buckeyebuckhnter,
Personally, I do not chase the does all over waiting for the bucks to show up. I've found that by hunting from observation stands that I can get a read on where the doe family units and the bucks may be bedding during the day. This is a low key approach that has the least impact on the herd. If the does need thining in my area I prefer to wait until later in the season. I like to set up stands between doe bedding areas, especially near funnels. I like to use the does as bait for the bucks. Once a buck has been bagged then I concentrate on the does. Once in a while I take a doe very early in the season in areas that have the least impact on the bucks. That way the area has a chance to settle down before the rut kicks in.

While hunting these observation stands, a lot of times I spot bucks coming to crop fields from their bedding areas. Then I can quickly make a move on him while he is still in the area before he starts wandering all over the place bedding in different areas. For me this usually happens between Oct. 15th and Oct. 27th. After these dates I strictly hunt funnels between doe bedding areas while waiting for the seeking phase to kick in. It seems that between the 15th and 27th of Oct., that the bucks start to leave their beds a little earlier in the evening to keep tabs on the does in the area as well as the other bucks. It's like they're getting excited about the start of the action! Wouldn't you if your sex lifeonly happened for such a short period during the year?[:-]

Oct. 17th 2006