Curing The Post Rut Blues (FTPO)
In Chapter Five of my book, Aggressive Whitetail Hunting, I wrote that much of the frustration and low hunter success rates during the post rut period are simply because hunters lack understanding. Adding to this frustration and low success rates is the fact that whitetail bucks, especially mature animals, once again revert to reclusive, secretive lifestyles.
This isn’t to say, however, that it’s impossible to connect on mature whitetails during the post rut. Just like it is during other tough parts of the season, post rut trophies can be had. The key to success hinges directly on gaining a thorough understanding of exactly what’s happening with the deer at this time of year.
It’s a fact that prolific breeding bucks actually “hunker down” for a short period immediately at the conclusion of the rut. During this time, which might be several days, big bucks do very little traveling or feeding. They’re simply resting up to regain some of the strength and energy they expended during the rigorous days of the rut.
But things change dramatically once bucks get their legs under them. I’ve personally seen tremendous flurries of activity approximately a week after the rut has concluded. At the heart of this intense activity is their desire to chow down on highly nutritious foods. It’s interesting to note that mature bucks often become just as caught up in these feeding-related flurries of activity as smaller bucks.
However, being successful during the post-rut period requires more than just knowing the exact locations of preferred whitetail foods and the travel routes big bucks are using to reach those foods. Remember, mostly due to weeks of hunting pressure, post rut bucks are going to be EXTREMELY sensitive to even the slightest bit of human intrusion. Obviously, if there’s ever a time when it’s imperative you take every precaution to keep your presence a secret, this is that time!!
As I said, the key to taking mature bucks during the post rut is to first gain an understanding of what’s happening with the deer at this time of year. Trust me, things get significantly easier once you’ve accomplished this goal.
Hey remember, hunt hard, but always hunt safe!
