ORIGINAL: shed33

Once I dedicated my time to finding big bucks and then I learned from mistakes howto scout them without them ever knowing I was there, the patterning started taking place, finally never compromising or cutting any corners in regards to human odor while scouting, setting up ambush sites whether it be stands or natural ground blindsandlast while hunting.Like Gary says, "how" you chose to enter and exitin and out to get a crack at a big buck is paramount. If he knows your hunting him, he will almost always win, except for during the rut sometimes, they will tolerate more, not always but sometimes. It really becomes individual to a bucks demeanor then imo. I have hunted very shy mature bucks and then the big aggressive macho mature bucks. The macho ones showed themselves more in late Nov than the mature yet more shy bucks. Anyone can kill and will continue to kill big bucks duirng the rut. Its a big mature bucks weakness, outside of the rut, its a delicate game of cat and mouse because your hunting him in or very close tois bedding area... But he's much more predictable than during the rut ..so its a give and take scenario..

Call me crazy but if I had to make a choice RUT hunting versus outside of the rut hunting, I would pick outside of the rut as long as I could scout spend time scouting the buck.. Traveling to another state, I'll take rut hunting first since I have limited time to scout..