Well folks after checking covert cameras last couple days, I will say that your yearling bucks are pre rutting and your older bucks should be up on their feet here in the next week here in south-western pa. This is one of my favorite times to hunt older deer because they still stay in the core area they have been in last couple weeks except you will notice they will be moving more during daylight hours. Trail cameras should be placed on scrape lines and transitional area’s from bedding to feeding. I’m not ready to go into the bedding yet. That is a last week move for me, I never go into the bedroom unless I know they are full swing rut. This is also a very effective time to hit the calls, doe bleat and grunt a few sequences every hour or so can’t hurt in my opinion. I will load my favorite set of sheds up and use them for rattle horns this week. I’m going to experiment with my decoy a little more this year here in pa and see how it works. About two years ago I had a good buddy film me for a morning in a set I knew were multiple big bucks lurking in the area> worst mistake I ever made was going in two hours early trying to hang the set the day of the hunt. I ended up 20 minutes after first light soaked in a tree. After seeing nothing I had my buddy hit the horns together and within 30 seconds here cam a pa stud plowing down the trail toward our set, by the time I got my buddy’s attention the buck had busted us the communication is key when filming hunts this would have been a lay up type shot if he continued the trail he was on. I’m gonna hit the stand starting friday for the first time and i will be using calls. I would love to hear your past experience with decoys in the east if you have ever used one. Lets all remember what hunting is about, and spend some quality time chasing these great animals while making memories. Good luck Aim Small —–>J
All posts by Jeremiah Voithofer
The Early bird Sometimes gets the worm!!!!!
Early season scrapes can sometimes have big results. During these first couple weeks if you can locate a scrape between bedding and feeding most of the time, more than one mature buck is hitting it. From what I gathered over the years I see the bucks are trying to establish a pecking order leading up to the rut. I currently am watching a scrape where a 3 and a 4 year old buck are still in the same area. As october rolls in so will the scrape action. I am personally a huge fan of scrape hunting. I try to make bucks in areas where I know there are multiple big bucks, start the boxing early. I use buck urine and very small amounts of tarsal gland to get the party started. I make the spots convenient for me, close to a tree I can strike from and he can’t check downwind without me getting a shot. Points of ridges and saddles are my favorite spots for scrapes. If you want a cool show, flick your covert trail camera on video and set it back about 7-10 yards from the scrape. let them tell you how aggressive they are getting and what direction they are coming from. Pay attention to every detail cause it may make or break your chances of sealing the deal on an old whitetail. goodluck….J
Hunt preparation, The little things make a Big difference.
Closing in on the last couple of weeks before the season, lots of us here in Pennsylvania get to watch every bordering state open archery season first. This is when I cross my T’s and dot my I’s as part of preseason planning. By this time our hit list is pretty filled out. Stay out of the woods all you’re doing is educating animals. Concentrating on the little things, painting climbers, nothing worse than a big piece of paint missing off the bottom of your climber for mr.big to spot on a sunny morning sit. I set all my stands that are not in use outside straps and all so the weather can make them as scent free ready to hang as can be. Yes, I use scent control products. No, I don’t think it hurts to hang your stuff outside on sunny days such as your backpack and outer layers. Wash all my other garments even towels that I will dry off with after a scent soap prep shower before hunting. Basically every little step makes a big difference. You can play the wind all you want, but you can’t predict mother nature and I have lost a hand full of shot opportunity on big deer to the little things over the years. In the end that’s the game, better to be over prepared then under. I’m setting my muck boots outside every day, boot dryer set up for after the hunt. Go through your hunting bag make sure the essentials are their, screw in hooks or hangers for your bow and tools of the trade, pull up rope, limb clippers, wind checker. I personally carry and grunt,an estrous bleat,then after the 25 of Oct. im carrying a real set of shed antlers for rattling horns. I do use scent in scraps after the temps drop and scrape activity rises. Last but not least hang your hunter safety system out, safety harnesses you wear every day keep it scent free too. Good luck this season hope this helps. Jeremiah