We've all been there. Only an hour or two to hunt. Whether it's before work, after school or on
your lunch break, there is still hope to get a big buck on the ground this fall! Don't ever tell
yourself that if you can't hunt all day, or what some people call "prime time" (early morning
late evening) that it's not worth it. Because it is worth it! So let's take a look at what you can
do to improve your hunting odds when the Bossman isn't so understanding. Know your deer
year round. This is vital! Know where they are bedding, traveling and feeding. Trail cameras
are a must. At least two or more will be required to get you where you can watch multiple
properties or areas of one property at one time. Right now you're probably thinking 'two or
more?! Way too expensive!' and they can be very pricey. But don't be afraid of the entry level
models. In my opinion there are alot of great cameras out there for a little under $150.
Most feature at least 5 mega-pixel pictures and infrared too. Also, keep a running journal of
deer activity, moon phases, weather, and barometer pressure.
Plant your food plots. This is a great way to almost guarantee deer movent to your stand
location. I would also recomend turnips and rye grass. Where the does are the bucks will
follow. I understand that a food plot can be very time consuming and hard on the wallet. So, I
would recomend a seed that doesn't require machinery to plant. Glass the fields in late
summer. I always carry a good pair of binocs in my truck. If you're on your way home you can
swing by your hunting property right before dark and glass the soybean fields while they are
still green. You get a real good idea after a couple of weeks doing this of what bucks you have
around. When the time comes to put up your tree stands, remember it's all about location.
Easy in easy out is what you want! Fencerows are a prime spot for this type of hunting. You
don't want to have to walk over 5 to 10 minutes to get to your spot. I will take a good stand
with great accessibility over a great stand with good accessibility any day. Have as many
stands out as you can, so you can hunt the wind. Also, it's a great idea to rake away a trail of
dead leaves so you can be as stealth as possible. Remember, because you can only hunt a
small amount of time you don't want to disturb the woods anymore then you absolutly have
to. But sometimes when you're in a hurry it's a wise idea to put on your turkey vest and hunt
from the ground. Cut cornfields and fencerows are your friends! More big deer have been
killed this way than you would believe. When hunting from the ground, always carry a pair of
snips so you can make a small blind and trim shooting lanes. Carry a storage tote in your truck
with all the essentials that you need to hunt. This cuts down greatly on load up time.
Remember, it doesn't have to take all day to kill a mature buck. The people that can hunt all
day do have the advantage, but that doesn't mean you can't connect with a bruiser this fall.
It's a well known fact that some of the mature bucks that live in high pressure areas and like to
move during the day. (especially during the rut.) So, don't get down in the 9-5 slump! Get out there and hunt when you
can. Keep it simple and precise and you have a good chance of putting your tag on a mature
buck this year. -Lake
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