SIGNPOSTS LEAD TO BIG BUCKS
Many hunters continue to hunt certain areas religiously — year after year — even after buck sign dwindles and their success rate drops to zero.
As long as a favorite spot continues to produce good bucks, there is little reason to shift hunting areas. However, just because an area produced some respectable bucks in the past, doesn’t mean it will continue to do so year after year.
Hunters often ask me, “Why don’t I see much buck sign anymore?”
The answer is obvious. If you don’t find rubs and scrapes, you probably have few, if any, mature bucks in the area. Likewise, if such sign does not appear until late in the season, the answer is probably the same: No big bucks.
If you’re looking for a better-than-average buck, and the buck sign just isn’t there, it’s time to move on. Go where the sign is.
Mature, rut-experienced bucks didn’t get that way by being dumb and “showy.” In fact, if not for telltale signposting, their presence would often go unnoticed. For that reason, knowing how to read buck-sign language can make the difference between success and failure when searching for an older buck.
I’ve discussed many aspects of whitetail signposting in previous Deer & Deer Hunting articles, most of which are included in my recent book, John Ozoga’s Whitetail Intrigue. What follows are some signpost tips to help you determine the presence
