According to the various record books, more mature bucks are tagged during the rut than at any other time of the year. But bowhunting the rut can be tricky. One week bucks are secretly working scrapes and scrape lines, and the next they have abandoned those areas and are chasing does across open fields in broad daylight.

The secret to success now is to be in the right place at the right time, and that often means changing tactics as the rut unfolds. Here is what three leading whitetail authorities say about bowhunting the whitetail rut.

Scout The Does

Michael Jordan, vice president of technology for Atsko, does most of his bowhunting for whitetails out of state.

“I don’t look at the rut as most bowhunters do,” says Jordan. “I view the whitetail rut as nothing more than an estrous cycle for the does, a cycle where the does are not all in heat at the same time.

“Now, with that in mind, I believe it is generally a waste of time to scout out a buck’s home turf during the off season, as they will not stay in that area when the rut starts to heat up. You will be a lot more successful if you instead take the time to learn as much as you can about the local doe populations.

“I look for bedding and feeding areas first, and then, using aerial and satellite photography, zero in on travel routes. My goal is to pinpoint natural funnels adjacent to known doe bedding areas. I want the does to move about in a natural fashion, so I try to keep my distance and not disturb them as I scout.

“For the next couple of days I just watch what goes on, making note of prevailing wind directions and deer traffic. In this regard I like to use a kid’s bubble toy and watch how local wind currents are affected by typography. Soap bubbles are better indicators of air movement patterns than feathers or puff bottles. Above all, I don’t rush it. Once I am satisfied, I erect my stands inside these funnels, and bowhunt them right through the entire breeding season.”

Fearsome Threesome

“Early in the rut, often called the pre-rut, I like to set up along scrape lines,” says Tad Brown, product development manager for Flambeau. “In more open habitat, such as farmland or prairie land, creek beds are typically the only place where bucks will find ample cover. I learned early in my trapping days that one of the best areas for a treestand in this type of habitat is near the confluence of two creeks. If a buck is working a scrape line that parallels either one of those creek beds, then sooner or later he will pass by your stand.

“When bucks are actively seeking the season’s first hot does, I like to hunt feeding areas that attract does. One of my favorites is a ridge laden with mast. In hilly country, does will be up on the ridges chowing down on acorns, beechnuts, and hickory nuts, and the bucks will be up there, too, running the ridges and sniffing for the does. I look for a natural funnel, such as a saddle between two high ridges, and then zero in on a rub line. You don’t need to see 10 or 15 rubs in a row, just a short line of two or three rubs will do the trick. It is the one-two-three punch: mast, rubs, and a saddle!

“As the rut nears its peak,” adds Brown, “I depend on calling a lot. You may not get a cruising buck’s attention every time, but you can get him to veer off his line of travel on occasion and swing a bit closer to your bow stand with the right vocalization such as a buck growl, a snort-wheeze, or some dominant tending buck grunts.

“When I spot a buck trailing hard after a hot doe, for example, I will try a snort-wheeze, maybe in conjunction with some rattling, to bring him back to reality. Like I said, it doesn’t work all the time, but it works often enough to keep a few grunt tubes and a set of horns with me at all times.”

Bowhunt The Does

Mike Hoadley, vice president of Predator Traditional Bows, starts his rut season out with extensive scouting. “I look for rubs and rub lines, and scrapes and scrape lines as well as preferred buck feeding and bedding sites. I am primarily a treestand hunter, and once the rut kicks in I will set up ambushes along travel lanes that connect these feeding and bedding areas.

“The wind is the most prominent factor a bowhunter has to contend with, but treestand height and shooting angle are important, too. For example, for an acceptable shot angle and good penetration, I prefer not to climb higher than 12 to 16 feet, and to position my stand so that I can shoot standing up. However, I know a buck might come from almost any direction and at a most inopportune time, so I practice diligently during the off-season shooting from awkward and unorthodox positions, too.

"When I see bucks actually chasing does around, I concentrate my efforts on the does. I move my stands closer to known doe bedding areas, at least as close as I dare without spooking them or pushing them out. I also stay later in the morning, and climb back into my stand earlier in the afternoon as bucks will be moving more now during daylight hours looking for hot bedded does. You must still be careful in your approach, however; a mature doe is now the smartest doe in the woods.

“As the breeding season peaks, I generally keep the same stand sites,” adds Hoadley, “but now I hunt all day long if possible. I take a few more items into the woods with me such as water and snacks to help me remain comfortable all day long.

“I believe that it is the doe that chooses the breeding buck and not the buck choosing which doe he wants to breed. Indeed, you will find that does will be playing cat and mouse with racked bucks all day long now, leading them over hill and dale. In this respect you must be on your toes as the action can be fast and furious. A doe moving through nearby heavy cover, for example, might just have a racked buck bird-dogging her, forcing you to take a shot in a split second. This is where your hours of off-season target practice from odd positions really pays off!”