Have been fortunate enough to harvest a few lunker bucks over the past decades. I'll concur with those wise souls that have already stated that the mature bucks go full nocturnal with the exception of the rut. In general, coastal BT's are territorial and don't wander far from home unless hunting pressure pushes them. One would be prudent to find quiet enclaves where pressured deer will be resident after opening w/e and/or remote, unpressured drainages. Pre-season scouting is important to locate bedding areas with use of trail cams to confirm local possibilities. One doesn't want to wander around stinking up bedding areas just before or during the season or they'll likely blow out for the duration. Bonus points for wild apple trees or other favorable food and water sources that will attract does as buck bait. If you can find pockets where they are happy, set up a stand or stealthily shadow doe(s) along the edges of natural features like steep drainages and saddles, all the while being wary of cruising bucks looking for love. First light is prime as is early afternoon when the does have bedded to chew their cud and then get up to stretch and browse a bit. I have passed on countless spikes, forks and treys for many years and have been rewarded by successful but rare/brief opportunities after they then mature into heavy 4 and 5 points. Nothing stirs the senses like glimpsing a bulky buck in the growing morning light, flemming hard in the company of estrous does. The night's rain softly dripping off cedar boughs....
