| An often over looked, but important technique is to | | | | will want to set up and hunt during open season. Be |
| observe and scout for whitetail in the pre-season. | | | | sure to observe these area's all the way up till your |
| Why is this so important? Because by learning the | | | | state's hunting season begins so you have the most |
| bucks rub-route trails you will learn not only where, | | | | accurate and up to date idea of the buck's rub |
| but also when the bucks use the trails. Thus | | | | route's. Check with your state's DNR or outdoor |
| improving your success rate and decreasing the | | | | recreation agency for exact dates. |
| amount of time wasted during the regular season. | | | | Keep in mind that it can be difficult to track the |
| Let's take a look at how to effectively scout for | | | | bucks route back to their bedding area in the morning |
| whitetail in the preseason. | | | | because they like to travel in the early morning |
| You should begin scouting in late summer by finding | | | | darkness. This makes them more prone to stray |
| and observing likely food sources. Finding the rub | | | | from their usual route because they feel safe enough |
| route and knowing when the buck uses it helps you | | | | to travel out in the open. |
| choose the right time and place to hunt. Find areas | | | | If you find it difficult to track the buck back to his |
| with berries, grasses, grains, and sedges. Try driving | | | | bedding area or you don't have time to watch the |
| around country roads or known hunting areas with a | | | | trail you can use a Trail Timer or Camera. This is an |
| set of binoculars near crops and meadows during the | | | | easy way to let you know when the buck comes |
| morning and evening to find which fields the bucks | | | | through the area and gives you a good idea of the |
| use. | | | | direction the buck is moving. |
| Whether you catch a buck at the food source in the | | | | By spending extra time observing and scouting the |
| morning or the evening, stay long enough to see | | | | whitetail's travel and rub routes before the hunting |
| which way they leave. Buck's don't travel too far | | | | season, you will stay a step ahead of others all the |
| from their bedding area during this time of year so | | | | while increasing you're your chances of successfully |
| they are likely to go back there. It's this route that | | | | bagging your buck and saving yourself a lot of time in |
| they take to and from their bedding area that you | | | | the process. |