Truths, Tips and Tactics

The Truth: I'm a whitetail nut! It's true, I make part of my living guiding for bugling bulls. That’s an obsession that overcomes me every September.

But in my mind, I’m always thinking or dreaming of big, mature whitetail bucks. I blame it on growing up in whitetail country. There’s something special about the leaves turning and rubs showing up, or hearing the crunchy steps of a buck chasing a doe across a frost-covered, shelled cornfield. Since childhood, this has been my addiction.

1. Hunt Where They Live

This is a no-brainer, right? I talk with hundreds of hunters every year that want nothing more than to kill a monster buck. The problem for most people is that their hunting grounds simply don't harbor a buck over 3 ½ years old. If he isn’t there you can't kill him, I don't care how good of a hunter you are!

I've met people with a wall full of 150-inch deer who know very little about deer hunting. But they have a great spot. I've met others who are hardcore, knowledgeable, smart hunters who have never killed a deer over 110 inches. Why? They don’t have “the spot.”

The point? Make the best of what you have to hunt. If your area hasn't produced a 140-class deer in the last 50 years, don't set your goal at 150. Make your deer hunting goals attainable. In fact, don't worry about the score. Concentrate more on age. In most areas of the country that are not strictly managed, any buck over 4 ½ years old is a shooter in my book.

2. Hunt As Much As You Can... When It's Right

There's a farm I hunt in Maryland that used to be a great place to hunt. For years it had a high deer density and I'd usually see a buck or two in the three to four-year-old age class. That’s great age structure for this part of the state. Everything was great until a few other guys began hunting there. Before I knew it, we weren't seeing any three or four year olds after August.

The reason? The other fellas weren't concerned about getting in and out of stands without being detected. Walking through a soybean field in the morning while the deer were still out feeding was the norm. They never considered wind direction.

They killed deer and they were dedicated, hunting 3 or 4 times a week. But one day they made the statement about wanting to kill bigger deer. I told them that it isn’t very complicated. Just don't shoot the little ones, hunt the correct wind and be careful with your entry and exit routes from your tree stands. None of it made sense to them. They didn’t understand why you wouldn’t hunt a stand because the wind was coming from the wrong direction. Their theory was this: the more time they spent in the woods, the better their odds were of being successful.

They still haven't killed a mature buck and I haven't seen or caught pictures of a mature buck there in three years. My stands are still there but I rarely give it any effort. I'd rather give up the spot than constantly beat my head against a brick wall. The chances of killing a mature deer are tough enough. The odds of killing one that knows he's being hunted are slim to none. Don't get lazy.

3. Have Confidence

Without confidence, you’re finished before you even get out of bed. Hunting season is a long drawn out game of cat and mouse. If you take the sport seriously, you will become mentally fatigued at some point. Weeks of not having any luck will lead to second-guessing. Reevaluate your entire strategy, including stand placement, entry and exit routes and wind direction. If it all checks out, be patient. The reason we have this obsession with big bucks is because of their keen sense of survival. They are, in my opinion, the smartest animals in the woods.

4. Be Different

Rattling deer is a very common thing for hunters to do in late October through the end of November. When have I had the best luck banging the "horns" together? September! I have rattled more deer in during the month of September than I have in the other two months combined!

My reasoning? First, cool days lead to playful pushing around by bachelor groups of bucks. Second, nobody else has called to them. They are "fresh" so to speak. It works well when you first spot the deer. Try to gauge what mindset they are in. If they are sparring with one another, there's a pretty good chance they will come check you out. Never call to a deer when the wind is wrong! He won’t come and chances are, he won't for the rest of the season either.

5. Act Like You've Been There Before

When I was a kid my parents taught me to never show boat. Visualize it and then do it. But never show someone up. The same is true with hunting. To be proud of what you've accomplished is a good thing. Don't take it too far and put someone else down with your success.

Visualize making the shot in your mind. Dream about the buck of a lifetime turning broadside and your arrow hitting the crease behind the shoulder. If you can see yourself doing it, you can pull it off when your heart is beating out of your chest! Watch hunting shows on TV and put yourself in the shooter’s place. It's not the same by any stretch of the imagination, but it helps.

Another great idea is to practice shooting further than you are comfortable with. I will shoot a deer out to 60 yards with my bow. I mainly practice at 80 yards. It's incredible how much easier 50 and 60-yard shots become when you routinely practice at 80. Step outside your comfort zone.

6. Enjoy It

Lenny Miller is a veteran hunting guide with Rawhide Guide Service and a native of Taneytown, MD.

Let's face it; hunting is recreation for most of us. The world isn't going to stop turning if you miss a giant buck or another hunter kills "your" deer. Enjoy every minute of every experience the best you can. Teach what you know, learn what you don't and give back whenever you can.