Eric Davis

It is about that time of the fall that every bowhunter has been waiting for since last season. As day length continues to get shorter, does will begin to come into heat and will be ready to be bred.

Bucks will begin covering a lot of ground in hopes of finding the first doe that comes into heat before another buck can.

Those same bucks will establish scrapes and rubs to define what is “their” territory and will fight other bucks that intrude. How you hunt can impact your chance of success during this period of the fall.

Knowing the pattern of the does is crucial as bucks will be on their feet looking for does. Having a stand that is close to a bedding area used by does is ideal so you can wait for bucks to cruise through trying to get the scent of an estrous doe. The bucks will be cruising on the downwind side of the bedding area, letting the wind carry the scent of the does right to him so he doesn’t have to walk through the thicker cover unless he smells a doe in heat. If you cannot get close to the bedding area, focus on trails leading in and out of the bedding area. Make sure to set up so the wind is not blowing your scent towards the trail. These areas are good to hunt all day long as does will be returning to bedding areas in the morning and then leaving to go feed in the afternoon.

Having a stand at the food source can be beneficial as the does come out to feed in the afternoon and evening, bucks will also come out to check on them. As with the bedding area, expect the buck to stay on the downwind side of the feeding area where he can use his nose to see if it is worth the risk of going out into the feeding area. Usually around the 25th of October, a scent drag of doe-in-heat urine will get the attention of deer that cross the scent. Remember to hang the scent pad/wick where you will have a shooting lane if a deer follows the drag.

During this brief window of time, bucks are often vocal when wandering around. Short grunts are often the sign of a buck chasing or being interested in a doe. Longer grunts or growls are a sign of an angry buck who is looking for a fight. Combine a few longer growls with some rattling antlers to mimic 2 bucks squaring off over territory or a doe. Just like middle school, other deer will come to watch what is happening and potentially to join in. Do not rattle too much and keep your eyes up as you rattle to try to see approaching bucks before they get too close and you cannot get your bow up for a shot.

Another common hunting technique during the cruising phase is to hunt all day. Once the first does start to come into heat, bucks will be wandering around almost nonstop in their search to find one. This is when nocturnal bucks can slip up and come out during daylight hours. The hard part is staying in your stand all day, especially when the action is slow or limited. However, all it takes is a few minutes to go from nothing to deer of a lifetime in the early afternoon. Pack snacks and a drink in the morning so you can last all day in the stand. If you like to look on your phone while in the stand, buy a battery pack so you can recharge your phone during the day and keep it from dying. Another option is to bring a pocket electronic game, such as Connect Four or Yahtzee.

Remember you want it to involve minimal movement while playing it and the ability to stop and look around frequently for deer that have snuck in. All day sits can be tough, and hunters may find themselves thinking about a nap in the afternoon. Wear a safety harness in case you fall asleep either intentionally or not.