Here’s the reference you need about sign, techniques, and strategies for this season’s most frenzied deer activity. For example, if you know that bucks abandon most active scrapes and scrape lines when the pre-rut is ending and the rut is about to peak, then you know it’s time to change hunting strategies!
Whitetail Science looks at buck sign during the rut. Did you know that the rut hits different parts of the country at different times, anytime from July to February? Deer biologist Brian Murphy reviews the signs that tell you when the rut is on in your area.
Cornfields offer nearly 90 million acres of hunting ground in the United States. Mark Kayser will take you through the The Maze Of Maize, leading you through the advantages and best practices for taking your next bruiser corn-fed buck.
Why spend more time than you have to afield when you can Hunt Less For More Success? Smart scouting and prep can shave significant time from your quest for a trophy. Mark Hicks tells you that, outside of the rut, the best scouting time on foot is at midday when deer usually are not moving.
You canoe could be your ace in the hole this fall as you pursue Waterway Whitetails. Bill Vaznis takes you where few bowhunters venture, up the waterways where he can scout for crossings littered with fresh tracks, brushy points, open meadows, rub lines, and other killer locations to set up. In addition, he reviews the pros and cons of different canoes for the job.
Bill Vaznis also interviews three leading bowhunters about hunting the rut in this month’s Secrets Of The Masters. Web show producer Todd Pringnitz looks for thick, nasty cover. Sporting goods retailer Fred Lutger takes a different approach in open areas. Sanford Innovations President Chris Sanford locates the does to find the big bucks. They tell readers why.
What do expert bowhunters take with them to the field? Bob Butz asks three leading experts about The Things They Carry. How about a periscope, baby wipes, eye drops, or a lucky bow?
Not every essential bowhunting accessory fits our Field Test categories, so editors Mike Strandlund and Mark Melotik gathered the must-have items that defied categorization, including a saw, treestand/gear transport system, bow case, fletching system, trail lights, electronic call, ground blind chair, and meat grinder.
Where do you spend your Thanksgivings? Mike Strandlund describes a patch of Kansas timber that he’s fond of in From The Editor.
For less than $60, using simple materials and techniques, you can make yourself a super bow rack that displays your bows and arrows proudly. The good news: You don’t have to be an experienced wood worker to do it. Our Home Bow Mechanic Rick Combs tells you how.
Finally, there’s a lot of fun and serious success when you “fake it” with decoys, says Bob Robb in his Back Country column. Even more fascinating is how bucks—even black bear—will aggressively handle an “intruder.” But when decoys work, there are few things more exciting!
