You are correct on the timing. I've hunted just upriver for 30+ years and the last part of January is the time to see the biggest bucks. The peak of the rut has just passed by a week or so and only the biggest and strongest still have energy and are still roaming looking for a leftover doe. The smaller bucks will be hitting the food sources pretty hard so you need to decide whether you want to go for the bigger bucks or settle for a smaller one. Big = hunt travel lanes and off of the food plots. As close to a sure shot as you can get = hunt the food sources. That has been the tendency from my experience, but some years are just different based on weather or whatever else makes a deer act differently. Bottom line, congrats, that is a fine draw.


Lord, please help us get our nation straightened out.