15 Secrets to Killing Mature White-Tailed Deer

Hunting down a mature deer is no easy feat. Here are some key points to remember

Hunting a mature deer isn’t easy. In fact, as a deer hunter, it might be the most difficult thing you accomplish. Fortunately, there are a lot of intelligent deer hunters out there who’ve been there and done that. Here, we gain some knowledge from excellent big buck killers from across the country.

1. Scout Digitally

It takes a lot of scouting to kill mature bucks. But you must scout in the right manner. Scouting from the computer is the first step. Phillip Vanderpool of The Virtue says, the first time you hunt a spot, the first three things to look for are: food, water, and cover. Additionally, locate what your food source is during the early season. Also, observe aerials and the lay of the land. Stay close to food sources.

2. Scout from Afar

The second rung in the scouting ladder involves scouting from afar. Chad Schearer of Shoot Straight TV, his favorite method of scouting for early season whitetails involves playing it safe and keeping his distance until the conditions are right. Trail cameras are useful, but he also likes to cover a large area looking for bucks at first and last light on food sources—especially in open country or in agricultural areas where they are feeding.

3. Find Seasonal Grub

Food sources are generally abundant during the early season. This is oftentimes even the case during the rut. However, come the late season, supplies are more limited. It becomes easier to capitalize on a buck’s belly. Realtree pro staffer Tim Andrus uses that to his advantage.

But don’t focus on any food source. To see mature bucks during legal shooting hours, find quality food sources that also offer some sort of security. Such options haven’t received as much pressure, will be close to bedding areas, should provide visual barriers to prying eyes, and could even provide a wind advantage. This is especially important to BuckVentures’ Jeff Danker.

“Hunt security food,” Danker said. “Bucks that are worn down or hurt return to food (with regularity). Especially focus on foods that are around bedding or security cover. A lot of times, they feed at odd times of the day to avoid encountering other bucks.”

4. Locate Core Bedding

All this talk about security cover and untouched bedding areas. How do you find it? Where is it? It depends on how much pressure that’s been applied up until now. If you’re struggling to find deer, look at a map and cross off areas that you — and other hunters — have frequented this season. Analyze what’s left and go there. That’s what Raised Hunting’s David Holder does. “As the rut slows, I move closer to the core bedding areas,” Holder said.

The catch? It’ll still be relatively close to good food sources. “Try to find areas where a lot of deer are congregating,” Holder said. “The best food sources help bucks twofold. They’ll find any left-over does and replenish themselves, too. Corn and beans are great this time of year. The best scenario is a standing bean field with good bedding cover close by. Hunting in an unpressured transition zone can be an excellent place to catch them moving.”

5. Hunt the History

With some bucks, it’s all about the history. In short, last year’s trail camera photos can be just as important as this year’s. According to Mike Mineer, outfitter with North Fork Outfitters in Kentucky, you can reflect on a buck’s history to predict when and where it will show up this season. Be there when it showed up in the past.

6. Use Your Calls

It can be hard to catch them moving during daylight. “Call them in,” Lee said. “I break the grunt call back out later in the rut or post-rut. Some of the big boys are still looking to steal a doe away from other bucks. I like a tending grunt sound.”

However, while this is a solid late-season tip, it pays to be observant. Make sure the deer isn’t limping or injured. Also, if you know the deer is timid, don’t call to it. If you have extensive knowledge of a buck and are confident that it’s super aggressive and likely to commit, consider calling.

7. Focus on Terrain

Darrin Bradley of IMB Outfitters in Missouri says that deer generally follow the path of least resistance. Therefore, focus on locations where trails cross. These topographical hotspots make great all-day stand locations, especially during the rut. Funnels and pinch-points are advantageous for hunters. 

8. Go Leeward

Owner of The Hunting Beast, Dan Infalt is all about hunting leeward ridges. He prefers east-facing ridges and points with westerly, northwesterly, and southwesterly winds. Oftentimes, bucks bed down along the top third of these ridges and use the wind coming over the top to their advantage. Additionally, they bed down facing downhill, and even benefit from the thermals rising from below. This allows them to smell from two directions.

9. Don’t Overlook Options

Some hunters overlook public lands, and private properties that appear to be unappealing. Don’t do that. Infalt has hunted some public properties that are far better than large, manicured private tracts he has access to. So, scout everything you have access to, and give each tract a chance.

10. Find Overlooked Areas

Don’t cross off an entire area because other hunters are there. According to Infalt, if a buck is on the property, keep hunting. He says that other hunters help him. They hunt predictably, apply pressure, and push the buck into areas where Infalt can move in and tag it. They put the buck right where he expects it to be. So, mark off where other hunters focus, and look at what remains. Focus on hard-to-reach areas, such as marshes, swamps, etc.

11. Blitz That Buck

A great way to find a buck fast is to put numerous trail cameras in the same general location. Check them after a few days. Leave any cameras the buck passed by. Move those it didn’t hit closer to where you think its core area is. Repeat the process a few times until you have the information you need or can’t wait to hunt the deer any longer.

12. Hunt Him Down

Infalt says there are some big differences between him and other hunters. But the biggest one is that he targets specific bucks, and other hunters hunt properties “in general.” They hunt “spots” rather than “bucks.” Once he knows buck is in the area, he systematically hunts each area that it can hide. This leaves scent behind, but as he puts it, this “stacks” the deer into un-hunted areas, which shrinks over time. According to him, this makes each hunt better, or higher-odds, than the last.

13. Just Hunt

It’s good to save your best spots for when they peak. Sometimes, that’s the early season. Other times, it’s the rut. It might even be the late season. But don’t get so uptight about it that you don’t have fun. Just go hunt. That’s what Brian Lindberg, outfitter with Soap Creek Outfitters in Iowa, stresses. He says to not be so OCD about it. Try to play your cards right, especially when hunting a specific buck. But don’t forget to enjoy the process.

14. Stay Positive

Don’t forget to stay positive. Infalt stresses that. You’ll get sweaty, tired, and run down. You might even get temporarily lost. But don’t get burned out. Keep having fun. Stay positive. Never give up. The reward will be worth it.

15. Know When to Toss the Rulebook

I’m not talking about ethics or game laws. Instead, I’m talking about the big-buck-of-hunting-mature-buck rules. Sometimes, tried-and-true guidelines—such as not hunting mornings during the early season—don’t apply to a given situation. Instead, it might be best to do the exact opposite. Hunting mature bucks is a fluid and very situational thing. Analyze each situation individually, and craft game plans for the specific moment at hand.