The Big change is beginning.
Posted By
indiana
at
10/27/2009 12:00:00 AM
As we creep towards Halloween the bucks' continued rising testosterone levels
have them quickly changing and ready to fully disperse across their ranges in
anticipation of the fast approaching Primary Rut. The hormones are nearing peak
levels of the entire year and have a way of changing these animals to our
advantage.
Scrapes have now started to show up more inside the timber as
the hormones begin to take over most of their behavior. Just a week ago I
witnessed two bucks that were very tolerant of one another as both worked the
same scrape within sight of one another. My guess is that by the end of this
week, that same scene won't play out any longer.
Soon bucks will begin their incessant searching of the falls'
first hot does. In fact, there may be a bit of breeding going on right now, but
the lion's share won't come until after Halloween. It is this predictable
cruising behavior that causes the demise of many a buck as they range across
their habitats. This is the time when hunting funnels can really pay off for the
patient hunter.
I call them "Intercepting Stands" and have gotten fairly good
at finding these spots in my hunting areas based on years of observation. These
special stands have been set up for quite awhile now, but I generally stay away
from them until the time is right. There is no sense in burning these stands out
before the real prime time of the hard Pre-Rut: those 7-10 days prior
to the onset of breeding.
Generally around October 25th the hunting heats up as bucks
begin to move more across their ranges. Funnels are your best bets now as the
bucks cruise from doe family unit to doe family unit looking for love. Doe
bedding areas are fairly predictable, of course, and assuming the does are still
there you should be in business by finding those funnels that connect these
bedding/feeding areas.
It is also time to pull out all the modern tricks to help in
your hunting. I will soon begin to utilize my buck decoy to help draw a good
shooter into bow range. At no time of the year is using a buck decoy better than
during the waning days of the Pre-Rut. Again, testosterone has a way of making
bucks take chances they might not have even a week, or two ago. Throw out some
challenging calls with the presence of an intruder buck and keep that bow close!
Bucks are vulnerable to calling and rattling now as well. Use
these tactics wisely to help draw them in to your set ups. Experiment with deer
urines now as well. You really won't know if a certain tactic, or combination of
tactics will work unless you try them out. If you've thought about trying some
new tactic, give it a shot.
The period commonly referred to as the hard Pre-Rut
will be on us very soon. Get out there in a good solid funnel, take your
rattling antlers, calls, decoys, and urines and find a combination that will
work for you to draw in a big boy. Shoot him on camera for the show and sit back
and smile.
Here's hoping we all experience that ultimate feeling of
satisfaction that shooting a mature buck brings to all of us right around
Halloween. Treat those "monsters" with a trick of your own!
Best of luck to you all!
Dean Weimer
