Hunting the Pre-Rut: A Strategy That Worked (

Understanding the deer needs and where the resources are at the time you are hunting are key to putting a tag on a deer in the pre-rut! Watch these hunts where Grant and Daniel get hit list bucks cruising by the stands and the strategy that lead to tagging a deer.
Scout for those resources and knowing the terrain can be key to tagging bucks or does! Grant is hunting a food plot specifically designed to take advantage of a travel corridor between food and bedding!
This hunt was successful, resulting in fresh venison because of our hunting strategy. During this time of year in most parts of the whitetails range deer are genetically programmed to seek foods that are high in energy, high in carbohydrates. Carbs help deer store a lot of fat which can be necessary for them to survive the winter. If you hunt in timber country that has a lot of oaks, deer are seeking acorns.
We have multiple stands here on the Proving Grounds, we chose that stand based on conditions. The wind was appropriate for us to approach this stand without alerting deer. The desired food source, acorns, was on one slope, the bedding area on the other - and they were able to get in the stand that was right in the middle.

[@jacobmeyer1842]

Can’t wait to deer hunt

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Jacob - I hope you can go hunting soon!

[@troypeck4128]

Spines my first doe 2 weeks ago and felt terrible. Had to climb out of stand to get a follow up shot but I got her. Gave extra prayers to her.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Troy - Congratulations on providing fresh venison for your family!

[@jaedenlyons]

Last night, I shot my first archery buck, not a huge buck but a real nice 7 point! Man it was great!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Congratulations Jaeden! I'm very happy for you! Enjoy!

[@jaedenlyons]

@GrowingDeer.tv thank you!

[@aliceyoung3874]

🙏

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks!

[@blacktagbraunvieh5632]

Hello my name is Benjamin I am in the Dalhart tx Area we farm and have cattle on one of our fields we have a pond. Around the end of September most everyone has shut their water off for their crops and the deer start coming to our pond a lot. The only bad thing is the pond is located maybe 100 yards from a road so the deer seldom come in shooting hours. I recently watched your video on scrapes and rubs. So two days ago I looked around on our property for rubs and found we had actually a lot on our wooden fenceposts since have no trees or cover other than grass and crops. I found the most used rub and set up a game about 5 yards away that same evening and night we got pictures of a pretty big mature 9 pointer and a younger six pointer, but neither came in shooting hours the big 9 pointer we want to shoot came at 7:30 just after shooting time, my question is how to hunt the scrape. That is really the only spot he consistently show up at on our farm, that scrape is about a 400 yards from any cover how do I hunt his buck in a situation like this? Thankyou

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Benjamin - Can you put a ground blind near the scrape or along the trail to the scrape?

[@blacktagbraunvieh5632]

@@GrowingDeerTV Yesterday I set up a ground blind by the pond which is about 50 yards from the rub. I think will sit there and see if they come in shooting time, if not I think I will set my ground blind by our cattle water in our peas that is right on trail that continues to the pond and try that. Thanks for the great videos.

[@johnathonarnold9070]

Love it! I messed up my shot over the weekend and couldn't recover my doe. Hope to do betyer next time

[@devindiebel8410]

i did the same thing about a week or 2 ago. it sucks but it happens. get back out and shoot a big buck!

[@jerryhill7065]

I messed up but hit a arderie so luckily it died after 50 yards

[@tysondimmitt9786]

You hunt long enough its bound to happen. Keep your head up and keep after it!

[@davidbrett8961]

Did the same thing, rushed my shot

[@jesusisking5002]

Everyone misses its ok make sure to take ur time and squeeze that trigger god bless❤️

[@EventsO3525]

This is very amazing to watch

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks!

[@jesusisking5002]

IM READY FOR THE RUT PRAISE JESUS ITS FINALLY HERE

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Enjoy this season!

[@jesusisking5002]

@@GrowingDeerTV I will sir❤️

[@trecurtis314]

Put a mature 8 point buck down Monday morning right at first light. Walked in front of the blind at 6 yards

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Wow! Sounds like a great hunt - congratulations!

[@braydenroy4047]

1st u r my fav hunting youtuber

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks!

[@alexblevins7365]

Love your videos

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnathanquinn3236]

Looking forward to all the videos this week!!! 😀 Best Deer educational videos out there. Keep up the great work

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks Johnathan!

[@mattreynolds792]

Love the videos

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks Matt!

[@jerryhill7065]

Another great vid grant and growing deer team love what you guys do and support

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks Jerry!

[@lukeprovenzano5863]

Thank you for all your help I'm going an a hunt this Saturday my first real hunt ever. Hoping for anything doe or Buck (only big ones) it will be a cold front after a nearby hurricane. I'm hoping the deer will be moving I went scouting last week. All conditions are perfect for a successful first hunt. Wish me luck.

[@EventsO3525]

Good luck do you have trail cameras

[@ofelioalvarado9284]

@@EventsO3525 ui

[@EventsO3525]

Yes?

[@lukeprovenzano5863]

No I don't

[@EventsO3525]

Was just wandering because it is a good strategy

[@remingtonsmith734]

Same I have pre rut just got a almost i bet 160 probaly on cams

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Wow!

[@martinsuper4545]

All does for me so far. Last night rained hard, no deer. This morning was ultra windy and also no deer.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Martin - Days of rain here and should pass in time to hunt this afternoon!

[@stevedenoyer5956]

Why do the deer prefer to bed in the warm season grasses vs the timber? Seems like the timber would have better cover? Except for the sunlight, I get that, but maybe it’s from little pressure they feel comfortable out in the open.?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Steve - shade is cold during the winter and timber rarely has as much cover as a thick stand of native grasses.

[@williamwaha3193]

What is that "Hitch Hanging stand " called that you use for holding up the deer while you process them and how much weight will that hold ?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

William - It's a Redneck Hoist - checkout:redneckblinds.com/products/deer-hoist-skinner

[@williamwaha3193]

@@GrowingDeerTV Thanks .

[@grunt4lfe11b]

What's your total arrow and bow set up this year Doctor Grant

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Jason - I'm shooting a Prime Black 5 (35") set at 61 pounds, with Bloodsport Evidence 350 arrows and a G5 Montec 3 broadhead and a Burris Oracle range finding sight. It's a great setup!

[@grunt4lfe11b]

@@GrowingDeerTV Thanks Doc. Want to try the boardheads you're using. If they fly great, I'll get me a set.

[@patrickbrehm6664]

Corn or accorns what do they prefer this time of year

[@jimwolabaugh3608]

Acorns! Provide way more protein as the deer prepare for winter. Plus easier to digest

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Patrick - Usually acorns - for many reasons.

[@tylersalisbury6254]

What fixed blade are you guys shooting?

[@swvafarmer]

That's a G5 Montec M3

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Tyler - SWVA Farmer is correct - it's a G5 Montec M3.

[@lyrch1759]

Not hard to shoot does.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Colin - it depends on where you hunt, etc.

[@masonmanske1798]

Must be nice to shoot a deer

[@GrowingDeerTV]

I hope you have a great season!