Hitting the woods during the opening days of the season with the following high-impact strategies can generate close encounters with bucks like this one killed by the author.

A single trail-cam picture of a very unique velvet buck convinced me to point my pickup truck north and place the tall mountains of eastern Kentucky in the rearview mirror. The season opener was finally here, but it was practically hot enough to fry an egg on the country road that cut directly through some of the prettiest farmland in southern Illinois.

The endless sea of thick soybeans, standing corn and isolated woodlots helped me forget all about the annoying temperatures and biting insects that go hand-in-hand with the early season. However, there was no way the heat or hungry bugs were going to keep me away from the high-racked buck that was sporting a forked crab-claw at the end of its main beam.

My stand was tucked just inside a patch of white oaks, which bordered a soybean field that was covered up with hot sign. The older bucks had been hanging back in the dense cover before hitting the beans and my setup was perfect for this early-season pattern. At first, a few bushy-tail squirrels bouncing around in the dry leaves were about the only action keeping me awake after the long drive. Then heavy steps and the distinct sound of popping sticks caught my attention directly below the ridgeline. The underbrush was thick, but I was able to pick out tall tines and a crab-claw point on the left main beam of the approaching deer.

Without hesitation, I quickly came to full draw and settled my 30-yard pin on a narrow opening just ahead of the buck. A single note bleat brought the buck to a dead stop and the impact of the arrow created a heavy thud that echoed across the bean field. I can't think of any better way to kick off the season than making a long-tined bruiser eat some dirt on opening day. With that being said, let's take an in-depth look at some high-impact strategies that will give you first-strike capabilities on early pre-rut bucks this season in your neck of the woods.

HIGH-TECH SCOUTING Recent advances in technology have really brought deer scouting to a whole new level for hunters. As a young boy, I got so excited when those old game trail timers were first introduced. Basically, a simple dental floss-like thread was connected to a digital timer that could be stretched across a worn path. Unfortunately, this primitive scouting tool only provided the time when a deer crossed. Hunters were left wondering the sex, size and even the species of the animal that had crossed the trail. At the time, there was really no way of knowing whether it was a giant 10-point buck or a stray dog that had walked past your tree stand.

With today's technologically advanced trail-cameras, you can capture high-resolution pictures and video footage that includes the time, date, temperature and even the current moon phase. There are even some units like the Smart Scouter and the new Moultrie model that allow you to conveniently view your trail-cam photos from your home computer or cell phone. These cameras have extended battery life and allow you to monitor activity near your stand without disturbing or contaminating the entire area. All of these innovative features are great, but many hunters still fail to get the most out of their trail cams. However, there are some fairly simple techniques you can utilize to successfully pinpoint and pattern an early-season shooter buck.

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