By Heath Wood
Early-season hunting offers a unique opportunity for hunters aiming to target mature bucks. During this period, bucks often form bachelor groups, which can provide a strategic advantage during the early season if approached correctly.
Every hunter has experienced the excitement of seeing game camera photos throughout the summer, capturing groups of mature bucks traveling together. As July, August, and September pass, these bachelor groups give hunters hope that this might be the year to take down their dream buck. But as cooler temperatures start to replace the hot summer days, those hopes can quickly fade when the bucks split apart and change their patterns. I've felt the frustration of this shift so intensely that I've even considered giving up on using game cameras altogether. However, there are those rewarding moments when an early-season strategy pays off, and you find yourself with a mature buck on the ground within the first few weeks of the season.
Understanding Bachelor Groups
To better understand how to target bachelor groups during the early season, we must first understand what a bachelor group is. Bachelor groups are clusters of bucks, typically composed of younger and sometimes older bucks, that gather during the summer and early fall. These groups are formed primarily due to a lack of competition for resources and a reduction in aggressive behaviors that emerge later in the rut. Bachelor groups are most found from late summer through early September, which is typically when most hunters are using their game cameras thoroughly, trying to get intel for the upcoming hunting season. Bucks are still in their velvet stage and are focused on feeding and social interactions rather than establishing dominance or competing for does. This is why hunters often capture so many photos during this time of year. These images aren't misleading; instead, they offer crucial insights. By pinpointing the bucks' locations early, you gain valuable information that can significantly increase your chances of filling your tag early in the season.
Strategies for Targeting Bachelor Groups
Scouting is crucial for a successful hunt, and one of the best tools at your disposal is the trail camera. By setting up cameras in areas with high deer activity, you can monitor bachelor groups of bucks throughout the summer. Focus on locations near food sources like agricultural fields or mast-producing trees for the best results. A few years ago, I discovered a small, overgrown cattle pasture tucked into the corner of a large white oak timber stand. I used this corner as a supplemental feeding area during the summer, and it became a hotspot for deer, with many visiting my trail cameras daily. Fortunately, mid-September is when acorns typically start to fall. In Missouri, where feeding is prohibited during hunting season that starts on September 15th, all feed must be removed several days before the season begins. Instead of the deer changing their patterns due to the absence of supplemental feed, they continued to frequent the area because of the abundant white oak acorns that replaced the feed. As a result, I was able to take advantage of their consistent behavior and harvested a mature buck with my bow just two weeks into the season. To enhance your trail camera strategy, use aerial maps to identify potential feeding areas and bedding sites. Visit these locations to confirm deer activity through signs like tracks, droppings, and rubs. Once you've identified these areas, set up your cameras to monitor bachelor groups of bucks for a more informed and successful hunting season.
Don’t Push It
After finding feeding and bedding areas, observe the movement patterns of the bachelor groups with cameras. Note their feeding times and preferred bedding areas. Bucks are often predictable in their routines, especially early in the season. Pay attention to prevailing wind directions and weather conditions. Bucks are more likely to move within their comfort zones and are less likely to travel long distances in unfavorable weather. When the weather produces sudden changes, such as a cold front, bucks will be moving.
Stand placement before the season begins is essential. Position your stand or blind near the food source or along the trail leading to it. Ensure you have a clear view of the area where the bucks are expected to appear, then stay out! Minimal disturbance is key; reduce human scent and disturbance in the area by using scent control products and minimizing noise. Bucks are sensitive to changes in their environment, especially during this period. If pressured too much, bucks can often split up earlier to avoid danger and relocate to a safer feeling area. When the weather and wind are right, go hunt!
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Using Calls and Scents
Early in the season is not the most popular time for using a grunt call, yet when used correctly, they can be very effective on early-season bucks. Avoid aggressive calls that mimic rut behavior. Instead, use soft, non-threatening calls like fawn bleats or light grunt calls to attract curiosity. In late September, bucks are getting ready to start splitting apart as the beginning of their dominance for the upcoming rut later in the fall. When a buck hears a soft grunt, they often think another buck is slipping into where his bachelor group has been roaming for the past few months. Their territorial instincts are activated, bringing them close, looking for the culprit.
Scents can also be effective during the early season. Applying deer scents sparingly can also create a “scent” of curiosity in bucks. The full doe in estrus lures is probably not a good idea, yet simple doe urine or collection of all-season smells is a great way to pique the interest of nearby bucks, even when still running in groups.
Targeting bachelor groups early in the season requires a blend of observation, strategic planning, and patience. By understanding the behavior of these groups and employing the proper techniques, you can significantly increase your chances of a successful hunt. Keep in mind that the early season is a time for preparation and strategy, laying the groundwork for the rest of the season.
Read More: Understanding the Summer to Fall Whitetail Shift
