Many people don’t have a lot of vacation days to dedicate towards deer hunting. So how do we maximize our odds of killing a big buck while using the least amount of vacation possible? This article is going to answer that question.
Follow these tips below to increase your odds of success this deer season. You can give yourself the best odds possible by stacking as many of these tips on tops of each other as possible. For example, don’t just follow tip #1 and ignore the others. You can compound your odds of success by following and implementing all these tips.
Top 10 tips for killing big bucks with limited vacation time
Tip #1: Hunt places that have a lot of big bucks
Hunting in areas that have a high number of big bucks is one of the best ways to increase the odds of shooting a big buck while also using the least amount of vacation time. Sometimes this requires traveling far away from home or out of state.
Do your research online and talk to other hunters to learn where the best neighborhoods are that typically hold several big bucks.
Read this article to learn more: Public vs. private land for deer hunting: which is best?
Tip #2: Hunt cold weather fronts
Big bucks are more likely to move around during daylight hours when the weather has a big temperature drop from one day to the next. Try to hunt immediately after (24-48 hours) the temperature drops because that’s usually when the best daylight buck movement happens.
Based on my observations and trail camera history, I have better odds of killing a big buck during a cold front in October than a warm front during the peak rut. I avoid hunting on warm weather days as much as possible.
Read this article to learn more: The best time to deer hunt (Fully Explained)
Tip #3: Hunt the rut
Most deer hunters use their vacation days during the rut because this is when bucks show the most movement activity during daylight hours. Like I said at the beginning of this article, don’t just follow one of these tips and ignore the rest. In other words, don’t waste vacation time hunting the peak rut if the weather is unseasonably warm. It’s much better to hunt the pre-rut or post-rut if the weather is more favorable at that time.
Read this article to learn more: The best time to deer hunt (Fully Explained)
Tip #4: Hunt near food plots
It’s no secret that deer love food plots. Food sources that are peaking in attraction, or more attractive than other foods in the area, attract deer the most. Deer will stay close to food sources and food plots if they aren’t pressured away from them.
Food plots that are regularly hunted and pressured can end up forcing big bucks to primarily use them during the night when they feel the safest.
Tip #5: Study old trail camera photos/videos
Trail cameras are probably the best tool for learning when and where to hunt big bucks. Bucks tend to repeat their patterns every year which makes it easier for us to predict when they might be in a particular area.
I create an Excel spreadsheet every year to track individual buck movements. In the spreadsheet, I give each buck a name and then record the location, date, and time. Regarding the time, I just indicate if the buck was moving during daylight by highlighting the day in green (see picture).
This spreadsheet is very helpful for identifying vacation days if you must request your vacation days several weeks or months in advance. Find the window of time with the most buck activity and hunt that week. It’s easy to see when multiple bucks are moving around the same time once the spreadsheet is filled out.
Tip #6: Use cellular trail cameras
Learning about buck movements in real time is extremely valuable information. Consider using a vacation day immediately after getting a cellular trail camera picture of a buck during daylight hours at the same time a big cold front is passing through. Once you have confirmation that a buck is in the area, it’s possible you won’t get a better chance to kill him for the rest of the season (depending on his movement pattern).
Tip #7: Prepare during the offseason
Most hunters don’t use vacation days in the offseason to prepare for deer hunting. The offseason is an excellent time of year to prepare to kill big bucks. There are several things that deer hunters can do during the offseason to increase their odds of success when the time comes to hunt. You can find new spots to hunt, hang tree stands, trim shooting lanes, plant food plots, create mock scrapes, and so on.
Read this article to learn more: Everything you might need for a deer hunt (checklist)
Read this article to learn more: How to scout for deer
Read this article to learn more: How long does it take for deer to get used to a tree stand
Read this article to learn more: 52 tips for hanging tree stand for deer hunting
Read this article to learn more: Best fall and winter food plots for deer hunting
Read this article to learn more: Hemp rope for mock scrapes and mature buck patterning
Tip #8: Avoid human intrusion
It’s difficult to kill big bucks in areas that get a lot of hunting pressure. It can still be done, but it’s likely going to take more than a few days or weeks to get the job done. The question you need to ask yourself is how much vacation time are you willing to spend?
When it comes to hunting pressured areas, you have two options if you want to try and reduce the amount of vacation time you spend on hunting. The first option is you find places to hunt that get less hunting pressure. The second option is you hunt the overlooked spots where deer feel the safest and receive the least amount of hunting pressure. These are the spots that most hunters won’t go because of the level of difficultly it takes to get there.
One of the best ways to get away from other hunters is by how you access your hunting spots. For example, you might consider using a bike to get several miles away from the closest parking area. Also, consider using a canoe, boat, or waders to cross water and access areas where most hunters won’t consider going.
Read this article to learn more: Where do whitetails spend most of their time
Read this article to learn more: Should you enter a deer sanctuary
Tip #9: Hunt all day
Most hunters reading this article typically use their vacation time during the rut. If you’re going to spend a vacation day for hunting, take full advantage of the time and hunt all day. Hunting all day long can be tough and boring, but it’s paid off for me several times over the years.
Read this article to learn more: Is it worth deer hunting all day
Tip #10: Only use vacation when the time is right
Some employers are more flexible than others when it comes to asking for time off. It’s ideal to have the flexibility to use vacation days whenever you want and request time off with limited notice. I like to see what the 7-day weather forecast is to make sure I’m using my vacation days when the weather is ideal for hunting. The last thing you want to do is use vacation days when the weather is unseasonably warm.
A good time to use a vacation day is when a big buck is moving during daylight hours on the property where you hunt. The next 24 hours can be an extremely good time to kill that specific buck since you know he is close to the area you are hunting.
Conclusion
There is a lot we can do as deer hunters to kill big bucks and only use a little bit of vacation time. However, it’s not an easy thing to do. Consider your current situation and reflect on past hunting seasons. Are you happy with the success you are having? If not, figure out which tip(s) in the article will help you increase your odds of killing big bucks the most and then commit to yourself to implementing it this year.
