Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

The 120-class 9-point stepped within 10 yards as I gazed through the bows of a small pine tree.  It was barely shooting light on the first morning of the hunt, and the mature buck had come directly to my grunt calls.  It was a good buck, but could I shoot before the hunt’s first sunrise?  As the deer stood upwind, I heard a wheeze —the only time I’ve heard that in the wild —and an indication that this was a dominant buck.  Nonetheless, I didn’t raise my crossbow and allowed the deer to walk.  What a memory!

Don’t Leave Home Without It

I carry a Hunter’s Special “True Talker” grunt tube whenever I hunt deer and especially during late October and through November, whether I’m sitting in a stand or sneaking through the woods.  My “talker” is 30 years old and not in production today, but its predecessor, the OG, is available on Amazon, and I love it for its deep guttural sound.  Grunting sounds don’t travel very far, whether made from a buck or a caller, due to the low pitch of the sound, so louder is usually better.  If a buck is close, you can blow into the call more softly to lower the volume.

Do No Harm

The thing I love about a grunt tube is its almost universal acceptance in the deer woods.  When blown in the occasional “contact grunt” form with a puff every couple of seconds, a buck will either stop and look, approach, or ignore the sound and walk away.  Although rarely touted as a benefit, a grunt tube can also calm down a doe that has seen you, and I’ve had this work on several occasions.  On one hunt in South Dakota, we had a day of 20-40 mph winds that howled out of the west, so bad that everyone but me stayed in camp.  I believed that grunting from downwind of a thick bedding area would lure out a buck.  On my second try, I heard a doe snort and began grunting aggressively.  Kneeling under a batch of cedars, I soon had white antlers coming right for me.

Estous Bleat

On an Illinois rut hunt, I watched a buck follow a doe atop a ridge, just out of range.  Using a Wood Wise estrous bleat call, I lured the buck away from the doe and under my stand.  Unfortunately, it was a 120’s deer on a property with a 140 minimum, and I watched it walk away, wishing I was back home where I’d have been happy to launch an arrow.  Primos sell the “can call,” which is the easiest bleat sound to make.  Last fall, I had a buck show up under my stand by randomly using the bleat, and allowed my grandson to take his first buck with a crossbow.

The 120-class 9-point stepped within 10 yards as I gazed through the bows of a small pine tree.  It was barely shooting light on the first morning of the hunt, and the mature buck had come directly to my grunt calls.  It was a good buck, but could I shoot before the hunt’s first sunrise?  As the deer stood upwind, I heard a wheeze —the only time I’ve heard that in the wild —and an indication that this was a dominant buck.  Nonetheless, I didn’t raise my crossbow and allowed the deer to walk.  What a memory!

Don’t Leave Home Without It

I carry a Hunter’s Special “True Talker” grunt tube whenever I hunt deer and especially during late October and through November, whether I’m sitting in a stand or sneaking through the woods.  My “talker” is 30 years old and not in production today, but its predecessor, the OG, is available on Amazon, and I love it for its deep guttural sound.  Grunting sounds don’t travel very far, whether made from a buck or a caller, due to the low pitch of the sound, so louder is usually better.  If a buck is close, you can blow into the call more softly to lower the volume.

Do No Harm

The thing I love about a grunt tube is its almost universal acceptance in the deer woods.  When blown in the occasional “contact grunt” form with a puff every couple of seconds, a buck will either stop and look, approach, or ignore the sound and walk away.  Although rarely touted as a benefit, a grunt tube can also calm down a doe that has seen you, and I’ve had this work on several occasions.  On one hunt in South Dakota, we had a day of 20-40 mph winds that howled out of the west, so bad that everyone but me stayed in camp.  I believed that grunting from downwind of a thick bedding area would lure out a buck.  On my second try, I heard a doe snort and began grunting aggressively.  Kneeling under a batch of cedars, I soon had white antlers coming right for me.

Estous Bleat

On an Illinois rut hunt, I watched a buck follow a doe atop a ridge, just out of range.  Using a Wood Wise estrous bleat call, I lured the buck away from the doe and under my stand.  Unfortunately, it was a 120’s deer on a property with a 140 minimum, and I watched it walk away, wishing I was back home where I’d have been happy to launch an arrow.  Primos sell the “can call,” which is the easiest bleat sound to make.  Last fall, I had a buck show up under my stand by randomly using the bleat, and allowed my grandson to take his first buck with a crossbow.

Fresh scrapes are pure excitement. Primarily, if the pawed earth is large in size and there’s not a single leaf in the dirt.  Brian Kitghtlinger did a great job of covering the four types of scrapes in his post last week, and here’s a step further.  Many sponsors are urging you to use their products to score as the rut draws near, but here’s a strategy that has high success and is easy to embrace.

A Scrape Ignored

I do media work in South Dakota every year and do my best to squeeze in a day or two of deer hunting once the work is complete.  On my last trip, I had just one day with no time to scout, so I headed to a location that had proven very productive in previous years.  As I waded a small stream in the first light of dawn, I walked past a fresh scrape that had been refreshed from previous years.  I was tempted to hunt there but moved another 50 yards to the far side of the creekbed to take advantage of a west wind.  In the first hour of the day, I saw movement through the dense brush and found a mature 10-point and an 8-point at the scrape.  The crossbow shot was obstructed, and as soon as the deer left, I moved closer, and within 30 minutes, a 6-point came to the same spot.  The deer saw me sitting against a tree, and we had several minutes of eye contact until it relaxed and looked away, just enough time to fill my tag.

Night Scrapes

Over the years, I have hunted many scrapes with little success, primarily because I didn’t see them as places where bucks make one scrape and move on.  The honey hole of scrapes is finding primary scrapes that are fresh and show a progression of movement.  In this way, you can see that a buck is using this scrape line as a travel corridor.  Dale Strubel is a senior hunter who shares his expertise in the following video.  His advice is simple but effective and parallels my experience over 50 years in the deer woods.

Old School Advice

Fresh scrapes are pure excitement. Primarily, if the pawed earth is large in size and there’s not a single leaf in the dirt.  Brian Kitghtlinger did a great job of covering the four types of scrapes in his post last week, and here’s a step further.  Many sponsors are urging you to use their products to score as the rut draws near, but here’s a strategy that has high success and is easy to embrace.

A Scrape Ignored

I do media work in South Dakota every year and do my best to squeeze in a day or two of deer hunting once the work is complete.  On my last trip, I had just one day with no time to scout, so I headed to a location that had proven very productive in previous years.  As I waded a small stream in the first light of dawn, I walked past a fresh scrape that had been refreshed from previous years.  I was tempted to hunt there but moved another 50 yards to the far side of the creekbed to take advantage of a west wind.  In the first hour of the day, I saw movement through the dense brush and found a mature 10-point and an 8-point at the scrape.  The crossbow shot was obstructed, and as soon as the deer left, I moved closer, and within 30 minutes, a 6-point came to the same spot.  The deer saw me sitting against a tree, and we had several minutes of eye contact until it relaxed and looked away, just enough time to fill my tag.

Night Scrapes

Over the years, I have hunted many scrapes with little success, primarily because I didn’t see them as places where bucks make one scrape and move on.  The honey hole of scrapes is finding primary scrapes that are fresh and show a progression of movement.  In this way, you can see that a buck is using this scrape line as a travel corridor.  Dale Strubel is a senior hunter who shares his expertise in the following video.  His advice is simple but effective and parallels my experience over 50 years in the deer woods.

Old School Advice

My SpyPoint cameras have been working overtime over the past few days due to increased buck activity around my scrapes. Many bucks are moving during the night, while some are visiting the scrapes early in the morning and right before sunset. Testosterone levels are at their peak, and it’s only a matter of time before things become even more active. What’s most surprising about this week’s footage is that most of the videos were recorded today!

October 27th

On October 27th, my cameras were triggering throughout the day as bucks visited the scrapes. With the temperatures low, the deer were active all day long. If anyone had been sitting in any of my stands, they likely would have had a chance to take a shot at a buck. One buck in particular came out into the rye food plot to work on the Buckstik and really focused on it. This serves as a great example of how bucks engage with a scrape to leave behind as much gland secretion as possible.

October 28th

On October 28th, deer movement and activity were steady. New bucks have begun to appear at the scrapes, leaving their individual scents. As the rut approaches, both bucks and does will continue to increase their activity at these scrapes. It’s always enjoyable to observe the activity at my scrapes during the final days of October. Watch as this curious buck uses his nasal gland to investigate who has been at the BuckStik.

Cellular cameras are excellent options if you live in an area with strong service. However, if you lack reliable cellular coverage and still want to use cameras without spending too much, what alternatives are available? Is there an affordable option that performs well and is easy to set up? Battery life is another important consideration. I often ask these same questions when evaluating traditional trail cameras because I want the best quality at a reasonable price. When the SpyPoint Force 24 camera was released, I was amazed by its price and the features it offered. Was the camera worth the $49.99 price tag? Would it perform as expected? I decided to purchase one and share my thoughts on its performance.

SpyPoint Force 24 Camera

The SpyPoint Force 24 camera operates on 8 AA batteries and can also be powered by a solar panel. It features a 24-megapixel camera, capable of capturing 2K video with sound and high-quality photos. The camera has a trigger speed of 0.5 seconds and a detection and flash range of up to 70 feet. Inside the camera, there is a 1.5-inch screen that makes setup and programming easy. A standard SD card is required for the Force 24; I recommend using a 128 GB card while running the camera in 1-minute video mode.

Bell and Whistles

I was surprised to discover some impressive features while exploring the settings. The Force 24 includes Infrared Boost Technology, Low Glow LED mode, Continuous Mode, Time-Lapse Mode, and Time-Lapse Plus Mode. These features provide hunters with a wide range of options for customizing how the camera operates. I couldn’t believe the variety of options available in a camera priced at just $49.99.

If you ask a serious bowhunter where they want to be during the last week of October and the first week of November, you’ll likely notice a typical response. Many will say, “I want to be near a bedding area or a natural funnel, hunting over a primary scrape.” These few weeks are crucial for hunting over scrapes. Do you know which scrapes to target? Are you aware that there are different types of scrapes? If you’re unsure about the differences, read on carefully to ensure you’re in the right place at the right time.

Competition Scrapes 

Most competition scrapes begin to appear once bucks shed their velvet. These scrapes serve as a form of communication among bucks, signaling their presence in the area and indicating to each other to stay away. During this time, testosterone levels in bucks are just starting to rise, and there’s no immediate concern about breeding. These competition scrapes are typically hit at night and are short-term, usually ceasing after the first part of October. Since most archery seasons start at the end of September or the beginning of October, hunting over these scrapes can be difficult. However, they can help indicate whether a buck is using the area for bedding.

Beware of Random or Secondary Scrapes

Bucks often create scrapes in various random locations as they travel. A buck may make a scrape near an active licking branch but only visit it once. This is why these are referred to as random scrapes. The occurrence of random scrapes increases as bucks prepare for the rut. It’s essential to carefully identify these scrapes so you can set up in the correct location to intercept an active buck.

The primary focus of this video is watching a buck create a random scrape. If you look closely, you’ll see a doe alongside the buck. A low-hanging branch fell during a strong windstorm, which prompted the buck to create a scrape at that spot. Despite having a camera set up in the area, I never observed another buck visiting or working that scrape. The buck likely believed it was a good location to signal to others that he had been there. It’s advisable to avoid hunting over or near random or secondary scrapes, as the likelihood of a buck visiting them is pretty low.

Primary Scrapes

A primary scrape is typically found along heavily traveled trails, in dense vegetation where deer move, and near doe bedding areas. Bucks will work these scrapes year-round, but the most intense activity occurs during the pre-rut and rut. A primary scrape often features one or more licking branches, which bucks use frequently, and the area beneath these branches tends to be heavily worked. I prefer to hunt near primary scrapes in late October and early November because I encounter a variety of bucks throughout the day. If you have a primary scrape on your property, it’s essential to set up a stand nearby.

Does a vehicle moving through the woods scare deer away or just bump them a 100 yards or so?  If you spook deer from a field, will they leave the area to find another food source?  These are questions that hunters have been asking for decades, and there is probably no answer that works every time, yet thermal drone technology allows us to watch how deer react.   The response to our last thermal drone article was good, so I’ll follow up with this post from Wildlife Research.

Rod Keck’s Advice

I once hunted in Nebraska with Rob Keck, who was the Executive Director of the National Wild Turkey Federation.  With a title like that, one might think of him as just a “turkey man,” yet he hailed from South Carolina, where bag limits are very liberal, and he excelled at filling them.  We were given stands for the morning hunt and debated how to get there without spooking deer in the flat terrain.  I considered sneaking in along a two-track, but Keck had a better plan.  “Let’s have the farmer drop us off in his truck,” he said, reasoning that deer were used to that sound.  We did, and I had deer near my stand as soon as daylight arrived.

Deep Woods vs Farmland

Maryland’s black bear season opened on Monday, and I offered my box blind to a hunting buddy, especially since the opening-day weather was forecast to be rainy and windy.  The box blind is just below the top of a mountain, and the challenge was getting there without making noise or using headlights.  After an intense discussion at the clubhouse, he decided to drive to the top of the ridge, park the UTV where the wind would blow its scent down the other side, and then walk to the blind.  Although I don’t often drive the logging roads of our hunt club, others frequently do, and one day I drove noisily up a steep hill when deer jumped up on both sides of the road.  Had they been 75 yards or more from the path, I doubt they would have moved at all.  They had to hear the loud engine and tires chugging up a rocky road, yet they held still until I was nearly on top of them.

Here’s What the Thermal Drone Found After Spooking 100 Deer

Sitting against my favorite tree, a suspicious doe eventually moved past me, or so I thought.  When I turned my head, she snorted and bolted 30 yards away, where she alarm snorted loudly.  My grunt tube in hand, I “urped” loudly several times, and she snorted again.  I grunted, she snorted, but on the third exchange, she became quiet and walked away.  Suddenly, another deer appeared walking directly toward me, a 2.5-year-old 8-point buck, apparently intrigued by the commotion.  It appeared at 40 yards, walked to 30, then 20. Even closer, it glanced away. I raised my Excalibur, placed the red dot in the center of its chest, and released.

Change of Plans

At one time, I believed that a frontal shot on a deer or elk was an unethical shot.  In the case of my South Dakota 8-point, the deer expired 75 yards away, and the shot was both lethal and expedient.  I believe this was an ethical shot for several reasons.  First, the range was a close 15 yards, and the deer was standing still.  Secondly, I was sitting on the ground with direct access to its vitals.  Also, a sitting position provided a semi-rest shot, allowing the Burris red dot to settle solidly on its chest.  I am wearing an orange hat because the firearm season is open, forcing deer into thick creek bottoms, which is why this spot is so productive.

A Lesson from a Mule

I once hunted elk in Idaho with outfitter Darwin Vander Esch.  Our camp of six was about to pack into the Seven Devils Wilderness when Vander Esch walked a mule over to us.  Holding the mule by the halter, he said decisively, “Do not pass up a frontal shot.”  Using the mule, which is about the size of a bull elk, he pointed to the area just below the neck and showed us the basketball-sized area to aim for.  Vander Esch was an expert at luring elk with a bugle, and those animals approached head-on.  Nearly a third of his hunters took bulls with the frontal shot that season.

The Angle Matters

Frontal shots on whitetails from a tree stand are nearly always ill-advised due to the angle of the shot, so the prospect of a frontal opportunity may seem very remote.  However, if you scout during deer season or sneak to or from a stand, you may have a buck walk into you, especially during the rut when their senses are intently focused on does.  I remember walking back to my truck after a morning tree stand hunt when a pie-bald 6-point came running toward me.  It had been jumped by another hunter and stopped at 20 yards, and looked toward its back trail.  The shot would have been easy, yet I thought it was unethical, so I waited for the deer to be broadside.  In an instant, it raced past me, and I never released an arrow.  If you are on the ground, the range is close, and you have a steady aim, I believe this shot is both lethal and ethical.  The following video shows the structure of the rib cage and gives you an excellent picture of the shot.  I urge you to take the next five minutes and view the animal’s skeletal structure.

Vidseo Comment

We’re now one full week into October, and things are heating up quickly. Mornings and evenings in Northwest Pennsylvania have been cool, while daytime temperatures have reached into the 80s. Fortunately, the first cold front of the year arrived yesterday, significantly increasing activity at the scrape and in the surrounding areas. The best action is still to come as we move closer to Halloween.

Sorting Things Out

Early morning meetings at scrapes have occurred frequently this week. Bucks are spending more time visiting scrapes, traveling, and establishing their hierarchy. Some bucks have already been removed from the area due to hunters harvesting them. The dynamics among the bucks continually shift throughout October as some are taken while new ones arrive to compete for the title of “Big Guy” on campus. This is an excellent time to sit near or above a scrape.

Passing Through

New bucks have been showing up at my scrapes more frequently this week. Farmers are busy cutting beans and corn, which means food sources are changing again, and bucks will be on the lookout for easy meals. As bucks travel, they make their presence known to other bucks in the area. This is one of the main reasons I love inside corner scrapes; bucks can’t resist a well-placed inside corner scrape, and they are naturally drawn to them. Having a camera on an inside corner scrape can help you determine when it’s active. You need to be ready to go in, hunt that stand, and hopefully tag a nice buck.

Bob Foulkrod used this trick as part of his bowhunting school, which he conducted at his Troy, Pennsylvania, facility.  Scent control and detection were significant parts of the learning process, and Bob made things very realistic by having archers shoot from tree stands, from logs, and even from a rolling log, which was particularly challenging.  He also helped hunters on public land by identifying old apple trees and asking “students” to pick a stand and advise how they would hunt that spot.

Seeds in the Wind

As you will see in the following video, Foulkrod gave each hunter a packet of milkweed seeds and asked them to release them once they were in their stand.  I was surprised to see how many ways the tiny parachutes floated from my location.  Yes, the wind may be from one direction, yet the milkweed seed showed that air currents swirl around obstacles before they eventually reach the ground.  In warm weather, the seeds may rise with thermal air currents and sink on cold, damp mornings.

Rolling Currents

When I bought into a hunt club, my “spot” came with it and is located on a bench on the west side of a mountain.  I was surprised to learn that even with a west wind, deer to my east didn’t always detect my scent.  Thinking back to Bob Foulkrod’s advice, it happened because the wind seemed to roll like an ocean wave as it crossed the flat bench and turned upwards.  Milkweeds are in pods now and will quickly disperse their seeds as fall turns to winter, and I urge you to try this experiment as you hunt.  All you need is a small container or plastic bag, and have some fun the next time you climb into an elevated stand.  This YouTube video illustrates how informative this trick can be:

There has been a lot of activity at the mock scrapes throughout the week from both bucks and does. The does are checking the scrapes to see which bucks are in the area, while the bucks are actively working the scrapes to signal their presence to the does. In the next two weeks, a few older does are expected to come into estrus, triggering the chasing behavior. If you’re in the woods, you may be fortunate enough to witness some of this early chasing, and scrape activity will likely increase.

Cause and Effect

I love heading to my scrapes during the second week of October to refresh my existing ones. I enjoy reintroducing a “Phantom Buck” using my Head-Scratcher Gland Lure and Contender Interdigital mix. The use of gland lure is essential in my year-round inventory of bucks. Deer communicate daily through their eight glands, and in October, the secretion from these glands becomes particularly important. During this time, bucks work the scrapes, make rubs, and rub-urinate more frequently to communicate with other bucks and does.

Take a look at this video of a buck working a scrape after I refreshed it. I set up two SpyPoint cameras on the scrape to capture close-up footage of how deer interact with it. I was impressed by the footage from both angles. The best part is that the buck never got spooked and kept working the scrape.

Cold Morning Scrape Action

Last week, a cold front moved in, creating ideal morning temperatures for deer activity, particularly for scraping. The inside corner scrape at the neighboring farm was particularly active every morning. Numerous bucks emerged from the cold morning air to work the BuckRope. If I had been in the corner stand, I could have taken a shot at a buck each morning.

Crossbows are ideal for hunters who have difficulty drawing a hunting-weight compound or recurve bow, including seniors, youngsters, women, and those who don’t feel they can devote time to daily practice.  The most significant benefit is the ability to become proficient, which means, even in mid-October, it’s not too late to buy a crossbow, dedicate some practice time, and still be able to hunt the rut.

The Ultimate Guide to Crossbow Hunting

This is the 10th anniversary of my book, which has maintained a 4+star rating on Amazon for over a decade.  Even though new crossbows have become faster and more expensive, many of the principles of crossbow hunting remain the same.  In fact, many hunting principles of bowhunting with a crossbow are identical to other forms, except for shooting.  To be successful, you must still scout out a good location, spend time in a blind or on a stand, play the wind, learn to grunt and rattle, and make an ethical shot.

Step Outside on YouTube

I frequently do seminars on crossbows and the following video took place in mid-summer and includes three of my favorite brands.  Alex Zidock does a great asks a number of important questions and I believe this video can be very helpful, especially for those considering crossbow hunting for the first time:

Whitetail deer seem to vanish after opening day in October.  Acorns fall, crops are harvested, the weather changes, hunting pressure emerges, and the once constant deer movement we cherished suddenly disappears, making it the most frustrating time of the year to hunt.  A few years ago, I vowed to overcome the October lull with a new approach, and it was a resounding success.

Hunt Way Down South

You won’t be able to take my suggestion in the next two weeks, but you can be decisive for next year.  October is an ideal time to embark on a safari in the African plains.  First, flying to South Africa is comparable in price to flying to Chicago or Dallas, Texas.  For most of South Africa, the high temperatures of summer are on the horizon, and tourists stop visiting, which causes airfares to plummet by half or more.

Hunters Wanted

Secondly, many African hunters wind down their hunting season around our Labor Day because many families have their children in school, and moms and dads don’t want to travel.  Additionally, most North American hunters are focused on deer and elk and don’t want to sacrifice their cherished seasons for a safari.  That’s the beauty of hunting Africa in October.  Deer hunting is less productive, and you still have time to have the hunt of a lifetime and not miss the rut.  October is off-season and a great time to make a deal with an outfitter.  Recruit three buddies and you will have almost as much fun anticipating October’s lull as the safari itself.  Anticipation is a wonderful experience, and having a year to prepare makes it even sweeter.

Tim Wells Shows What It’s Like

Summer is filled with activities that need to be completed before the archery season begins. These include setting up stands, checking cameras, planting fall food plots, freshening scrapes, and inspecting equipment. One of the most crucial tasks is to practice shooting your bow to prepare for the upcoming season. I have spent many evenings in my backyard shooting my Darton Sequel 33 at Delta McKenzie 3D targets. These life-size targets allow me to practice at both short and long distances, ensuring optimal training for the season.

Learning from 2024

During the early 2024 season, I saw TT8 enough times to learn that he preferred to enter the soybean field via three different trails on the western edge of the woods. My SpyPoint cameras confirmed that TT8 continued to use these trails throughout the summer. 

On a blisteringly hot day in August, I decided to head to the farm to freshen my BuckRope scrapes and hang an XOP treestand. After walking along the western edge of the field, I found the perfect tree situated between the two trails that TT8 had used in 2024. I took my time hanging the XOP X2 steps and the lock-on stand. After trimming a few shooting lanes, I was drenched in sweat, but I felt impressed with the stand’s location.

As I looked out over the field, I noticed that the deer had heavily grazed the beans, allowing sunlight to shine down on the exposed dirt. Suddenly, an idea struck me, and I knew what I needed to do next.

Praying for Rain

Our summer in Northwest Pennsylvania was unusually dry. I kept checking the weather, eager for the next opportunity to get some rain. After two weeks without any precipitation, the forecast finally looked promising for hatching the next part of my plan. I went to my local outdoor store and purchased a throw-and-grow seed mix before heading to the farm.

Upon arrival, I walked down to my chosen stand location and began spreading the seeds across the ground, ensuring I got them down before the rain arrived. After dispersing all the seeds, I paused to say a quick prayer for the heavens to open up. As I made my way back to my truck, the first drops of rain landed on my face. I felt optimistic about the plot I had planted among the beans.

A month before the pumpkin army invades the deer woods, real pumpkins emerge onto porches and sidewalks around the nation.  Although pumpkins are very edible, few people go through the rigors of cooking them into pies, breads, and other foods.  Eventually, pumpkins rot into a gooey mess that attracts flies and other unwanted creatures.  An alternative to this natural decay is to feed pumpkins to wildlife, especially deer.  However, since most deer don’t live near pumpkin patches, will deer eat them?

Pumpkin Smashing

I live in Western Maryland, and in my experience, deer will eat pumpkins, but only if they are smashed first.  If you plan on hunting near a pumpkin site, be sure that hunting by bait is legal in your state.  Additionally, in my experience, a pile of smashed pumpkins takes some time for deer to get accustomed to.  It may take up to a week for the adjustment to take effect.  That was the experience of a friend of mine, who said that once the deer developed a taste for pumpkins, they ate them down to the stems.  The following short video poses an experiment of placing just the “guts” of a pumpkin in the woods.  Here’s what he learned:

Here’s an Experiment

I have been hunting whitetail deer in Northwest Pennsylvania for nearly 40 years. In 2024, I set my sights on a mature buck I named Houdini, who always seemed to vanish when the archery season began. I set up multiple SpyPoint cellular cameras on the 60-acre farm, hoping to capture videos of my elusive competitor and develop a strategy to tag him. Houdini was my top priority on the hit list for that farm, while Krazy 8 was my second choice. The remaining bucks on the farm didn’t make the list, so they were safe.

Hello TT8

In mid-September, I received the first video of a buck I named TT8. He appeared at one of the mock scrapes I had set up along the treeline of the bean field. The buck seemed to be a solid 3.5 years old, and his antlers were distinctive. He had tall, symmetrical antlers with a narrow spread, making him easy to identify among other deer since he was the only tight-racked buck on the farm. I looked forward to seeing him during hunting season and hoped that Houdini and Krazy 8 wouldn’t drive him off the farm.

Free Pass

My SpyPoint cameras were busy throughout September, capturing a lot of activity from bucks visiting my scrapes along the bean field. One afternoon, while walking the treeline, I found a tree that would provide an excellent vantage point for hunting Houdini and Krazy 8. I spent the afternoon installing my XOP X2 climbing sticks and Vanish Evolution stand. 

On the first evening of the Pennsylvania archery season, I had a close encounter when TT8 walked past my stand at just 10 yards. He then approached the scrape 15 yards away and worked it thoroughly. It was fantastic to watch him use his forehead and preorbital gland on the licking branch that I had created and treated with Head-Scratcher Gland Lure. Although TT8 wasn’t on my hit list, I decided to give him a free pass. After interacting with the licking branch, he urinated in the scrape and then moved on to feed on the soybeans.

Meadows in the Rocky Mountains are called “parks,” while grassy fields in the West Virginia’s high country are known as “sods.”  The ultimate is the Dolly Sods Wilderness, which reaches over 4,000 feet with Canadian granite-style boulders and tundra-like blogs, creating the highest plateau East of the Mississippi.  The sods are scattered throughout the nearly 1 million acres of the Monongahela National Forest, creating a deer hunt with all the adventure of a backcountry elk camp.

Sunny Skies at Last

The weather on West Virginia’s opener was lousy, yet the hunting was excellent, resulting in a large-bodied 6-point buck on opening day and a mature doe a day later.  Our cabin rental ended on Monday at noon, and I asked a friend, Sam, to take me into the Monongahelia, where he had hunted for much of his life.  With fair weather, we would have hunted the public tract on opening day; however, rain fell on Saturday and Sunday, prompting the use of covered blinds.  With sunny skies predicted for Monday morning, we headed out at first light as much as a scouting trip as a serious hunt.  I had a bear license, so there was a chance of bumping into a bruin in the process.

Where Are the Hunters?

We stayed at the Revelle Campground in Bowden, West Virginia, with the Monongahela National Forest within walking distance.  Less than 10 minutes from our cabin, Sam turned onto an access road into the national forest, and we began winding our way up a gravel track.  This was the opening weekend of the archery season, and I expected to see several pickups parked along the access roads.  We entered the national forest at about 2,000 feet and drove up an additional 1,500 feet, parking at one of the sods that are often rented for cattle pasture during the summer, with the restriction that cattle must be removed by September 1.  During our 10-minute drive, we passed no vehicles and found a Chevy parked by the sods.  While we got our gear organized, a black Toyota passed us, looking like it was carrying hikers or campers.

Parked at a Pair Tree

After walking through a human-stylus gate that allowed people to enter but was too tight for cattle, we entered the sod that was newly fenced and walked toward the nearest timber patch.  After about 10 minutes, I spotted what looked like an apple tree, but turned out to be a pear tree with plenty of fruit on the ground.  Back home, deer and bears love pears, and I was excited to find such a good food source so quickly.  Sam agreed to meet me at the truck in two hours, and he took his custom recurve for a walk and stalk, his favorite form of hunting.

Sit or Scout?

As exciting as the pair tree was, there was no fresh scat and only a few pears eaten.  I sat 35 yards downwind of the tree and waited for an hour, hoping a bear would come to feed.  Since a barbed wire fence bordered the sod, I chose to walk along it and look for fresh sign.  Often, animals travel along a fence until they can find an access point, and at the first corner I came to, I found one.  The new fence would be difficult for some deer to jump over, and bears would likely avoid the barbs.  At the corner, I could see where animals passed under the wire.  Wow, what an ambush point.  If I had an extra day, I’d have spent the afternoon right here.

When a big buck shows up on your cameras, is it better to hunt it in the morning or the afternoon? Dan hunts in the mountains of Western Maryland, where baiting is legal, and he and his family often use apples, planted cereal rye, and corn to keep deer on their property.  Apples are especially effective, since the area once held vast orchards, and deer are used to the soft mast.

Morning Stand Strategies

Dan’s dilemma faces most hunters in the early season when hunting in the morning, especially if you are hunting near a food source.  You not only have to work with wind directions, but your physical presence may spook deer from the area.  Although it may seem counterintuitive, one effective way to approach a backcountry stand is with a UTV, especially if the property frequently experiences vehicle traffic.  Drone studies have shown that deer become alert to the presence of a UTV, and may become alarmed, but soon resume regular activity once it has passed.

The First Morning Attempt

I talked to Dan last Wednesday, and he was frustrated about his morning hunt.  He had to rise at 3:00 am to reach his stand in the mountains and arrived around 6:00 am, well before daylight.  As the morning progressed, two small bucks came to feed, but his larger target buck did not.  Later, he examines his digital images and sees that his target buck was at his stand when he arrived.  The deer was spooked and did not return like the younger bucks.

Baiting Basics

Baiting in Pennsylvania is illegal on the theory that concentrating deer can help spread disease among the herd.  Maryland allows baiting, and hunters use corn, apples, minerals, and other attractants.  Feeding devices are ideal since they dispense a small amount of food in the morning and afternoon, providing a convenient way to administer food. However, in Western Maryland, bear populations are so high that many feeders are destroyed, whether they are on the ground or hung from a tree.  Also, it’s the consensus of our dozens of hunt club members that mature bucks do not feed at sites during the day and are typically seen only at night.  Ear corn is a viable alternative because it lasts longer and is less likely to be consumed quickly by turkeys and raccoons.

Evening Success

Three days after his initial morning set, Dan switched to an afternoon strategy.  He spotted the three bucks still hanging together as they passed by the stand out of range.  “It’s interesting to see what the deer prefer as a food source.  Sometimes, they nibble at the rye; other times, they like the corn, and some like apples.  Just before dark, the big 10-point returned to the apples, and Dan made a lethal shot.