Art to whitetails varies from region to region, but if you’re after a decent buck the biggest piece of the pie is time in the woods. Unless you own a large tract of land, that contains all the vital pieces to the habitat puzzle they need, and a large food source, it can be difficult to control their routine. At least in the sense that a lot of whitetail hunting depicts in videos.
Early season I’m targeting food sources, buck bedding, and travel corridors between. Trying to catch them in their later summer patterns before they’re spooky and pressured.
As you get closer to Halloween, through the 2nd or 3rd week of November I’m going where the does go. Either setting up on for bedding areas hoping to catch cruising bucks looking for does, or ones already locked down with them. Additionally popular food sources for does.
Late season it’s back to food and low pressure areas for bucks that have been pressured out of their normal routines and areas.
Mind you these tactics and dates shift a little from eastern us, and Idaho areas where I’ve had success. Early season can be successful but my hopes generally aren’t high, it’s more about being in the woods when I can be. If i’m run down from elk season, or getting off work early in the afternoon, I’d rather spend it in a tree hoping for an opportunity than on the couch.
