Trophy bucks often times can be very elusive hard to find animals that often times like to move under the cover of darkness. But knowledge is power to an avid bow hunter. These are some tips that I have found success in over the years. First off stealth cameras give you an advantage to try and locate these trophy whitetails. Have you ever put out a camera and got pictures of a beautiful buck who is moving at night so you give up on him? well don't! A lot of hunters will stick to the same area that they got pictures of a buck in and expect him to show up eventually which may be true when the conditions are right but who knows if that's going to be a day your hunting that stand. Try moving your cameras a hundred yards at a time in the direction that buck was coming from once you start getting pictures of him take note of it, and keep moving your cameras further and further until your getting this deer to come in during daylight. This trick doesn't always work sometimes that buck strictly is moving at night but this will get you closer and closer to daylight. This will still give you an advantage say you moved the cameras 300 yards well that's 300 yards closer to him if he decides he is going to move at last light these 300 yards could be the difference of encountering this deer. Often times the new moon will force these bucks to move within the first and last hour of light because there visibility with no moon light becomes difficult. Some other techniques could be finding where the does bedding areas are which could be extremely helpful for hunting during the pre rut and rut. When the rut kicks on big bucks lose there mind and will often do things they wouldn't do during there fall and summer patterns. Another helpful thing to look at is the terrain of the property your hunting. ill look at an over head photo of the property and from there you can see where the food, water, and shelter could be for these deer. Ill often look for a spot near some real thick cover. This is often times where the deer will sleep during the day. Keep in mind where the food if from there. Try looking for some pinch points or corridors are where these deer could use to stay out of view and get to where they want to go. There is nothing you can do to make a deer move during day light without spooking them but there are things you can do to increase your odds at having an encounter with a trophy buck. scouting is key for me by the time the season comes ill already know where the does are and what areas the deer use a lot. I also hang several stands each one I hunt at a different time during the season. You have your early fall stands which are usually just areas with a lot of activity then you have your pre rut and rut stands that are near where your does normally are. Then you have the late season post rut stands which often times areas that are thick near a food source work well as the bucks kick out of there reproducing stage into there survival stage. By this time the bucks probably have lost a lot of weight and need to refuel for the upcoming winter. Hope some of these tips can help all of you put a trophy buck down and give you a lot more success during your season thanks.
And the most important tip in killing a "trophy" buck. Hunt where there are big bucks and less hunting pressure.
