Early season tactics for big bucks

Hunters have advantages over deer in first days of season

Early season deer hunting is highly anticipated throughout the Carolinas, and hunters typically begin preparation long before the season opens.

Deer hunters have an advantage during early season hunting, particularly the first few days, because deer have not been pressured with hunting activities. If scouting is low-impact in terms of human intrusion, this lack of pressure makes a huge difference in the behavior of bucks sticking to summer routines.

Charles Ruth, Deer Project Supervisor for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, said deer activity during the early season is primarily tending to basic survival needs. Their movement patterns tend to revolve around traveling to and from food and water sources.

“Except for brief periods early in the season, especially in Game Zones offering hunting in August and September, overall deer activity is not high, especially during the daytime hours,” Ruth said. “However, hunters who scout without putting pressure on deer can find opportunities for early season success.”

Scout, Don’t Pressure

Regardless of when the season opens where you hunt, early season success is strongly influenced by scouting for deer hotspots.

Willie McCutchen is a highly successful bowhunter from Williamsburg County, SC. He consistently scores on trophy, early-season bucks. McCutchen said scouting patterns can make a huge difference in early season success.

“Scouting is essential. I have to know the deer movement patterns to successfully hunt,” McCutchen said. “The first few days of the early season offer a reasonable opportunity to have a chance at a big buck. But after that, big bucks can get scarce until pre-rut. I scout diligently, but do so with a minimum of intrusion.

“The use of trail cameras is common practice and I employ that tool to the maximum amount,” McCutchen said. “I deploy cameras in multiple areas so I can locate and track deer movements without having to physically enter the area on a regular basis.”

The use of cellular cameras has helped tremendously, he said. By having real time information, without having to physically pull a camera chip, he tracks deer movements with little intrusion.

“I go into areas to move cameras as needed to develop a clear picture in my mind of where deer are moving, and to prepare bait stations and stands,” he said. “But I’ll go when deer movement is the lowest of the day, usually mid-day. And I’ll slip in and slip out quietly. When the season opens, I’ll have a good plan for hunting specific bucks, including backup options for various wind patterns.”

McCutchen said the ability to be patient is a huge asset to taking a big buck. He’ll simply not hunt a specific stand if the wind, or weather, is not favorable.

“I may only get one chance to hunt a trophy buck without him sensing pressure,” he said. “If he senses human intrusion, he may go nocturnal until the rut. So I only hunt a stand when conditions are in my favor.”

Find the food

Terry Robinson, from Mills River, NC, hunts both North and South Carolina and said early season hunting is usually about the food.

“One of my favorite areas for early season hunting includes food sources, especially natural food sources like acorn ridges, as well as bottoms with hardwood mast,” he said.

Robinson said in SC, the population of deer is usually high compared to the mountains in NC. Competition can be high for prime food sources, and hunters who put in the effort to find the sources will be rewarded with lots of deer in relatively small areas.

“My primary target is to find isolated areas with abundant food,” he said. “Deer traffic in these areas will be heavy and that’s a key to early season success. I’ll walk logging roads on ridges as well as in bottom near creeks when scouting for high deer traffic areas.”

Robinson said it’s not uncommon to walk considerable distances and see little deer sign, or food sources, but with perseverance he’ll find what he’s seeking.

“When I get into an area where a food source is abundant, it’s obvious because deer sign is everywhere,” he said. “These isolated areas of high deer traffic are prime for early season. I’ll analyze the situation and select stand sites to hunt from on different winds for that time of year. Then I stay out until I come in to hunt.”

Robinson said green forage, acorns dropping early and other food such as muscadines and persimmon trees are strong attractants.

“When scouting creek bottoms, I’m always looking for muscadines. Deer love them, and while the window of opportunity may be short for deer to eat them, it’s an excellent place to hunt. If I find this near another food source such as acorns, then it’s a prime target for a longer period.”

Robinson keeps an eye open for persimmon trees too.

“It’ll be later in the year when deer start eating persimmons, but finding persimmon trees early gives me a great target to check later. But I identify them during early season,” he said. “I’ll often locate clusters of persimmons around edges or cleared areas. So having several persimmon sources nearby enhances the area. Once I find this source, it can pay off for multiple years. Deer love persimmons and once the fruit is ready, deer will compete for that food source.”

Robinson said to do the leg work regardless of where you hunt to find isolated, less-pressured food sources for early season hunting. Prior to the rut, bucks and does are attracted to food sources and properly hunting these will improve your odds of success.

Beanfields Rule

If your hunting land includes, or is adjacent to large agricultural fields, then a strong food source and deer attractant is already present. If you’re fortunate enough to have soybeans, you’ve got a crop that deer are going to be eating. Scouting and stand setup relative to your weapon of choice will be key to your success.

Tyler Chappell, from Gray Court, SC said finding food sources and hunting them correctly are essential. Chappell (864-419-1462) is a professional turkey hunting guide, and he operates a property management business that develops elite deer and turkey hunting areas. His hunting philosophy incorporates food sources as a core strategy.

“Look for corners of beanfields and isolated pockets as prime opportunities,” he said. “These are more likely to attract an early season buck.”

Other crops can also attract deer.

“Peanuts are prime deer attractors during early season,” Chappell said. “As with soybeans, stand location relative to where deer enter the field is the primary consideration. Long distances favor the rifle hunter during early season when air temperatures are higher. For archery hunters, concealment and scent control are essential.”

Chappell said cotton fields are productive because the plants not only provide a food source with their leaves, but they often grow quite tall, providing deer a sense of security too.

Corn fields are another excellent deer attractant, but until it is harvested, it’s difficult to see deer in standing corn, he said.

“One option is to scout and locate the access points where deer enter the field and set up a stand to hunt those ingress and egress areas,” he said. “But the prime time for hunting corn fields is immediately after the corn is harvested. I’ll hunt that same evening the field is cut. Harvesters are quite efficient at getting the bulk of the corn. But some corn is going to be scattered on the ground, and deer make that food a priority. But it’ll generally be gone quickly.”

Bait Stations

In areas where using bait is legal, it’s effective to attract deer to specific locations.

“Corn can be a stand-alone bait source to attract deer to a specific spot. So you can place your stand where you’re better hidden and have the prevailing wind in your favor,” McCutchen said. “Corn is a prime option to use in places as a supplement to other food sources. Providing food options in a specific area is a good tactic to concentrate more deer. During early season, the more deer you attract, even if many are does, the more natural scent you’ll have. This works in your favor for a late-evening buck to step into the open before dark.”

Hunt near water sources

McCutchen said water is essential for deer. So with weather still hot during the first few weeks of the season, a nearby water source is a huge asset for attracting deer.

“Combine that with a good food source, and ample cover, and you’ve got a formula for early season success,” he said.

Early season deer hunting isn’t going to be as potentially productive as hunting during the rut. But unpressured deer offer hunters the best pre-rut option at a big buck.

Scout and study the deer on your hunting land, but don’t intrude too often and spook them. Let cameras help you scout, and identify food sources and prep stands to hunt those specific targets.