If you’re a trophy whitetail deer hunter, you probably don’t waste much time on young bucks or does. You might see several pass right under your nose and let them go, unmolested. You’re holding out for that big rack, that master of the forest, right? If so, you have to be smarter than the average deer hunter. A big buck didn’t get that way by being dumb. He’s already managed to outsmart a lot of hunters, and if you don’t go that extra mile, you’ll end up just another notch in his…antlers.

Use Good Scents

You’ll have to use good sense and good scents. Deer have an amazing sense of smell, and they don’t like the small of man. Even if you bathe in doe urine, a buck can still pick up on your distinctly human scent. So before you slather on the lure, first neutralize your own smell. Do so by avoiding any fragrances and give the deer what he’s used to smelling. I wrote a whole article about how to do this, and the link is below.

Location, Location, Location

That big buck might be a lot deeper in the woods than young bucks and does. He’s a survivor and obviously has superior skills compared to most younger deer. He’s learned that thick cover equals safety. Just because you find a lot of deer sign in area doesn’t mean it holds a big buck. In fact, older bucks are often loners except for short periods at the height of the rut. Most trophy bucks are taken far away from heavy hunting pressure, too. Try swampy, low lying areas that provide lots of cover. Yep, it’ll be a lot tougher for you to navigate such an area, but it’s more likely to pay off.

Rattle ‘Em Up

The best time to use your rattling horns is at the end of the pre-rut. Bucks are more aggressive then and are more likely to fight. Luckily for you, it’s often the big males that are the most willing to tangle with another buck. Make loud rattling noises, but do so in an irregular pattern.  Remember that when a buck hears the rattling, he’s going to be looking for where the sound is coming from. If you’re using a lot of movement, he’ll see you. Some experienced rattlers suspend their rattling horns from a cord beneath their tree stand so they can make the sound by just jerking the cord from time to time. That way, the sound will be near the ground and more difficult to see. The buck will be looking near ground level instead of up in the trees where you are.

Many hunters use their rattling horns at the height of the rut, then they’re surprised to find that they’ve called up a doe instead of that mighty buck they hoped for. The doe was attracted to the sound because she was searching for an appropriate mate. At this point in the rut, the big, older bucks are usually more interested in breeding than they are in fighting.

Deer Grunts

Doe grunts should be used at the end of the pre-rut and during the very beginning of the rut. A doe grunt is typically softer and higher pitched than a buck grunt. Use three soft grunts fairly close together about every 15 minutes.

Buck grunts are deeper and louder than doe grunts. Use the sound of a buck grunting during the pre-rut. Blow a single grunt every 15 minutes, using soft pressure.

Timing Your Time

A large number of trophy bucks are taken when few hunters are in the woods. They must know the coast is clear. They’ll often come out of hiding when the hunters have decided to meet somewhere for breakfast. Don’t follow the crowd. Stay in your stand. A disproportionate number of really big bucks are taken around the middle of the day.