The rut is here, and now is the time to make your move on a buck. While some hunters will patiently wait on things to happen at their treestand, others will take a more aggressive approach to punch their tag. But how do you go about finding a buck when they seem to be constantly on the move during the rut?
The key is to tap into the most recent information/intel (MRI). Think about it. You need to know what a buck is doing today in order to kill him today. It really doesn’t matter what he was doing last week, or even yesterday. You need to know what he is doing right now in order to kill him.
That’s exactly what happened for my buddy, Adrian Wilson, of Tethrd. He recently killed a nice Tennessee buck using MRI gathered from a trail camera to make his move. He tells his story below.
“I had a cellular trail camera set up on a major trail crossing,” says Wilson. “I’ve learned from years past that this spot gets a lot of traffic and sign at this time of year. And sure enough, within the last 4-5 days it just so happens the local deer made a scape 7 yards from the camera.”
“I’ve watched different does and bucks hit the scrape consistently during that time, but was waiting until my target buck showed up at the scrape in search of the right doe. Sure enough, my target buck soon became a frequent flyer at the scrape. So when my buck hit the the scrape at 3:39 am one morning, as well at 6:25 am at another nearby scrape, I decided it was time to make my move.”
“With this new MRI, I knew the buck was holding tight to the area with a hot doe. And knowing that 24 hours can make or break an opportunity at a buck with a hot doe, I decided to go in and hunt the scrape in hopes my target buck would come back through.”
“The hunt didn’t last long. I’ll never forget the sight of those antlers coming over the ridge as the buck followed several does making their way in my direction. The does came in to visit the scrape, and the buck followed in behind them. A few moments later, I made the shot on the buck I was after.”
“He had shown up checking scrapes before daylight. Now, less than 12 hours later, he was dead. It was the greatest example of an MRI plan coming together like we dream about all year long.”
Quick Tips for Using MRI to Kill Your Next Buck
Read the Clues – Watch doe behavior on the property you’re hunting. Watch for signs that they are ready for a buck. Use a trail cam to monitor doe behavior around a scrape.
Watch Buck Behavior – You’ll know when you’ve got a buck that is reacting to a hot doe. Everything changes in his intensity and drive. Watch how and when he reacts to does visiting a scrape. These signs can tell you when to make your move.
Keep an Eye on the Clock – Pay attention to the timing of your intel. Cameras will reveal when and where a buck is making his move. Any quick patterns during the rut show that you need to make your move in the next 12-24 hours.
Don’t Wait – Waiting until tomorrow may mean missing the opportunity at the buck. When MRI tells you he’s there now, you need to go. His time with a hot doe may be over before the next 24 hours run out.
