Photo by Kenny Bahr

How many times have you come home during the supposedly "sure-fire" hunting period of the rut empty-handed? Chances are, more often than you'd care to admit.

While some of the biggest and oldest bucks I've taken over the years have come during the rut, I've also been skunked during this period more often than I'd care to admit, or had long days on stand when only does and a few yearling bucks came into view.

When I've analyzed why those particular outings failed to produce a good buck, sometimes it was simply the hunting situation I'd been dealt. It might have been a poor area or too crowded. Environmental factors may have played a role -- too hot, too windy, etc. Other times, though, I was in prime areas, conditions were excellent, and I still went home empty-handed. In these cases, almost always the problem was making mistakes.

I'm actually quite experienced at this subject, having made more than my share of blunders over the years. Fortunately, over time I've also learned from them and become a better hunter.

Here are 12 common mistakes hunters make during the rut that cost them opportunities for nice bucks. Maybe by studying these, you can avoid them and be one step ahead in the game from mistakes I've made. Sure, there are plenty of other wrong moves you can make. Try to think of others and avoid them ahead of time, too. However, this "dirty dozen" will be a good place to start on upping your odds for a trophy as the prime rut approaches.

MISTAKE NUMBER 1
Hunting cover that's too thick. This may seem like an odd suggestion if one is looking for a mature buck with several breeding seasons under his belt. And any other time of the year besides the rut, it would be ridiculous. However, the fact is, almost all bucks are now congregating in doe territory. Instead of thick, overgrown stands of brush and briar patches where you'd normally find the savviest bucks hiding out, they are now visiting softer, gentler terrain. The slopes are less steep and the cover is less thick. The habitat is likely broken with low brush and some trees, but not dense and overgrown.

Bucks will be cruising these areas searching for the latest doe to come into heat or moving between tracts of this type of "easy" cover searching for a ready mate. So, for now you can avoid wearing your legs to a frazzle climbing to hard-to-reach areas and becoming bloodied fighting through thick briar patches. Hunt the easier, semi-open terrain and enjoy it while you can. As soon as the rut is through, it will be back to the hard-to-reach, dense thickets again.

MISTAKE NUMBER 2
Overestimating how "dumb" bucks are during the rut. Before hunting whitetails became a national passion, bucks actually did often act a bit naïve and unconcerned about danger during the rut. The one thing on their mind was finding ladies, to heck with that guy in the stand over there or the cars driving by on a nearby highway.

You still occasionally see a bit of that behavior. Bucks do get a little less wary at this time of year. However, don't think you can be sloppy, careless or any less cautious in your hunting approach during the breeding season. In spite of being possessed by the urge to procreate, modern heavily hunted whitetails seem to retain more of a wary, alert disposition than they did in the past.

To avoid being "busted," exercise every bit as much caution in your movements and hunting approach as you would during non-rut times. Don't expect a "gift" buck. It won't come, even during the rut.

Mistake Number 3
Not rattling. Some hunters think that rattling is best before or after the rut. Well, in some areas and certain situations, that may be true. The rationale behind this is that bucks will come to horns before the rut starts when most does aren't yet in heat and battles are going on for the few that are ready, and the same thing after the peak breeding has occurred. During the peak rut, theory has it bucks are already with does and thus won't come to the sound of a fight.