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This article is all about bow hunting large whitetail bucks. A large buck can be a very challenging to harvest. As a buck gets older, he increasingly grows smarter and often times more nocturnal. If it wasn’t for the rut, harvesting a large whitetail buck may be nearly impossible.
Image credit: “AugustBucks2011” by Woodlot
Overview
I have stalked elk and even mule deer, but have never had any luck sneaking up on a whitetail buck. That is not to say it can’t be done, just saying I have never done it.
Generally speaking whitetails hide in dense cover, which means the spot and stalk technique is not useful with whitetails unless your a ninja.
That leaves us with planting our butts and letting a big buck come to us. We can do that on the ground or in a high vantage point like a tree stand or hunting tower.
Whitetail Flaws
Luckily large bucks have a few flaws or nobody would ever kill them. Bucks get crazy and throw logic to the wind during the rut. They live in a small area of approximately a square mile. Plus they tend to follow patterns. All three of these flaws can be used against a large whitetail buck.
Preseason Scouting
Preseason scouting is crucial in harvesting a large buck. Because bucks generally live in a small area a hunter can learn a lot about how bucks will move. In a couple hours of scouting a hunter should easily be able to identify bedding areas of thick cover, water sources, and food sources. A scouting trip will also educate the hunter on trails, rub areas, and scrape areas.
Image credit: “Quivira-Whitetail-Buck” by Jerry Segraves
Where Do I Make My Stand?
The location of where you plant your butt is crucial. A hunter will have little success setting up in a random spot. After a good preseason scouting session a hunter should have a pretty good idea where to set up.
Generally speaking a buck will spend the day in a dense cover bedding spot. To leave this bedding area a buck will generally follow a path to their favorite eating or watering spot. The trail connecting the bedding area and eating or watering area is a great place to set up.
During the rut a buck may leave his bedding area more frequently during the day to police his area for does in heat. He will often follow a trail and leave plenty of sign behind like scraps and rubs. Near a scrap or rub is an excellent place to set up.
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