If you haven’t harvested a buck yet, don’t give up hope. It’s time to both go out and make something happen, or prepare for the second rut.

From the reports coming in, this is one of the worst big buck seasons ever. Of all the people I know of, only one has put a tag on something bigger than they had ever seen before. Although the beginning of the regular season has been slow, that doesn’t mean it won’t pick up. The second rut is right around the corner and should have bucks moving again during daylight hours. While waiting for it to kick in, you can try your luck at bush whacking one. Chances are, that’s your best bet for the next week or so.

I’m happy to say, the only monster buck that I have seen taken so far this gun season, was taken off of the land I’m working on for my guide service. I didn’t take it myself and couldn’t be any happier that he was harvested by one of the farmers that own the property. Mason White, better known as Butch, was the lucky hunter that I’m speaking of. He has hunted all his life and this is his biggest buck yet. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

As most know, growing food plots is one of the best ways to lure deer out of hiding during shooting light. Most agree with and support those that plant plots; although I have heard it straight from an environmental officer’s mouth that he wished they were illegal. I didn’t ask why he felt that way, but I can speculate that he was comparing plots to a bait pile. The truth is, they couldn’t be more different, in the way that the deer are affected by them.