bushjill+Followthought decoys were a gimmick… until last seasonHad a crazy close call last season — set out a doe decoy with some estrus scent and a few bleats, and a buck came in hard. Been experimenting with decoys the past few years, and when timed right (pre-rut or rut), they can totally shift the odds. My setup now: doe decoy facing my shooting lane, doe bleat calls every 15-20 minutes, and a few drops of estrus scent on the ground around it. For buck decoys, I use grunt calls and buck scent instead. Pro tip: Position matters! Bucks approach from the front, does from behind. And they ALL try to circle downwind first, so plan your wind accordingly. Game changer for open fields where deer seem hesitant to commit. #hunting #DeerHunting #HuntingTips #Outdoors 123Share
Manuel Bright+FollowShould you hunt buck bedding during the rut?Last November, I glassed a mature buck slipping back into thick cover just after sunrise—same ridge he used all season. It got me thinking: is it worth hunting his bed during the rut? After years of trial and error, I’d say yes—but only if you’re surgical about it. Hunting close to a buck’s bedding area during the rut can work, especially if: ✅ He returns to the same bed after unsuccessful doe searches 💡 You know the terrain well—wind, thermals, escape routes 🔔 You avoid aggressive tactics (no loud rattling or blind calling) It’s not a guaranteed play, but if you’ve patterned a rut-loyal buck who sticks to familiar bedding, slipping in quietly and setting up between his bed and a doe bedding area might be your best chance. Anyone else had luck hunting tight to buck bedding during peak rut? #hunting #deerhunting #huntingtips #DeerRut20Share
Manuel Bright+FollowWhy do bucks shed antlers at different times?Went shed hunting last weekend and found a few fresh singles—but no pairs. Got me thinking about why bucks shed at such different times. Turns out it’s not random. In the North, older bucks drop early after a hard rut. Down South, the longer breeding season keeps testosterone high, so mature bucks hold on longer. Stress from poor nutrition or injury can also trigger early casting. And the way antlers actually fall? Their bodies actively release them—pretty wild. Anyone else noticing early or late drops this year where you hunt? Any patterns you’ve picked up over time? #hunting #shedhunting #DeerHunting #Outdoors 215Share
Manuel Bright+FollowWhy mature bucks are so hard to hunt?Been chasing the same old buck for three seasons now, and he's taught me how smart they really get with age. These mature deer don't just avoid hunters - they study us. They learn our patterns, find our predictable setups, and use the land against us. This buck beds on ridge endings where he can see and smell threats from multiple directions. He uses thermal hubs - those low spots where scent pools - to detect hunters from way farther than just being downwind of your stand. Most frustrating part? He's found travel routes that completely bypass every stand location I've tried. Anyone else dealing with an "unkillable" old buck that seems to read your mind? #hunting #MatureBucks #DeerHunting #Outdoors 9983Share
tyler79+FollowWhy .300 Win Mag is overkill for deerKeep seeing this question pop up everywhere, so figured I'd share what I've learned over the years. Truth is, the best deer caliber is whatever you can shoot accurately with good bullet construction. Most states require .243 minimum, which is perfect starting point - .243 Win or 6mm Creedmoor will drop deer cleanly. Want less recoil? 6.5 Creedmoor and .25/06 are sweet spots. Classic .308, .30/06, and 7mm-08 never disappoint either. Unless you're in grizzly country, skip the .300 Win Mag - your shoulder will thank you. What's everyone running this season? #hunting #deerhunting #huntingcaliber #huntingtips70109Share
Manuel Bright+FollowI swear by scent and decoy combos nowAnyone else having success with decoys during pre-rut? I’ve been playing around with buck and doe setups — adding scent and pairing calls like grunts or bleats makes a huge difference. Learned that buck decoys should face your shooting lane since they usually come in head-on. And yep, they always try to swing downwind first. Curious what tricks others are using! #hunting #deerhunting #huntingtips 30Share
lolson+Followy'all, the south is winning the mature buck gameUsed to think the Midwest was the go-to for older bucks, but new data says the South is where it’s at. Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana hunters are harvesting the highest percentage of 3½+ year old bucks in the country. Oklahoma tops the list with a whopping 85% mature bucks in harvest! Maybe it's time to plan that Southern hunting trip... #hunting #deerhunting #southernhunting #whitetails00Share
lolson+FollowI always do more work in July than hunting seasonJust got back from checking my spots and can't stress enough how crucial July prep is. Made the mistake of skipping this a few years back and paid for it all season long. Here's what I'm hitting hard right now: 1️⃣ Food plot check - drought hit my clover hard this year, already replanting before it's too late 2️⃣ Water sources - with temps climbing, deer patterns revolve around water. Found three new seeps I never knew existed 3️⃣ Low-impact scouting - deer aren't spooked yet, perfect time to find those bedding-to-feeding routes and hang stands 4️⃣ Early season setups - ag fields are starting to show which trails get heavy use The beauty of July work is deer barely notice you're there. Come September, you'll know exactly where to be while other hunters are still figuring out the property. What's your biggest July scouting priority this year? #hunting #deerhunting #scouting #huntingprep101Share
Manuel Bright+Followfound the secret to tracking mature bucks✌️Been studying sign all season and finally cracked the code on reading rubs and scrapes. Fresh scrapes with torn-up ground? That's your highway map to deer movement. The bigger the rub, the bigger the buck. I always set up downwind from active scrapes since bucks love checking them after rain storms to refresh their scent. Perfect trail cam spots too. What's the biggest rub you've found this season? #hunting #deerhunting #bucksign #huntingtips4014Share
lolson+FollowCan deer survive a shoulder shot?Hit a deer in the shoulder this morning and it ran off. Been wondering if it'll make it or if I should keep tracking. Anyone have experience with shoulder shots? #hunting #deerhunting1439Share
