The Kill Zone for Trophy Bucks!

So you want to kill a trophy buck! There are a few secrets you need to know to increase your odds!

Well, first you have to establish what a trophy buck really is. There are many ways to define a trophy whitetail but as a rule were talking about bucks that score north of 150” gross B&C. Very few hunters would ever consider passing on a shot at such an animal unless he had some actionable intel that something much larger was in the area. Then again that info. may be useless. Depending on the timing of the rut that deer could be 5 miles away on another farm. Regardless of what may be known to be in the area, passing on a 150 probably means your going home with your tag in your pocket.

Of course, the area of the country your hunting has to also be taken into consideration. If you apply this same 150 rule to the south east or even many eastern and western states your probably not going to be eating much deer meat.

The next question is where? A discussion on where to consistently see big trophy bucks leads you to one location…..the Midwest. The Midwest states are going to give you the best odds for putting a trophy in your cross hairs. I would recommend you spend some time looking at the record books, particularly the Pope & Young book. Again, any of the top 10 states are obviously great places to hunt but pay attention to the top 2 or 3 unless you have some specific reliable recommendation on some of the others. On a well managed property in the Midwest it is not unreasonable to expect to see a 150 class or larger deer. Our 420 ac lease consistently produces opportunities at 150 class deer every year. Getting them in bow range and killing them can be another story.

The last question is specifically where? You have a property to hunt but where on that property is going to give you your best chances at a big buck? I have spent all my life hunting Florida. A more difficulty place to hunt there is not! For this reason I find hunting the Midwest states relatively easy. There is a limited amount of cover, the food sources are obvious and the limited cover produces a lot of bottle necks and travel corridors.

Much of the discussion of where depends on two factors, what phase of the rut your dealing with and the weather. If it is unseasonably warm the does are not going to be coming to the fields to feed much in the daylight. Therefore, your not going to see many bucks there. You might catch one first thing, just cracking daylight crossing a field the does are using at night but after that you better be in the woods. For me that means a bottle neck or funnel that connects multiple wood lots or bedding areas. Better yet, a bottle neck next to a section of woods that has been select cut. In the Midwest that’s a prime bedding area if there ever was one.

If you are hunting with a firearm that might effect your decision a little due to the increased range. Obviously, you are going to see more overall deer where you have the greatest visibility, that’s a crop field but the deer have to be feeding on it.

If there is any deer movement at all you can bet some of it is going to be thru a bottleneck. Day in and day out a bottle neck is going to produce the most big buck opportunities. It works anytime deer are moving.

The Bottleneck is the Ultimate Kill Zone for Big Trophy Bucks!

Most bottle necks can be discovered from studying a good aerial photograph. Others, might require a little leg work. Never overlook the opportunities provided by a good bottle neck! Next time your hunting, find yourself one of these kill zones, harvest yourself a “seed” and remember to send me a picture and a thank you.


Good hunting,
Larry Stephens