Hopefully, the deer season resulted in trophies for many hunters and plenty of venison for many more. Just as they do every season, a few mysterious bucks evade the sights of the serious hunters and survive. For some hunters, thinking about outsmarting a trophy buck ends on Jan. 1, but post-season scouting is a tremendous way to understand where big, mature bucks reside and why they show up in these areas.
Mature bucks live into maturity because of their keen senses. Without their premier sense of smell, deer would never reach maturity. Post-season scouting allows hunters to detect the patterns of big bucks on their property and to prepare for the following season without crippling chances during the season.
Too often, hunters scout heavily during the preseason and the hunting season itself. Mature bucks will quickly change their travel patterns when too much unnatural disturbance occurs within their core areas. Post-season scouting allows hunters to unravel the story and prepare for the next season without the worry of moving a buck out of any area.
Jan. 2 is the prime day to start scouting for next year. While specific bucks frequenting an area will probably not be around next fall, hunters can locate the key areas that attracted the mature bucks. Finding areas with heavy doe use will coincide with buck sign. For simplicity, does need adequate food and water adjacent to cover in areas with little human disturbance.
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