alafarmnews

Trophy Hunting:
A Year Around Endeavor
by Todd Amenrud

So, you’re going after a "book buck" this year? Have you hunted for a trophy whitetail before? It’s a different ballgame than just hunting for any whitetail.

You’re going after an animal that has made it through at least three hunting seasons and has already seen many of our tricks. When you’re pursuing a true trophy buck, you’re hunting for one of the most elusive of all animals. There are times when a mature whitetail buck has lived close to civilization all of his life and has never been seen by a human. If you expect to harvest a trophy, you’d better be lucky, or you’d better start your work now.

Obviously it’s not impossible, but there are things you’re going to have to do to ensure yourself a chance at one of these super bucks. Luck helps once, maybe twice, but after that you’d better pay attention to details. Typically, you need to capitalize on one of your first attempts.

One of the most important factors towards consistent success on big whitetail is scouting. Late winter and spring is my favorite time to go deep into their "bedrooms" with a "fine tooth comb." That time of year I don’t worry about spooking the animal.

A hunter waits in a blind for that trophy buck to come in range.

My goals are to learn in detail the lay of the land, and to find out whether a particular buck has made it through the winter. That time of year, with no leaves on the trees, rubs you’ve never seen before become obvious. In the northern climates, the melting snow and thawing ground leave all of the winter’s signs there for you to discover.

Todd Amenrud uses a spotting scope during the summer.

Once summer comes, I back off from the intense ground covering type of scouting, if for no other reason than during this time of year the woods becomes a sweaty, mosquito infested place. I still do a lot of scouting, but it’s usually on a stake-out somewhere with my binoculars or spotting scope. I find an agricultural field, meadow or large swamp off the beaten path, set up and wait. Even the big ones can be seen in the open during this time of year. With delicate velvet on their crown, they don’t like to stay in thick brush. They like the edges of the thick stuff but really don’t spend much time in it until their antlers are through growing.

During August and early September I start to make a few quick trips through the areas I think might hold a buck. I look for big tracks and the first rubs to pop up after they drop their velvet. Now, I’m VERY CAREFUL not to put too much pressure on a spot. A mature buck will usually not tolerate much before you blow the whole deal.

important. You want a high quality rubber boot and you want to keep them clean and odor free. If you bump into a tree, a piece of brush whacks you in the forehead or your pant legs rub against tall grass as you walk through it, I guarantee you that a whitetail can smell that. It depends on temperature and humidity, and a few other factors, on how strong the smell will be and how long the smell will stay there. And granted, even a mature whitetail will usually tolerate a small amount of "indirect human contact." But, these small mistakes can also be all it takes to goof things up on a mature buck.

Through the hunting season you have to keep on top of what’s happening.

factors will change a buck’s habits. After the chlorophyll drops out of the plants and you get a severe change in temperature, preferred food sources can change overnight.

Here’s where I’ve come to rely on the products made by BioLogic. On the properties that I manage throughout the country, I have very good luck with all of the blends from BioLogic. Each blend provides a different aspect towards my management goals. By planting a variety of these blends, I’ve got a food that will keep them on my property and keep them coming to my plots all year long.

There’s a fine line between keeping on top of what’s happening in your hunting area and putting too much pressure on a spot. You need to know that the buck is there and an idea of what he might be doing, but once you know that, back off and wait for the right time to try for the kill. With a mature whitetail your best odds on harvesting him are one of the first few times you hunt him. After that, you’re just educating the buck on how to avoid you and your odds decline with each trip you make onto his turf.

If you combine a little luck with a lot of smart preparation, you will become a more successful trophy whitetail hunter. One thing that we do have over a whitetail is our capability to think and reason. Use your brain power to do things right!

Todd Amenrud is the Director of Public Relations, Territory Manager & Habitat Consultant for BioLogic.