Killing Big Deer Can Be Easier Than You Think

Killing a big buck is often not as difficult as it is sometimes made out to be. Sure, you have to hunt in an area that has big deer; but if you live in a state that has big bucks, chances are that just about anywhere will hold big deer. Some areas may just hold more than others. For the purposes of this article, suffice it to say that killing the biggest deer in your hunting area can be easier than you think — you just have to follow some simple practices and follow them religiously.

Don't Overhunt

First off, don’t hunt too much! A big mistake that most hunters make is spending too much time in the woods. They feel that in order to tag a giant buck, they need to spend many hours in the stand, when in fact that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The very best hunters I know that consistently kill mature deer, and do so while hunting far less than everyone else. They have learned the strategy that less is more when it comes to big bucks.

You have often heard that your best chance to kill a mature deer is on your first sit in a stand. Well, that should be your first clue that overhunting can diminish your chances. Each time you enter the woods, you clue the deer in on what's happening and when you will be there — and perhaps more importantly, when you won’t. Hunting too often can make you patternable to the deer and make it more obvious that you aren’t just a random hiker or firewood cutter.

When I started spending less time in the stand years ago, I noticed my success on trophy bucks soar. It wasn’t a coincidence. It’s hard at first to watch everyone else start banging it out in October and feeling like you have to get out there or you’re going to miss out, but be patient. You’ve heard the story about the young bull and the old bull.

My friends have always poked fun at me, saying things such as “you only hunt like 5 times and then you kill a great buck.” Yep, that’s true at times — and it's by design! Once you start having to grind it out, you’re in trouble. You start taking shortcuts, feeling desperate, and taking chances with the wind, which leads me right into my next topic.

Ensure The Wind Is Right

Never hunt an area with the wrong wind. I don’t care how bad you want to hunt that certain stand — if the wind isn’t right for it, simply wait until it is.

Some of my very best bucks came from stands that I had the least confidence in and that I didn’t even want to hunt on those days, but the wind was good for them so I did. It is better to wait a week for the right wind, than to barge in there when the wind is wrong.

Don't Hunt Certain Areas

Another important factor to killing big deer is this: don’t penetrate! By this, I mean there are just certain areas that look amazing and are littered with deer sign, but entering them is just too difficult and will do more harm than good. You'll might spook too many deer, or there just might not be any good winds for a stand there. If thats's the case, stay out.

Instead, hunt the fringes. Sure, you will end up seeing a lot of deer that you can’t shoot, but when the time is right and if you haven’t overhunted them, you’ll be surprised how often a mature deer may end up coming by or can be called into range.

For example, if you have to trudge through the middle of a big section of timber to get to your stand, it might be a good idea to hang a stand there. You are likely walking by a lot of good areas to get there, and will blow too many deer out on your way in and out.

Don’t be afraid to leave certain areas of your property unhunted. Instead, try to catch the deer on their way to and from those areas. It may result in a perceived fewer shots at deer, but if you're after mature deer, you'll be surprised at how your opportunities on those deer go up.

Morning Hunts

Also, and just as importantly, sit the morning hunts out. Now, I don’t mean you can't ever hunt mornings, but — especially in the Midwest or anywhere there are crop fields — do so sparingly and only when the time is right. You are much more apt to bump deer off the fields or on their way back from them if you hunt mornings.

In my opinion, the only time to hunt mornings is during the rut, from mid- to late-November. Other than that, stick to the evening. Morning hunts are my favorite. I love to be in the stand as the sun comes up, but I learned long ago that I am better off restricting them to this time only.

It is generally not a great idea to even start hunting until November anyway. There is no need to alert the deer to your presence until the time is right, but if you can’t help it and must get out in October, think afternoons. The same goes for late-season hunts, as well

Never Stop Scouting

One more thing to keep in mind is that scouting shouldn’t stop once the season starts. Sure, we tend to let up on scouting once we are actually hunting, but deer patterns do change during season, and you're missing out if you don’t change with them. Spend less time in the stand and use some of that time to scout from the road or fencerows when your deer sightings dwindle. This can make all the difference. You may find that the deer haven’t vacated your property, but they may have just shifted to using other areas of it.

Now, if you happen to have a stand that is far enough from the feeding areas, and where you won’t have to trudge through or near any feeding areas on your way in, then forget what I just said and hunt those stands!

Patience Is A Virtue

Lastly, have patience. You’d be amazed what you’d see if you didn’t cave and shoot a buck smaller than what you are really after. I am not the guy to tell anyone what to shoot, so take what makes you happy. But, if you are after a 150-inch deer, then you would be surprised to know that you might actually just see one every year (or even two or three) if you ditched the mentality that you have to kill a buck each year, which normally ends up in shooting a younger one.

Following these strategies and sticking to them, no matter what, will greatly increase your odds of killing the most mature deer in your area. Sure, it takes discipline, patience and a whole lot of faith, but once you adopt these principles, you might just be shocked at how much more successful you can be at consistently wrapping your tag around a bruiser.

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