Want the big buck? Here's how

Dick Martin

The rut is on, and all over Ohio whitetail bucks are moving. They're looking for does to breed the next generation, and this "silly season" is the year's best time to bag a buck. But there are bucks and then there are BUCKS, and those seeking a real wall hanger should keep a few things in mind when they make their forays looking for scrapes or sitting high above one.

First is the importance of rubs. All bucks, whatever their size, make rubs. They strengthen neck muscles, act as scent posts, and are natural vents for rut aggression. But keep in mind when you see some that little bucks rub saplings and hook at bushes, leaving those distinctive areas of peeled bark and broken limbs so visible at a distance. Big bucks will pound saplings and shrubs too, but they'll also attack fair sized trees. If you find a shrub torn apart, or a rub on a tree six inches in diameter or more, feel pretty sure there's an old mosshorn in the area. That's the one you're looking for.

On the subject of scrapes, every archer, even amateurs, knows what they look like. Or certainly should. But lots don't know that bucks make both primary scrapes and secondary or boundary scrapes. And if you set up on a boundary scrape or build a tree stand there, your chances are small. Because boundary scrapes are exactly that, and hunters will often find several in a row along some path or fence row.

They don't return to such scrapes often looking for does, but might return several times a day to a primary scrape. How do you recognize the difference? A primary scrape will be an area several feet across, pawed clean of leaves. The buck will leave several footprints in the soft ground, which gives an indication of size, and also urinates there.

The key point is that every primary scrape I've ever seen had a limb overhanging it at about head level on a buck. They'll rub that branch with the preorbital gland in front of their eye, leaving a pungent hormonal scent. When a doe in season finds such a scrape, she'll urinate too, to indicate her readiness to mate. Then remain within reasonable distance until the buck can track her down. So remember no limb, no primary scrape, and no reason to hunt there.

Most archers sit quietly in tree stands waiting for a buck to check out a scrape, but on slow days or when ground hunting, you can up your odds by rattling or grunting. Many hunters have heard of both, but surprisingly few do either, and they can be lethal.  Especially for bigger bucks. Deer grunts can be bought almost anywhere, and the same sporting goods shops will have videos showing how to use them.

Rattling is usually done with two antlers from a previous years kill, and the technique is to make other deer think two bucks are fighting. So, clatter the antlers together loudly, then stop a bit to imitate two deer catching their breath, then rattle again. Give it 15 minutes before moving to another location, and don't be surprised to hear a whopper buck crashing through vegetation as he races your way. Dominant males can't stand to hear others fighting, because they're usually fighting over a receptive doe. They'll charge in to chase the upstarts away, and take the doe for themselves.

There are a few basic tactics that any archer should know, but maybe doesn't, and they can help put a dandy buck on the wall.  Things like placing your tree stand as high as possible, not moving at all until a deer is very close, practicing your shots from the stand until you know exactly where arrows will go, and taking care heading in to a stand so you won't leave man scent in the wrong places.

A final point is to hunt where big bucks live. Richland County has always been a good spot for big deer, good enough to produce a monster non-typical whitetail that measured 250 6/8 points in 1987. But did you ever hear of Greene County? This county, which lies east of Dayton has produced several of the 25 largest non-typical bucks ever taken in Ohio. And don't forget such traditional big buck country as Muskingum, Athens, Coshocton and Guernsey counties. Even wildlife areas in these productive counties might turn up the animal you've long been seeking, so any or all are worth a close look

Dick Martin is a retired biology teacher who has been writing outdoor columns for 30 years.  You can each him at richmart@neo.rr.com.