand in the same area. Good luck (10-26-11)
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Cecil from IN asks:I have a stand I really want to get to,but the only way there is walking through unpicked corn.I keep telling myself I have to wait until the corn is picked. What are your thoughts on this? I don't want to screw up this location. Love the show keep up the good work!!Winke Responds:Cecil, I think that is OK. I use those unpicked cornfields all the time to cover my entry and exit. Ideally, you push over some stalks to keep from brushing a lot of plants, and leaving scent, but even so, I think that route is fine. I would way rather walk through standing cornfield to get a stand than a picked one. The deer can't see you and the wind mostly blows over you, making it a good way to sneak in. In fact, I leave my corn standing well into the fall just so I can sneak behind it and through it. Good luck. (10-26-11)
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BIG Matt from OH asks:The start of the 2011 hunting season has been a rainy one here in Ohio. Been hunting 9yrs with no buck!!! So rain or shine im gonna be out there! So what are some tips and tricks for hunting in the rain? Is calling, rattling or scents even worth trying?Winke Responds:Big Matt, I don't like hunting if a steady downpour, but sprinkling and misting rain is fine. I would focus on rut areas now: funnels between two places where does concentrate. Where do you see the does? Find a bottleneck between two such places and the bucks are likely to come through during daylight at some point during the next three weeks. Remember, the bucks will be hunting does now, so you need to do so too, but not too close to where they concentrate or you will spook them and then the whole game is over. I would be shocked if you don't have a good encounter hunting in this way. If not, you definitely need a new hunting area. Good luck. (10-26-11)
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Brent from MI asks:Hi Bil1! Scenerio: you are finding HUGE buck tracks, big rubs and big scrapesin and around a standing cornfield! how would you locate, and kill this buck?Winke Responds:Brent, I am guessing the tracks are mostly made at night, but it is worth hunting carefully around the fringes of the field a few days to see. Then either wait for the corn to come out and hunt him in the cover nearby, or try to slip through the rows and spot him. That works pretty well. You cut across the rows, stick your head into the next one, look both ways and then step through and repeat. Works best on windy days that cover your sound. Then move up the field into the wind and come back the other way, repeating the process. If you spot him, pull back about three rows and sneak up there, ready to take the shot when you find the opening over his vitals. It is exciting and it works. Good luck. (10-26-11)
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Matthew from OK asks:Hey Bill, love the show! I have a problem. On the wheat feild i'm hunting, there are thousands upon thousands of deer tracks. Most are big big bucks! I've hunted that spot two times without seeing a single deer. What am I doing wrong? thanks, Matt. P.S. I really appreciate all the questions you've answered for me. I'm 14 years old and absolutely love to bow hunt. I must be stressing you out and i apologize. Thanks for all the great information and the great shows!Winke Responds:Matthew, My pleasure, I appreciate the suppport. I am guessing it was bad luck or bad timing. Many of them may be made at night, but also certain days will promote activity while others won't. If it anything beyond that, it has to be your entry and exit routes. You can't let the deer see you, hear you or smell you when entering the stand. Sometimes you have to very conservative to keep this from happening. If you just can't hunt the spot without being detected, you may need to hunt those same deer elsewhere nearby and avoid hunting them in areas where all you are doing is educating them - no matter how good the sign. Hope that helps. Good luck. (10-26-11)
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John Add from LA asks:I am heading to Kansas next week and was just wondering what your thoughts were concerning the cold front set to move through the midwest mid-week next week. I've always felt like the end of October, with a good front, was great and have seen your articles relaying the same. Is there any reason that this next week shouldn't be another good week considering the weather?Winke Responds:John, It should be a very good week once the cold front comes in. Bucks will die during those two to three days. Good luck. (10-26-11)
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andy orlando from MO asks:last year i hunted over a 100 acre pasture and seen deer just about every hunt and killed 2 nice bucks.this year i have hunted several times and not seen one deer.the one change this year there is about 30 cows eating everthing.do you think i should give up on the stand?even though it was so good last yearWinke Responds:Andy, Yes, I would start looking elsewhere. I think a few hunts here during the rut would be good, but don't stake your season that property. Time to look for options. Good luck. (10-24-11)
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coreyk from WI asks:IF you start hunting Oct 25th do you sit all day in your stand from the gitgo or do you wait till nov 5 to start sitting all day in your stand ?Winke Responds:Coreyk, I will wait until about November 3 to 5 as you suggest. I often change stands at midday and get right back out there. I rarely sit the same stand all day because my stands aren't necessarily all day stands. I have a few that are, but most will work well in the AM or PM, but rarely both. Good luck. (10-24-11)
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Gibson from OH asks:i just recently saw my first shooter buck of the year - and he's also one of the biggest deer ive seen on the hoof EVER. it was on a rare evening hunt but he was following the same pattern that the same 5-6 other deer ive been seeing have followed. i say rare because i hardly ever get to hunt evenings because i work 2nd shift. even most weekends are out for me because we had our first child in May and thats when i get to spend the evenings with him, and thats also when my band plays. anyway my question, should i put all my eggs in that basket and set up near this travel pattern in the mornings? or stay on the outskirts and slowly work my way in to where i saw him that ONE time? with the pre-rut coming, i wonder if i should drop some doe estrus in the nearby scrapes and/or try a doe decoy? thanks, and i love this show!!!!Winke Responds:Gibson, The decoy might be a good idea. I think I would wait to move over to that spot for a while. I assume the stand you are in has proven to be good over the years. If so, there is no reason to abandon it for a single sighting - especially one at a time when you normally don't get to hunt. I would keep hunting and watching and if you see him doing something in the morning that you can exploit, go for it. Better yet, put out a couple of trail cameras - one near your existing stand and one near the area where you saw him traveling to see where and when he is using the area. Bait is legal there, so place a half bag of corn in front of each one to bring any passing deer directly to the camera. That would be my plan - then I would make adjustments accordingly. I think you will find that mature bucks have tendencies, but they are still pretty unpredictable so all you can do is learn those tendencies, set up for those and then put in your time. Good luck.
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Devin from AL asks:I live in the thumb of Michigan and I didnt plant food plots this year and haven't been really seeing any deer. Is there any way that I can get more deer to come by my stand?Winke Responds:Devin, You have to move your stand to a place where the deer are either feeding, bedding or moving through. More than likely, you have something like that in your hunting area. Then you have to hunt it carefully so as not to bump all the deer when hunting the spot. That can be the bigger challenge. You have to place your stands in areas you can sneak into and out of. If you are hunting the edge of a thicket, for example, make sure you stay on the downwind fringe and slip in using some kind of a break in the terrain, like a draw or ditch or even a line of heavy cover or fenceline. The key is to hunt the deer without them knowing you are hunting them. If they figure it out (and they are very good at figuring it out) they will stop using the area and you will swear there are no deer anywhere around. Just find the places deer use (sign should help) and then hunt those areas very carefully. Good luck.
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Matt from OK asks:Hey Bill, I just found out that i have the sportsmans channel on my TV! I am greatly looking forward to seeing you and the pro staff put a rockett through a monster! I have two places i'm wanting to go hunt on my 300 acre farm this week over fall break. One stand is on a tree line next to public property and the other is facing a wheat feild that is next to a big CRP feild. Which is better to hunt now that the cold front has moved in?Winke Responds:Matt, Thanks for the support. I hope you like the shows. I would focus on stand near the food. The bucks aren't cruising yet, but they are milling around more and are on their feet a bit more during the day. I would not hunt a rut travel route yet. Stick with feeding areas in the evening (or back in the timber) and hunt near cover in the morning. In about a week you can start to shift toward those fenceline travel routes. Good luck.
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Byron Knight from MO asks:I have been hunting a buck that i believe to be at least 6.5 years old. I have his sheads for the past three years they have grown from 140...173...and last year to 193 inch typical 12 with some kickers. I know some of his core area on my side of the road and I know where he crosses to come for alfalfa in late Aug.and early Sept. the problem is I get trail pictures at night but have only seem him once nov.11 of last year and never again. My question is, do you think it would be possible to decoy this deer if i get lucky and see him and if so what would you use a buck or doe? Do old bucks tend to be very aggressive during the rut or are they more interested in food? This is an amazing deer and i feel my time is running out on getting a chance at him. can you offer some insight as to how these older deer think or how to hunt them during the rut it would be much appreciated?Winke Responds:Byron, I guess it is worth a try. You have to try everything you can to get him within range. You should be able to use the trail camera to help you determine when he comes over to your side and roughly where. I would sure setup in that area where ever you have an advantage. Most decoying experts say the buck decoy is the way to go. Older bucks tend to be aggreessive during the rut (6 1/2 is not super old, he is in his prime now). We have seen that some older bucks actually get more visible at this age (6 1/2 and older). I wouldn't be surprised if you see him more often this year. Food is always the key - it attracts does that attract bucks during the the rut and it attracts the bucks themselves during the late season. I would suggest you plant something attractive for late season next year if he is still alive. I don't have a really good way to hunt them - just stay as close to where they live as you can without spooking them and hope a doe comes into estrous and brings them out during the day. Good luck.
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Patrick from IL asks:Bill, I really want to bow hunt during the late season but here in Illinois all the deer seem to go nocturnal in the whole area near the 80 acres i hunt in Macoupin county in central west illinois after shotgun season. I have corn and a hayfield on oppisite sides of the timber that i hunt. Any strategy suggestion on when, where and what time in the late season to get out and at least get some opportunities at harvesting a late season doe or two?Winke Responds:Patrick, That is common. The longer you can wait after the gun season the better. That gives the deer time to settle back down. You need to find a good food source to be effective so keep scouting the food sources until you know for sure which ones they are using. That is about all you can do, unless you are able to find some deer coming out on a different area and gain access to hunt them. Sometimes that is possible in the late season, espcially if you promise to only shoot a doe. Good luck.
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Gary from GA asks:Thanks for patience with all of us. I would love for you to have a fee site for more exclusivety. Your a pro, and you should get paid for your advice. Its obvious lots of folks value it. I like Brad herdons book on mapping trophys...Hunting up in S Illinois Oct 30-Nov 6. There is a great N to S saddle I'm dying to hunt.Should i hunt this first or wait till the 3rd or 4th day. What terrain is best to hunt at the dawn of the peak rut. There lots of fingers, ridges there. There is only one crop field for miles.Thanks again for all your hard work for all of us! Blessings- GaryWinke Responds:Gary, Thanks for the support. I have read Brad's book too and it is a good one. I like to hunt the bedding ridges in the mornings, so I would look for those areas. The best spots are where a draw comes up toward the top of the ridge and pinches down the contour lines. The deer will tend to go around the head of the draw and thus be more concentrated at the top. Also, ditches (the topmost place where deer cross them) can also be very good in the mornings (and to a lesser amount in the evenings too). I would not hesitate to hunt the saddle within the first couple of days. If it is in the middle of your hunting area you may want to hold off and hunt your way in, but if it is near the fringes I would not be afraid to hunt it right away. Good luck on your hunt!
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Allan from ON asks:Hey Bill, just a question about your shooting lanes surrounding your treestands. What are your considerations when trimming your lanes around your stand? Do you trim less on a stand put up during the season vs a stand put up in the off season? Just wondering if you try to cut only the minimum or are you trying to remove the maximum amount of branches that you can without tipping off your location? Thanks and happy hunting, love the show. Al.Winke Responds:Allan, Just the opposite actually. When the leaves are on the trees it is very easy to cut too much. Then when the leaves drop you stand out like a sore thumb because all the leaves are gone. It is better to trim a bit less during the offseason (except near where you expect the deer to be - you can cut aggressively in that area). However, I would not cut aggressively up in the tree. Bring a small saw with you to trim a few branches if needed when you come back to hunt it. My guess is that you won't have to trim much. Prior to filming, it was always my goal to cut the minimum amount - just create holes, not lanes, but with video we need to show the deer better so we cut wider lanes. Good luck.
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wayne from MI asks:Bill again great hunting show. ** What's too close to place a second hunter if hunting a particular whitetail and you want to improve the odds of harvesting him? ** Second un-related question. Avid hunter with very little field experience in videoing hunts,(willing to learn): what is your recommendation of equipment - best bang for dollar?Winke Responds:Wayne, Thanks for the support. I don't like to have anyone else hunting the same movement patterns of the buck I am after, if at all possible. You can control how carefully you hunt, but rarely can you also control how carefully someone else hunts. If the other hunter gets sloppy just once, the buck will abandon those movement patterns and leave you high and dry. In some cases that may mean the other person is too close if he is 1/4 mile away or maybe he is OK being 200 yards away - it really depends on how he is set up relative to the buck's travel patterns. You will get the best bang for your buck buying used equipment. A good used Canon GL1 or GL2 would be a good starting point. If you want to higher end, the Canon XHA1 will produce a great image. Stick with the on-board microphone for starters, get a windcutter (thewindcutter.com) and a camera arm (Muddy) and a fluid head (Manfrotto 701HD). That should get you a very nice starter setup. Good luck.
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Aaron from AR asks:Hey Bill, I have noticed over the years that my best opportunity at a big buck during the daylight is in the creek bottoms below the ridges. However, the bottoms are much more difficult to hunt due to swirling winds and scent control. Do you think the big bucks are purposely using the bottoms because of the swirling winds? And, other than being meticulous on scent control, what would be your advice on trying to take one of these mature bucks in the bottoms with the settling thermals at night and swirling morning winds? Thanks. -AaronWinke Responds:Aaron, It is possible, I am not sure on that because they spend some time up on the ridges too. I think they use the bottoms because they connect them to where they want to be and they can keep a low profile as they travel. Also, the soil in the bottoms is usually moist and bucks love scraping in moist soil. Settling thermals on totally windless mornings and eveings may offer some hope for a controlled wind direction. I have had some success doing this, but such days are few. I just stay out of these places. Plain and simple. I have tried and tried to make them work. Sometime I have short term success but it always comes back to bite me. The only other option is a scent-containing ground blind. That will work well. I have done that effectively over the years even on windy days. Good luck.
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Why do you start hunting on October 25? Do you factor in the moon when selecting best dates to hunt?paul stringer from TN asks:Thanks so much for all your information you share...why is oct 25 your target to start hunting your farm? how long do you stay in the stand AM vs PM ? And last do you factor in the moon phase peek hunting times into your hunting decisions ? Thank you so much Pastor paulWinke Responds:Paul, Thanks for your support. I start on October 25 because that is when the rut activity starts to ramp up and when the mature bucks on this farm start to show more daylight activity. It is a pretty good start date every year. The hunting continues to get better until about November 7 and then tapers off until about November 18 or so and then gets better again for another week. I have seen the same cycle year after year. The only strange year I have ever seen that didn't follow this pattern to a T was last year - weird year. I don't like to hunt too much before the bucks are moving during the day because you can impact them at a time when they aren't vulnerable and thus make them less likely to move during the rut. I don't factor in the moon personally. I just go by the calendar which correlates to daylight length (the thing that controls rut timing). Pastor Paul does a great job and performs a great service for the viewers of the website. Good luck this fall.
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Alex from WI asks:i have about two hundred acres and on the north half of it i cant find a deer. all the land is on top hills with corn and soybeans planted on the top of the hills and thick vegetation surrounding the 100 + acres of farmed land. what do you think the problem is? should i go into that part of my land and walk around till i find a rub line and put a camera on it? help me find the deer on that half.Winke Responds:Alex, Not sure on that one. It doesn't make sense. My guess is that they are there unless there is something strange going on like dogs running them off. Which I doubt. I would look for terrain features that the deer travel around, like ditches, to see if you can find the trails. That is the simplest way to put together a pattern. You should also find trails entering the fields in their corners or back where they taper out on a ridge top. I am sure the deer are there. You just need to look for the sign. Forget the rubs, focus on trails. I have hunted some great areas that didn't have much buck sign. Good luck.
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jonah from NC asks:hey, i was wondering if youve ever hunted NC and if you knew wether or not if the deer here at this time of year would rathr stay in the open like tall grass fields with trees spotted everywhere or back in a swampy are cause lately my dads been huning the open and theyve been there but ive been told they stay in the dark thick stuff back in the hardwoods all i have seen out of my stand is mamas and babys hes seen tons of bucks and big doesWinke Responds:Jonah, I have never hunted NC. But you can count on certain things everywhere you hunt them. First, they are going to be close to where the food is, as long as they aren't being disturbed. It is likely that those scattered trees in the open grassy area are dropping something that the deer love to eat (acorns, persimmons, apples,?) Also, there may be something else in that area that they are eating. Food is the key to finding them. But if the hunting pressure starts to increase then they will fall back into areas where they aren't messed with - such as the dark cover you talk about. My guess is that you should hunt the open country and figure out what they are eating there. Then drop back deeper into the cover when the deer stop using this open cover. Good luck.
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Chris from TN asks:Hi Bill, Love the shows. I have a question about mast crop. I hunt hilly & mountainous areas alot & don't have the luxury of having soybeans & corn to hunt around. This looks to be a bad year for the acorn crop where I hunt. There are none to be found. What would you do as far as finding the preferred food source for deer when there are no acorns in hilly country? What would be your strategy come late Oct. & the first 3 weeks of Nov. Thanks for any help & keep up the good work on the show. ChrisWinke Responds:Chris, I would talk to a local deer biologist and find out the prefered browse for deer in your area. Then I would become an expert at finding those plants. I would learn where the best concentrations are of those browse plants and hunt those areas. I would also start looking for a few other places to hunt that have agriculture nearby (may take a while to find good hunting areas, but it is worth the search) just for a Plan B (if not for this year, at least for the future). Having specific food sources makes deer hunting way easier. There is no doubt about it. When you find the food you find the deer and if they are spread all around on browse patterns they are harder to hunt. Then you have no choice to focus on funnels and hope to catch bucks just out cruising during the rut. That works, but it is nicer when you can piece some patterns together to help you focus your hunting efforts. Good luck.
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Will I ruin the hunting if I carry a .22 and shoot squirrels in the public area I plan to deer hunt?Joey from WI asks:Hello, I have found a peice of public that I would like to hunt, do you think that it is okay to go bring a .22 along and go squirrel hunting or will it ruin the hunting there. Thak you, JoeyWinke Responds:Joey, I guess I would only carry the .22 when scouting. Try to scout as little as possible and stay out of the spots near your stands until you actually go in to hunt. Good luck.
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Rod from IA asks:I want to start by saying I enjoy the show and the web site. My question is do you know of a good web site that has old weather records wind direction/temp/precip ect. I have to come up with a better way to pattern the deer I'm hunting.Winke Responds:Rod, I use Wunderground.com and they have archived all the weather conditions for the past several years. Good luck.
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Luke from MN asks:Hey Bill. I recently had a very nice 9 pointer spot me in the stand. He was at 20 yards and we had a stare down for a few minutes. He trotted down the hill maybe 30 yards but then began to work his way back up the hill and almost presented me with a 25 yard shot but the trail he took didn't allow the shot. Do you think he knew what he saw or will I have to move the stand? Also when do you think is the earliest I could start hunting some of my rut stands? Thank you for all you do with the show and helping out these fellow bowhunters.Winke Responds:Luke, I don't think he figured you out or he never would have have come back your way. I would not move the stand at this point. If he spots you again, then I might, but I am guessing he will forget about it. If he had spooked, then I would be more nervous about the spot and would likely move the stand. I always save my rut stands for at least October 25. Really, the best stands I may wait even longer.
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Sam from IA asks:Hi Bill, I got permission on over 3500 acres in the Loess Hills this fall and have a stand put up but I'm having a hard time figuring out where to put my other ones. I've never hunted out there, its completely different from hunting back in central IA where I'm from. Most of the timber is all ridges and I am having a hard time knowing if I should hang my stands on the tops of the ridges or the bottums, I don't want to go into the timber of the ridges and spook the deer out. I'm thinking the tops are the best bet because if I put one on the bottum then the only way to get to it would be walking through the woods from the top and spook all the deer or come in from the field in front of the stand, but if I do that by the time its the rut(which is when I'll be hunting, no Oct. for me) then going to and from the stand any deer bedded in the timber will see me. I don't know, its an awesome area out there but a bit more challenging than the flat areas of the state. What do you reccomend, haveWinke Responds:Sam, I grew up hunting the bluff country of NE Iowa and believe that rugged terrain actually easier to hunt than flat country because you can use the terrain to tell you where the deer will travel. Definitely hang near the tops so the wind is more consistent - swirls too much in the bottoms. I would hunt the timbered ridges in the morning during the rut (not much before). I would look for any ditches that the deer have to go around and sit near the tops of those. I would look for saddles (low spots on ridges) where the deer cross the ridge top. I would also focus on any kind of sharp bluff that the deer don't go up or down and that way you know they will be traveling along the edge. In the evenings hunt near (but not necessarily on) any good food sources. Again look for anyhing in the terrain and cover that will concentrate and funnel moving bucks and hunt those spots. Good luck.
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Skyler from IA asks:Bill, My family owns around 650 acres in southwest Iowa. It is made up of primarily CRP, Hardwood timber (maybe 40 solid acres), and creek bottoms. For a few year we leased some of it out for crops, but now only have crops that border the property. Scouting and hunting the property are very frustrating due to the CRP mixture. It is very tall and difficult to walk through. Any tips for hunting land that is primarily in CRP?Winke Responds:Skyler, The deer will still have trails just like they do in timber. You have to scout it the same way. Look for trails, bottlenecks and food sources. If all the food sources are off your property that makes things a bit more difficult as you won't have as many optoins. In the the future I would try to get a few 1/2 to one acre clover and Big N Beasty plots scattered around the farm so you have some options. Those aren't real expensive to grow and will really improve your chances by concentrating deer in spots that you can hunt. So look for oak trees right now - ones that are dropping acorns and set up near those for some of your hunts. Otherwise, focus on natural funnels along the creek bottoms or in an area where the deer are leaving the larger block of timber and heading toward other areas of cover. My guess is that the bucks won't be afraid to walk from one area of cover to another even during the day on this property. So look for those natural crossings and the places where the deer travel funnels down. Good luck.
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Jess from LA asks:Bill - really happy to see your show getting stronger each year. Need your thoughts on something. I hunt in NW Louisiana. Lots of hunting pressure. See decent to very nice bucks each year on my cameras but they are always nocturnal. Year around, nocturnal. Any thoughts? Should I just stay out of the woods until rut and hope and then stay in the tree for 10 days in a row??? I'm kind of at a loss. I know I could buy a hunt in the midwest and have a better chance but, and this might sound stupid, I almost feel like that's giving up. Thanks.Winke Responds:Jess, You have to stay out of their core areas until they show some daylight activity on the cameras. If they never do, you can't stay out forever so go in during the rut. Some bucks are primarily nocturnal. I have certainly had my share of those. I have told you exactly what I would do. What you are faced with it not an easy challenge. Good luck.
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john from AR asks:Hi Bill thanks for all your work and the time you put in to help your fellow deer adicts. I had gotten a couple of reports of a nice buck being seen near my house. I happen to know the land owner of a small(40ac) peice of land the deer was seen on those two times. I ask for permission to hunt the ground and he happly agreed to alow me to hunt. season opens oct 1 the deer has only been seen at about 2am next to the road infront of this gentalmans house. but there is a thickit on the land (5ac) should I put out a trail cam or just slip in and hunt when season opens?Winke Responds:John, Trail cams first. Find out when the buck is moving and then once you see some daylight activity make your move. I would be very careful about your strategy here given the small property. Personally, I would probably borrow the landowner's vehicle or ATV, drive up and make noise, cut some wood, blow him out of the area, place a stand and put up the trail cam in a spot nearby, but far enough that you can get to and from the trail cam without spooking him. Then wait for him to come back. There is not really much else you can do short of sneaking in very carefully to place your stand and camera (very hard to do in a spot that is just 5 acres.) Good luck.
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Charlie from MO asks:Bill, I have a small food plot in a location where deer come from every angle. Would one want to place stands around the area to catch traveling to the plot/acorn flat, with the right wind or place the stand near or on the edge of the plot and hunt with the best wind? They come from the north south east and west. With my camera I can't tell their path of travel to the plot. Thank you and I love your show and website.Winke Responds:Charlie, I think I answered a question much like this one recently. For sure I would consider a ground blind in this setting. Make sure it is well brushed in and find ways to keep you scent from leaving out the windows or the bottom of the blind. There are several ways you can adhere plastic wrap to the windows to make it scentproof, but I will eave you to consider these since there is not enough room (or time) for more expound on it here. Maybe I will tackle this in a future edition of Winke's Blog. Good luck.
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Luke from MN asks:Hey Bill. It seems the deer on our 600 acre farm aren't coming out to the crop fields as much as past years. I'm assuming because of all the acorns we have this year and there is probably a lot of browse for them to feed on. About 200 acres of the farm is timber while the rest is pasture and fields. In the timber there are really no concentrated areas of oak trees, they are all scattered throughout the timber, and there are a lot of them. How should I hunt these early season deer? Right now I'm contemplating just waiting until mid-October to start hunting again and just run the cameras until then. What would Bill do?...Hey that could be a new slogan, What Would Bill Do? Haha...Thanks for your helpWinke Responds:Luke, You can mess up a farm by hunting it too hard during the first three weeks of October, that is for sure. I would be looking for a few select opportunities where you have a few large white oaks clumped together and hang a trail camera in that location. You have a chance of learning something useful in this way. After (if) you find a nice buck on an acorn pattern that you can exploit, that is when you hang the stand and start hunting. I guess, I figure the first three weeks of October are best served by hanging back, monitoring, looking for opportunities and then moving in. If you just start hunting in the hopes of stumbling blindly into one of these good situations will likely educate too many deer. Trail cameras are awesome scouting tools, the most incredible source of information you can have. You may as well take full advantage of them to help you decide where and when to hunt. That is what I would do. In fact, that is what I will do. Good luck.
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Brandon from MO asks:Bill, I have a hunting strategy question. I hunted the Missouri bow season opener last Thursday night and then also last Friday evening. I kicked up a small 9 point buck on my way to my stand last Thursday, and he has been running around on camera all summer with a really nice 8 point, but I did not see the 8 pointer kick up. I still had both deer on camera as of last week before hunting. Should I hunt this small wooded draw stand again now that the corn is being cut right next to this secluded area, or should I wait to go back in during late October/early November? I am also afraid of shooting any does in this draw b/c I don't want to screw up my rut success. I have a small 1/8 acre food plot in the woods inside the draw that is green and up as well. There has been a core group of 5 does on camera. Thanks Bill! -BrandonWinke Responds:Brandon, They wouldn't necessarily keep running together after shedding velvet and breaking up the bachelor groups. The other buck may or may not have been in the area too. My guess is that if they are, it is only temporary, but to get to your question, if that is your best area I wouldn't hunt it until one of two things happens. First, if you are getting a lot of daylight photos of a buck you want to shoot, you should start hunting the area. Second, when the rut is here then start hunting it. I wouldn't hunt it in the hopes that a deer will show up in daylight if your cameras aren't telling you it is likely to happen. In other words, stay out until the odds are good for success. That will keep the area fresher longer. Of course, you want to be in the field hunting and that is why you need other spots too. More spots means more opportunities to get afield while saving your best spots for the best times. Good luck.
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John from MO asks:Hey Bill, recently i have been hunting and have had two doe spot me and one ran and the other ran off snorting. I think i have pressured the area pretty bad already. What do you think i should do.It is also the only property i have to hunt. P.s. good luck this seasonWinke Responds:John, I think you need to find some additional properties to hunt, if at all possible. You need to be able to spread your pressure out so that you are only hunting a stand when the conditions are perfect and then only after resting it a while. Deer are really, really good at knowing when we have been in their living rooms even if we never see any evidence that they are spooked. Some may sneak away, others may smell our ground scent and become cautious in that area. That is the downward spiral you have there. The only way to stop it is to stop hunting the area for a while - at least a week. That means you need more places to hunt or you have to stay out of the woods under all but the perfect conditions and that is very hard to do. Good luck to you too.
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Cole from NC asks:I found three different spots on my dad's property this weekend that had 3-4 trees in one spot that were all rubbed up. I know from my trail cam pics that the deer have just lost their velvet and that sometimes buck rub trees to remove the velvet. Would these trees be considered "core rut areas" or is it too early for that to make sense to hunt them and more likely the rubs are just from rubbing velvet off? The rubbed trees are all in different parts of the property about 500 yards apart so possibly from different bucks. I also found one good rubline connecting a food source to a bedding area, so I'll definitely use that in my decision process in hunting now and for later, but my main question is concerning the validity of the small rubbed areas of 3-4 trees in one spot. Oh, and I found a scrape too, which seems early.Winke Responds:Cole, I would not read too much into it, but I would hunt that area as soon as the rubs show up. Ideally, you also have some daylight trail cam photos in that area too to confirm the choice. Probably different bucks, would be my guess. I would still get on them as soon as the rubs appear for just a day or two and then forget about them. The rub line is actually more promising. It is not too early for scraping though. I would be concerned with scouting too much right now. If the deer know that you are all of a sudden dogging their travel routes, they are likely to adopt new ones simply to avoid the areas with human scent. Still worth hunting, but sometimes the in-season scouting can be a problem. Remember what you learn from year to year and the deer will do nearly the same thing at the same time next year so you can set up on them without doing any scouting. Good luck.
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Luke from MN asks:Hey Bill, This Saturday is opening day for the bow season here in MN. It is supposed to be fairly cold like in the 50's and there is supposed to be a SSE wind. I have realized that I don't have any early season stands that are set up for this wind! All of my best rut stands would be great for this wind though...So here is my question, do I hunt one of my rut stands or take a chance with the wrong wind in an early season stand?Winke Responds:Luke, Never take a chance with the wrong wind. Better to hunt a rut stand sparingly (if they make sense for the current deer movement) than hunt another stand with a bad wind. Ideally, set up a new stand for the current wind near the areas where you suspect the deer are feeding or moving at this time. We do that all the time. Good luck.
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Jeff Nelson from WI asks:Bill, I know people that are very cautious about wind direction. As far as I can remember every mature buck I've taken has came In to my set down wind. Therefore I really don't use the wind much because most of the time I don't know exactly where a big buck is located. So how can a person hunt the wind if a giant can be, and can approach from any direction.Winke Responds:Jeff, I don't set up very often in places where the deer can come from any direction. I like to have a safe direction around each stand where my scent can blow, maybe a road, a pond, a deep ravine, the edge of a CRP field, etc. Someplace I don't really expect deer to approach from and then I only hunt that stand when the wind is blowing out toward the safe area and I always try to approach by way of the safe area. It is a simple strategy, but in areas where you can do it, it really works. If you are hunting the big woods, then this may not work. In that case, you have no choice but to very very careful with you clothing, gear and personal odor to reduce the distance downwind that a deer might smell you so as not to foul up too big of an area. I would still tend to set up where my scent blows to an area where the deer are least likely to approach. I hope that helps.
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Bret from MN asks:Hi Bill: Love the show and information. I am hunting a large piece of public land in central MN. There are corn fields put in by local farmers, adjecent to hay/grass fields. The crop fields are mainly surrounds by forrest which drop off into swamps. There are many little "fingers" that come out off the main woods onto the fields. I have found many scrapes and rubs, but seems the deer are very noturnal. What is the best strategy for getting on these deer?Winke Responds:Bret, Welcome to bowhunting. That is the same battle we fight everywhere. Some bucks (a minority) will move during the day after the summer patterns break up and before the rut (basically mid-Sept through late October) but most bucks will not move much during the day until around October 25 (give or take a day or two). I would not hunt hard until one of two things happens: your trail cameras turn up a nice buck moving during the day, or October 25 arrives. Then I would hunt in the most remote sections of the public area and not hunt near the edges where most of the other hunters we be hunting. The little fingers are good, but other hunters will key on them right away. Get back in there - on or next to the swamp and spend all day if you can hack it. Try not to over hunt these areas too early or you will educate the bucks at a time before they are moving during the day. Good luck.
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Luke from MN asks:Hey Bill. I have a question about how I should go about hunting a spot on our farm. Every year in one of the valleys on our farm there are multiple scrapes right near a big ditch crossing that look like they are hit hard all season. The problem is it is so hard to put a stand in this valley because the wind swirls so much. My dad has 2 stands on top of the ridge on both sides of the valley. Do you think I should just stick to hunting those stands or could I risk putting a stand right in the valley, or even a blind? Thanks for your help and keep up the good work with the show.Winke Responds:Luke, Stay with the ridges. Experience has taught me to have discipline and patience. The same deer that go through the bottoms eventually end up on the ridges too. Good luck.
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Todd from KS asks:Bill, During the rut phase when spending more time in the stand do you have a preference of what to eat ? Obviously nothing too noisy. But have you ever experimented as to what food you eat on stand is the most or least noticed by deer due to it's scent ? Maybe a crazy question more curious than anything. Thanks, ToddWinke Responds:Todd, You need to eat to stay warm on long sits. The best I have found is trail mix (which I like anyway) and sandwiches that have a bit of fat in them (such as summer sausage). You need the carbs of the trail mix and the fats of the sandwich to keep you warm. Also, don't forget to drink plenty of water because you will become dehydrated without even realizing it if you are outside for many hours. A quart of water is not too much to take with for an all day sit. I have never worried about breath odor, but if you are concerned, cap the meal off with a nice crisp apple. Good luck.
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jeremie from ME asks:hey bill thanx for all you do with the show! one question for you.. i am getting pics of a 170 class 10 point in the morning and night both.. with the season opener here in nebraska being sep 15th would you hunt him early or wait for the prime time to hunt him.. thanxWinke Responds:Jeremie, For sure hunt him early. Nothing to lose in that. If you don't get him the first few days, you can keep monitoring him with the camera and go after him again when you start to see some daylight activity breaking - usually in late October for most bucks (however some bucks do show some daylight activity at other times). Good luck.
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Should I set up with a wind that favors the bucks? How do I get a pattern on the bucks I am hunting?Eric from ID asks:Mr. Wink, do you think it is ever a good idea to hunt where the wind favors the buck? Is this effective if you hunt high enough? Also, I tried the WISE software sponsored on your site. Do you use it and how does it work for you? I was wondering do you think deer will really go to a certain spot based on the wind? I'm still trying to find a pattern to my deer using the software but am struggling to do so so far this year.Winke Responds:Eric, There are many variables in determining how much the bucks will use the wind. Different deer do it differently. For example, I have hunted mature deer that moved carelessly and I have hunted mature bucks that were very careful and cagey. Of course, I like the careless ones best. In general, I think you can expect bucks to travel on just about any wind. If they only moved into the wind, they would never cover any ground. Cross-winds are good to set up on. However, I have shot a number of mature bucks that were traveling with the wind right at their backs. I think that hunting pressure may cause some bucks to travel more carefully, but mostly it just causes them to become nocturnal. They still travel with the wind but do it after dark. In a round-about way, I think to answer your question, I would not ever set up with a wind that favors the buck. A crosswind will work fine or a wind that totally favors you. I have not had the time to use the WISE system yet, but the guys in the office use it and really like it. So it certainly does work. Patterning mature bucks is never easy. You can only work toward finding their tendencies, there is no such thing as a true pattern - except maybe in the late season. Good luck.
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Shea from ON asks:Hi Bill. I really enjoy the helpful information u give here. One question id like to ask is about the land i hunt. I hunt private farmland in southwestern ontario that consists of large flat fields of corn soybeans and winter wheat and flat hardwood woodlots that are fairly open. There is basically no terrain features to funnel deer anywhere. I see how u use different terrain differences to determine where the deer will travel and then how to hunt them and that makes alot of sense. But on my land i find it extremely difficult to pattern the deer. If u have any advice for me i would really appreciate it. Iv only been hunting three years so im still pretty new at this. Thanks!Winke Responds:Shea, It is tough in those conditions. Without funnels and specific bedding and feeding areas, you need to get more creative. You will need to look for corners or edges of various cover types, maybe you can find a concentrated food sources inside the timber that attracts them - such as acorns or a preferred browse plant. You will need to talk with a local biologist about what the deer browse on in your area and then go look for it. That might help you to concentrate deer. Without funnels it can be very hard, leaving you with only one decent pattern, the trail that usually appears about 30 yards in from the edge of the cover where deer cruise the edge just out of sight from the open fields. That can be a decent hunting method during the rut. Also, look for anyplace where the deer seem to prefer bedding, maybe next to thick cover. Like I said, it is a tough setting to concentrate deer, so look for anything that might help. If you have control of the land and can make a small opening or two back in the timber for 1/2 acre food plots, that is another way to concentrate deer.
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drew from IL asks:Hey bill i really apprciate all the help through the website. I found a scrape last year and put a camera over it and it produced very well and got me pictures of almost every buck on the property. I was gonna reactivate it this fall with a srape dripper. I was going to do it this year during pre rut, when do you think that is here in IL? Thank youWinke Responds:Drew, The bucks are already hitting scrapes here. I would say that anytime would be fine for starting the scrape, but for sure you should have it fired up and going by mid-October. That is the what I call the true beginning of the rut in this part of the country. On the right day, you can actually see "rutting" type behavior in mid October - usually when a cold front goes through. Good luck.
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Tracy from IA asks:Hey Bill, not really a question, but I thought I would comment on the guy asking about ghillie suits for deer. I have never used them for deer, per se, but my brother and I use them extensively for bowhunting turkeys, and we have had enough deer come around us then to say that they work great. The do work best when in some kind of cover, as you mentioned, but they are really good even in the wide-open, as long as you don't move - I've had deer come within 20-30 yards of me while I was standing in the middle of an open field and not pay me any attention. As long as you don't move to much they just don't recognize the shape as human. TracyWinke Responds:Tracy, Thanks for the comment. That is what I have seen too, with the snow camo, at least. It is amazing to have them walk right past without even noticing you. Good luck.
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RW from OK asks:Bill, keep up the good work with the online show! The property I hunt is approx. 40 woded acres and 40 hay pasture. Most of it is on a gentle sloping hill. There is a creek at the bottom is fairly dense timber that flows into a watershed lake. Ive noticed that since its a fairly "round" piece of property its very hard to pattern the deer with the lack of funnels. But, we seem to see them almost everywhere we go there. There is no food plots but plenty of acorns in the timber. I know youve said to hunt bedding areas in the morning and food in the evening. Im not entirely sure where the deer are bedding out there. I do manage to kill a few small deer out there each year but and see a few big ones but have never been able to pattern them. How do you reccomend I hunt this property?Winke Responds:RW, Sounds like maybe the whole property is both bedding and feeding. That makes it harder to hunt. I would look for concentrations of oaks that are dropping and spend most of my time in that area. Also, creeks tend to be travel routes, so I would definitely look for a good stand near the creek where you can also cover a crossing (if possible). Short of studying aerial photos and topos (no, don't offer to send them - sorry, no time) that is my best starting point. Sometimes you can also find subtle funnels created by the terrain, such as ditches, saddles, creek crossings (mentioned). If you find these, be sure to hunt those too. Main thing is to find spots you can hunt without the deer knowing you are there. Sounds like there are enough deer that regardless of where you set up, if the deer don't know you are there, you will have action. Good luck.
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Jon from NY asks:I don't generally hunt over food plots, but there is one at my camp (10,000 acre parcel large timber mostly cherry, surrounded by more wilderness) the plot is maybe 1/2acre to 1.5 acres, tucked into some ridges and then breaks down to a large (1000yrds across) beaver flow. Massive bucks are shot in or around this food plot every year during rifle, I would like to get in during opening archery and try to get one. the shots for rifle are 400 yrds away and the food plot is very well maintained. where would I go about hunting this plot with limited time? its about 30yrds by 50yrds maybe, should i set up mid plot? up on a ridge near a trail? how would you go about it? thanksWinke Responds:Jon, On a plot that small, I would be tempted to have a ground blind right along the edge, a portable one that you can remove when you are done hunting. I would put it up under some kind of low tree or in thick brush and then brush it in very well. Make it so it is hard to even see at close range. Cut just smal shooting holes through the cover. I would put it where you can get a shot to anything in the plot. Put it up as soon as possible. My ideal blind would be a fully enclosed model that will also help to contain some of your scent. The manufactured models work well and you can simply fold it up and remove it when you are done hunting. Give the deer plenty of time to get used to it before you start hunting - that is why I was suggesting that you get it out soon. If you think you can sneak out at the end of shooting time you can give it a go, but more than likely you will need to have someone drive in and move the deer off so you can get out without alerting them. If you don't have the luxury, you will have to place the blind a few yards deeper in the brush, door in the back, and then try to sneak out. That can be very tough unless the conditions are perfect. Good luck.
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Keb from AL asks:Bill, I have acces to a 80 acre farm I can hunt, would tent camping next to my truck at the pull in on the end of the farm near a group for trees where a old home place was cause more harm than good. It would be during the rut and walking to my stnads from there via gravel road and fence rows to the other end.Winke Responds:Keb, I think you will be OK at least part of the time. The only problem comes when the wind blows from your tent toward the timber and the deer have to deal with your scent coming from a place they aren't used to scent coming from all night. I guess, I would camp somewhere else just to be safe. If it was a currently active homesite, no problem, but you are asking them to accept something aren't used to and they are not quick to do that. Good luck.
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Bucky from IL asks:First thanks for posting my question you have a tremendous show and web...my question is can you bring to us a hunt on deer reaction to Ghillie suits both from on the ground and up in a stand ..I see all the predator shows using them and a light came on that this is really cool up close and personal way to hunt...have you tried a Ghillie suit yourself... on Whitetail???Winke Responds:Bucky, That is a good idea. I am not sure we will have a hunt for you, but I can offer what I think will happen. I think it will work well as long as you have some foreground cover to break you up and as long as you only move when the deer is looking away. Deer are not really super good at seeing outline shapes but they are very good at seeing movement so any movement is bad thing. I have never tried them on whitetails but I have used winter/snow camo a few times and had deer walk literally within feet of me without noticing me and that was with sitting in front of the cover. Again, I think the Ghillie will work awesome as long as you don't move, meaning it may be perfect for gun hunting in areas where you don't have to wear blaze orange (there are a few such places). Not as good for bowhunting unless you can move when the deer is looking the other way. Good luck.
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chris from TN asks:Hi there love the show! I am hunting about 20 acres of hardwoods with a housing development on the backside of the property which is the east/southeastern side and a sand plant on the west/northwest end . I can only approach the property from the west/northwest end and everytime i enter the woods i jump the same couple does everytime i go in and the snort for 20 min after i jump them and i still have to walk in . They are there before daylight or at lunchtime when i go back. just dont know what to do there are some nice bucks in that patch of hardwoods but im afraid the does are ruining it for me! Please help ! I have tried going in the woods as far from them as i could possibly get and they still pick me off ! I still have time to try something new before season starts last week of sept. Please help me try to bag one of those good bucks! Thank You So Much!Winke Responds:Chris, You need to kill those does! It is that simple. Not sure how you can by them, maybe get in there early one morning and set up for them near where they bed. There is really no other option. Maybe this year they will have moved, so you can hope for that bit of luck. However, if it isn't them, it is likely to be others. Options for the future include planting a screen of Plot Screen (Frigid Forage) or moving in some cedar trees or the like to cover your entry and exit routes. Keep a low profile. You may even resort to driving to the edge, chasing them off with the vehicle, make some noise, drive off and then sneak back in on foot. That might actually work too. Good luck.
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Matt from PA asks:I've noticed over the last couple of years that your first hunt and some of your friends first hunt of the season is usually around Halloween. Is that by choice or when Iowa's archery season opens. If it is your choice why wait? Thanks, MattWinke Responds:Matt, That is by choice. I do hunt a bit (a few times) in early October, but I have so much work to get done so I can focus on hunting that I am usually very busy in the office and shooting photos in October. I normally start on October 25 or thereabouts. Before that it can be pretty hit and miss so that is now my annual starting date. Also, I don't like to hunt too much in early October unless I have a buck that I am after that I think will be vulnerable. You can spend a lot of time and leave a lot of scent in the woods at a time when bucks aren't moving much during the day. Prior to filming, I used to start on November 1 every year. I hunted out state more back then and saved my local hunting for November. Good luck.
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Shannon "Doc" from TN asks:Hi there Mr. Winke, -- I am a Tenn. native & also reside in southeastern Tenn. My buddy & i are going on our 14th season as Illinois non-res. hunters. I even met Andy after the '09 second shotgun season. We were both headin home with bucks in the trucks. -- Well i have a question: My mentioned buddy and i have two "nice" bucks hanging around a food plot & moultrie feeder that we recently put out. (as of now, the food plot is protected by electric until bow season) . i NEVER in my life woulda thought that 2 pope/young bucks would ever be in my backyard. They are equally what we drive to illinois for year after year. What tip can you give us, to keep these bucks around for 30 more days ? .....we have 1200+ trailcam pics of these bucks in the last 2 weeks, plus we have the HD cameras ready to catch the carbon smackdown on film. -- Thanx for any advice u can give.Winke Responds:Doc, You can't keep them there if they have it in their heads to spend the fall somewhere else. All you can do is make the area as appealing a possible and hope for the best. I keep the food going and stay away from the area as much as possible. Spread out a few cameras on the fringes and see if you can catch them (find them back) after they shed their velvet and break up their bachelor group. That is pretty much all you can do. Maybe take the food plot electric fence down a bit early to be sure they have a good natural source there to hold them. Sounds like an exciting deal though. I sure hope you are able to get one (or both) of them. Good luck!
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Brad from IA asks:How much buck hunting do you do in October? I have about 150 acres of timber to hunt spread over 2 properties. Every year I find myself hunting less and less in October. The reason being I want to save my 1st hunts in the best areas for the best days possible.I do a little observation type hunting earlier but I do not push the issue till at least the last few days of October. My only exception is a sharp cold front in October which may get me to try one of my better spots. The last couple years Iv'e felt like that may have been a mistake due to very warm weather in the 1st half of November. Do you suggest hunting a little harder in October or am I better off waiting due to my limited acres? thanks!Winke Responds:Brad, I would say you are right on track. I may mess around in early October just because I love being in a tree, shoot some does, get used to hunting again, but my serious hunting doesn't start until Oct 25 each year and as you state, it doesn't normally get interesting until about Oct 29, or so. If you are going to hunt harder in October, I think you need to have a separate farm where you can do that (or a certain part of the one you are hunting later). Then as you begin to impact the deer after several hunts, you can just slip off and start hunting your better area. Regardless of how careful you are, you only have a certain number of good hunts in any area before you have educated too many deer. The more carefully you hunt, the more hunts you have before that happens. I do like the cold fronts in October too. It gets them up and on their feet for a couple of days.
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Curt from OH asks:Hey Bill, looking forward to this years online shows! Over the years I've pretty much stayed away from hunting any types of valleys or creek bottoms. Focusing mostly on ridge tops, hill sides and points or dead end outside corners, inside corners etc. Recently I've had several guys trying to get me to hunt a bottom on our property that I don't have much of faith in doing because of changing wind problems. What are your thoughts on hunting high or low on the terrain.Winke Responds:Curt, I believe you are doing the right thing. The bottoms are only trouble unless they are wide enough to eliminate swirling. They have to be at least a 1/4 mile wide for that to happen. Then it only makes sense to hunt on the windward slope where the wind is hitting directly. Anytime you hunt a spot that is "out of the wind" you will have to deal with swirling so I avoid such spots. Good luck.
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Brandon from MN asks:Bill, for years I have been hunting two different pieces of public land that don't get much hunting pressure. there is a great number of deer and some very nice bucks, here is my problem, both pieces of land are big blocks of timber with some thicket and swamp. One of them has a small river that runs through the middle of it. I have a tough time staying on the deer, I have lots of trail cam pics of both bucks and does but its the same thing here today gone tomorrow. As a group we shoot deer but I want to have a little more consistency, how would you tackle big blocks of timber like this? How do I plan entry/exit routes? What should I be looking for in a good stand location? I only hunt with a bow too.Winke Responds:Brandon, I am not an expert on hunting big blocks of timber. All I can do is offer what I know about deer and hope to apply it to your situation in some way. Food is always the key to finding the deer. If the food is spread out and not concentrated as it often is in big woods (browse and mast patterns) the deer will also be spread out. That means the deer are likely to have those kinds of roaming patterns. If you can find any kind of concentrated food source, take advantage of it. It may a good oak grove on acorn production years. Maybe some king of preferred browse that is concentrated in one area. You will have to talk with a local biologist about what the deer eat in your area and become an expert at identifying those plants. But the bucks will still cruise during the rut so any kind of funnel that brings big areas into one small bottleneck (like creek/river crossings, where they go around a swamp, etc.) will produce good action during the rut. It may be hard to pattern and hunt one particullar deer in that setting - much harder than here where I hunt, but you can still enjoy good hunting by finding those concentrated food sources early and late in the season and hunting the funnels during the rut. Good luck.
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ryan jasperson from MN asks:Bill~ Any advice on hunting suburban wood lots??Winke Responds:Ryan, Best advice is to match the normal human activity in the area you go about hunting it (especially as you plan your entry and exit routes). If there is regular human activity in a certain area at a certain time, the deer will get used to it and you can use this to advantage to cover your own activity in setting up to hunt them. That is the main thing. You obviously need good areas and that can be tough, but I am sure you know that already. Beyond that, just be creative and you will have plenty of fun hunting these areas. Good luck.
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Ted from MD asks:You talk a lot about sensitive areas. Do you EVER hunt sanctuaries or bedding spots for deer? Also do you keep running deer cameras up year round or ever use them to help you bag a buck? Ted Annapolis, MarylandWinke Responds:Ted, I do hunt bedding areas a bit during the rut (morning hunts) but I almost never hunt sanctuaries. I have parts of our farm that are hard to hunt easily without intruding and possibly bumping deer, so I just leave these as my sanctuaries. I hunt the areas that are easy to hunt and leave the rest as sanctuaries. I run my trail cameras from about early October until around the end of October. This year I may run them longer. I learn nearly everythiing I need to know about the deer in October. Good luck.
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Nathan from PA asks:I'm hunting a new piece of property that has several ridges/hills on it. I've never hunted the property or a property with such terrain. I know this a vague question, but where should I put my stands? The ridge tops have oaks as do some of the sides of the hills. I always try to look on your shows where you have stands on hills but I can never get a good image of where you have them whether it's the top of the ridge, 3/4 down the ridge, 1/2 way down the ridge, at the bottom of the ridge or what not. Thanks for your time-- Nate DogWinke Responds:Nate, Typically you will find the best action about 25% of the way down off the top of the ridge on the downwind sidehill. Bucks tend to cruise this trail heavily during the rut. Hope that helps. Good luck.
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Andrew from NY asks:There is about a 1000acre block that I hunt with 200acre patch cut out that is owned by another hunting party. It's mainly a huge side hill with a very swampy thick bottom. The past few years we have had some really nice bucks all summer then they disappear for most of the season. We stay out of the swamp(150ACRES) until late season and drive it off usually resulting in taking one of the nice bucks. Is it worth cutting a path and setting up on the ground in the swamp for bow season or will I educate them too much? I plan on making the set up in the next few weeks but can't decide if its worth the risk or continue to hunt the edges.Winke Responds:Andrew, It is worth hunting a few times but don't hunt it too hard or too early. Wait until the best rut dates, probably around November 7 or so for a couple of hunts. I have a friend who specialized in hunting swamps up in MN and ND. He used to make trails for the deer to follow and he actually sunk in fenceposts for them to stop and rub on right in his shooting lane. He would hunker back in the brush or reeds in a small brush/reed blind (with a small shooting lane) and when the deer come down the trail he had made between two areas of higher ground, they would stop at the wooden fencepost to sniff it or rub it and then he would have time to decide if the deer was big enough and draw his bow. It sounds like a very cool way to hunt. You might want to give that a try. Good luck.
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Drew from KS asks:Hey Bill, I just read a quiz on Bowhunter Mag's website. One question said that you believe that access to stands is the top variable for success. I know that is true, but it said that you wait until light to enter in the morning to enable you to see and be quiet. I have seen a lot of deer (especially big bucks at the first hint of light. Do you feel going in later would hurt the chances of seeing deer, or increase the chance of bumping deer?Winke Responds:Drew, In my experience, you get away with more if you can move fast and quiet even if it is gray light. It is the slow, crunch, crunch that unnerves deer. I am moving as soon as I can see the ground. Sometimes it is still nearly dark, but I move fast and quiet and that seems to get me past the deer without too much alarm. I have tried it the other way, crunching and using flashlights and it never seems to work as well. If you have to cross open ground to get to your morning stand you may have to go in very early. I try to avoid such spots unless they are well away from where the deer will be. Good luck.
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Jason from IA asks:Bill thanks for answering my earlier soybean question about my area of Iowa.I got another one for you. Since you know the layout kind of in my area of Iowa "Calhoun Co." I have a very, very hard time trying to figure out core areas around here. For the most part it seems like these bucks have no real core. Most of our timber is on rivers and creeks and it seems like these bucks just move up and down the rivers all the time once the velvet comes off. From what I've seen you hardly ever catch a mature buck in one place consistantly in the fall. There are a few exceptions in a couple pieces of ground that are huge and no one hunts, but for most areas around here it seems like it's dang near impossible to pattern 1 buck. It's more like you hunt an area with sign and hope a good one shows up, not find, pattern & hunt 1 specific deer. Any insight on this???Winke Responds:Jason, There aren't any situations where mature bucks are extremely patternable, but in areas with lots of cover they generally don't roam as far as they do in more open areas. However, on the flipside, they are more visible and vulnerable in open areas and that kind of evens things out. They definitely will travel farther in creek bottom habitat than in more wooded areas, but they still have a basic core and range over which they roam. My guess is that each buck spends more time in one area than any other. I used to hunt that kind of habitat out in Kansas all the time and the bucks definitely had their core areas. Spend some time with trail cameras in October and I think you will find that you have some bucks that stay pretty close to home and others that roam through. This is typical. The biggest challenge in that kind of cover is getting in and out without the deer seeing you. Be sure to use brushy fencelines, ditches, secondary creeks, etc. to keep a low profile going in and coming out. Also, expect to find the mature bucks bedded in small cover areas just off the creeks, such as a brushy corner of a field, CRP fields and any kind of small wood lot (no matter how small). Hunt them in the funnels near the creek and the funnels leading away from the creek toward possible bedding areas. It is not as hard as you think, you just need to invest the time to learn more about the deer. Good luck.
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Joe from MN asks:well my question is if you had to choose to hunt with a few other guys or hunt alone what would you pick and why? the reason i ask is i was hunting with some family and friends and now none of them what to hunt the 2011 season i see that as my chance to tag a nice buck but also see that as now i have alot of land and not enough eyes to see what parts of the land the deer are using moreWinke Responds:Joe, That is why they make trail cameras. I would hunt alone. Purely from the selfish side where you are trying to shoot a nice buck, fewer people means less pressure and that means you can spread yourself out more and keep the deer from knowing you are hunting them. The deer will be moving naturally for longer and that will lead to more daylight sightings and likely better success. I like a hunting camp where everyone gathers to compare notes after the hunt, but I don't really like to compete with other hunters for prime locations or have to deal with the impact they are producing on the deer. Alone is almost always better when it comes to filling tags.
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mohammad ali from MI asks:Hey bill, hope your off season is going good. well im sure you remember me, i wanted to ask you about the area im scouting in. you see the area is filled with very tall grasses and plants, so how can i see any deer, the thing is that when i went scouting, i didnt see any deer but i seen lots of signs so what do you think is the problem? is it because the deer see me but i cant see them so they spook out? I also went into the timber but i think its impossible to see some deer or even hang up a treestand with all the millions of sticks on the floor that snap, crackle and pop when i step on them. thanks for your helpWinke Responds:Mohammad Ali, My guess is that the deer heard, smelled or saw you coming and moved off. If the sign is there, the deer are there. I wouldn't worry about that part. When it comes to placing your stand in the timber, it is not a big deal if you spook deer a bit now when placing your stand as long as you can get in and hunt it later undetected. That likely means you will have to rake a trail on the forest floor to get to your stand without making a bunch of noise. Many hunters have to do this in order to get in quietly. This isn't uncommon. Good luck.
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Ben from MI asks:Hey Bill, I know your probably busy as ever getting ready for the future bow season but i have a pretty complex hunting situation that limits my time in the woods and how i use it. I live in the twin cities of MN and hunt in Upper Michigan. My time up there is strictly weekend and i hunt over 1000 acres. The problem i have is my early season is great every year i see 40 to 50 deer a sit but the quality of deer is not there in this time of the season, the big boys tend to hangout and not show up till the end of shooting hours. Then november hits and world war 3 hits with all the gun hunters. Everything goes nocturnal.... i sat every 3 day weekend i could muster up last year and the last 2 months of season seemed pointless because i would see 3 deer a sit all day, where in early season per sit i would see 40 to 50 deer. Any suggestions on how i could develope a game plan to hunt early season when there is a more productive sit? because the hunting pressure is rediculous and its notWinke Responds:Ben, I would focus on making small plots inside the timber near the bigger fields. These are classic staging areas for early season and might help you to get a shot at a mature buck before end of shooting time. I would make them about 1/2 acre and plant to clover. If you can't make plots, look for natural openings and then mow them down, spray them, till them and plant to clover. Another option is to plant brassicas like Frigid Forage Big N Beasty. They are attractive in the fall. The food source/staging areas will be great spots right up until the season opens. I would hunt those first two weeks of November very hard - right before the gun opener. Take vacation then if you can - those are the best days of the season. Good luck.
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Nick from CT asks:Hi Bill, I have a set up that overlooks a saddle in a ridgline that seems to have a lot of activity.I can sneak in through a valley and then drop down behind the ridge line on my left where my stand is located. Typically, the deer approach from the opposite side of the ridge where I aproach. However, I have to approach from the upwind side. A NW wind blows my scent straight ahead and towards the ridge. Once on stand, I can keep my scent away from deer while they work into the wind, but I am concerned about the approach. Do you think these terrain features would keep my scent from covering to much area, allowing me to effectively hunt the spot. Thanks for the help. NickWinke Responds:Nick, It sounds like a cool setup, but a bad entry strategy. I never like going to a stand with anything but a head wind. The terrain features won't conceal your scent - it will swirl around and deer will pick you up. I would have to see the specifics of the setup, but from your description, I don't like the sound of it. Better to keep thinking of creative ways to get to the stand, different winds to hunt it on or hunt it only after you have exhausted all your other spots and you have nothing to lose. Good luck.
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Clint from AR asks:Can't wait til this season of MW!! I am going to try to bowhunt public land in Nebraska this year. Do you have suggestions on what area to start looking. Keep up the great work!Winke Responds:Clint, According to one of our producers, Greg Clements, who grew up in Nebraska, you should look for areas with low human populations as a good starting point. He suggested central and western NE to get away from the hunting pressure. The best resource is the Nebraska Game and Parks website which has all the public areas listed. There are also some public areas along the Missouri River, but you must draw the tag. Nebraska also has a program in which landowners make their ground available for public hunting in exchange for some fees from Game and Parks. I am not sure of the name of the program right off the top of my head, but again, their website should have information about this program too. Here is the address for a good public land resource: http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/pdf/huntguide.pdf Good luck.
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Rob from WI asks:Hello Bill, Season length has caused our group to discuss moving into an area of the property we hunt that we normally shy away from entering. I believe the possible disruption of an easily hunted area is reasonable when sightings constantly occur at the deeper, harder area to access. It very well may be a harvest on day one in that stand or its over. I still think its worth the chance. Any advice ? Thanks, Rob.Winke Responds:Rob, I think if you do that it has to be last resort. You really need some sanctuary areas to keep the deer comfortable in your hunting area. If you push into these areas too soon you run the risk of educating too many deer and making the entire property harder to hunt. Again, it will probably be OK, but only late in the season. Good luck.
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Billy from AL asks:I just finished watching your show on using deer decoys. It was very educational. I live in Alabama and like yourself I hunt every chacne I get. Ive got a hunt in Illinois for the first time in late October through the first of November. What should I do while bowhunting there? Should I use a decoy, grunt or rattling?Winke Responds:Billy, It would certainly work. That can be a very good timeframe for early rutting activity. I just finished an article for Petersen's Bowhunting (Oct issue) about this subject. In it I made the point the the last cold front in October will typically produce one of the best couple of days of hunting during the entire rut. So you need to pray for a cold front during that time. Good luck.
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Chris from LA asks:I have a friend that hunts Kansas with me and we're interested in hunting Missouri also. His mother has a house on Tablerock Lake that we can use. It's in Stone County. I was just wondering if you are familiar with the area and if you have an idea on the quality and quantity of bucks in that area. I think there's a pretty good bit of public land in that area. Any ideas?Winke Responds:Chris, That part of MO is known for limited food sources, which translates into bucks of modest size. The public areas do produce decent numbers of mature bucks, but they will not be as numerous or as large as you see in KS - not even close really. You also have to go in deep in the public areas to have the best hunting - at least that is what I have heard from guys that hunt those often. I have not hunted that area myself. If that doesn't bother you, I think it would be fun hunting. Anytime you go into an area with miles of unbroken timber to hunt deer, it is a good adventure, though challenging. Good luck.
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Blake from SD asks:Bill, I have set a stand about 30 yards from the L in a grove of trees. The deer always hang out in the ag field right in front of me. Whenever I sat there last year, the wind was dead calm from about any direction. Would it be best to have the wind in my face blowing into the trees or from my back? Thanks and good luck with the TV series.Winke Responds:Blake, Those are no-win situations. No matter what wind you hunt that on, you are going to have some deer eventually get downwind of you. There is no good answer. I try to avoid stands that don't have a safe direction for your scent to blow. However, assuming you want to hunt this stand, I would probably set up so your stand is deeper into the woods than the edge trail and then hunt it when the wind is blowing from the field into the woods. If you really want to hunt the deer in the field, then I would have a ground blind out in the ag field and hunt them that way. Make sure the blind is sealed to keep your scent in, but still hunt it with the wind blowing from the timber out into the field. Tough situation to hunt effectively from a tree stand. Good luck.
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Bret from TX asks:Bill- Great show, I find it to be one of the more informative shows out there these days. I have seen a number of other questions regarding hunting in NC Kansas. This will be my 2nd year hunting up there. The majority of farms I can hunt have a lot of crops, some good grass and a creek running through them. Some of the farms may be all crops separated by a creek. It sounds like you are very familiar with the area up there. When scouting the open, rolling farm country up there, what is the best thing to look for? I have been studying my aerial maps and trying to focus on other areas than just the creeks. Thanks for your feedback and keep up the great show,Winke Responds:Bret, When I have hunted that kind of country I look for two things. First, I find properties (neighborhoods) that aren't heavily rifle hunted. You can literally (not exaggerating) wipe out all the bucks in a section if you hunt it right with rifles. Second, I focused on tracks crossing the roads. There are roads every mile in most of that country, so you get a very good idea what is using the area and when by just cruising the dirt/gravel roads and studying the tracks in the shoulder where the road crosses a creek. You are looking for big fresh tracks when decding where to hunt that day. If you see giant tracks going into a section and not coming out, you know he is in there somewhere. Then I usually tried to hunt two types of spots: the crop fields on the inside of the creek bends in the evening and (if possible) the cover very near the creek on the inside of the bend in the morning. You have to come in during the dark of morning and cross the creek into the bend in order to avoid detection. Sometimes the creeks are such that you can wade them, but most of the ones in that area are pretty deep and slow. That is my best advice for now. Good luck.
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Debbie from MO asks:love the show, My question is do you make it a habit to stay standing up on stand while bow hunting? Want to get your thought on this thanks.Winke Responds:Debbie, Thanks for the support. I do like to stand most of the time. This worked better before we started filming. I would almost always put my stands on the back of the tree (away from where I expected to see the deer) and then hide behind the tree when hunting. This kept me out of sight better than if I was sitting. Many of my stands don't even have seats on them! You need to stick with medium sized trees as this won't work on big trees (you can't shoot around them easily). Good luck.
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john from AR asks:okay I have a buck I have been chasing the last couple years. Last year I sarted to focus on him and this year he is at the top of my list. He is probly four years old and lives in an simi urban seting in norther arkansas. I got a couple day light pics of him last late season (01-01-11ish) the area he lives in is prity steep with very rocky soil lots of ceder and mixed oak and 6-10 feeders in back yards all around. my question what is the likely size of his home range? We can start hunting the first weekend in september. do you think he will be close to his winter hide out? Bill thank you for your help johnWinke Responds:John, Every deer is different so you have to learn his personality separately. However, it is fair to say that most bucks' home ranges shrink as they get older. I have seen some with ranges as small as 40 acres and that is in areas where there aren't any homes to restrict them. So, don't be surprised if the buck's home range is very small in that setting. I would have trail cameras in as many areas as possible to try to sort out his personality and his range. Of course, you are looking for two things: where he is spending his time and when he moves during the daylight. I don't think I would hunt him until you know these things or you run the risk of educating him at a time when he is not killable. In your setting, I would say he will be close to his winter grounds next fall, but maybe not during the summer. He may have two slightly different ranges based on several factors, not the least of which would be food sources. I would focus on finding his summer range and if he is visible during daylight in this area, hunt him there on opening day. If not, wait, monitor and pray until he is vulnerable.
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Brian from PA asks:Bill, First off, I gotta tell you I love the show and am a big fan of your articles and book. I live in Southeast PA, and I am an urban deer hunter. Most of the properties I have permission to hunt on are old farms with newer housing developments going in around them. With the hunting pressure here, I will shoot 3 year old bucks 100" or more. I have taken two 3 year olds in the last 3 years scoring around 120". That is a good buck here and I try to be realitstic about my expectations. But this year I got a suprise. I left my trail camera out during the rut and discovered a huge typical 8 with a 7" drop tine on the right side. He will probably score in the 160's. The gentleman who owns the adjoning property found the droptine side shed and says he has pics of this buck for the last five years. I'd say that puts him around 8 yrs old. The only problem is that even during the rut the only time this buck likes to have his picture taken is at night. And no one has everWinke Responds:Brian, That is exciting. Your question got cut off, but I bet I know where you were heading. You are wondering how you kill an old nocturnal buck? I don't have a good answer for you. Sometimes they get senile after a certain age, or at least they start to become much more visible. We have had good success with really old bucks, but the five and six year olds have been the hardest for me. So maybe he will be more visible this year. Keep the cameras going and if he shows in daylight, hunt him immediately. Otherwise, I would be fairly conservative and not push him too hard. No point pushing him if he is only moving at night. However, with the numbers of people around, you have another opportunity. If you can figure out where he beds, you can probabl bump him out, set a stand and hunt it the next morning. Get in early. He won't be too offended by your bump because he no doubt is used to people. Otherwise, all you can do is hope he starts moving in daylight. Good luck.
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mike from IL asks:bill last year i found a few trails of my farm back in the woods that had serval scrapes along the trail. are these trails with scrapes worth setting up on or do you think they will be checked at night like most of our field edge scrapes areWinke Responds:Mike, I would definitely hunt them the last week in October. I think the bucks would likely travel that route in daylight. Good luck.
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Jonathan from MO asks:Mr. Winke, I hunt on property that is not mine, nor do I have a formal lease agreement (I hunt for free) so I am unable to establish "food plots". I dont have much time or the equipment to plow/plant/fertilize. Is there any product out there that I could spread in either clearings or wooded areas that will grow and attract deer? Thanks.Winke Responds:Jonathan, You can usually establish some simple plots easily, but you do need some open sunlight or it won't grow. If you have some clearings there that you can spray with a backpack sprayer full of RoundUp solution you can get a kill. It takes about 2 weeks to really do its work. Then remove the vegetation that is dead to get to the soil. You may even be able to do that with a garden rake if the plot is small enough. Now, ideally you would bring a garden tiller but even just raking the soil aggressively to open it up a bit will help. Spread either clover or a brassica blend like Frigid Forage's Big N Beasty on the ground ahead of a rain (do this in late July in MO) and you should have a decent plot by opening day. The clover will carry over until the next year but the brassicas are an annual so they will be gone and you will have to start over. Both will attract deer, but the brassicas likely will produce much more forage the first fall and clover. If you can create a little sweet spot that is just 50 feet by 50 feet in a secluded area, it will attract deer and is worth doing. Good luck.
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Dalton from KS asks:Hey love the show I think you guys are doing a GREAT job with it. i have heard a lot about deer management from you and was wondering how would I manage deer in Kansas where we are only allowed to shoot 1 buck per year. I have heard that if you shoot spikes that you will have a fewer deer but have stronger genetics. I have over 6,000 acres of private land mostly farm land to hunt, I haven't even been on most of it but should I focus on the properties that have the most sign and hunt them hard or set up a stand or two on each and rotate every two days or so and hunt with the wind. I have public land 20 miles down the road so I have plenty of land to hunt. Thank you for all the tips.Winke Responds:Dalton, I would focus on the best areas each year. I would go by summer sightings, mostly. Trail cam photos help too. Find the biggest bucks and focus on the four or five bucks that are showing up in daylight once the season opens (again the cameras will tell you which ones). I would not worry about culling bucks. It is a misconception anyway that spikes are inferior. Often they are just born late the previous year and will catch up within another year or two. Good luck.
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Dylan from MO asks:LOve the show...my question is that i have a great spot to set up a stand but its in the bottoms and it is swampy and hard to get a food plot there so what can i do to enhance my chances this fall thanksWinke Responds:Dylan, You can try a bit of Big N Beasty in the late summer when things dry out a bit. Some of the plants in the blend will do OK in wet conditions. If it is always muddy, forget it, but if it dries out a bit in August, you have a chance of making it work. Winter wheat can also grow in wet conditions, but it is not as wet hardy as some plants. Good luck.
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Austin from MO asks:In my hunting spot I've been getting trail camera pictures of wild dogs. Will this effect my hunting in this area.Winke Responds:Austin, It can't be good, but it doesn't necessarily spell disaster. Deer get used to wild dogs, but they don't like to live right around them. If it is a band that roams through, then it is not as big of a deal as if they are living there. If they are living there, and regularly running deer, you have no option but to remove them. Wild dogs serve no purpose and are no different from coyotes in my mind. You may need to trap them or shoot them to get them out of the area.
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Chad from IN asks:I hunt a small 2 acre section of woods behind some houses in Indiana. There are crop fields all around as well. Can I put anything out now that will keep deer in the area of woods that I hunt. Do salt blocks, mineral blocks, corn, or any other attractant work to keep deer close, so that come fall they will be by more often to check on things? There are deer around, but scarce at times and I want to bring them in and keep them coming back more frequently if you know what I mean. ThanksWinke Responds:Chad, I am not sure of the laws in IN regarding minerals and baiting, so you need to start by checking to see if you are able to hunt over (near) mineral sites. If so, a mineral site would be something that deer will use during the summer. However, they will stop using it (nearly stop) in September. It is going to get really expensive to put corn out all summer. If you have the ability plant a small 1/4 acre clover plot in an opening, that would be your best bet. They will come for the clover, but the bucks will also stop by during the rut to check to see if any does are using the area. Small plots like this are probably your best bet.
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kevin from WI asks:Hey bill, if im hunting in a clearing in the middle of a very thick swamp how far off the clearing should i sit and how high should i put my stand?Winke Responds:Kevin, That is a tough one to answer without more information. Here is the simple answer that will cause you to have to do your own thinking on this. Sit as close as you can get without alerting deer either on the way in or the way out. Now, think your way through that and you will see it is a big chess match with much to consider. I would then hunt at your normal stand height, but make sure you have a tree big enough for some concealment. If not, you will need to add brush to the tree well before fall so you don't stand out as much. Good luck and have a great Easter.
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LANCE from TX asks:Mr. Winke, you have always been great at answering my questions and I do find your advice very helpful. However, I am always looking for advice to help make me a better bowhunter so, today I am going to try and hit you with all of my current issues so I don't have to keep sending you questions. I shoot a bow set at 55lbs and I hunt from 15' ladder stands. I either wear rubber boots or Cabelas snake boots since I do live and hunt in Texas. My hunting ground is 40 acres in Northeast Texas which is all pine thickets with a hardwood bottom with a creek running through it. I am surrounded on all sides by either a deer lease that has many hunters or a ranch that is leased out to hunters. I am lucky if a deer even makes it to my property. How can I improve my hunting situation and I also wanted to know if my bow and stand set-up are adequate for effectively killing deer? Any advice is always greatly appreciated. Thanks again.Winke Responds:Lance, The bow and stand are certainly adequate. Two things will help: food and how you hunt the property. You need plenty of food. Bait is one thing, but it would sure be nice if you could grow some green forage too - clover, oats or winter wheat. Once you have the food in place, it all comes down to how you hunt it. Keep the pressure to a minimum by sneaking in and out by routes that keep you away from deer. If the first few hunts of the year are better than the ones that follow, there is a good chance that you are bumping deer as you come and go. Making a few changes to the habitat might help, but that is only going to get you a small benefit in this situation. If you do all these things well and you still aren't seeing deer, it is time to start looking for a new spot to hunt.
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kevin from WI asks:hi bill, just wondering when you should start making mock scrapes? my friend starts them in mid to late august, do you think that is the right time? thanksWinke Responds:Kevin, I am sure it can't hurt anything to start that soon, but I don't think I would start until the bucks have shed their velvet and broken up their bachelor groups. That means about early September makes sense for me - mid September is probably about when they have started to re-establish their fall ranges. That makes the most sense to me. Good luck.
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Lee from IL asks:Dear Bill, I have posed this question to no avail. I have been bowhunting every season since 1983, and I have 2 things that I have learned that I would like your opinion on. 1. Have you ever grunted at a deer after you've shot at it? I see no bad outcome from this, I do it all the time, and it works great. The deer are usually confused by just what happened. If you missed, you have a good chance of getting a second shot. If you hit it, it can shorten your blood trail immensely, and you should be able to watch the deer wobble and drop (Woo-Hoo!!) The majority of the time the targeted deer seems to visibly relax, thinking that if there's other deer around, it must be safe. I emailed Pat Reeve, and the Drury's about it a few years ago, and I was hoping to see it on their videos, but I haven't seen it happen yet(maybe 2010?). The deer tend to work their way back better than 90% of the time, as long as they weren't too spooked to begin with. But even if they were, still nothingWinke Responds:Lee, It is possible you posed it back in the fall or winter. I got swamped back then with Qs and am still uburying myself. Sorry about that. 1. I have never grunted to a deer after the shot. I can see where under the right conditions it could make a difference - especially if he didn't know exactly what happened. We will try that this year. I had never thought of it. I know when I used to hunt elk the guides would often bugle at a bull that was hit to stop him from running farther. I had never thought of trying that with deer. Good suggestion. I did not get your second point. There is a word limit on the questions and you must have exceeded it. Please consider posting your second question again. Your first one was a good one that I am sure other visitors to the site will appreciate. Good luck.
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drew from IL asks:I own land in washington county, IL and hunted it for years without much luck. 5 years ago my friend gave me a chance to hunt in Calhoun County, IL and I jumpped on it. The past 3 years i have seen some huge deer on cameras and have killed a nice 120' 8 pointer and a nice 130' 10 pointer on my friends property. This spring i went back to my own property and found a nice 70 inch 5 point half-rack with a few stickers. I scouted the land more and there were huge rubs, many scrapes, and trails over trails but there was no real main trail. I think it would be dumb of me to not give my property another chance. My plan is to bow hunt my own property and shotgun hunt my friends property. It is early spring and is there anything you suggest me to do to help the deer be more concentrated on one trail so i have a better chance of seeing the deer this year on my own property? There is already a huge 80 acres field that is planted every year in front of the property so i dont think a food plot wouWinke Responds:Drew, A small plot or two would defintely be good. If you can get them going in secluded openings where the deer feel comfortable coming out in daylight, you will definitely up your chances for seeing a good buck. Also, there is rarely a main trail on any property. Every property is a series of interlaced trails and travel routes. You can, however, usually find a few funnels where the odds move somewhat in your direction. I would look for any kind of terrain feature (or cover feature) that limits where deer can travel and you will likely find a funnel near the edge of this feature where the deer go around it. That is a good place for a stand. There are other things to look for too, but really if you find the funnels and plant a couple of micro-plots (1/2 acre in size, probably to clover) you should enjoy good hunting. Good luck.
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Fred from NY asks:Love the show! Just a quick question... how do you hunt marsh land with only minimal dry areas? My father owns 55 acres of basically swamp land with lots of standing water and only a couple of areas that stay dry year round. We get pics on the trail cams every year of some real whoppers but never see them during the season. Im guessing they are camping in the marsh mostly after the season starts. Any insight at all as to what can be done? Any info will be GREATLY appreciated! Fred Hamman in Springwater, NYWinke Responds:Fred, A friend of mine named Jim Hill was a specialist in swamp hunting (he lives in MN) and he would actually go into the marshes and create blinds near the marsh trails and hunt from them in waders. He also used to plant wooden fence posts along the trails in some places that the bucks would come to to rub. He said that was necessary to stop them for a few seconds or they would be there and gone before he could even get a shot in the thick reeds. He occassionally hunted the humps themselves, but generally he left them alone and hunted marsh trails. Give it a try. Sounds like a cool way to hunt. Good luck.
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jubal from MN asks:Hi Bill-Great job, I really enjoy your work and am proud to say we're from the same hometown. Where I hunt in MN towers have become very popular. What's your opinion on the advantages of them over stands? I'm thinking since I can't get my 9 yr old daughter to sit still and be quiet long enough this might be a good option for me, what do you think? Thanks, Jubal SnitkerWinke Responds:Jubal, Good to hear from you. I knew your brother Herbie a little growing up. I hope you are doing well. Three main advantages and three disadvantage: first, towers conceal movement so they are ideal for taking your kids hunting. Second, they are more comfortable (warmer and easier to spread out). Third, they generally contain and control your scent to some degree. Some blinds do better than others in this regard, but by keeping the windows closed on all sides but the side you are shooting out of, you can reduce human odor in your hunting area. Disadvantages: 1. they are hard to move (much harder than a stand). 2. They are unsightly (in my opinion). I don't like looking at them. 3. the experience is not as good (again in my experience). I like the wind in my face and a full field of view when hunting. I think for taking kids hunting, they are absolutely ideal. I would definitely go for it. Good luck.
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john from AR asks:Hello Bill I have a question about hunting public land in Ks. I'm from arkansas and I was blessed to draw a permit on ft riley mil base last fall. Had a great hunt but I was looking and woundering about Se Ks public land? The south east courner is about 200 miles closer. I could scout more and hunts would be easyer to squeze in to a busy life. Having only hunted once in Ks I just wasn't sure how the two areas compared. thanks johnWinke Responds:John, I have scouted some of those areas. I got the feeling that they were a bit too accessible to be really good. The areas weren't big or hard to get to and they did have some reputation so I felt like they were likely hunted pretty hard. I would use those areas as Plan B but focus on trying to gain permission in Allen, Woodson, Greenwood, Wilson and Elk counties. It has been a while since I was looking in those areas, but at the time, they seemed like they offered some good hunting that wasn't impossible to access by knocking on doors. As you get closer to KC they get tougher.
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Chris from LA asks:Hi it's me again Bill. Just to clarify, I've never used the fence tactic that I asked about earlier. I'm not even sure if it is legal or illegal. But would it be any different from downing a tree at a crossing or across a trail to route deer near the stand? Once again, I've never done this but I've read many articles (not by you) about creating funnels in this fashion. It's not really a fence, but it serves the same purpose. I'm not trying to start a debate. Just wondering. ThanksWinke Responds:Chris, Not really much different. Like I said, when you start to manipulate deer movement there is a fine line with ethics - what feels ethical to one person may not to another. It is a worthwhile debate, actually. At some point we'll start up a forum here and then we can cut loose on stuff like this. I have never done much to create funnels with a saw or fence, but I have done a bit. I have friends that do a lot and they are still my friends. So it is not a reason for much division, as I see it. I think each person settles on the style of hunting that brings them the most satisfaction. As long as it is legal, I won't condemn it.
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Chris from LA asks:Hi Bill, I'm really enjoying the offseason shows. My question is concerning ditch crossings. You've mentioned on several occasions that ditches with crossings spaced farther apart give better shot opportunities. Have you ever considered putting up a section of fence to block off a crossing and force deer to funnel closer to your stand locations. And also, would you consider this tactic unethical?Winke Responds:Chris, Thanks for your support. I like to hunt the deer on their own terms. Each person arrives at their own idea of what is ethical. For me, I wouldn't enjoy it as much if I manipulated the movement with manmade things. It is a fine line. If it is legal and you feel it produces an enjoyable experience, then I am not going to condemn it. It is not something that I would do, however. Good luck.
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nate bohm from OH asks:hello mr winke. my cousin and i are from michigan, and each year we do a do it yourself state land hunt in a different state. this year we are going to ohio nov 7 to the 13th. we were think central ohio or southern. please offer any state lands that you would consider. we have no access to private land. thanks for the help and i look for all of your articles in bow huntin mags, love reading them.Winke Responds:Nate, Thanks for reading my stuff. I appreciate it. It seems that there is more public land (larger blocks) down south. However, sometimes the small pieces are largely overlooked so you really need to do your research. There are a lot of hunters in OH. It is a great whitetail state, but don't expect to find undisturbed hunting without working hard in your research (calling game wardens in several areas to find out which public areas get the least pressure, checking them all out, and also working hard to get deeper into the bigger blocks where others don't often go.) You probably already know these things. Select an area that has both large and small public areas (a sportsman atlas will help) and focus your time and research in this area. Good luck.
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Larry from MI asks:I am planning on putting a deer feeder on my property and reading the regulations it states that it has to be out of the hunting area 10 days before. I do not plan on hunting over it. Could you define area or how far away from the feeder you have to be to hunt without being in violation. My property is in Worth County, MissouriWinke Responds:Larry, That is a question for the game warden. We deal with it here in Iowa with regard to baited camera sites (I only run them for a short time and never when I am hunting), but I have never hunted around feed in MO. The very best route is to simply call the local game warden there in Worth County and find out. That kind of open communication is always appreciated by those guys. They have a tough job and information is their number one resource. When they know what people are doing, it gives them a better sense that they are sticking with the law. Any time I have a question about anything, I always call the game warden. Good luck.
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Brian from WI asks:Hi Bill, First of all I am an addict to every show your staff produces throughout the states. Keep up the great work. I've learned so much from MWW. The main farm that I hunt is a 620 acre farm with a great variety of terrain. I do everything I can to maintain scent free each time I hunt. I only bowhunt it during weekdays to avoid the mob of hunters over the weekends and I dont ever gun hunt it due to the army of hunters with the (If it's brown it's down) attitude which the land owner likes. While bowhunting I see plenty of small bucks but rarely a mature buck even during the peak rut. I have sat in tree stands without my bow on nights with a full moon to monitor deer movement and I've seen some great bucks move 15 minutes after dark right under my tree. I can't use trail cameras due to theft. So my question is. Do you have any suggestions on how to see and get close to these mature bucks during daylight hours. Currenty this is my the best property I have permission to hunt.Winke Responds:Brian, You have no real choice but to try to hunt right where those bucks bed. You have to do a lot of scouting to figure out where they likely bed (it won't be just one area) and then you have to figure out a way to get in there without being detected. I know guys who literally approach such areas during the middle of the night (3AM) so they are sure to be there before the buck shows up. It is not for the soft, that is for sure. Other than that, the only other way to kill bucks that are almost totally nocturnal is soft pushes. Those can be tough to pull off with a bow, but if you know a buck's escape routes well enough, you do have a chance of making that work. You set up and a buddy goes into the area, making some noise, shooting at some squirrels, etc. and hopefully the buck is home and decides to sneak out your way. There isn't much you can do to make a mature buck move during the day on natural movement. You might get really, really lucky and sitting right where a hot doe takes him - often these old bucks don't chase, they just step in durng the night to take over when there is a hot doe around. The pair may not move much at all during the time they are paired. It is a tough challenge. Good luck.
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mohammad ali from MI asks:hey bill, i have to ask you about crossing a small stream to get to my blind, do i need a metal boat or can i use an inflatable one, becuase if i used a metal one, first off it would be expensive to buy one, it would make too much noise, and its one heavy load to carry with you, but the thing is if i use my inflatable one, a hole might get puntured in it, any suggestions?Winke Responds:Mohammad, I would find an army surplus inflatable boat. They are very sturdy. I used to hunt ducks out them all the time when I was a kid and they were rugged enough for that. Good luck.
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mitchell wattie from QC asks:hi winke my name is mitchell wattie and im 15 years old. i hunt in quebec near the ny border and the deer population is really low because there is a crazy amout of hunters in our area. during quebecs bow season i saw about 25 deer out of 15 days and when the rifle season comes around i saw 1 1 1/2 year old buck out of the 10 times i went out do you belive that there is a lazy time period before the rut because the deer were not moving. what do you think that we could do to get the deer population up like it used to be. thanks mitchWinke Responds:Mitch, Well that is a tough question. First, let me say that there is definitely a lull in mid-October, but after that, things should be ramping up as the rut approaches. For sure to raise the deer numbers you will need to have less deer shot in the area. That may cycle naturally. You may need to find properties in your area that get less hunting pressure. Likely there are such spots. Yes, they will be harder to access either due to private ownership or because they are hard to get to. But that needs to be your mission. It is going to be really hard for you to change the deer numbers in the area you hunt so I would look for new areas nearby that already have more deer. Agricultural crops will also help to pull deer in and hold them, so if you find an area with food, that is a plus. I think it is just a tough situation. It likely will cycle, but until then, it will be a good idea to find a few new areas to try. Good luck.
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mark from VT asks:Hi Bill, Do you have any knowledge of the Lake Rathbun area (Unionville) in regards to hunting pressure and would it be worth purchasing a small boat with the thought of accessing "hard to get to areas" from the water??The maps indicate a bit of public land to hunt but curious of the pressure during the bow season? Thanks for your time.Winke Responds:Mark, I live not too far from there. I think there are a few people doing that, but likely not enough that I would stop considering it. There are also other reservoirs with public hunting around them, such as Red Rock closer to Des Moines. The other option to use a boat to get away from other hunting pressure is the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge in northeast Iowa/soutwest Wisconsin. I grew up duck hunting that area. There are many islands that rarely see deer hunting pressure. In years when the water levels are stable, these areas (and all the backwaters of this huge area) are good deer hunting. Those a few option worth considering. Good luck.
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Dave from GA asks:Bill, How important do you feel that minimal disturbance is when hunting mature whitetail bucks? Do you set stands way in advance and then completely stay out of that area until you hunt it? Too me, this seems like the single most important factor in harvesting a mature buck along with hunting the wind..By the way, I really enjoy your hunting show and articles.Winke Responds:Dave, I think minimal disturbance is the key to success. If you can keep them knowing you are hunting them (a tough task) you will eventually be successful. I would set all your morning stands well in advance but you can sometimes carry a lightweight stand in for afternoon hunts if necessary. Keep that element of surprise by saving your best stands for the best days of the season. Staying patient is the hardest part. Cool weather also helps. Good luck.
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Michael from AR asks:Mr. Winke my name is Michael K. and I hunt in SE Arkansas on the Arkansas River and the property I hunt which is approx. 1400 acres and probably half of it was recently clear cut about 4 years ago with some standing trees left. My question is, is it productive hunting cutovers and how would you approach this site and what sign would you look for.Winke Responds:Michael, I would need to know a bit more about what as there before. Hardwoods vs softwoods, but I am going to assume softwoods since it sounds like it was cut pretty hard. Cutovers are deer magnets because they contain tons of natural browse. They are also thick which offers security. I would be looking for edge cover, where you can see the deer easier. Look for spots where they have formed trails to go around certain spots. They tend to be spread out in clear cuts, so it can be tough to hunt, but the bucks will cruise it during the rut and that means any good trails or funnels caused by terrain, cover or water will be good spots during that time. Good luck.
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William from AL asks:Bill, I recently witnessed a rare occurrence in the Alabama woods...two mature bucks fighting. And not just a little sparring, a "I want to kill you and then procreate with you ladyfriend" fight. With the abundance of does in the state, we rarely see true balls-to-the-wall rut activity, so I was unsure of how to handle the situation. The two bucks were fighting about 100 yards away through the woods, and fought for about ten minutes. I am always hesitant to spot and stalk with a bow, but this seemed like as good a time as ever seeing as they were a little preoccupied. Do you ever consider getting out of your stand to stalk two bucks engaged in a brutal fight if it appears they will never get close enough for a quality shot?Winke Responds:William, We don't even see it very often here either - even though the buck to doe ratio is very good on our farm. I have only seen it about four times in my life and on only one occassion were the bucks close enough for me to stalk them. My luck was bad that day because the fight ended just as I began to draw my bow. The winner chased the loser off and left me with the doe. Believe it or not, neither of them ever came looking for that doe though I snuck back to the stand and waited until dark. Strange deal. I thought for sure I would get a shot at one of them because she hung around within bow range of the stand all afternoon - no dice. You have to do make up your mind quick. Don't think about it, just do it right away. These fights sometimes only last a minute. If you keep a tree between yourself and the bucks you can walk pretty close - you should be able to get within 40 yards without too much trouble. If you stay in the stand and watch, there is some hope that one of them will come past after the fight, but I like your chances better just getting on the ground right away and getting over there. Good luck.
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dillon from WI asks:I saw a lot of good bucks this year in wisconsin ,i didnt kill a deer this year ,and it doesnt bother me.i am starting to loose the urge to kill even a really good buck after the gun season starts(third weekend in nov here)do you get to the point where you feel if they're gonna make it thru gun season that you want to let them go? just wondering ,because im loosing that rush i have with a bow in my hand even after the gun season gets here. what do you think?Winke Responds:Dillon, Yes, somewhat. I still love shooting them, but I also like the idea of seeing them get older, especially the ones that have shown a tendency to spend most of their time on our farm. Then it never breaks my heart when they give me the slip during late season. I know I have something to look forward to the next year. I have to admit, that I really, really like shooting does. I guess I just like shooting stuff with a bow and since I don't shoot many bucks, the does keep me in the game. At the end of the season, I tend to look back over the does that got away with more regret than I feel for the bucks that got away. Maybe it is some kind of sickness, but I really enjoy shooting does.
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Kevin from ND asks:Mike, I have hunted Archery in North Dakota close to 40 years now. Seems like just yesterday that my old Fred Bear Grizzly bow was the latest weapon. I have shot a Parker Compound for over 10 years now and am really comfortable with this bow. My shot group has gotten tighter every year since I first used it. I can hold this bow back forever it seems even when I have it set at 67 lbs. Finally here is my question. Besides the obvious when is the best time to draw my bow on an appoaching deer. I have spooked some big guys and other times I think the North Dakota Sheyene river bucks are def. I will keep hunting the same but always not only enjoy your show but respect how you present yourself and your hunts. Please give me some tips on what you do when in that treestand with the big guy approaching.Winke Responds:Kevin, I am like you. I tend to draw early and hold it for the shot. If the deer is coming fast I'll draw when he is still 40 yards out. If he is coming slow, I may wait until he is closer so that I don't get stuck holding it if he turns or stops to browse. I am sure you have watched a lot of deer moving through the timber and can likely tell what they are likely to do next from their behavior and body language. I just let the deer tell me what to do. However, in general, I would rather get it back too soon and have to hold it than to miss the first good shot (sometimes you only get one) because I don't have it back. Good luck.
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Justin from IL asks:Bill, first off your show is best in my opinion and this is great for you to help out others who share the same passion as we hunters do. So to get to the point, I only have one place to hunt here in Illinois and its being kind of a struggle for me. Its an 80 acre farm with only maybe 12 acres of timber combined on it. Its mostly long draws that range from 300 to 800 feet long with the widest points being anywhere from 10 to 75 yards wide and the surrounding fields have been corn. The corn is usually harvested before Oct 1st so there is not much cover for the deer to hide in obviously. Its been very frustrating this past season only seeing a few deer the whole season. My question to you is that is there anything I could do to keep the deer in the area and increase my chances of seeing deer more often and even so a decent buck? I do have pics in the summer of a few nice bucks but during the season didn’t see a one. Also how often should I hunt this small farm in order to achieve this goWinke Responds:Justin, The deer are probably in there at some times during the fall, but I bet it is easy to blow them out when approaching and departing your stands. For starters, it would definitely benefit you to have some food plots. Even a couple of 1/2 acre clover plots would be a great way to hold some deer there. Next, you have to find ways to get in and out of there and hunt the place without the deer knowing. That can be very difficult in areas with limited cover as the deer can see you a long ways off as you walk across open fields. Try to find any kind of low profile way you can sneak in and out. Without seeing it, I can't offer anything specific, but just use your imagination. Getting in and out without alerting any deer is the key to making that farm produce - that and having a couple of small food plots if possible. Not every farm is good hunting. At some point, if you can't make this one work, you may need to cut your ties and start looking for other spots that are easier to hunt. Good luck.
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Brett from ME asks:I live in northeast nebraska and i live on a 130 acre place on a bluff. My place is surrounded by fields as it is in all of nebraska but what could i do to bring deer into my pasture where i want them because we do not own the feilds the deer are in. We rent out our pasture to our neighbor for his cows when his crops are in so i cant plant anything that the cows wont eat, i need helpWinke Responds:Brett, You will need to fence out part of the pasture for your food plots. The deer can jump the fence but the cattle will stay out. Otherwise, you really don't have a lot of options. Good luck.
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aaron from OH asks:In ohio how do u like to hunt?? I live in the northern half of the state where it is flatter land. Wood edges or in the woods?? Or start on field edges and when crops are off move in the woods?? ThanksWinke Responds:Aaron, Generally, in the early season and late season hunt near the food in the evenings and probably skip morning hunts unless you have a lot of areas to hunt. From about mid-October through the rut focus on hunting deeper in the timber in the mornings and closer to field edges in the evenings. Maybe not right on the edge, but closer. Look for secluded areas where the deer can feed in the evenings without being bothered by cars stopping. Entry to the stands is impoortant so try to figure out where the deer are likely to be during each time of the day (near food early in the AM and late in the PM, and near thicker cover late AM and early PM). Avoid those areas as you sneak to your stands and avoid even letting your scent blow into these areas. That should give you a good starting point. Good luck.
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Jason from IL asks:Hi Bill, My name is Jason Gaal and I live in Central Illinois. I currently help manage some land in Fulton County. I am a big fan of your show and a die hard bow hunter myself. My Father purchased some land near Mountain Home Arkansas about 5 yrs ago and I am taking a trip starting the first week of January.The land is mostly hardwoods with minimal food sources.I had a chance to scout and found a substantial amount of deer sign, fresh rubs, scrapes etc., and my father has seen mature deer on the property. I have been very successful hunting in Illinois but this is a whole new ballgame. Can you provide me with any tips to increase my odds of taking a mature Arkansas buck?Winke Responds:Jason, It is going to come down to learning what those deer are eating. That means determining which browse and mast species they prefer and where to find them. My first step would be to find the regional deer biologist for the Arkansas DNR and ask that person as much as possible about what the deer eat. It is no different in AR than in IL, find the food, find the deer. Also, the deer will travel through funnels just like they do in ag country, but you have to look for different types of funnels (creek crossings, subtle changes in the terrain, edges between two cover types are typical examples). I am sure you will find many others. Long-term, I would clear some openings and plant some food plots to more easily concentrate the deer and establish more concrete patterns. Good luck.
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Harold from MO asks:Bill, Have you ever tried smoke as a cover scent? I have never been a fan of any cover scents at all, but smoke seems pretty logical.Winke Responds:Harold, I have heard of people doing this and I suspect it would work especially in areas where the smell of smoke is fairly common. I am not sure it would work here where I hunt because almost no one burns wood. I would be interested to hear what you learn, but my gut says it will work fine in areas where smoke is common. Good luck.
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Jeremy from IN asks:I am hunting on public land here in Indiana in the late season. Most of the land we hunt is woods. Do you have any suggestions or advice in things we can do to see more deer?Winke Responds:Jerremy, That is always a tough situation because the deer will relocate to the best available food sources during the late season. If there is ag land around with lots of available food, the deer in the big woods will move in that direction. You should favor those sides of the public land near food sources. If you have identifiable food sources in the timber (specific browse or acorns) you have a fighting chance. Otherwise, it is going to be very tough. Talk to a local deer biologist to see what the deer browse on in big timber and look for those plants. If you can find concentrations of them (unlikely) you will find the deer. Like I said, it is tough hunting. Good luck.
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Jeremy from IL asks:I was wondering what is the best way to hunt a property with a pond on it. One side of the woods borders a field thats not to far off.Winke Responds:Jeremy, Most of the time the pond won't have a big affect on the patterns of the deer, but it is worth having a stand near the pond so that you can hunt over it when it is hot (like during the early season) or during the rut when bucks need water due to their higher levels of exertion. When things are hot and dry, I would hunt it regularly and I would hunt it regularly during the rut - especically if the temperatures are warm during the rut. Good luck.
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Todd from MI asks:Bill, I work midnights and evening hunts aren't doable during the week. Which leaves me mornings and early afternoons only. Would I be better off to hunt first light to 10 or 11, or go out at 10 and sit til 3? Keep up the good work and Thanks!Winke Responds:Tood of those two, I would choose first light to 11, or noon if you can make it. Generally, I find that morning hunts are a bit better than afternoon hunts. It is not a huge difference but I think the deer are on their feet longer because the temperatures are usually a bit cooler and the deer are heading back into the cover (instead of away from it) so they feel more secure to remain active longer into the daylight. Good luck.
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AJ from NY asks:Where are the bucks hiding? This was our last weekend of rifle season in NY so we did some deer drives and drove off all of our key areas (thick bedding and swamps). We put out over 30 doe in 3 drives not one single buck that anyone seen. I seen 14 different bucks through summer and bow season on our farms. we have only taken 3 this year. Do you think its the intense pressure we get around here and they just lay tight unless you step on them or do you think they may be shedding already? We have this week of Muzzle Loader left so I will be back at it.Winke Responds:AJ, I think it is the intense pressure. They are more than happy to let you walk right past them. They learn early that laying tight is the best way to survive. Put out a trail camera over bait (if it is legal) and I bet you will see that they are there but only moving at night. Good luck.
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Michael from ON asks:Hey Bill, Congrats on your season so far. Thanks to alot of your tips, I managed to get my first bow buck this season and I got another in late Muzzleloader season. Both bucks had unique circumstances. The first buck(bow) came just after I had taken off my release and taken off my arrow to leave. He was standing directly under my tree and I had to put the release back on and nock my arrow. He walked out for a 20 yr shot. Taxidermist said it was a 3.5 year old. The buck in late muzzleloader season actually winded me and blew, so I blew back(I had read to do that in a magazine). We went back and forth a few times, and then 4-5 minutes later he came out and presented a shot. This was a younger deer. Have you ever had anything like that happen before??Winke Responds:Michael, Congrats on the success. I think the blowing will work but I don't it would work on an older deer after he smelled you. It might work on an older buck if he only heard you shuffling through the leaves in the dark. I have also tried soft grunts as I walk the rest of the way to the stand, but you had better get there quick and get up to the stand fast because they often come in to investigate. It is better than flat blowing them out, but still not ideal. It is always better to get in clean and then start the hunt at daylight rather than starting the hunt in the dark and hoping it holds together until legal shooting time. Anyway, that got a bit off topic, but I think you bring up an interesting point. I just doubt it would work on an older buck under the exact circumstances you describe. Good luck and congrats again.
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Kevin from AR asks:I live in southwest Arkansas in a river bottom area of the Little Missouri River. I have trouble try to figure out when the rut is I have seen no bucks chasing does this year. I go to my stand and see no deer, but I have a game camera and they are there at night. What I was wondering is how to figure out when the rut is ? Ho do you hunt deer that are moving at night instead of the daylight hours ?Winke Responds:Kevin, We were faced with primarily nocturnal deer activity here too. There is no way to really hunt them short of waiting them out, hoping food or a doe draws them out during daylight or driving them - pushing them from their beds to waiting hunters. Drives can work if done right, but you usually only get one or two tries (widely separated in time) before the bucks will move elsewhere. I don't know the rut timing in your area. It varies much more in the south than it does up in the Midwest. The best way to find out is to contact a local state deer biologist and ask them. Often their contact information is available on the DNR website or you might be able to ask a game warden for help in finding the right person. That is my best advice. Good luck.
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Mike from ON asks:Is there much swampland on your farm for deer to bed in? Deer tend to bed in swamps where I hunt and not so much on the ridges. This may just be a misconception I have, maybe I'm just scaring deer off the ridges in the mornings. What do you think?Winke Responds:Mike, There is no swampland on our farm. It is hardwood ridges and fields. I think they will tend to bed in the swamps regarless. I have seen that many other places. However, you should see them on the ridges in the mornings, if nothing else, they should be cruising through as they go from swamp to swamp looking for does. If you are not seeing them cruising, I would say you are alerting them as you go in. Look for other routes and maybe look for stand locations that are not so deep so you can produce a lower impact. Good luck.
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Mitchell Lucas from MN asks:I have a couple questions. I am hunting farms around my house just north of Redwing MN. Does it make sense that I only see the bucks midweek no matter the wind? I hunt the south end and the wind usually blows northwest. I hunt everyday after school. There is only one other weekend hunter out there.Winke Responds:Mitchell, That may be a coincidence, but hunting pressure from other hunters will definitely make the deer more cautious so it is possible that the other hunter is bumping a few deer that lay low for a few days after the encounters. My guess is that it is mostly coincidence because you should be seeing them toward the end of the week too. Good luck.
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Mike from ON asks:It seems like you don't like East winds. You mentioned it in an episode last year relating to crazy weather. Is it the weather they bring with them or what is it?Winke Responds:Mike, It is partly that, the weather that comes with east is often warm and wet (at least here in this area), but also, when I set up my stands, I tend to favor west and NW with my best areas because that is the prevailing winds during the best times to hunt (cool days during the rut). So when we have east day after day, I can't get into my best areas because I set them up for west or NW winds. Not all spots are conducive to hunting on all winds. I have added a few more good east wind stands since 2009, so I am better able to deal with lots of east now. Good luck.
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Lee from GA asks:Going to Fulton County Il 12/2/10 for the ML season. Any suggestions on hunting the corn and soy bean fields there? As far as I known there is little pressure on the deer in this location. Thanks.Winke Responds:Lee, It is a great area. I have hunted there some myself. Pray for cold and snow. That is the magic formula that brings the bucks out during daylight and gets them pointed toward the food sources. Otherwise, there is not much to this. You have to hunt carefully so that you don't blow the field when you leave. Also, spend some time scouting the fringes (or glassing if you can afford a free night) to see where the activity is highest. Find the best food and you will find the deer. Good luck.
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Adam from PA asks:Hi Bill,I wanted to talk about the moon. I know you say that for the rut mid-latitude that often Nov 5th -12th are best, I would agree. However do you think the moon impacts this? This season everyone seems to be dealing with warm weather impacts, though the moon table as I read it would land the rut 16th to 26th? Not sure what to think hoped you have some input. Looking ahead 2012, early rut next year? Or late? There are two full moons in October. Thanks.Winke Responds:Adam, I don't know about the moon stuff. I would say that the rut occured on schedule but it just wasn't associated wtih high amounts of daylight buck activity like it usually is. Warm weather can cause this affect and maybe the moon phases can too, but I have not seen enough myself to say that the moon affected when the breeding actually took place this year - if anything, it may have affected daytime activity, but we had plenty of dark of the moon days in early November. I don't know what to make of it just yet. Good luck.
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Jarred from OH asks:Mr. Winke, Really love the show! I've been experiencing some unusually slow rut activity as well. I hunt in Central Ohio and it is very dry here; the creeks are completely dry and water is very scarce/nonexistant on much of the property that I hunt. Do you think that this is a major reason for the slow activity?Winke Responds:Jarred, I think there is something else going on. We have plenty of water but the activity has been really slow here too. I think that the mature bucks are nocturnal this year and for some reason the bucks aren't cruising in search of does this year. If I have a hot doe nearby I see all the bucks in the area, if not, I see almost nothing. I have had a lot more days without a hot doe nearby than with! Good luck.
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Colt from IA asks:What has been your experience with hunting in the rain during the rut? The forecast is calling for an all day rain with some totals in the 1" range. I'm not too keen on hunting in heavy rain but an all day light rain I would think the bucks would be moving. I just wanting to know what you have experiencedWinke Responds:Colt, I like a drizzle but don't often see much in an all out rain. Misting rain is actually very good hunting. Be extra careful about shot selection, stick with short shots and then hold an extra second to be sure you are on the spot so as to assure a short, easy blood trail. Good luck.
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Gregory from NY asks:hi my name is gregory i have been shot gun hunting for five years and i have not got a deer yet i was wondering what am i doing wrong i sit and wait in one spot for 4 to 5 hours at a time and still no deerWinke Responds:Gregory, I suspect you just need better spots, or you may be educating the deer are you approach the stand. If the area you are hunting has good deer sign your approach to the stand is likely to blame. Try to do whatever you can to sneak in so the deer can't see, smell or hear your approach. Also, consider hunting in the timber in the mornings (near thick cover) and closer to (but not on) food sources in the evenings. If you are not seeing deer sign, you have to work hard to find a better spot with more deer. I hope that helps.
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Luke from MN asks:Hey Bill, I've been watching your show for about a year now and I've learned a lot from watching you and all of the pro staff. I have a stand by a ditch crossing that is used all year round, especially during the rut. I was hunting there on the morning of October 15th and I saw the biggest buck I've ever seen on stand. He was an 8 pointer that was definitely in the 160's. Since that morning I've hunted there around 5 or 6 times and the wind was perfect every time. The 2nd time I hunted there I also saw a nice 10 pointer that was probably in the 140's. Since then I haven't seen anything from that stand. Do you think I have overhunted it? If so do you think I should wait a while to hunt it or should I hunt it soon because it is the rut?Winke Responds:Luke, I may have missed the time to help you with this. Sorry, I got swamped with Ask Winke questions and will have to do something different next year to stay up to date better. I think you may have over-hunted it. I always try to save my best stands for the best days and then I hunt those stands pretty hard until the rut is over. It is not just what you spook while on stand that makes a difference. Many times we don't realize how many deer see, smell, hear us as we approach or depart and we may not realize how many run across our ground scent. It all adds up to reduce the element of surprise that is usually our best offensive tool. Good luck.
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Ethan from WI asks:I hunt on a 120 acre patch of woods in a river bottom in western Wisconsin. I have a stand hung on a abandoned tractor road that deer sure as an easy travel corridor. There are scrapes, rubs, scat, tracks.....but in three seasons I have yet to shoot or even SEE a deer from that stand. I rattle, use sent, use grunt calls, doe bleats, and drag rags. What am I doing wrong?Winke Responds:Ethan, One of two things is getting you. Either you are alerting deer as you enter the area, or the wind is swirling too much there. I would say it may be a combination of both. Anytime the wind blows over a valley (under 200 yards wide) it will swirl throughout the entire valley. Only when the wind blows in the same direction as the valley (or when there is no wind) can you count on consistent winds. Gusty winds also swirl much more. I don't like hunting in bottoms because I rarely see deer and the reason I believe is because of the swirling winds. Maybe conside some kind of enclosed blind that contains your scent. Now for entry and exit routes. Be very careful in this regard. If you just walk in over the top likely the deer know you are there. Slip in along the bottom using a creek if possible. You need to find a way to get in where they don't know you are there. Good luck.
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Mike from ON asks:Do you find that hunting in the rain is productive? Would you do it any time of the year or just during the rut?Winke Responds:Mike, I think it is most productive with a drizzle. It seems when there is an all-out rain the animals sit it out. Good luck.
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Justin from KS asks:I always hunt the wind and try to use it my advantage but my question is this. How far will your scent travel before it disapates enough not to concern a deer? 400 yards, 600 yards, more? Even though I hunt the wind right at the spot im at adjoining cover a half mile away would still be downwind.Winke Responds:Justin, I think if you do everything right with controling your scent - go to extremes to keep your outerwear totally clean - I would say the distance is under 400 yards. I think you can get it down to as little as 100 yards if you get really good at it. I have seen this success myself. It is much harder with a cameraman now, but before that I routinely got away with murder on deer as little as 60 to 100 yards away. The scenting conditions also come into play as does the type of wind, the weather (warm thermals rise, etc.) but this is at least a starting point for your consideration. Good luck.
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Brett from MN asks:Winke- I've been hunting the Chequamegon National Forest in Northern WI for near 20-years. With mills clearing timber every year and the every changing hunting population that hunt this public hunting ground of 850,000 acres plus, harvesting a trophy buck seems near impossible. I'm frustrated with my recent results, therefore I'm looking for some insight to improve my odds. Any strategies or tactics you feel relevant that may help I would appreciate. thanks, BrettWinke Responds:Brett, I am not an expert on that area by any means. I guess in general, you find the deer when you find two things: food and areas with limited pressure. Where they feed is always changing. I would stay on top of both of these (all the best feeding areas - become an expert on what deer eat in your area - and learn where pressure is highest. Find the best feeding areas with the least hunting pressure. You may need to go in deep or use non-conventional means (canoe) to access remote areas. Sounds easy enough, but I know it will take a lot of work. I think it is a good challenge, but if you are worn out from the energy required to stay on top of all this, you may want to spend some time going through your contacts to find out if any friends, family or friends of friends and family own land you can hunt. That is the best place to start. Be willing to do some work to help people and you are likely to gain access to a few decent places. You can keep upgradiing your hunting areas as you go.
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Jason from WV asks:Bill, Is there any point to stay in the treestand this coming week during the middle of the day if the temperatures are going to get up to 60 every afternoon? At what point does the temperature get hot enough to stop bucks from searching in the daytime? (Morning temps are supposed to be upper 30's)Winke Responds:Jason, I have read some research done by Charlie Alsheimer in which he set up a network of contributors to monitor deer movements all across the country using trail cameras. He correlated the data to temperature and found that deer movement dropped off noticeably over about 50 degrees. This was in the northern half of the country. Cooler temperatures definitely help to keep deer on their feet longer during the day, so if you are looking for a gauge, I would say for sure anything that is more than 15 degrees above your normal high for the daytime temperatures at that time of year (find that out on weather sites like www.wunderground.com) will produce noticeably less deer movement.
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Austin from MO asks:I have abundent grass cover throughout my property and it is getting into prime time here in missouri and i do have two food plots. my two main areas for good viewing area are the timber and the plots. just wondering where you feel is my best chance to see a mature buck because all cam pictures on plots are at night or just before daylight and was wondering if you think this will change. thanksWinke Responds:Austin, It has been my experience that the food plots are not very productive in November, at least not during the rut. Bucks don't think much about food at this time and the does are afraid to come out in the open for all the harrassment they get. I would focus on the timber. Get in there as deep as you can in the mornings and then move out toward the fringes in the evenings. You may also consider mowing some lanes through the grass for visibility and to direct the deer to central area (like the spokes on a wheel) and then have a ground blind or elevated blind near that point. If the grass is tall enough to offer good cover, they will definitely live in it during the day. Good luck.
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Josh from PA asks:Hi Bill, Hope your season is going ok. I am having a frustrating time this year. I have a killer stand that is on a saddle between several bedding areas. I waited to hunt this stand until nov 1. When i went there that day A guy was cutting down trees on one of the valleys, and he has continued to cut trees until nov 3. How long should I wait to hunt this spot again, and how bad will that mess up the movement in that valley. This is my best spot and i can hunt it every day without disturbing anything, but i just want to know if i am wasting my time going there. I called the guy and he is done cutting after the 3rd. What should i do, find another spot, or go right back? thanks, joshWinke Responds:Josh, Deer aren't nearly as concerned about the chainsaw as you think. Within a few days of his completion, they will start moving back into that immediate area.
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Eric from NC asks:Bill: I read where you said, "Instead of finding their trails, I focus on stands I can hunt clean - somewhere in their home range (ideally as close to the center as possible). Then I just put in my time, trying to keep it fresh." I was surprised to hear you say you don't focus on finding and hunting the deers' trails. Is that pretty common practice among you "professional hunters?". Just curious, I'm learning as I go, but I thought hunting deer travel routes was what you were supposed to do. You're saying you hunt the center of their home range as close as possible without disturbing the deer with easy entry and exit routes, is that a good summation? If so, and if you don't hunt their travel routes, especially with archer equipment, how do you harvest so many deer? If you hunt like you're saying it would seem like you're just hoping the deer comes by your stand, but I know that's not the case from watching your hunts and success! Can you elaborate anWinke Responds:Eric, I look for sign as a secondary decision maker. The most important thing for me is being able to hunt without the deer I am hunting knowing that I am there. It is a challenge even when you are not concerned about sign, but once you focus on sign first, you are sure to end up in stands where you alert deer coming or going or even while on stand. I am not sure what others do, but over the years, this is what my hunting has evolved into. I try to hunt the best stands I can without alerting the deer. That is my key when selecting a stand site. Good luck.
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Greg from WI asks:What do you think of driving an Atv to your hunting area? That is parking away from stand and then walking the rest of the way to stand.Winke Responds:Greg, I think that is fine. The key to success is parking the correct distance from the stand so that the deer that are in that area don't hear you. I try to park my vehicle (or ATV in this case) in areas where the deer are at least slightly used to human activity so it doesn't arouse any suspicion. Good luck.
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Otis from MO asks:Mr Winke, I've struggled with noctural movement on my farm. It's driving me mad!!! Hypothetically thinking, what do you think would happen if I "light up" my one acre food plot at night. I thought that if Musco could put some lights on my field I could bettter get an idea of what the deer are doing and which ones are entering. Your thoughts? P.S. Love the shows!!!!Winke Responds:Otis, It is par for the course. Welcome to the world of mature whiteatails. Most of them are primarily nocturnal Otherwise, they would be dead. That seems to be a very expensive solution but would be fun at the very least. Also, trail cameras spread around the plot on trails would tell you the same thing and be much cheaper. There is no way to change this behavior. Reducing hunting pressure will make them slightly less nocturnal, but our deer here don't get hunted very hard and most of the mature bucks are almost stricly nocturnal outside of a few days during the rut. Those few days just happen to be the ones approaching now! Good luck.
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Jeremy from IN asks:Bill, first I want to thank you for the knowledge you share with us all, it is most appreciated. My question for you is, what is your opinion with warmer weather fronts coming in? In my experience if the weather has been consistently cooler and if it jumps 10 or so degrees warmer deer movement is very minimal (except during rut). Is it even worth being out in the woods during afternoon hours? Also, what's your experience with full moon phases, if there's a full moon aren't deer more likely to move more during after hours which limits their day time movement? Again, thank you for your knowledge and passion you share with us on hunting the majestic whitetail!Winke Responds:Jeremy, Thanks for your support. I agree that during most of the season, when the temps get much more than 15 to 20 degrees above the seasonal norms, the deer will slow way down. I am not such a firm believer in the full moon stuff, especially during the rut. I think some of that is more fiction than fact. There may be something to it, but I have not seen it in my own hunting and the experts I talk to are very split on this subject, so I don't pay attention to the moon and just hunt as much as I can when I can and take what comes. Good luck.
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joseph from WI asks:With the moon phase for this weekend what time should i be hunting in se wisconsin? Thanks and love your show and website!Winke Responds:Joseph, I wouldn't let the moon phase influence the timing of your hunt. Just be out there as much as you can. Need bedding areas in the mornings and near feeding areas in the evening. Good luck.
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Jason from WV asks:Bill, I got a ridgeline I'm hunting with some good bucks on camera. The top of this ridge is covered with loaded white and red oaks this year. On the front, it is sunny all day and covered with hardwoods and some thick stuff here and there and has 2 good trails close to the top. On the back of the ridge it is always shady and covered in Laurel thickets and tall pines. It's pretty steep on the sunny side and even steeper on the shady side. There are doe bedding areas all along the top of this ridgeline on the shady side. There is a good saddle in the ridge leading from the sunny side to the shady side. Even though this is my best bet, I can't sit on the shady side and watch the beds and the saddle at the same time because of all the laurel right there. So would you position yourself to watch the saddle and trails (that don't cross the saddle) on the sunny side and give up the does beds? Or…Give up the saddle and position myself between these doe beds?Winke Responds:Jason, I would definitely hunt both spots when the wind is right. That way you spread your pressure out too. Typically, if a buck is working that area for does, he will cover some ground and should eventually show up at both locations. I would have a stand to cover both spots. Good luck.
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Troy from KY asks:I've got a stand located near the crest of a steep hardwood ridge full of white oaks where I've seen alot of big rubs the past 3 seasons.There's a good trail with fresh rubs 50 yards below me and a old road bed 20 yards to the left of me.I beleive the deer are bedding in a dense thicket about 50 yards in front of me on top of the ridge and going down the other side.Do you think this would be a good location or would you move about 20 yards to the top of the ridge. the only problem is until rifle season you can only see about 50 yards in either direction.Winke Responds:Troy, You are a seeing a very typical situation for ridge country. I think I would be set up just above (just uphill from) the side hill trail that is 50 yards below you. That trail is often where the bucks will walk during the rut. I would hang where you are for a bit longer, but if you see that pattern start to develop (bucks walking the side-hill trail) be quick to move down closer to it. Good luck.
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Blake from SD asks:Bill, First of all, I love the show. You guys do a great job all around and are true archers to model after. Anyways, with the pre-rut nearly upon us, my father commented that I should have been soaking my rattling horns. Every year he soaks his antlers in water for a few days and sprays them with a varnish to eliminate that "hollow" sound of old antlers. Have you ever heard of this technique or any others?Winke Responds:Blake, I have not heard of that, but I bet it does change the sound tone and pitch. I would never advise you to go against your dad, so I would do what he says. Sounds like it can't hurt and may even help the sound to carry farther.
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Jim from WI asks:Do you think the the full moon next sat. will get mature bucks moving during daylight in days leading up to it and after if the weather will cooperate.Winke Responds:Jim, I am not a moon guy, so I always just ignore it. I have never seen anything conclusive about the moon's affects on deer movement. I think they move a lot even on dark nights, so I am not sure the moon will make them move even more at night. I think there are many factors (too many to correlate) that affect their movements. I just hunt as much as I can and hope for the best. So if the moon gets you to stay on stand longer this weekend, then I will agree with you. Whatever gets you into a stand and keeps you there will help your hunting success! Good luck.
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Craig from MO asks:I've spooked a large buck in some creek bottom woods while checking a trail camera. There is plenty of good sign around that area. The problem is that its the only encounter personally or by camera. The woods butts up to our pasture and we run cattle on it up til the week before gun season. My question is since I am unable to hunt the bow season, how do I go about hunting the gun season?Winke Responds:Craig, I would get in there well ahead of the opener and set up a stand near the heaviest cover in that block of woods. On opening morning, get in there early, sneak in so that no deer know you are there, and sit at least until midday when all the other hunters in the area have climbed down and kicked around a little. That is likely your best chance for success. If the hunting pressure is low in that area (not my guess) you may then be able to find him coming to a food source in the evening. If the pressure his moderate to heavy, spend your time in the stand close to heavy cover. Good luck.
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jeff from IL asks:i have been hunting a nice mature 12 pointer.i have trail camera photos but only after dark,early morning or early evening.i have only hunted him evenings in the timber hoping to catch him stageing to go feed.am i doing the right thing by avoiding morning hunts until the rut comes in?do you have any suggestion?Winke Responds:Jeff, I think you are fine. Personally, I don't hunt a certain buck at all until I feel that he is moving during the day. I usually wait until October 25 to go after my hit list bucks just to be sure. That gives me a good solid ten days when I feel like they are still hanging pretty close to their core areas where you photographed them in October. Just stay conservative for a few more days and then start hunting the mornings. Good luck.
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Jimmy Paladino from IL asks:I hunt public land in northest il. everywhere i hunt is extremly pressured. any ideas as to how i can use that to my benefit? i ground hunt only.bow only. do you ever do hunts on public land? would make a good show. thanks and good huntingWinke Responds:Jimmy, Jared Mills has been hunting public land for the main show this year. I would be looking for places away from the access points and then find a way to sneak in to get set up without the deer knowing you are there. Then just rely on other hunters to move the deer around closer to the access points as they arrive to hunt. That is about all you can do really. If you have to get in earlier than them and slip into place without the deer knowing it. If you can do that, you will enjoy some success in this setting.
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MIke from KY asks:Bill I love your site and all the great info! My question is on public land. Would you use the same buck finding tactics as private land? Thanks.Winke Responds:Mike, I would spend as much time scouting and patterning other hunters so you can be sure to hunt where they aren't and to use their coming and going to move deer your way. If the hunting pressure is light on the public land, then I would use the same methods as we use on private land. Good luck.
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Travis from WI asks:Where can i find a moon chart that will show best times for deer movement and feeding here in southern wisconsin???Winke Responds:Travis, I am not sure a chart actually exists. There are some floating around, but the biologists I have talked to about it feel that the data is not conclusive enough to use when planning your hunting times. It is better just to go as often as you can and focus on November 3 through November 10 and you will do fine.
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Brent from IA asks:Have you ever tried using calls (predator as an example) to clear fields to enable you to get down from stands near the edges of fields or foodplots. L Zach mentioned it in his harvest video segment. I need to come up with a tactic for one stand location. My options were very limited when selecting trees and I am concerned about getting down from the stand. I have a cut to use once on the ground to back out of the area but getting to the ground may be a challenge.Winke Responds:Brent, I personally don't like calling any attention to my tree stand. I am not sure how the deer will react to the howling, etc. Maybe it will work, but spooking the deer from a noise in your tree still makes for suspicious deer. Maybe they won't be as suspicious as they would be if you climbed down, but still more suspicious than I would like. I have used distractions like a person driving up in a truck to move the deer off so I can climb down. Another method I have considered but never tried is the use of a remote controlled monster truck to drive out of the bushes nearby and run toward the deer. I think they will be spooked by that, but not so spooked that they won't return later. I also like that because it keeps the focus away from my tree stand. It is something to consider. Like I said, I have not tried it, but I do like the feel of that one. If the ground cover is too tall, that won't work well, however. What about a remote controlled coyote howler in the brush nearby - just not in the tree? I am just throwing out ideas. Again, try to keep the focus off the tree you hunt in.
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Dalton from KS asks:Hey, What is the latest I should be out in the stand or blind while hunting in the afternoon? I usually am out there by 3 but sometimes i have stuff going and i couldn't get out there until around 4 or 4:30 is that to late? When should i leave the stand so i don't bump the deer. Like thirty minutes after dark? ThanksWinke Responds:Dalton, At this time of the season, I like to be in the afternoon stand about 2 1/2 hours before the end of legal shooting time, at the latest. That gives you some time to sneak in so you aren't rushed and prone to make noise. Sometime deer will feed early and you would hate to barge right in them, so try to get in at least this far ahead of time. During the rut, I like to get to my afternoon stand right after lunch - by 1:00. They will definitely move all day long during the rut, so be out there as much as possible. Good luck.
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monty from MO asks:i recently hunted a new spot where i was invited by afriend on company. property . i only get to hunt there very seldom, anyway i climb a tree and prep it for some clear shooting lanes. a big 10 evidently bedded nearby gets up walks behind me and bust me against the evening sun! he runs into a tree branch which exaggerated his fear! 3 days later i went back to plan a different strategy and guess what he's bedded under the tree i was in, he winded me and busted again on another evening hunt. i'm thinking of trying to get back there and set up before daylight but will he ever come back to this area its october so rut is 5 weeks away?Winke Responds:Monty, Boy I don't know. Sounds you should sure give it a try. He seems like a buck that really likes that spot. If it is an area that sees some human activity, he may be de-sensitized to human encounters and may not see them as being entirely threatening. It is sure worth a try. You have nothing to lose.
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Jeremy from IN asks:Bill, I am hunting a 30 acre farm here in Central Indiana. I am hunting a funnel that leads to cut corn a standing corn field and cut beans. I am wondering why I am not seeing many deer? Also there are plenty of oaks in the woods but it doesnt look like they are touching the acorns becuase there are acorns all over the ground. I know that isnt giving you alot to go on but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank YouWinke Responds:Jeremy, My first guess would be one of three things. It could be that the deer know you are there and thus avoid your stand. If they can see you walk in, they will not approach your stand. Second, they may just be spread out all over the place eating acorns and not hitting the ag crops heavily yet. Third, there may not be very many deer in that area. If there is a lot of deer sign, then that rules out number three, but if you aren't seeing much sign, I would suspect it is a combination of number two and number three. I would just be patient, do a bit of scouting on the downwind edge of the farm and hunt very carefully, making sure you can sneak in to your sands without any deer seeing you. Good luck.
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justin from IA asks:first off,thank you for always answering my questions.you are awsome about that.I get confused trying to hunt wind.can you dummy this up.should my stand be facing the wind?do i walk in with wind to my face?Winke Responds:Justin, The main thing is simply make sure your scent is blowing to areas where you don't expect deer to be. When walking in, always try to walk into the wind, that means your scent is spread to the least amount of country. Walking to a stand with a crosswind is big no-no. Too many deer can potentially smell you walking past. When on stand, select stands where your scent blows into open areas or into areas where deer are not likely to be thus you educate fewer deer. Keep them from knowing you are hunting them - that is the key to success.
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Dalton from AL asks:Hey, Love the show!! One question is how do you get so many deer under your stands. Hardly no one in my family likes to hunt and I am trying to get my first deer. Last year i passed up 5 does and 6 point buck, I just want something a little bit bigger, like an 8. Any tips would be helpful, I've asked a question about hunting bedding area so you know where i hunt. ThanksWinke Responds:Dalton, I appreciate the support. I would definitely shoot a doe or two. Get some kills under your belt. That is the fun of this sport - shooting stuff. I still love shooting does and shoot many of them each year. Part of my ability to get lots of deer under my stand is experience with knowing where to set up on our farm and part of it is the fact that we have a decent number of deer here. It is really hard replace experience. You can learn enough from the magazines and our videos to get you in the right area, but it takes real experience in that area before you are likely to pick out just the right tree. Focus on the basics at first, bedding areas in the mornings, feeding areas in the eveings and funnels where bucks travel between two bedding areas (doe bedding aras) during much of the rut. If you stick with this simple formula and then keep your eyes open to deer movement patterns, you will see the right moves to make and will end up (after a few years) in the perfect trees. Good luck.
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Nathan from VA asks:Hello, I was wondering how far should you park your truck away from your treestand or hunting blind.Winke Responds:Nathan, Most people make the mistake of parking too close. If it is windy, you can park closer, maybe a quarter mile. If it is still, you have to be at least 1/2 mile away or the deer will hear the truck stop and the door latches click, etc. I realize that is a long ways, but think how far you can hear sounds in the morning on a still day - a long dang ways.
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mohammad ali from MI asks:hey bill this might seem like a weird question but it seems to be a problem, what do you do if you're hunting in the middle of the woods and you need to use the bathroom, has it happened to you, doesn't your movement cause the deer to spook out of the area?Winke Responds:Mohammad, If it is number one, I let fly from the stand. If number 2, I hold it til I get home. Good luck.
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Keith from IL asks:Hi Bill, I heard that the only color deer can see is the color blue... is that true? Also, are some camo patterns florecent to the deer (unless you use a special type of spary)? Thanks!Winke Responds:Keith, Some of that information comes from companies making the UV killer sprays. I think there has been some science behind it, but I am not an expert on that. I probably should be, but I don't know much about what a deer sees other than they are not real good at picking out forms as long as we aren't moving. They pick up movement very well, but don't pick out the human form nearly as well. Several times I have had deer walk right past me in the woods when I was standing stalk still. They literally walked within 10 years without even noticing me standing right in the open. Just wear camo that matches the setting as well as possible, try the UV Killer if you like but be very still when a deer is looking even roughly in your direction.
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mohammad ali from MI asks:hey bill remember me, i just wanted to ask you why do i have to face in the opposite direction of the wind when i deer hunt. Is it that deer move in the same direction with the wind?Winke Responds:Mohammad, Oh, I remember you alright! How could I forget? Just kidding. Basically, you need to look every direction, but the deer that are downwind of you probably aren't going to get very close because they will be able to smell you so that direction is less likely to produce a sighting. However, you still need to glance that way from time to time. Good luck.
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Jimmy from MO asks:Hello, Bill, Don't know how you feel bout one person asking so many questions, but I tirst for knowlege and have limited resources to gain any! Anyway, I live in southeast MO, and here there is not much in the way of agriculture fields to hunt like there is northern Mo. I have a friend who has hunted both northern Mo and the area close to me. He says hunting is easier where there are more fields like the northern part of the state. Here there is a lot of woods and I have had very little success in harvesting deer. Some but not much. Can you share some wisdom in how to go about hunting when you are limited to woods with not much agriculture to help direct deer movement? Not seeing many deer is a little discouraging. Also is it true that it is easier to hunt where there are more agriculture fields? Thanks, JimmyWinke Responds:Jimmy, It is definitely tougher in areas with big woods, but you have the same basic things to look for, they just aren't as obvious and don't funnel deer as well. You need feeding areas, bedding areas and the travel routes in between. So lets keep this simple. Figure out all the stuff that deer eat in your area and focus on areas where these are concentrated. Contact the regional biologist for the MO DNR to learn more about food sources and then go online to learn what the browse plants look like. I am sure areas with acorns will be a big draw. Bedding areas will be harder to find, but more than likely you will identify some ridges or the ends of ridges (points) where the deer bed most heavily. These are good morning stand locations. Now look for anything that might serve to funnel traveling deer: ditches, creek crossings, saddles, bluffs (anything you can find that either forms an impasse or serves as the path of least resistance for a traveling deer. These can be good at all times of the season but especially so during the rut when the bucks are moving more. In a nutshell, that is the basic approach I would take. Keep it simple. Good luck.
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Mike from AR asks:I grew up hunting farm land in Missouri with a lot of fields and wooded draws where it was pretty easy to locate and pattern deer. I am now living in central Arkansas and am forced to hunt public land. I have no problem with hunting public land at all, my problem is that the hunting area here are so different I have no idea how to find the deer or pattern them. The areas I've found to hunt are all big woods with lots of pine trees and some hardwoods scattered throughout. I know there are a lot of deer in there but there is literally thousands of acres that look the exact same. No clear cuts, fields, or anything else I'm used to. I'm totally lost as to where to find deer. I feel like all I'm doing is walking in the woods a little ways, finding a tree, and climbing up it with my stand...no real strategy, just going in blindly. I hate doing this and am getting really frustrated. Please shed some light on this subject for me if you can. Thanks and have a great season.Winke Responds:Mike, I have done some consulting in the past. When I get an aerial photo from the farmlands (any part of the country) I feel confident I can help the person. when I get one with big, flat, continuous woods, I cringe. It is a tough setting for a deer hunter as the deer can and do bed all over the place and feed all over the place and for that reason, they travel all over the place. There is little to concentrate either their bedding or feeding areas or their travels. You have to find something that you can hang your hat on. If there are creeks, look for creek crossings, if there are hardwoods look for trees dropping acorns, if there are ridges look for trails about 1/3 of the way down the side of the ridge. Bucks often use these. Look for anything that will help you concentrate deer (even a water hole). I am not sure what to offer beyond that advice. If there are changes in the terrain, you can funnel deer. If it is flat it is much tougher to predict their patterns. Learn all the local food sources and look for places where they are concentrated. Sorry, I am not of much help on this one. Good luck.
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Joe from ME asks:Hi Bill; I've noticed that few if any of the pro staff cover their faces when hunting. Are they actually hunting without camo on their faces or is this just fill footage shot after the hunt? Do you think there is a need to camo your face?Winke Responds:Joe, I am not sure what they do most of the time, but I take my facemask off for interviews in the tree. No one wants to see my nasty facemask talking to them - well maybe that would be better than seeing my nasty face talking to them! My guess is that some of them wear facemasks, but probably not all of them. I think you should cover your face. It is probably the most obvious thing that a deer would see when looking at you. I used to hunt ducks all the time as a youngster and I could see other hunters across the marsh because their faces flashed in the sun. We always kept our faces down under the hat brim until the ducks had their feet down. If you looked up at them, they flaired. I don't see why deer would be any different. Good question.
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Eric from MN asks:Just got permission to hunt 60 acres of woods in central minnesota. its one big circle surrounded by corn and beans on all sides with a swamp in the middle of the woods. i have trail cam pics of this monster 10pt. passed on 3 smaller bucks so far. any ideas on how i can pattern the 10pt? he has a monster rub just between the swamp and corn. Any ideas would be great thanks!Winke Responds:Eric, I guess I would probably try to spend my time on the fringes (40 yards into the woods) on the downwind side until I get it figured out. There is usually a pretty heavy trail in this area. Keep running the trail cameras in the hopes of coming up with a pattern. As the rut nears, (last week of October) you can be more aggressive and move into the woods deeper, probably on the edge of the swamp. Again, there should be a heavy trail in this area too circling the swamp. There amy be a place where deer are coming out of the swamp if there is dry land in the center somewhere. Eventually that is where you want to be. Maybe not the first day in, but at least by November 1. Hopefully, by early November you have a better idea where the buck is spending most of his time, but if not, I would just hold to this pattern until the gun season comes in. Good luck.
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Dalton from KS asks:Hey, Love your show. I am an inexperienced hunter, I'm 13 and hardly anybody in my family likes to hunt. I am allowed to hunt 160 acres of prime deer hunting land and I'm the only one. Most of it is in crops and that was corn and it was picked about a week ago. The rest is bedding area with cedar trees that are so thick you can't walk through them. I have a blind located on the edge of the corn field and I have hunted it about ten times and each time I see at least one deer except this morning. Can i hunt this location too much? Would you suggest moving into the bedding area? My neighbors who also like to hunt don't want me to do this because they are afraid that it will cause the deer to bed somewhere else. I would love any advice on this piece of land. The second time i was in the blind a tall and wide eight point came ten yards away from the blind but was to early to shoot him. Will he come back? ThanksWinke Responds:Dalton, Sounds like a great spot. You definitely can overhunt the spot. The really hard part is how to get away from the blind at the end of legal shooting time without alerting any deer. Once they know you are hunting them they will shy away from that specific area. I would probably find a couple of spots to hunt within the bedding area. Don't go in too deep and make sure it is on the downwind edge with a low profile way you can sneak in and out without any deer knowing. I wouldn't start hunting those areas until the last week in October. In the meantime, you need to find a couple more farms to hunt so you can spread your pressure around. The key is to have fresh places to hunt, meaning you need to have several spots you can rotate through so the deer never realize that you are dogging them hard in one area. Good luck.
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Heath from KS asks:Bill, I finally got to the stand last night, wind was perfect, farmer was cutting the corn in the adjoining field, I really had my hopes up. Then one by one, coyotes started coming through. Should I shoot them, and if I do, what do ya do with a dead coyote?Winke Responds:Heath, Yes, I shoot them. Coyotes have messed up some very good opportunities on bucks so I have a certain hatred for them. I love shooting them. I don't have the patience to skin a coyote, so unless you do, or know someone that wants the hide, I just toss them in the ditch where they belong. If you haven't noticed, I hate coyotes.
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jake from MO asks:Bill. We have a couple hundred acres at home and since the beans are turning I've been tryjng to scout the timber more.70 percent of our land is oak timber.acorns everywhere this year.how do I pin point hot spots in all this timber with acorns everywhere how would you pick the best spot with this much land?Winke Responds:Jake, It will be very hard. In fact, it will likely be impossible. I guess you can just set up in a good stand of oak and see what comes along. The bucks won't be moving far under those conditions. A trail camera or two might help you narrow down the area where a good buck is feeding. However, even that is risky as you will have to go nearly into his bedroom since his bedroom and kitchen are the same place. Hunt carefully, don't push too hard now. They will start moving better as the rut approaches. You may get lucky early, but don't ruin your chances by pushing too hard. The deer season is a marathon, not a sprint.
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Phil from MI asks:Hey Bill, When I checked my trail camera yesterday that I had out on highly pressured state land, four pictures stood out; two were of other hunters walking by unwittingly, and the other two were of a nice 10-pointer I was unaware of in the area previously. He came through about 1:30 in the morning. Knowing there's big bucks around as I had suspected, I'd typically stay away until the rut, hoping to find him out of his current nocturnal state. Knowing there's so many other hunters to contend with in the area however, I'm inclined to hunt this spot opening weekend before early patterns get interrupted. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot, PhilWinke Responds:Phil, I would hunt him early for a few days and then try to spend some time patterning the other hunters. Figure out where no one goes and then hunt there starting around October 27. Before that the buck will likely be nocturnal even without other hunting pressure. That has been my experience. Starting around October 25 to the 27th, they start to break with their nocturnal ways. Good luck.
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Jack from MN asks:Hey Bill, I'm wondering whether you sometimes plan your hunts on moon phases and moon peaking times. If so, what is your hunt plan during a full moon phase with a peaking time around say, 10 am/pm to 12 am/pm? One thing I've heard is to set-up near bedding areas where deer will stretch or get some water. Thanks Bill and good luck!Winke Responds:Jack, I think that is decent advice whether you believe in the moon phases or not. I have spoken with some top experts on this subject and I have yet to find a concensus on the moon's affect on deer activity. I guess, from my own experience of hunting every day of the rut for many years, I have not seen an overwhelming shift in activity or a pattern I can hang my hunt on. I may be missing something, but I don't care about the moon. I still hunt near bedding areas in the mornings and near feeding areas in the evenings and hunt as many hours as possible. Again, I am not the final word on this, but I have yet to find anyone who was not selling something come out and make hard and fast rules about this subject. I personally ignore the moon.
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I am doing everything right, yet the does are still blowing out of my hunting area; any suggestions?Joe from MI asks:Hey Bill, love the show, Where I hunt there is only one good tree to hang a stand and even with the right wind and doing everything right the does still blow out of there. What do you suggest I do? Thx Good Hunting.Winke Responds:Joe, Thanks for your support. I appreciate it! If they are still smelling you then there is no such thing as the right wind. It could also be that they hear, see or smell you as you approach the stand. If that is the case, you have no option but to hunt from a ground blind in a location that is easier to get to and from and where you have a definite wind advantage. If they are blowing out, then you are definitely doing something wrong. Figure out how they know you are there (sight, sound or smell) and then either fix that aspect of your strategy or hunt from a ground blind in a more advantageous location. Good luck.
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Ryan from WI asks:Hello Bill, Love the show already this year. I'm hunting a large over 2,000 acre public forest of deep woods. It has a lot of corn on top and a lot of up a down ridges in which is pressured hard by squirrel hunters. There is no natural water on the land but great funnels that i am hunting, but i can't seem to find the deer. I've gained other access points from nieboring farmers but i still can't find the deer. I have found some trails and dropping but still no deer. I will only be hunting this area in early season and am looking for any advice. Where are the deer hiding, there are no small parcels just big woods, but i know the big bucks im after are in there cause they shoot them late season. But where are they now?Winke Responds:Ryan, My guess is that they are either in the corn or bedding in secluded pockets of cover (fence lines, sloughs, etc.) in the more open farm country. I would look for stand locations near the corn and see what shows up. As soon as they pick the corn, things might get interesting. Also, the bucks may simply be nocturnal from the small game pressure. It is probably a combination of the two. You might also try hunting the deepest woodland areas that the squirrel hunters don't get to.
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Brent from MI asks:Hey Bill, The farm i hunt has a two-track that runs the entire length of its 200 acres. Instead of driving my truck all around as i am entering and exiting the farm "to hunt" i was thinking about bringing my bicycle along and peddling in. any thoughts on how effective this might be? thanks in advance for what seems like "your infinate wisdom"Winke Responds:Brent, There are a couple of tradeoffs here. The truck doesn't let your scent out as you drive in and the bicycle doesn't make any noise. Me, I would go with the truck because keeping your scent down is so important. If it is a really still morning and you are afraid that the truck would be too loud, then I would ride the bike. That would be better than walking because is it faster and you don't leave much if any ground scent. For sure on a crosswind (across the two-track) I would take the truck. So when it is still or wind directly in your face, the bike is viable. Crosswind - drive the truck for sure. My favorite approach was to use a Bad Boy Buggy with the canopy (shelter) on it. That was quiet, fast and kept my scent inside (for the most part). Alas, they are no longer a sponsor for MW and have stopped making the canopy for the 2009 and newer buggies. Good luck.
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Ryan from IA asks:Hi Bill, I have a piece of property that is mostly cedar trees and one small pond to hunt. It is situated right between a large wooded area and a corn field. The trees are so thick in there, that when you hunt it you cant see much more than 40 yards in any direction, so if you don't see anything, you don't learn much either. How do I know where to set my stands?Winke Responds:Ryan, You definitely need some openings. Ideally, you could push out a couple of 1/4 to 1/2 acre food plots. It would make a huge difference in your success rate there. It doesn't take much to grub out a cedar, their roots aren't too deep. A lot of times you can get them with a bucket on a medium sized tractor. Short of that, you have to look for any kind of natural opening and set up on the edge of it. The deer in that stuff will spend time around the openings. A food plot would be dynamite there though. See if you can pull that off. Otherwise, the only other option is hunting the edge. Not the end of the world but it sure would be nice to get buried up in the trees on a small food plot. Good luck.
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justin from IA asks:Bill, I have a spot that is a small patch of timber.15 acres or so that behind it has a pond surrounded by oaks with acorns. I n front of me is beans and corn. I saw a shooter buck in there with binoculars the other day. My question is where do I place this stand.Winke Responds:Justin, I would open the season sitting over those acorns. I believe that bucks will much prefer to feed on acorns in the security of the woods than venture out for corn or beans. When the acorns are mopped up, you will need to adjust your strategy, but key in on the acorns early. Good luck.
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Ryan from WI asks:Hey Bill With the start of the bow season next weekend here in Wisconsin the warm weather is still upon us. The mosquito's are also very bad in the woods yet. Would it be a bad thing to use mosquito spray or should you stay away from that? What other methods would you recommend so I can sit opening weekend? Thanks Ryan.Winke Responds:Ryan, Scent Blocker makes an odorless bug repellant. I have not tried it to see how effective it is, but that is one option. I have also worn mosquito net clothing (Bug Out) (I understand the Bug Tamer also works well) and that works very well and you can wash it to remove any odors. Those are the two options I would recommend. I have never tried Thermacell, but that might also be a good choice. I would search the web for reviews on it before purchasing. Good luck.
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Jacob from MO asks:thanks for the response. I will try sneaking in but like you said im afraid he will be changing patterns right as bow season is starting. Anyways i have another question. we have a small bean field on our place but just down the roads theres numerous bean fields probably 100 acres total. Whats the best way to bow hunt these? most of them are surrounded by bedding areas. Its public ground i did hang a stand today its in between a bean and corn field with bedding on one side. Next to the corn theres a 50 yard wide patch of grass then a fencerow with a trail worn down to dirt going to the beans. my stand is situated where i can see the corn, beans, and have a 10 yard shot on the trail. I thought this would be a good set up but need help on the other fields?Winke Responds:Jacob, I think any bean pattern will fall apart on you pretty fast. As soon as the beans start to turn yellow, the deer will shift away from the beans until the pods themselves dry down and then they will be back in the beans. In the meantime, they will be eating acorns and focusing on the corn. I would be thinking in terms of green beans and acorns early and then shifting to corn as the acons get mopped up and the beans turn yellow. I hope that helps. Good luck.
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ben from VA asks:Would is be wise to have a certain section of your hunting property only designated to bow hunting?Winke Responds:Ben, I think you need to take it further than that. I think it is wise to have certain areas that aren't hunted at all. Just as a basic rule of thumb, I would set aside about 20% of the property as sanctuary. Try to find areas you can't hunt effectively anyway (wind or access problems). Don't go in there during the hunting season except to pursue game that has been shot. Some guys won't even shed hunt these areas, but I think that is taking it too far. Just avoid going into these sanctuaries for the entire rest of the year other than planting food plots.
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josh from IN asks:bill, I have access to a property. its an old christmas tree farm thats been a log yard for 20+ years. There is very little deer habitat around - probably 90% agriculture and 5% housing in the surrounding area, but there are a few deer in the area. I've seen a couple bucks and a few does. But i just cant get any buck pics on my trail cam. Its starting to make me wonder if it has something to do with me intruding the area? But on the other hand its a busy area so i kinda think maybe just deer patterns.Winke Responds:Josh, I would say you are correct. More than likely the bucks have adopted patterns that keep them from contacting people all the time and thus may confine their movements to just certain areas (possibly cornfields). Or maybe they just come in to the cover from the crop fields after harvest. I have seen this happen. Either way, I would not worry too much about not seeing any bucks at this time. We aren't seeing or photographing tons of bucks at this time either even though we are in more traditional deer habitat. They will show up as the fall comes along and the rut starts to build in late October.
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Jon from KY asks:Hello Bill, My question is, I recently obtained a property in Ky(an hour away from home) and the season starts in 10 days. It is 160 acres, 40 fenced in cows, 50 in woods and the rest in crp that is on average 10ft high. The property has 2 giant ponds and 3 little ponds, no crops, some oaks, and has a 100ft shallow creek that surronds the property. We know by talking w/ the land owner that there are some giants on the property(I will give you a street name for gg earth for a visual) I consider myselfe well a rounded hunter but this property has me lost. I know to start at the oaks, pinch points, and used creek crossings but that crp is out of control. I usally set up in new areas that cover a lot of ground, if I cannot get in any sooner, but the crp is so high that this can't happen. Help me please.Winke Responds:Jon, One possible answer is to see if you can borrow the landowner's tractor and mow down the CRP! The soil office likes that anyway as it controls weeds, etc. If that is not possible, you have to treat the CRP like it is composed of bedding and travel routes, just like the woods. Then you just hunt the edges of it based on the travel patterns you have scouted out in the CRP. The trails should be quite obvious. There is really no other option, either get rid of it (mow it down) or treat it like all the other cover areas on the property. Good luck.
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Zack from OH asks:Hey Bill I need some help, ive been trying to pattern these deer around the house.The first of August they were coming in at late night and morning. now they are coming in at 5 or 6 in the afternoon. i haven't seen the buck that i have been watching in about two weeks now.i am wondering if i should move my cam/stands somewhere eles? And another question is what would be a better terrain to hunt, a logged piece of woods that has brush laying all around it, or a open field with a big timber on three side of it and really thick brush on the other side?Winke Responds:Zack, You may have pressured that spot enough that the buck is now nocturnal or has moved to a different area. Sometimes they will just move without any apparent reason too. So it would probably be a good idea to try to relocate him at some point. Personally, I feel like the summer scouting is mostly just for fun. Roughly half of the bucks you see will disperse out of the area once they shed their velvet and break up the bachelor groups so you will have to relocate them after this occurs (sometime around mid September) anyway. However, if you really want to try to get back on that buck, your best option right now is to try other spots. My choice would be to wait until at least mid-September (probably after) and put out cameras to try to find him back. As for your other question, I don't have enough information to know the answer to that. The spots sound to be roughly equal in their attractiveness from your descriptions so I would look to the logged piece for morning hunting and probably get closer to the open fields (especially if they are planted to something that deer like to eat) for evening hunts.
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Tom from VA asks:Mr Winke, I have just gained permission on a small track of land that is surrounded by a Civil War battlefield. The battlefields are strictly forbiddend for hunting. The track is 25 acres and has a small field on it an old horse pasture. The land is primarly ceders with some scattered hardwoods. The battlefields have hardwoods on it. I am in the process of gaining permission for game retrieial only from the national park and that is looking good to get. Would hunt the edges or would you tr and get in the middle of this property and hop it is a bedding area. If you wouldlike I could email you a areial photo for some suggestions. I believe I have found some bottlenecks but would like some suggestions. I look forward to your response. Good luck to you this yearWinke Responds:Tom, With a spot that small, you need to be very careful about how you hunt it. I would have a couple of stands in the middle but I wouldn't hunt them until the best days of the rut. I am not totally sure when those best days occur in VA. I know the rut is slightly different in different parts of VA, but in most areas in the northern 2/3 of the US and all of Canada, those best days are centered around November 7. Try to determine when the peak of the breeding occurs there and then back off one week (earlier) and that is when you need to be in your best stands. Otherwise, I would focus on the edges, not right on the line with the battlefield or you will soon bring too much attention to yourself, but just far enough into the woods that you aren't obvious, but not so deep that you are impacting the deer living in the small tract of cedars. If you can get a couple of small food plots (probably clover) planted in those openings, that would really make the place easier to hunt as you would have a few places to focus on for afternoon hunts. Otherwise, I assume the deer in your tract are heading to the battlefield to eat acorns at night. If the fields are in the middle of the tract, I would avoid hunting them until the best ten days of the season even if you do get the planted. I hope that helps. Sounds like a really cool place to hunt. Good luck.
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thomas from AL asks:Bill, what area is better in your opinion. We will be hunting WIHA in Kansas. Unit 14 or 8. I have hunted unit 8 in turkey season and saw alot of deer but i'm sure unit 14 would be good also. Does one have bigger deer on average than the other and also what about pressure in ea unit. thanksWinke Responds:Thomas, Personally, I'd probably take 14 over 8, but I don't have enough experience in those areas to comment with precision. I have traveled all parts of KS and have hunted the northern portions a number of times. I feel hunting pressure will be less overall in 14 than in 8. I learned that due to the limited cover in these areas, the deer are vulnerable to rifle hunters on specific properties. One year you can have a great hunt and then that fall a large group of neighbors sets up and shoots many of the bucks because they have so few places to hide when people do deer drives. As a result, each property will be different. You have to take them as individuals. I felt like all parts of Kansas could and did produce big deer. You just have to figure out the history of the properties in the area you plan to hunt to determine if they are getting too much gun pressure to hold mature bucks. That is typical of the Midwest - farms/ranches can really change from one year to the next based on what the gun hunters kill each season.
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Andy from WI asks:Bill, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions, and thanks for this site and the show- can't wait for some new shows to start! I am able to hunt a 60 acre piece of land with 20 acres of woods and 40 in CRP or swamp. Over the last three years, i have harvested 13 does off of it, but have never seen a single buck, even during the rut. Do you think this is because of over harvesting bucks in the area, or simply the deer's preference? Any other reasons you could think of? We are not allowed any doe tags in that unit this year, is that piece still worth hunting? Thanks!Winke Responds:Andy, Man, that sure seems odd. With that many does, you know that some bucks must be around to breed them. So either they aren't getting bred or you have been one of the unluckiest hunters I have ever heard of. I would definitely hunt it again this year. At some point luck will catch up with you. In other words, you are due. This should be your year. However, I would still have a few other spots to hunt, as well just in case this strange run of luck continues. Good "LUCK" this season.
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mark from MN asks:bill i have my trail camera out and have been feeding corn and i have a mineral site as well as a fall food plot in. i have seven different bucks comming in 1 i feel is a 170" monster 10 pointer another 150" ten, 3 eights, a six, and a spike. all these bucks have been coming in at night. i know i should only hunt this monster 170" buck when i start getting day pics but when is the best time to put a buck or doe decoy out to try and seal the deal and with that a dripper. i feel my best chance to get this big mature buck is to get him with my bow because there is alot of slug hunters in the area i want to beat them to the punch. can you help me seal the deal on this truly buck of a lifetime!Winke Responds:Mark, I would get out opening weekend and hunt the most likely food sources in that area. I would just hunt a few evenings, be very careful as you go in to put the stand up so as not to alert any deer. Then I would hunt those areas for a couple more weekends before shutting down all hunting in that area until around Oct. 25, or so. I would then hunt good funnels on that area (near food in the evening and near bedding areas (back in the cover) in the mornings) as often as your schedule allows until the slug season comes in. If you start to get daylight photos of the buck, you can certainly start getting after him sooner. Good luck.
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jody from IA asks:Bill, Great job on the website! This year I have decided to spend a majority of the bow season in Shimek forest. I have occasionally hunted Shimek in the past and always seem to get deer within bow range. This will be a different challenge in that hunting the big woods is a different beast than the typical Iowa farm. I do use terrain features that create funnels as this is has always been a successful tactic for me. I've never been big on rattling as I tend to be a very quiet hunter. However, I'm thinking this might be a good tactic in the middle of a big block of woods. Any tips on the "big woods" hunt? Thank you!Winke Responds:Jody, I am certain the hunting will be better in the morning than the evening. I would also tend to stay on stand all day because back in the timber like that, things can happen at any time. I personally wouln't be making a lot of noise, but rather would reserve the calling for deer that will otherwise pass out of range. Sounds like a fun challenge. Park yourelf on a good funnel near a bedding ridge and stay put as long as you can. I think that will be the magic formula. Good luck.
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Alex from OH asks:I found out last week that I have a "Brute" running through the property I'm hunting...He's pushing high 180's to low 190's. He presense was unknown until my uncle saw him in one of the fields on the property. My question to you is where do you think I should be setting my Trail Camera to see if I can get a pattern on him? Thanks, AlexWinke Responds:Alex, I think I would bait four or five sites with corn to get the local deer in each area coming to specific spot where you can get their pictures. I would probably pre-bait each site for a few days before putting up the camera. The experts I speak with regarding cameras tell me this seems to do a better job of getting mature bucks to stop by for picture. They can live with one new thing at a time. Let them get used to the bait before adding the camera.
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dan from ON asks:hi winke. ive been hunting some big deer on my property but ive been unsuccessful in killing them. they are on the cameras 90% late night. ive ran into the big bucks, but its always during mid-day, and when i dont have a bow, in the strangest of places. how do i go about finding where they are bedding/coming from in the am? 200 acres or so of property with only myself hunting it, surrounded by provincial park. should i stick to one stand? or different ones? im stumped. danWinke Responds:Dan, It is all about the access. Every good hunting strategy starts with a very thorough study of the best ways to get in and out of your hunting area without alerting any deer. Once you figure that out, you pretty well have your strategy mapped out. In the mornings, approach the areas where the deer bed from the direction opposite where they are most likely to be feeding. In the evenings, approach transtition areas, staging areas and trails near feeding areas via the open ground so you don't bump any deer in their beds. You have to select your exit routes just as carefully to avoid bumping into deer at the end of each hunt. You will need several different stands to keep from burning them out. Try to have as many good stands (that you can access without detection) as your property will support. I like to have many options. Those bucks will move during the rut as long as you haven't alerted them that you are hunting them. Wait until the last week of October before you start hunting your better stands. Until then, hunt sparingly around the edges of your hunting area.
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Pat from LA asks:Bill, Huge fan.Don't think I have ever come across one of your articles and don't read it. Just discovered this site a few days ago.Great stuff. I will try not to get too long winded but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask about my situation. I live on about 700 acres in North Louisiana. It is comprised of about 500 acres of pasture which has cows and horses thus limiting my opportunities for some great food plot potential. Every year I have trail cam pics of 150 inch deer and see these bucks at night in my yard. The huntable land mainly consist of planted pine with a few hardwood draws. The main problem I have is so much thick area that I feel like I bump deer and that deer could bed in any direction of my stands. My question is do these bucks remain closer to the house than I think and what are some tips that might give me an edge on hunting these 100 acre thickets. I apoligize again for being so long winded. I know your time is valuable and I would appreciate any response.Winke Responds:Pat, Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it. I have hunted the river bottom in LA but never any other part of the state. So I will keep this general - more like a strategy than an exact plan. I answered another similar question for a guy in NY who has 200 acres of mostly level thick cover where the deer could bed anywhere. I guess in analyzing your property, I wouldn't get too far from the trail cameras. If you are picking up good bucks in a certain area, I would hunt nearby. If you are bumping deer, you are probably going in too deep or you are using the wrong routes. Focus on spots you can get to and from without alerting deer. Try to match normal human activity in the area as you travel to an from the stands. I would look for any kind of funnels: creek crossings, ditches. Human entry and exit are the key. Then look for funnels. If there are no obvious funnels, you will have to set up in areas where you can see some country and either call the deer closer or at least see some patterns developing. If it is really thick with no funnels - well, I am not sure what to do then, just get in there and hope for the best or get the bush hog out and mow a few trails for the deer to walk on. Main thing is to hunt close to places the camera is getting the photos, look for undetected entry and exit and get on any kind of funnel that is available. Good luck.
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Brian Maddy from IA asks:Bill, I have hunted in Monroe and Appanoose county for many years. My family has a farm just North of Albia and I have hunted public ground East of Moravia for a long time. However, the past few years I have gone to the Stephens State Forrest south of Lucas for shotgun season. I am new to bow hunting and would like some tips on the best way to bow hunt that area. The unit I am most interested in hunting is the Whitebreast unit. This is a large area and I am unsure how to start to pattern the deer and begin to look for places to put some stands. Any help would be great!Winke Responds:Brian, I could write an entire book about this subject. To keep things simple, first look for the best access routes - the routes you will use to get in and out of the area without being seen, heard or smelled by deer. Next, look for funnels and bottlenecks near these human entry and exit routes so that you can hunt close to the ideal routes. Look for such features as tree lines, fence lines, ditch crossings, creek crossings, open gates, fence jump points, transitions between two types of cover - anything that funnels traveling bucks. If you do just those two things well, you will have a good season. Start thinking in these terms and you will see some good starting points. Good luck.
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dave from NY asks:What to do ? What to do ? I have been hunting 3 properties over the last few years with good success and confidence but I am always attempting to pick up another choice piece of land. Recently I picked up another 200 acres of land that holds some very decent bucks. The property is great but it lacks definition. The land is perfectly square,with all hardwoods and hemlocks with no open fields. It is surrounded by secondary roads and then large open hay fields. Deer cross the roads after dark and night feed in the fields, then return in the dark to this 200 acre sanctuary. Funnels and pinch points do not exist. Elevation changes are minimal to none. This land is my hardest nut to crack but I believe it has awesome rewards to offer. My current plan is to scout it in late Seept. and early Oct. and look for rubs and eventually scrapes as they appear through the season. My one advantage is access. I can enter in any direction. Your comments and advice is highly appreciated.Winke Responds:Dave, I would focus on trying to determine which directions/routes of entry will permit you to slip in there without being detected. I would then simply set up a stand a short ways into the woods with the right wind and spend some time observing. After a few days, move a little deeper into the cover from that direction. This strategy should keep the pressure off as you learn. I wouldn't set too much store by scrapes and rubs. Rub lines and scrape lines might be useful in mid October through the end of October or the first few days of November, but individual areas of sign aren't very useful. Also, be prepared for random patterns. Basically, you just need to be in there without spooking anything and eventually the rut will bring some bucks within bow range. It is not nearly as easy to set up on a spot without fields or bottlenecks, so you have to patient and learn as you go. Stay near the edges until you know what is going on then move a bit deeper into the cover. Good luck.
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Dylan Hamm from IN asks:I only hunt on state ground about 100 acres of hard tember and there is always other hunters, but we all hunt in the same spot. How do I attract the deer more over by me?Winke Responds:Dylan, That is a tough situation. With lots of hunting pressure the deer will avoid using that area. I would forget about attracting deer and focus on staying as far away from the other hunters as you can. That may mean going to places that don't make much sense, but the deer will be there more often than in areas where other hunters are common.
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Shane from TN asks:Bill, I am on a lease with 13 other members. It consists of 1300 acres .It has 2 creeks , it has bluffs ,it is a mixture from mature pine stands all the way down to first year clear cuts ,replanted in young pines. However ,there isn't any crop fields within miles. How would you increase your odds if you were on this lease ?Winke Responds:Shane, I would definitely get permission to make small food plots (1/4 acre or less) in isolated places and plant them to brassicas and maybe throw in a little winter wheat. You can wait to plant them in early September where you are located. The key is to find some way to concentrate a few of the deer into a place where you can predict their behavior and set up on them. Sometimes you can make such spots with a minimum of tools (even a garden rake) and a few pounds of feed and fertilizer. Everyone will eventually figure out what you are doing and start hunting the spots too, but you will have some plots they don't find. Then I would hunt those spots as well as funnel areas away from the beaten path. In other words, look for transition lines between two types of cover and also the edges of bluffs, where deer around ditches, creek crossings, etc. Find funnels like these well away from the places the other guys hunt. Map out where everyone else hunts and then hunt the other areas. Avoid the people as best you can and you will find the best hunting.
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Jerry from SC asks:When hunting grown up clear cut with the only hardwood mast producing trees along creek bottoms, does the age old adage of hunt high in the morning & low in the evening apply or should another strategy be used? There are small scattered food plots through out the property(1600ac.). I am the only member of this club (24people)who strictly hunts with a bow.I would describe the hunting pressure as moderate to heavy with half of the members hunting at any one time at most and this taking place on the weekends and holidays. I am retired and plan to hunt week days to try to avoid as much of the pressure as possible. How can I take advantage of this situation and what sort of areas would be best to look for? Please be as specific as possible given the limited info provided. The land is rolling and there are gullies in both the pines & hardwoods. Thanks for accepting these questions and I look forward to your answers. Sincerely, Jerry PS, I enjoy reading your articles in Peterson's BoWinke Responds:Jerry, Thanks for your support. I like to revolve my hunting strategies around two places: bedding areas and feeding areas. So step one is to simplify things and try to determine as many specific bedding areas as you can (there will be a lot of general ones where deer may bed anywhere, but if you can narrow down the most prefered bedding areas that is a start. Mark these on a map. Now mark all the concentrated feeding areas. For sure deer will browse, but forget that and focus on concentrated food sources. Now, these are your end points. During most of the year, the deer will go back and forth between the two. Again, keep it simple. Look for any kind of funnel between a bedding area and a nearby feeding area. It may be as simple as a cover break between two cover types, a creek crossing, a spot where deer go around a slough, an open gate, etc. Any time you can identify any kind of a funnel between a bedding and feeding area, you have a good stand site. I would normally hunt the open food sources until the hunting pressure mounts and then move back to these funnels after the deer start to sense pressure where they feed. In other words, find places tht make sense but that are not near the spots the other guys hunt. As the season wears on, you can push a bit harder and actually hunt in or near these bedding areas, but I would wait until the last few weeks of the season to keep from alarming the deer too badly. This is about the best I can offer without knowing more. Focus on travel routes back in the cover between bedding and feeding aeras and avoid areas where the other guys hunt (presumably the feeding areas). Good luck.
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Dean from NJ asks:Bill, love the shows and the format. Paying attension to my entry and exit routes last year (your advice, thanks!) really helped me to see wayyy more deer and more bucks. Since i hunt public land, last year I had a bunch of guys come in and basically push a bunch of deer out of my area, or atleast made them nocturnal. This year i am trying to branch out and have more areas i hunt, just so i have more options. What would be some of the things you would look for this time of year in a totally new area? Also, this year i am going to have the chance to hunt a Winery in the early season, like the first/second week of september. We are going to try and score on a nice velvet buck. The only issue is we only have like 2-3 days to hunt it. What tactics would you use in a situation like this?Winke Responds:Dean, Thanks for your support. This time of the year, I think I would look for actual deer whenever you have agricultural crops. Pretty soon the bucks will come out of the timber and into the clover, alfalfa and soybeans for about a month. You can usually find good bucks to hunt during the time from mid-July through mid-August. I would focus on areas where you feel like you have some hope of gaining access or at least of not being plowed under by other hunters. Get back away from the roads whenever possible to avoid the places that everyone else is keying on. There is not much else you can do in the middle of the summer (deer-wise) than simply watching for them to come out so you can see what is there. Good luck.
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Matt Epps from GA asks:Hey Bill first off I think this website is awesome. Anyway I'm going to be hunting a new large tract of land in Georgia. There is no agricultural around, lots of oak trees, lots of thickets, and lots of creeks. To top it off I dont even have the equipment to do a food plot and you cant bait in Georgia. Im not used to such a big tract of land so I dont even know where to start. I have a couple trail cameras but dont even know a good place to start hanging them. With no food plots or open fields where do I even begin to find a big buck?Winke Responds:Matt, Thanks. I appreciate your support. I would start by figuring out (maybe guessing at) where they are likely to feed. Study the oaks to see which ones have acorns. When they start dropping the deer will concentrate under them. Also, look for funnels like crossings in the creeks, where deer go around ditches or ponds, places like that where the deer have to concentrate when they travel. These are great spots for stands too. Any transition in cover is also a likely travel route, such as a transition from heavy pine plantation to oak timber. The deer like to travel along these transtitional areas. If you focus on these kinds of spots, it will at least give you a starting point. It may not be enough to carry you all the way through the season, but will at least give you a strategy that you adjust as the season goes on. Deer hunting is a long-term learning game. Experience is often more important than anything I can tell you. I just get you pointed in the right direction. You will need to be observant and learn as you go. Watch, learn, make educated guesses, test your guesses and then move on. That is part of the fun of deer hunting, you are always learning.
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Ryan from WI asks:Hi Bill, I hunt about 40 acres in Wisconsin, I have 2 acres of corn and beans and 2 acres of beets and clover planted and about 1 acre of Frigid Forage winter oats planned in a field. Then in the 30 acres of woods that is all a south slope I have 3 small food plots and a pond. Since it seems that the deer get a wiff or veiw of anything from on top of the ridge should I wait till rut to hunt and just rely on my 5 camaras to do the scouting and just hunt the perfect wind, or maybe I can hunt with confidence with my 3 layers of scent lok I wear. I just am always so tempted to hunt when ever possible because I am obsessed with bow hunting and no one else lets me hunt not even for work that kindly offer. Thanks Bill, look forward to the coming season!Winke Responds:Ryan, It is tough to find good places to hunt. Populated areas of Wisconsin are even tougher yet. I would have to look at that actual layout of the property to know for sure what advice to give so rather than try to be specific, I'll be general. The area is too small to hunt very much so you do have to save it for the best days. Opening day might be a good choice if the winds are right as the bucks are likely to still be near food. Let the cameras tell you if you have an opportunity at one of the food plots. I would be careful about where you place the cameras and how often and when you check them. Try to find places you can drive up to or where, at the least, you can sneak in and out of without alerting deer. Don't get too aggressive wit the cameras in places you can't sneak in and out of easily. This is one area where people tend to make a mistake. Deer are better at knowing where you are walking than you may think. After the first few days of the season, I might try a couple of hunts when cold fronts are coming through and then wait until about Oct 28 to get serious. That gives you enough time to ease into the spots you think are best without running right to them on the first day. Start with fringe areas that are low impact and work your way in slowly - day by day. Try to time things so that you are hunting your best stands from Nov. 5 - Nov. 8. For all your other hunting, you have no choice but to find other places or hunt public land. Don't be tempted to hunt your 40 acre honey hole hard before the rut or you will be disappointed. Good luck.
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Dalton from KS asks:Hey Mr.Winke, I might be getting annoying by asking you all these questions. But do think I should hunt this forty acres of really thick ceder trees? I know the deer like to run in them because they block the wind in the winter but I don't want to scare them into the sights of another hunter who has around 30 acres of tall grass and some really thick woods. Thanks, DaltonWinke Responds:Dalton, I would stay out of the bedding areas until the rut and then I would just hunt a short ways in on the downwind side to keep from impacting a lot of deer. Good luck.
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Brent from MI asks:Hey Bill, I have plans to plant a small 1/4 acre size brassica plot inside of a 15 acre cornfield and hunt it from a ground blind. the field is long and narrow and the plot would be located at the very back, 20 yards off of the timbers edge. can you give me your input on how productive you think a spot like this might be, considering that the surrounding properties as well as myself limit the hunting pressure and manage for more mature bucks. thank you very much! 119 more days!Winke Responds:Brent, I think it is an incredibly good idea. My guess is that any deer entering that field from that end (especially the bucks) will pay that small opening a visit. I wish I had thought of it. I may have to try that myself. Please report back after the season with results. Thanks for the idea.
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Arthur from MD asks:This September will begin my sixth bow hunting season. I am lucky enough to be on two leases on really great farms here in Maryland. Over the years, I have harvested two great bucks, shot and missed a few and witnessed at least a dozen others that score over 140 ( our club requirement to let an arrow fly). I have four fixed position stands all in the same area and I find myself going back to those stands over and over. I have 4 other farms that I have permission to hunt, but since the hammers are on one of the leased farms I have become a creature of habit. I know better, but thought I'd ask your advise.Winke Responds:Arthur, I do the same thing. I have about ten stands that I hunt most of the time. Four or five of them are killer setups so I tend to spend more time in these. I think it is natural. As long as the stands set up well for undetected hunting, I don't think it is a mistake. As soon as you start to see a drop off in activity, it is time to start spreading out a bit more. As a good rule of thumb, it is a good idea to have two stands for every consecutive day you plan to hunt. So if you plan to hunt a five day vacation, you should have 10 good stand locations. That is just a basic starting point that will help to spread your pressure.
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steve from PA asks:hi there I would like to plan a trip to missouri and would like to hunt near Iowa on public land,so would you know of any good areas?thanksWinke Responds:Steve, I know guys that have hunted most of the bigger areas in the northern two tiers of counties. You should find good hunting in these areas. There is enough deer management in these counties that the public areas tend to have a few nice bucks on them. Also, consider areas that are very small or areas that have difficult access as these tend to be hunted less. Missouri's website has a lot of information about public land. mdc.mo.gov/hunt
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JOSH from AL asks:Hello Bill, I have read in several articles you have written where you said that the "breakthrough" in your hunting success was when you stopped hunting sign and hunted geographical features.(funnels, saddles, etc.) I have done some planning looking for these features in the area I hunt in Northwest Pennsylvania and found several spots that fit these descriptions, and you are right there has not been much sign in these areas through the years. I am trying to take the necessary steps to finally get a big buck with a bow and hunting these areas means a total shifting of my stands and areas I hunt. Northwest Pennsylvania is not exactly known as a trophy state, and I was wondering if you think the same strategies and locations that have worked for you would work for me in PA. The buck to doe ratio is not as ideal, and the rut is not as intense, would you still try your luck at travel routes in the rut if you were me, or should i still focus on food and sign. thanks, jWinke Responds:Josh, I think this approach will work there. However, I would do both until I gained confidence in the new approach. In other words, I would still focus on some of your old stands, but start trying a few of these travel route stands. As you gain confidence in them, you can shift more of your strategy over to hunting these spots. That is basically what I did. I didn't just quit hunting sign cold turkey, but rather phased it out. I still pay attention to sign, but I don't use that as my final deciding factor in my stand locatins. Good luck.
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thomas from AL asks:Bill, just got from turkey hunting in north kansas, specifically washington, jewell, counties and surrounding counties. we had a good trip. my question is, we saw a ton of deer throughout the area. are the deer there big. everything you read points to south kansas but we saw alot of deer, are they known for there antlers up there? there was alot of walk in areas that looked good. didnt know if you were familar with area?Winke Responds:Thomas, I do know those areas. I hunted northern Kansas a lot when I was traveling every season. I have done a fair amount of research on KS, as well, and there aren't many "bad" areas there. The open country bucks are a bit more vulnerable, so you need to find areas that don't get gun hunted hard, but there are giants in that part of KS. I would certainly give it a try. Good luck.
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steve mccarthy from WI asks:I only have small tree line to hunt in urban area have seen a few huge bucks lots of smaller bucks.Only one way in or out tons of food and cover.No good success as far as big bucks land owner sees them and home owner 200 yards from my stand.Love to hunt but feel like im over hunting property. I only bow hunt.What would you suggest to help me harvest one of these big bucks i know are in the area? I have harvested three does and my first buck ever a small 8 in two seasons and have passed on alot of does & decent bucks waiting for that giant.Please help me make this a more productive spot for those big bucks.Your show is my personal favorite.Thanks SteveWinke Responds:Steve, I would probably reserve the stand for the rut when the bucks are most likely to be cruising the fence line. Also, if you can, plant a small 1/4 acre clover plot in front of your stand to get the deer focused on this area a bit more. Short of seeing the entire layout, it is hard for me to offer too many ideas about optional strategies. There may be something else right under your nose that will allow you to hunt it more often or more effectively. You can probably find it yourself. Key on locations you can get to and from without alerting deer and where your scent will be blowing into areas with no deer. That can be really tough to pull off, but once you find such spots (even if they don't overlook the very best sign) you can hunt them a bit more often without risk of burning out the area. If you just, focus on the rut to hunt your best stand and you will likely do better.
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Tim from IL asks:Bill, Im 7 years active duty Navy, just recently stationed in Great Lakes, Illinois. The area around me is awesome, and Ive seen a few great bucks in the few short months that Ive lived here. My problem is, I cant find any state land in the area (only Chain O'Lakes State Park, but they only allow hunting on Mondays and Tuesdays, and that doesnt work with my military schedule). Ive been sending local landowners letters and following up each letter with a phonecall or visit. Almost 100 total letters thus far, and I have yet to secure a single piece of property in my county. I started looking north in Wisconsin and found a good large parcel of state land, but its over an hour away, so Id only be able to hunt it on weekends. I was hoping to find a spot that I would be able to hunt on weekdays if I happened to get out of work early, or I cant make the long trip to state land in Wisconsin. Any suggestions to help me find a local place to hunt? Thanks.Winke Responds:Tim, I would ditch the letters and phone calls and stick with the personal visits. Finding hunting permission is often a relationship thing and it takes time. However, you can start to build those relationships through personal visits. Offer to help with projects on the property in exchange for hunting rights. Start out with just a small request. Like, "Can I hunt here on Thursday evenings a few times?" That way you aren't asking for the landowner to take a big leap. You can line up a few properties for different days when you think you might be free. Be very professional, offer to help and only ask for a small favor. Over time, that will open the doors that are possible to open. Unfortunately, it just takes time. Be patient but be persistent. Good luck.
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Chad from MO asks:Bill, when you go into your stand in the morning, you talk about it being just light enough to discern what is in front of you. If the sunrise is say, 7 am, then you would like to be getting into you stand by 615a. I also know it depends on the type weather you have, whether it be sunny or cloudy. I know I have tried your method and it has resulted in fewer spooked deer.Winke Responds:Chad, That sounds about right. I just like to be able to walk quickly and avoid branches and making noise. I feel like that results in the least disturbance. I want to get in quick and quiet ,not necessarily super early.
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Neil from TX asks:I am considering leasing property in North Central Kansas, or possibly South Eastern Nebreska. Givin the choice, which would you hunt? And, what terrain features are most important: CRP, crops, or timbered creeks. Thanks.Winke Responds:Neil, It all comes down to the neighborhood. In the Midwest, there are good neighborhoods, bad neighborhoods and everything in between. I would rather be in a good neighborhood (where people pass up good young bucks either by choice or by default due to a lack of pressure) in an average state than a poor neighborhood in a great state. So it comes down to the individual property options available to you. It is exactly like buying land, I always spend a lot of time learning as much as possible about the neighborhood as I possibly can before buying a piece of land. Find out what the neighbors are shooting (not from the guy trying to lease or sell you the land but from the neighbors themselves). That will tell you everything you need to know. When looking at some farms, I made a point to turn over the very stones I least wanted to look under. In other words, if there is a questionable neighbor, go talk to that person. You will figure out right away if that person is going to be trespassing on your lease while you are not there. I like variety in the terrain and cover. In that part of the world you can't expect a lot of timber, so try to get as much as possible to increase stand options and carrying capacity. I like crop fields or at least a place to plant plenty of food plot acres. Standing food is the key to success in the Midwest when most of the crops have been harvested in that area. It is a real magnet. Thickets are good. Brushy plum thickets and pockets of cover away from the creek bottom cover is a bonus. Rough terrain is also a bonus as it helps to funnel deer movements and makes them easier to predict. The neighborhood is most important though. Find a great neighborhood and you will enjoy great hunting. Otherwise, the Midwest can be just as tough to hunt effectively as any other part of the country.
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LANCE from TX asks:I am considering a pop-up style ground blind for rifle hunring this year. Do you recommend leaving a ground blind out all season? I wanting to leave it out till the end of season but a few guys have said not a good idea.Winke Responds:Lance, If you are going to do that, I would build a solid one out of wood or purchase a pre-fab model. Those popups can be destroyed pretty easily. We have destroyed three of them simply by leaving them out for a couple of months in the summer for filming. So I wouldn't do it.
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Ryan from IA asks:Hey Bill, I have one other question for you here... I know that the weather had ALOT to do with what this last deer season was like bow or gun...I contribute one problem here with sanother and would love your input... It was about the first or second week of october and we were in a blind when a cougar came out of the brush and actually blew our mind. I couldn't believe my eyes...right here in Iowa. Any way we left the blind to track the animal and low and behold at the hll top all of our Cattle were in a 360 with there calves in the middle. This made me know that I wasn't seeing things. Part of me wants to believe that the lack of big buck sightings this season were due to the fact that the moisture level was high and a lot of crop was left standing... Another part of me thinks that the lack of sightings are actually due to the Cougar sighting we had... What are your thoughts...should we pursue the animal to peak our season or wait till' he hopefully passes and let be what will beWinke Responds:Ryan, I doubt the cougar actually lived there for any extended time. They are so transient. It is possible, but that doesn't explain why the hunting was slow on nearly everyone's hunting area in the Midwest this year. When you have a warm rut, it is just tough. If you can find the cougar, definitely get on him, but likely he is long gone. I would attribute it to the weather and standing crops.
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logan from OH asks:Dear Bill, Hi my name is logan and i'm almost 12 years old . The 2010 season will be my first season hunting Ohio whitetail . Well my dad is a hunter but i am trying to be. He is just going to tag along with me . I am set on managing the hunting area very well so my first kill will be a good one . Any tips?Winke Responds:Logan, Focus on having fun. My rules for the hunts I go on with my children is this: Priority 1: safety, Priority 2: Have fun. Priority 3: tag a deer. I would not wait for a buck. I would fill my tag with the first legal deer that comes along. It is much more important to taste success than to shoot a "trophy". First deer are all trophies. I think you will love it if you stick with those three priorities and then be willing to fill tags on any thing legal. Good luck.
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BILL from NY asks:HI BILL I LOVE IOWA I SHOT MY BIGGEST BUCK THERE 175 BNC MY QUESTION IS WHEN I GET MY NEXT IA TAG WHO SHOULD I HUNT WITH BILL PAYNEWinke Responds:Bill, None of them are as good as you would be on your own for two weeks on a farm that has not been hunted yet. That is because they have to make money on the outfitting so they have to run enough hunters to do that. That is not to say that outfitters aren't a good value or that they don't try hard. They can be and they do work hard, but it is still a business for them. It is alot of work. They have to make money at it. So it comes down to how hands on you want to be. If you have the time and energy to be hands on, you can do better on your own. If not, you need to hire a good outfitter. Now, who do I recommend? I hate this stuff as I have a number of friends in that business. They all work hard, but success rates are still going to be under 50% for a bowhunt during the rut. That means that you are more likely to fail than succeed. I guess I would hunt where you shot the 175 buck! That is bigger than anything I have shot in the past few years hunting a chunk of ground that I manage for big deer. We shoot a lot of 150 to 165 class bucks, but even here it is tough to shoot much bigger. They are rare. I know I didn't help you. I am not going to make an outfitter recommendation. You need to do that research. There is so much that can go wrong on an outfitted hunt, I don't want my name on such a recommendation. Personally, I would find a place you can hunt all to yourself and then come out for two weeks from Oct. 25 through Nov. 10 or so and you should do great and have an absolute ball doing it.
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Ron H. Jr. from WI asks:Bill, Hope you and family are doing well. I haven't talked to you in a while, with the seasons closed and back to work full swing. Just thought I would pop in and say hi and do some catching up. I see you have your hands full yet. So I wont take too much of your time. Just thought I would let everyone know that the horns here in Wisconsin are dropping and the snow is thinning out some. Heard of a few buddy's finding a few small sheds already near some hay bails. Wont be too long before I make my rounds. Figure 2 more weeks or so. lol Oh, one question before i forget, I gave a big buck ("Pretty Boy" 150"+) a hair cut back in October, the actually, and never seen him again after that. Do you think he will come back if he made it threw the season? ...please just say yes even if you have your doubts, my heart is set on taking him if I get another chance!! He will be a monster! Thanks a lot Bill, take care. ~Ron~Winke Responds:Ron, Yes, I do think he will come back. If he was in his normal home range at the time you shot at him, he won't abandon it because of that. So, good luck getting on him this fall. Thanks for your support.
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Cody from ND asks:Bill, trying to get hooked up with the right outfitter is tough. The real good ones are very expensive. I found one that I tried last year and enjoyed it, but didn't see the bigger bucks (120+) he told me I would. I'm trying it again this year. I'll be hunting NW Missouri from Oct.21-27. This isn't the best opportunity for a big buck, but for my price range I have a better shot then where I normally hunt in MN and ND. How would you expect the deer movement(esp. buck movement) to be if the weather isn't horrible? The rut slots are always full!Winke Responds:Cody, If it is cool, you will see decent movement, mostly to and from food. If it is warm, at that time of the year (without the real rutting activity to make them move anyway) it will be very slow. Temperature will dictate everything. Pray for a cold front. Good luck.
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Jake from IA asks:Hello Bill- I am very good friends with Brandon Lefever and Jon Bauer on your pro staff in nw Iowa.They said maybe you could shed some light on over the counter whitetail deer tag states and possibly in your opinion some good public areas within them. I love hunting Iowa but would like to expand my season. Also I know Kansas is not a over the counter state but I understand you know a fair amount about hunting down there any tips would be great. Thanks JakeWinke Responds:Jake, Kansas doesn't have much public land - a bit, but not much. It has gotten tougher to access good hunting there, but with the turn in the economy, many outfitters lost bookings and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the leases they held were not renewed. I would consider driving down there and spending a long weekend just scouting around. I sure liked the area around Greenwood, Woodson, Coffey, Lyon, Elk Counties. Andersen is good too, but seems to have more hunting pressure and access is tougher. Far western KS can be really good too, along any river system, but that adds to the drive. If you are up for it, the western part may also be worth approaching. Again, very little public land. Avoid the high profile areas and you will have a decent chance for access. There are good bucks all over KS just as there are good bucks all over Iowa. Missouri has some decent over the counter opportunities and the public land is not bad. However, public land in MO is not nearly as good as private land (or even public land) in Iowa so I suspect you will be disappointed. Private land in MO can be very good with a realistic trophy being a 140s to 150s buck. The entire north two tiers of counties are good and probably offer equal hope of getting access. Knocking on doors is never easy because you will get rejected much more often than you will gain access. However, persistence is the only chance for success. Don't overlook North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. All three can be good too, when you find the right farm. I realize that isn't a lot of help, but finding a good spot to hunt is never easy. You just have to gut it out until you find the right situation. It is out there. You just have to find it.
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Eric from MI asks:Bill A buddy and I are planning on trying an Indiana public land hunt in 2010. The Indiana DNR website is helpful in locating public land but the ample amount of public hunting area is making our decision overwhelming. Any advise on which particular part of the state/area's to focus our attention? Thanks, Nick MIWinke Responds:Eric, I am sorry, I don't know Indiana well enough to make specific decisions, but I do know what I would be looking for: any kind of isolated locations near private land agriculture. In other words, you want it be work to get to the areas to limit pressure, but you want there to be food nearby so the deer are going to be there too. That may be hard to find, but since you have so many options, it may be easier than you think. Call the IDNR and ask about "Sportsman Maps" that show all the public land by county and the access points, county roads, etc. Pick the best looking five from the map study and then get out there and check them over good before spring green up to see which ones have the best looking sign and set up the best for undetected hunting (good routes you can use to sneak in and out out of the area without the deer knowing). Good luck.
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Eric from NY asks:I am reading your book from the late 90's "Hunting Hard for Whitetails." In one of your chapters you discuss how you recently(back then) switched to hunting new areas/trees nearly all the time, by backpacking in a stand/steps and hunting w/ the continual element of surprise. I'm curious to know if you are still a big proponent of this method today, and if so what is your system for doing so. It just seems w/ all the camera gear, backpacks, stands, steps, etc. that is would be too much to carry in every time and get set up. I'd appreciate any insight you can share on your current system. Thanks! Keep up the awesome content!Winke Responds:Eric, As I have gotten older I have become less "energetic" shall we say. I still put up a lot of stands during the season - usually in October, but by November I mostly hunt stands I already have up. Also, I can now afford more stands so I simply have more of them in the woods making it easier to keep the elment of surprise than if I was hunting only a limited number. I probably have about 35 stand locations up and ready to hunt. I still add a few each year as we see changes in deer movement patterns or put a pattern together on a particular deer, but I don't head to the woods with a stand on my back every afternoon like I used to. When I was doing that all the time, I used a very portable system. I think the system from Muddy, one of our sponsors, is as good as any out there for getting in fast and quiet with their steps and portable aluminum stand that all nest together. We aren't afraid to work hard during the season, it is just nice to have as many stands in place as we do making it easier to hunt fresh stuff all the time. Good luck.
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Mitchell from MI asks:Hello Bill, My Dad and i will have 3 preference pts for IA this coming summer. We are willing to spend good money on an guided hunt for our best chance at big deer. What are some outfitters in IA that you would recommend? Appreciate your time and answer on this. Keep up the great job on the main show it is the best and enjoy it weekly! MitchellWinke Responds:Mitchell, Of course, I have never hunted with an outfitter in Iowa, but there are a few that I have been around and have heard good things about. I can offer those options as a starting point. Look at Straight Arrow (Steve Hanson). His phone is: (641) 799-2449. I understand that Paul Fountain also runs a good outfit. You can find his info at fountainoutfitting.com. I am sure there are also others. My only disclaimer is that I have never hunted with any of them, so I am only giving you second-hand information. Good luck.
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Chad from VA asks:Love watching all the shows. Been nice having all the new shows this year. Hope there is a VA show next year or at least some VA pro staff working for another state like NC boys. How should I hunt the snow? We don't get snow here usually during deer season and when it does, we can't seem to locate the deer like we hoped we could. I know to hunt before the front comes but after it's here it seems hard to find them. It's like they hold tight to their beds instead of being on their feet feeding like I figured. Now it's the 3rd day of snow on the ground and deer still aren't moving even in standing corn, turnips where I thought they would be. I'm starting to hope this stuff melts away.Winke Responds:Chad, They do seem to hole up for a while sometimes. I don't know all the answers on what makes them move. I don't really think anyone does. For sure, the place to be is the standing crops. The deer will hit them when they do start moving again. The standing crops are just easier to access and they are opportunists (choosing the path of least resistance). There may only be a few good days in the late season when it seems that everything is moving. For sure the weather change will dictate a couple such days, but there will also be others. The only way to be there at the right time is to be there as often as possible. Never assume just because you saw little the evening before that you will see little this evening. It doesn't necessarily work that way. Good luck and Merry Christmas.
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Ryan from WI asks:I hunt 30 aceres that is only good during the rut. It seems like the deer just wont leave the corn over the hill from me, and I just cant make the deer want to bed here are any thing, despite my huge efforts every year! I have 16 stands on this property for diffrent winds a few great funnels and food plots and a nice seculted pond but I just can't get the deer interested in making my 30 part of their home range. Now i do have the occasional little buck and does mosy around. What should i do, hunt hard and play the wind or leave totally unpressured all year till rut and late season or what? I am a ABSOLUTE FREAK about scent control, and it works i never have a deer wind me even 10 yds down wind. I know i have to be a freak about scent just to keep the pressure they fell from me down! But maybe you could just give me some appreicated advise! Thanks Bill!Winke Responds:Ryan, The only thing you can do differently is to make the cover as thick as possible, have food adjacent to it and keep parts of the 30 acres as a sanctuary. You can increase the thickness of the cover by cutting out all the junk trees so that more sunlight reaches the forest floor and starts regrowth of trees, shrubs, brush, etc. I have done this on my entire farm and it definitely makes the farm better. Not only does it seem to hold more mature bucks now, but it is easier to hunt without the deer seeing me. I can sneak in and out of my stands without blowing out big areas where the deer would otherwise see me. In many areas you literally can't see more than 20 or 30 yards when on the ground. That is opposed to the before scenario when you could see nearly 200 yards. Think about that. If I walk to a stand and potentially every deer within 200 yards can see me I have blown out a quarter mile (200 on each side of the route)!!!!. If they can only see me 50 yards away, I have just made my hunting area hunt four times larger! That is important. Anyway, give that some thought and consult with an actual forester (I am not an actual forester) before you start whacking, but be sure to make it known that wildlife is your ultimate goal. Good luck.
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Curtis from OH asks:Bill, Coming into the 09 season, I had high hopes of killing a big buck. I had seen two great shooters within 10 nor 15 acres of each other while I was scouting in two days. When season finally opened I saw a few nice deer around sep 28 or so, and then it just seemed like they vanished. I didn't see any rutting activety at all, but continue to see large buck tracks. Should I continue to hunt, or just hang it up until next year? I thank you very much for the shows you and your staff produce, and hope you have a merry christmas! p.s What do you think of the Ohio staff?Winke Responds:Curtis, It was a strange year for almost everyone. The weather in November was not conducive to good rut activity - too warm most of the time. By the time the weather cooled, the rut was over and the bucks were laying low on the mend. If you have some good food sources are intend to use some bait the late season can still be productive. The key is to find areas where the hunting pressure was not too intense during the regular firearm season. I would focus on the afternoon hunts near food and you still have a decent shot at success. Good luck. By the way, I have been impressed with the OH pro staff. Those guys (and gals) are getting it done!
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Clint from AR asks:Bill, first of all, you and the staff of MW are doing a great job. Very informative and very entertaining. Just wanted to tell you I have used a lot of the advise you have given over this season to pattern a buck on a farm. I finally got my opportunity at him this past weekend, just to have him jump the string on my at 30 yds. He didnt seem too spooked and walked down the hill. I have a trail cam on the plot. The farm has very little hunting pressure. How much time should I give him before trying to hunt the plot again?Winke Responds:Clint, It is tough to say, but if he didn't seem too spooked, I guess a week is more than enough. This time of the year, if they get hungry, they can seem pretty easy. Give him a few days and you should be fine to go back. Good luck.
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Steve from MO asks:Bill, What are your thoughts concerning the impact on a hunt when you bust a big flock of turkeys. One of my best bowhunting spots also happens to be the primary roosting area for a large flock of turkeys. I will often either bust a roosting flock when slipping in before daylight or have them come in to roost when I'm out on an evening hunt and of course raise holy hell when I inevitably bust them trying to slip out. Am I wasting my time trying a morning hunt after I bust the birds? Should I just give up on this spot or do you have another tactic to recommend? Thanks, SteveWinke Responds:Steve, I think it is a bad thing, but probably not a show stopper. If you come in early enough and are quiet enough, you can often slip in for the morning hunt without too much disturbance. I would probably keep hunting the area. Also, if you find that you simply can't get in there without busting the roost, consider coming in later so when they fly off it is more like they are simply flying down and not too much for deer to get nervous about. I have done that to good effect a few times too. I wouldn't worry about busting them when you climb out. Try not to, but it is not a huge deal.
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Jake from MO asks:Hey Winke I have a little problem or as serious hunters would say a big problem. My neighbor across the street owns About 400 acres and doesn't allow hunting and let me tell you i have seen some giants in there, and I have asked him i dont no how many times and he always says no. What would you try to do to get in there and kill one of those big guys, or should i just keep hunting the land bordered up against him.Winke Responds:Jake, I would keep hunting the land you are on and try to have a few food plots that would give deer a reason to move your way. Long-term, it would be a good idea to ask the landowner if you can do a few chores for him in exchange for shed antler hunting. Then maybe you can ask about summer video footage, filming deer. Eventually you may gain their trust. If not, you can likely make a new friend and that is not all bad either. Just remember, if you work side by side with someone, that is better than paying them money. Do a favor before asking for one. Good luck.
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Troy from MO asks:I hunt over food, creek levys between food and bed, and timber and I can't even get a doe to walk in front of me. All stands are near good trails.. Is my land just no good or am I doing things wrong? Thanks for your time.Winke Responds:Troy, It is tough to answer that question without knowing alot more information. However, if you are seeing good trails and sign, you may be doing things wrong. The key to successful bowhunting is to keep the deer from knowing that you are hunting them. You have be very careful in your entry and exit routes as well as when selecting the wind direction you are going to hunt. There is much to learn, but if you make it your goal to only hunt places you can get to and from without alerting any deer, you will enjoy your share of success.
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Blake from IL asks:Bill, the show couldn't be anymore helpful. As you know the weather has misplaced itself in the wrong month, do you have any tips on how to set my sights on an old nocturnal buck? I have received several trail camera pictures of him in a 10 acre alfalfa field after dark. Its the only food source on the 100 acre farm. Any tips on harvesting him? Best of luck BlakeWinke Responds:Blake, They are really tough to kill by natural movement when they are nocturnal. There is one aggressive method that sometimes work. You can go in, bust him from his bed at midday, put up a stand while you are there and then come back very early the next morning and be waiting for him to return. That can sometimes work and is definitely worth a try.
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Anna from IL asks:Hi Mr. Winke, I am 10 years old and am interested in archery hunting. My dad and I watch your shows sometimes and I was wondering beacause I take online safety classes, when I pass, what are good tips for getting started? Thank you, AnnaWinke Responds:Anna, The main thing is to keep it simple and keep the shots close. Set up along a trail leading to a feeding area and hunt it only in the evenings. Then take the first legal deer that comes along. Get some success under your belt. Then over time you can start to hunt other types of locations where you have to be more careful in your approach.
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jearobbins from IN asks:I hunt a Indiana urban zone property that is a small woodlot (approx. 20 acres) surround by farm fields and a couple houses. The trees are young and not big enough for good tree stand set ups. Now I'm set up on some bigger trees on a fence row and the corner of the woods. I cant seem to get these giant bucks to come out of the woods before dark or with light in the morning. Would love to send you some pics of these bucks and some of the sheds, I'm sure you wouldnt be disappointed. My question is do you have any ideas??? I have a nice ground blind that I havent tried there and a decoy I havent tried there. I'm not sold on either one being very effective. I try to stay out of the woods because its so small, maybe thats a mistake. I hope another season doesnt pass without me getting my hands one of these bucks. Love your show, thanks for your time. JeremyWinke Responds:Jeremy, I would probably bite the bullet, drive right up there, make a bunch of noise, run a chainsaw, etc. Put the blind up, brush it in good and then leave it for a week. I would focus on any good travel funnels without going in too deep. Unfortunately, I can't think of any other options. You might also set up close by and try to rattle them out, but that can have the negative side effect of educating deer.
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Stephen from IN asks:What is my best chance of seeing deer come Nov. 15...opening day of Rifle in Michigan. Hunting Big woods...no near farmland, public...will only be able to scout the day prior to opening day. Not the most ideal situation, but thought I would should you the ?. I will be hunting 2 days. Thanks a ton Bill! God Bless!Winke Responds:Stephen, My own experience hunting big woods in Michigan on opening weekend suggests that you need to find the most remote swamp and bury in there. Just get in early and wait. Ideally, you can find a spot where you can put up a stand for better visibility. This where the deer will run when the shooting starts. Grab a map and start looking for swamps and islands. Good luck.
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philip from ON asks:when go scouting i see big deer but when i go hunting i don't see them why?Winke Responds:Philip, This year, the bucks were very nocturnal right before they started to rut. I suspect it is like that most years. We really didn't start to see bucks while hunting until about Oct. 28. The odd one here and there before, but to really see activity, it was late October.
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David from MS asks:Bill...I will be hunting in NE Iowa beginning on the 6th. The farm I am hunting has lots of corn still in the field. How will this affect my hunting and was is my best approach to hunting with all the standing corn.Winke Responds:David, It will definitely hurt your hunting. First, I would look for any small bits of cover within the corn - a small wood lot, a tiny creek, even a slough. I would then scout for deer sign around these small cover areas and even hunt them (from the ground). If you can't find anything like that, hunt the edges of the corn. The bucks will be cruising these edges regularly. They will definitely use the corn just like they use any other cover. Good luck.
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Josh from ME asks:I am heading to a new spot next weekend to hunt. It is a good spot but it is about 4 hours away. I have been there before but i need to set a stand when i get there. I am not familiar enough to go in in the dark and set it up. Should i go in at first light or should i wait until late morning to go in and hang the stand?Winke Responds:Josh, I would sleep in and wait until mid-morning and then go in and set it up. Actually, I would set one and then go and set up another one that you will hunt from that afternoon. That way you have a morning stand and an evening stand ready for the next day. Good luck.
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Michael from ON asks:Bill, I love the show and have asked questions in the past with great response. One of the properties I hunt is bordered by a large swamp/marsh with a creek and that butts up to a thick stand of cedars and mature trees. What are your experiences/opinions of hunting on the edges of swamps with shoulder height yellow grass, cattails and deadfalls? Should I venture to the edges and try and find the best trails in and out and set up there?Winke Responds:Michael, If the deer are bedding in the swamp, I would try to do it that way, wait for them to come out and hunt them on the trails. If the swamp is big enough and the islands are big enough, you could go in after them, but that is kind of risky, at least at the start. If they are just passing through the swamp, I would look for funnels (probably high ground) both in the swamp and on the outside. In the swamp you will likely have to build some kind of ground blind. A manufactured one would probably work if you add enough cover to it. I would also be looking for places where the deer are skirting the swamp (avoiding wet spots, etc.) and I would also look for crossings in the creek. All of these are classic spots for rutting bucks. Good luck.
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Justin from MO asks:Winke I have been hunting a 140" 9pt this year, but i shot a doe and she ran into where i think the 9pts bedding area is. Did her runnig in there and me and my buddy walking through there mess up me seening him ever again this year?? Im hunting public land and right before gun season all the bucks go into hiding till feb. when seasons over. Have only seen this buck once in 3 years but have a few trail cam pics of him in the summer at my salt lick. Thanks JustinWinke Responds:Justin, I don't think it messed up your chances for long. I think they get bumped around a little bit on public land so that is nothing new. Who knows how many times a squirrel hunter or hiker, etc. has bumped in him the past. I would just it settle a short time (a week maybe) and you should be fine.
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levi from IL asks:Bill, what time you you be in your stand (i watched some videos and pepole dont get into there stand until its daylight but some other people get in there when its dark) thank youWinke Responds:Levi, I am not a big early riser. I guess maybe I just like my warm bed. Anyway, I usually get into my morning stand and get settled about 15 minutes before the start of legal shooting time. Before I hunted with the camera I used to wait and walk into my morning stands as soon as I could see the ground at my feet. That way I could go in fast and not step on sticks. I felt that a slow, crunching, sneaky approach put the deer on edge more than a fast, quieter approach at a time when the woods were starting to come to life anyway. Also, the kinds of places I hunt dictate the timing. Most of my morning stands are in or near bedding areas. I don't have to be there right at first light because it takes the deer some time to get back to these places from the feeding areas. If I am hunting a travel route in the morning that is different, I would be sure to be there with at least 30 min. until legal shooting time so I get in without bumping deer leaving the feeding areas.
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curtis from OH asks:I was wandering how bad a dog can hurt a hunting spot? I went hunting the other morning, and the land owners dog followed me out into the woods. He ran right into the bedding area, and through the standing corn. Luckily I didn't here any deer spook,but he did come between me and a mature doe. She saw him and just turned back into the corn.I know there is a mature buck in the area, because I found a telephone pole sized tree rubbed in that same area. Did he hurt the spot?Winke Responds:Curtis, Deer are used to roaming dogs. Who knows how many times that dog has gone through there. We have some roaming dogs here too occassionally and even though it annoys me, I realize that the deer just circle around the dogs and are right back to doing what they were doing before the dog came through. I don't like those roaming dogs, but I doubt he hurt you one bit.
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Jon from MN asks:I am deer hunting south of Brainerd. The weather is terrible lately as I'm sure it has been in much of MN. Just curious as to how these weather patterns are affecting the deer.Winke Responds:John, You are a long ways from me, so I can only guess. We have seen minimal daytime movement of mature bucks, but the weather fronts (cold fronts) do seem to spur some activity each time they come through. I think this behavior is typical of October bucks. They should break out of it by about Ocober 20 to 25, or so.
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Mike from MN asks:Hello Bill, Thanks for responding to my question about how long my dream buck will live. Guess what? He's down! I submitted my question last week and then shot him on Friday. He's Huge! 210 1/8 inches, dressed out at 280 pounds. You had great advice. Although I did not read your response until after I harvested him, that is exactly what I did. I hung a new stand within 100 yards of his bedding area on Friday and killed him two hours later! I'll send pictures when I get things figured out here. Where can I send them to? Thanks again, MikeWinke Responds:Mike, I (we) would really love to see photos. Please send them and I will post to the Gallery, if you don't mind. Congrats, that is the buck of many lifetimes. I am very excited for you. You are obviously a good hunter to pull that off.
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Chris from AL asks:Hey Bill, How much attention do deer seem to pay to a pop up blind if you have to set it up and hunt it immedietly and not give them time to get used to it?Winke Responds:Chris, A lot, unfortunately. Your only hope in that case is to brush it into the natural setting. That can help. But if a blind just shows up in the middle of a food plot, they don't like that one bit. I have seen it take a week for the deer to get used to it and go back to feeding there. It is much easier if you match something natural. For example, assume that there are round bales in the field and you build a blind that looks just like a round bale - deer can't count so you will likely get away with that intrusion. Brush it in and you have some hope. There are exceptions, but my experience suggests that they don't like new stuff that is not natural.
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Bob from MI asks:Hey Bill, my question has to do with the ban of mineral licks and bait pills in michigan's LP. I know they found CWD in a privately owned deer, but i see deer licking each other all the time. so what is your opinion on this? I hunt mostly public land and it is hard to always get the best huntin spot.Winke Responds:Bob, In states where baiting was never legal, people don't ever talk about it. They never miss it because they never had it. I think in a few years everyone in the LP will change the way they hunt and they will forget about the bait issue. I am not sure from a phisological standpoint how the nose-to-nose interaction of the deer spreads the diseases, but I guess when you concentrate deer, you concentrate diseases and provide an ideal place and method for them to spread. So I am sure that is why they made that decision. I don't know if the ban will make a difference in the spread of diseases, but I am certain that within a short time everyone will move on and you won't miss baiting much any more.
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Aaron from PA asks:Hi, I am 18 years old and have been bow hunting for a few years now, but can never have much success finding, or getting close enough, to the bucks. I know there around because I see them over the summer. I live in South Central PA, any help would be gladly appreciated. Thank YouWinke Responds:Aaron, That is a tough question to answer quickly. There are so many factors to consider in answering that. The basics are simple, so if you can just spend your effort on the basics and forget fancy strategies that will help. First, you need a good spot. Spend time looking for the best spot you can get. Try to find areas that don't get heavy hunting pressure. Ask permission, be willing to work to get good hunting land, scout until you know what the deer are doing. Second, be sure to do everything in you power to keep the deer from knowing that you are hunting them. This should affect everything from where you hunt, when you hunt, how you approach your stands, ground scent, airborne scent, where you park, etc. Every decision should be geared around trying to keep a low profile. Then put in as much time as you can. Really, if you spend your time focused on these simple steps you will shoot more than your share of deer over the years. Good luck.
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David from OH asks:Hi i am 15 and love to bowhunt this will be my second year deer hunting so im still real new. im hunting public land. theres woods,corn fields, some open fields with thick brush and a stream, so i was wondering if i should hunt the corn or something else and what time of day should i hunt?? thanks and really like your showWinke Responds:David, To keep things simple. Early season, I would hunt near the food, maybe not right on the food, but somewhere near it (back into the timber slightly for example.) I would only hunt afternoons. By the second half of October I would keep hunting near the food in the afternoons but would start to hunt more back in the cover in the mornings. By the end of October and firt two weeks of November, I would spend most of my time hunting near the areas where you think the does are bedding. Get back into the thick stuff. That is where the bucks will go looking for them. Hunt these spots morning and evening. Mix in a little bit of hunting near the food in the evenings if you like, but stay focused on the thicker cover. Good luck.
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matt from MN asks:Hey Bill first thing first love the website. So I have been having problems with the neighbors dogs running on to are land alot and have caught them chasing deer a few times,have pictures of them on the trail camara as well. Now I have talked to the owners of the dogs a few times and it has not seemed to help out. What would your next step be? Also, have you ever ran into the problem as well? Thanks MattWinke Responds:Matt, I remember one time there was a dog barking back in our farm. It went on for a couple of days. Finally, I had enough, grabbed the 12 gauge and a couple shells and walked back there. The dog came trotting up to me, tongue hanging out - happy to see me. I took the shells out my gun, put them in my pocket, dropped my head and walked back to the house. I didn't have it in me to kill him. I had owned too many dogs in my time. If he had growled at me though, he likely would be buried right there. Since then, I just accept it. I have never killed one. I asked a game warden what to do about it one time. He said, "Shoot, shovel and shut up." I don't have a good answer for you, but it might not be a bad thing if a buddy of yours did a little coon trapping on your farm with conibear traps, if you get my drift.
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chris from TN asks:Bill,I hunt along one of the big river's in the midwest.As you know they have been hit hard with flooding the past two years.Two years ago my brother and I saw several big bucks in a slough near one of the big river's.A couple of buck's were in the 160's. We went back last year after the water went down and I killed a 130" buck.Do you think if a couple 2 or 3 big bucks live in this area and the water run's them out of there for 2 or 3 months do you think they will ever come back?Now I realize that when we saw the 2 160's that it was the first week of Nov. and they might have just been looking for does.Three years ago I killed a 155" and my brother killed a 135".Since the river is flooding again this year do you think we should go back this year?I just can't get the 2 or 3 160's out of my mind.Thank's for a great website.Can't wait to read your reply!Winke Responds:Chris, I grew up duck hunting the islands of the Mississippi River. We always saw deer while duck hunting back then. That river flooded nearly every spring and often the Corp messed it up with the locks so that it flooded even sometimes in the late summer - yet we always saw the deer sign when we were in there duck hunting in November. That was before I started bowhunting. Man we shot we shot a lot of ducks. I really enjoyed that. So yes, I do think they will go back eventually when the water goes down. That is likely their home and they will go back. However, I am not sure how long it takes them to drift back in after the water backs off. If it is islands I would say it will take longer. I would guess at least a few weeks for islands - a week if simply bottomland. So, I would just scout it for signs of tracks. When the tracks start reappearing you know that the deer are drifting back. Probably the big ones will be among those drifting back at that time. Scout occassionaly until you see the evidence. Bill
