With rutting activity ramping up, Brandon talks about a very effective tactic that helped him score a big Oklahoma bruiser last Halloween. All that is required is a full size buck decoy and a second flat doe decoy that can be attached to your gun or bow. This setup, when executed properly, simulates a buck locked down with a doe. The lifesize buck decoy sits about 15 yards away from the shooter who is set up behind a whitetail doe decoy. In his situation last season, Brandon positioned himself boldly at the top of a ridge, using only his doe decoy for cover. He then rattled hoping to peak the interest of any bucks in the area. His efforts were successful and that rattling brought in not one, but two bucks. The second buck came in suddenly at just 15 yards away to check out the full size decoy providing Brandon the perfect shot opportunity to drop it. This technique is akin to reaping turkeys, he says. Although many people dismiss it as a gimmick, Brandon says it's proven and it works. He notes that it is now a big part of his arsenal for hunting during the rut.
Plus, Brandon will discuss the drivers of deer movement. Most hunters operate under the assumption that changes in air temperature spur more movement from deer. If there is a cold front moving in with a substantial temperature drop, hunters flock to the field, expecting to find more deer on their feet. Wanting to better understand this behavior, Brandon went to the experts to find out what kind of impact air temperature had on deer movement and was surprised by the findings. Leaning on the expertise of people from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, they told him that actual scientific data suggests that weather doesn't have a significant impact on movement and there is very little correlation between temperature drop and deer movement. Brandon acknowledges the scientific findings, but also notes it's hard for him to completely believe them when he has had so many encounters that suggest otherwise. Listen in as he weighs his anecdotal observations against the science.
Finally, Brandon will talk big game slams in Texas and Oklahoma. Several years ago he decided to create his own Oklahoma Slam by taking all 5 big game animals in one season with a bow. His quest to tag a black bear, pronghorn, elk, whitetail and mule deer was successful and he discusses the challenges of making that happen in just one season. Jumping off of that challenge, he is taking on a Texas Slam this year where he is attempting to harvest, in one season, the required 4 species: whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn and javelina. In addition, Brandon is upping the ante by adding 3 extra animals to the traditional slam: elk, axis deer and aoudad. A 7-animal, single season, Texas slam is a challenge that he is excited to complete.
Be sure to watch "My World Outdoors" every Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on Sportsman Channel.
Bunny
