My first real attempt at a trophy whitetail

[Telemark]

I've made half-hearted attempts before, but this will be my first proper attempt at a trophy buck. I'll be hunting in Ohio with my new-to-me crossbow. Excalibur crossbow, Megameat broadheads.

I can hunt about 100 acres of private land in Holmes county. I was thinking November 4-9 for this hunt. I can probably hunt my cousin's place, too. Not sure.how big his property is, but it holds deer.

I can also hunt Sycamore state park near Dayton. Never been there before, but it's free, so may as well check it out.

I have a couple new ladder stands, plus a new saddle. I have plenty of scent reduction products, estrus urine, Evercalm, and a couple calls, and a phone I can use to play calls.

Any tips, advice, etc. is all welcome.

 

[H20fwler]

Good luck!

Not sure you are allowed to use phone to play calls while hunting though.

 

[Telemark]

Good luck!

Not sure you are allowed to use phone to play calls while hunting though.

Weird. Google AI gives me different answers based on how I ask. I can't find anything concrete that prohibits electronic calls for deer in Ohio. But I'm having trouble accessing the state websites from overseas.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Welcome to the club! You obviously need to have them around in order to kill one and 100 acres sounds like a nice place to start! My best days religiously have always been the 7th-9th. Killed most all my best bucks on those days.

Pay attention to the wind. Absolute most important. Don't hunt a stand based on activity, hunt it based on the wind and keep that at the forefront as you approach and leave your stand. Mature bucks won't tolerate smelling you. Unless you have a hot doe under you and she's just trying to protect herself, you won't get away with much. I still wash my clothes in scent elimination soap but don't get spun out about trying to eliminate scent. I use cover scent wafers as I believe it can get you out of pinch in some instances.

Don't discredit hunting in the middle of the day and all day sits during that first week of November.

Deer are very vocal creatures but you have to understand how and when to call. Buy a good grunt call and make some rattling antlers out of sheds. Take some time and learn how and when to do both equally well. Learn how to snort wheeze and when to implement. A well timed snort wheeze can be the difference in killing a mature buck who won't commit to coming in and not.

Best I got for ya. Good luck and keep us posted!