Author: Kevin Wilson

The whitetail rut is one of the most anticipated events in the hunting calendar, sparking endless debates among hunters and wildlife experts. Among the many factors influencing deer behavior, the moon phase often stands out as a hot topic. Does the lunar cycle truly dictate when does go into estrus, or is it just another hunting myth? Drawing from decades of field experience and scientific insights, this article dives deep into the role of moon phases in the whitetail rut and offers practical tips for timing your hunts to align with peak deer activity.  It’s no secret that lunar pull…

Mock scrapes have become a game-changer for deer hunters looking to attract bucks during the rut. My phone buzzed with excitement when I saw a young buck interacting with the HODAG HempScent Rope I’d placed on a well-used trail. Over 45 years of hunting, I’ve tried countless methods, but mock scrapes stand out as one of the most powerful tools to bring bucks in close. Whether it’s natural scrapes or a mock scrape setup, understanding deer communication through scent is essential. Let me guide you through the process of creating mock scrapes and using deer toys to draw bucks directly…

August and September are great months to start using your trail cameras. With antler growth reaching its potential and velvet shedding, this is prime time to capture images of the deer, moose, elk, and whatever other game you might target for the season ahead. If you’re a trail camera junky, then some of this may be redundant. Still, with a growing number of us acquiring today’s high-tech trail monitoring units, reviewing a few helpful tips for preparing, setting, and maintaining them is timely. Trail cameras have completely revolutionized the way many of us hunt. Visit any online hunting message board,…

Why Scent Control is Essential Deer, and other game, rely on their sense of smell to detect danger. Fooling their nose is a critical part of the hunting equation. As the late November sun beat down, I heard the familiar rustling of leaves. Adrenalin pumping, I knew this could only mean one thing. Fifty yards off to my left, a deer was meandering through the woods. Moments later a big bodied, dark antlered buck emerged from a tangle of twisted branches. It was a handsome four-by-four mule deer. Just a few more steps and I would have my shot opportunity.…

First steps to pre-season scouting begins the day after deer season ends. Spend time in the deer woods, employ a few tools, add up all the intel – and you’ll be well on your way to locating bigger deer, and putting venison in your freezer next fall. With a little luck, you might even score some shed antlers along the way. We all know hunters who are more successful than others? Not only do they put meat on the table year after year, but many are repeatedly tagging big mature bucks. No doubt, – good or bad – luck has…

At sunrise, my wife Heather, and I had spotted a nice mule deer buck feeding in a standing canola field. She was up to bat on this, our first early season hunt of the year. So, I picked an elevated location near an old barn, set up my spotting scope, and watched as she used the wind to move in on the buck. An hour passed and I guessed she was within 80 yards. Then the buck bedded and she began her abnormally long vigil. The canola was too dense and noisy to sneak in, so she waited on the…

Prone in the snow, I extended the legs of my bipod. On several occasions, I’d called in coyotes from that very hilltop. Anticipating a quick response, I took every measure to ensure a flawless calling session and the prospect of a textbook shot opportunity. With a solid rest, I settled in; my 22-250 shouldered and ready. Fully camouflaged, I remained motionless. The bright afternoon sun was behind me helping to conceal my already low profile. Moments after initiating my prey-in-distress calls, I caught movement. An eager dog was seen weaving his way through the poplars. Without hesitation, he broke from…

Trailing a doe, a heavy racked 8-point whitetail was beelining straight for me. Best guess, based on body size, better than average antler mass, width, and height, he was probably a year away from meeting his genetic potential. It’s a dilemma every big buck hunter faces – to shoot or not to shoot? He could grow some more, but no guarantees. His musculature, girthy chest, and sway belly told me he was mature. It was late in the season, so I opted to take him. At full draw, as he walked just 15 yards from the base of my tree,…

Comparatively short-lived, the second estrus offers one of the best opportunities to tag a good Whitetail The main event—or first estrus—has come and gone. You waited all year for it. For one reason or another, you weren’t able to fill your tag. Fear not, because round two is just around the corner. Believe it or not, the second estrus can be that much better than the first—especially if you want to take a mature, trophy-class buck. To make the most of this unique and concentrated time, it’s important to understand what the second rut is, what deer are doing at…

Clatter-clack, clatter-clack, clatter. As the sound of clashing antlers resonated through the evergreens, inbound bucks suddenly emerged from three directions. The experience was just like ringing a dinner bell, and undeniably the most immediate response I’d ever had. Each buck seemed to have an innate radar drawing them to my precise location. Sound too good to be true? That was almost 30 years ago! Ever since that day, I’ve experienced the same scenario countless times. Indeed, there’s something magical about using a grunt call and rattling antlers to entice Whitetails during the rut. Literally minutes before that moment, I’d been…