November NEWSLETTER 2009 |
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Write to: Disappear Hunting Products Inc., PO Box 414, Wadsworth, OH 44282
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have topic you would wish to be discussed in a future newsletter, let us know and we will
consider it.
If you do not want future newsletters, please email or write us advising so and you will be
removed from the list.
Write to: Disappear Hunting Products Inc., PO Box 414, Wadsworth, OH 44282
Email: discoverscent@disappearhp.com
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HUNTERS
Once again, November is upon us and with this time of year, the madness of the whitetail rut is now in full
force in the majority of the North American continent. This year promises to be one of the best ever, the
number of quality bucks sighted early on, as well as the quantity of bucks in general, not only provides the
resource to hunt, but competition among the bucks provides more daytime activity from these same bucks. I
have had numerous reports from around the country and the story has been fairly consistent, “I have never
seen more big bucks than I am seeing this year.” is what I keep hearing. Already I have seen quite a
number of Pope & Young bucks taken here in OH and several of these bucks are candidates for the Boone
& Crockett records. There has to be many more that I am not aware of at this point in time.
Sometimes I feel that everything has already been written about hunting the rutting whitetail, and nothing
else can be said. But then I realize how adaptable and ever changing the whitetail is, so we will never to be
able learn enough. I will give you a first hand example of this past October 2009. During last spring’s
scouting of some new property I had secured permission to hunt, I came across an area that appeared to
have served as a primary scrape breeding area last fall. I set up some potential stand locations, then waited
to see what would happen this year. It is not an easy spot to hunt as it is low lying and there are five fingers
coming off nearby ridges as well two streams that join together. Because of the geography, the wind is
constantly swirling and there are trails coming and going in all directions. It was easy to understand why the
deer had chosen this location for a meeting place, to conduct the breeding rituals.
This fall arrived and sure enough, a considerable amount of rut sign in the form of rubs, but more
importantly, an abundant amount of scrapes began to appear. If you can picture this in your mind, this spot
has it’s normal number of trees, but it also contains a considerable amount of understory, which does not
allow many lanes for an arrow to pass through. Clearing a lot of this away would destroy the very reason the
deer chose this area to begin with. Over a dozen scrapes scattered up to 70 yards apart, were now in place.
The first few times my friend and I hunted this location, it seemed like we were always just 20 yards or so
out of range. Remember how I mentioned the swirling winds, that gave us no real downwind position to set
up at. Cover scent took care of our scent, so that was no problem, just being at the right spot at the right
time was the predicament.
When all else fails, take the initiative, right? We did. We created some mocks scrapes, even though there
were a number of them already, then primed ours with scent. They were placed within bow range, with clear
shots available. We only created the scrapes where there were overhanging branches, so the bucks could do
their normal ritual of chewing and leaving scent there as well. We also sprayed scent on the branches. Using
a stick to paw the dirt and freshening the moist dirt with scent, got their attention. The second day my friend
was hunting after the mock scrapes were created, he arrowed an eight point buck, that field dressed around
190 lbs and will score enough for the Pope & Young records. I am only trying to point out, how important it
is, to never be afraid to improvise. We might have hunted for days upon end and never quite had that clear
shot, you never know. Keep in mind also, when a big buck hooks up with an estrous doe, he will disappear
with her for a few days, then he will be back, looking for more. So if you are hunting during the rut in this
type of situation, don’t get discouraged by all the toy bucks you probably will see. The big daddies have not
forgotten where to find action. Stay the course as much as you can. As I have said many times before, don’t
leave your stand at all, during daylight hours if it is within your schedule, as a buck can and will show at any
given hour of the day during the rut.
I am going to be hunting a good bit of November, so I will see what continues to happen at this arena.
Keith Dotterer
Once again, November is upon us and with this time of year, the madness of the whitetail rut is now in full
force in the majority of the North American continent. This year promises to be one of the best ever, the
number of quality bucks sighted early on, as well as the quantity of bucks in general, not only provides the
resource to hunt, but competition among the bucks provides more daytime activity from these same bucks. I
have had numerous reports from around the country and the story has been fairly consistent, “I have never
seen more big bucks than I am seeing this year.” is what I keep hearing. Already I have seen quite a
number of Pope & Young bucks taken here in OH and several of these bucks are candidates for the Boone
& Crockett records. There has to be many more that I am not aware of at this point in time.
Sometimes I feel that everything has already been written about hunting the rutting whitetail, and nothing
else can be said. But then I realize how adaptable and ever changing the whitetail is, so we will never to be
able learn enough. I will give you a first hand example of this past October 2009. During last spring’s
scouting of some new property I had secured permission to hunt, I came across an area that appeared to
have served as a primary scrape breeding area last fall. I set up some potential stand locations, then waited
to see what would happen this year. It is not an easy spot to hunt as it is low lying and there are five fingers
coming off nearby ridges as well two streams that join together. Because of the geography, the wind is
constantly swirling and there are trails coming and going in all directions. It was easy to understand why the
deer had chosen this location for a meeting place, to conduct the breeding rituals.
This fall arrived and sure enough, a considerable amount of rut sign in the form of rubs, but more
importantly, an abundant amount of scrapes began to appear. If you can picture this in your mind, this spot
has it’s normal number of trees, but it also contains a considerable amount of understory, which does not
allow many lanes for an arrow to pass through. Clearing a lot of this away would destroy the very reason the
deer chose this area to begin with. Over a dozen scrapes scattered up to 70 yards apart, were now in place.
The first few times my friend and I hunted this location, it seemed like we were always just 20 yards or so
out of range. Remember how I mentioned the swirling winds, that gave us no real downwind position to set
up at. Cover scent took care of our scent, so that was no problem, just being at the right spot at the right
time was the predicament.
When all else fails, take the initiative, right? We did. We created some mocks scrapes, even though there
were a number of them already, then primed ours with scent. They were placed within bow range, with clear
shots available. We only created the scrapes where there were overhanging branches, so the bucks could do
their normal ritual of chewing and leaving scent there as well. We also sprayed scent on the branches. Using
a stick to paw the dirt and freshening the moist dirt with scent, got their attention. The second day my friend
was hunting after the mock scrapes were created, he arrowed an eight point buck, that field dressed around
190 lbs and will score enough for the Pope & Young records. I am only trying to point out, how important it
is, to never be afraid to improvise. We might have hunted for days upon end and never quite had that clear
shot, you never know. Keep in mind also, when a big buck hooks up with an estrous doe, he will disappear
with her for a few days, then he will be back, looking for more. So if you are hunting during the rut in this
type of situation, don’t get discouraged by all the toy bucks you probably will see. The big daddies have not
forgotten where to find action. Stay the course as much as you can. As I have said many times before, don’t
leave your stand at all, during daylight hours if it is within your schedule, as a buck can and will show at any
given hour of the day during the rut.
I am going to be hunting a good bit of November, so I will see what continues to happen at this arena.
Keith Dotterer
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