Older bucks don’t reach maturity by accident. By the time they are four years of age they have evolved to the point where they are more wary than younger deer. They are more trap-shy and have perhaps outwitted a hunter or two in their lifetime. Therefore, it takes a whole different level of hunting expertise to bring one home. Here are five strategies, each supported by expert opinion and scientific research, to get the drop on mature bucks.
- Stay close to food areas during the off season: Mature buck will bed-down close to food sources when they do not fear that hunters will be in the vicinity. Therefore, it is possible to hunt mature deer once they can feel that the pressure of hunting season is off – outside the spring and summer.
- Hunt bedding areas: Hunt bedding areas during the peak of conception, when bucks are guarding and propagating with does. This usually occurs late in the hunting season. At this time older bucks are rutted down and resting. Just remember to be patient and try to stay down wind of the deer’s bedroom area once you have discovered it.
- Stay put: Many hunters after sitting a day or two in one stand decide to move on to areas that may be more productive. They reason that mature bucks will leave a particular area after the rut. In fact, some studies confirm that many males don’t leave their home ranges during the rut. If they do it is often not too far from where they settled. Therefore, be patient and don’t move around too much.
- Hike in farther to find, remote thickets: Large, older bucks prefer nastier, thicker areas for bedding cover. However, during the rut mature bucks will make an exception to this rule and abandon these gnarly, thorn-infested areas in order to seek female companionship.
- Stay close to water sources: Bucks are just as likely to consider how much water is in an area that they desire to bed in as they are to consider food sources in that same area. Therefore, try not to ignore water sources as a place to set up your stand.
All this having been said – remember that each deer has its own separate personality. Some are more cautious than others. In general, however, mature deer are the most cautious of all. Therefore, you have to bring your a-game when trying to bring one down. You can test your skills and knowledge of big game hunting as well as dove hunting in Argentina. We also have Argentina duck hunting that will challenge you and your friends.