"It really got exciting as things snowballed," he said. "Iowa County is a perfect example. In years past, that place was just crammed with nothing but 1 1/2-year-old bucks, and now the record book is full of big deer killed there."

If managing deer herds by changing harvest practices seems unrelated to how one Wisconsin bowhunter like Pat Sutter shoots big bucks, nothing could be further from the truth.

"In my mind, the No. 1 requirement for a guy wanting to shoot mature deer is very simple," Sutter said. "First, you have to hunt where they live. I don't care how good a hunter you are, you can't shoot what's not there, and in many areas there are simply very few mature bucks. The exciting thing is, hunters can change that by themselves, because we did it here."

In addition to hunting an area with a decent population of mature bucks, Sutter pays a lot of attention to the nuts-and-bolts aspects of hunting big deer with a bow.

"I scout constantly and pay attention to not only finding big-buck sign, but interpreting it," he said. "When I locate good buck sign, I can usually figure out what a good deer is doing. I also own a good bow, arrows and equipment, and I practice with them consistently. I pay attention to my scent and hunt carefully. I don't think there are a lot of secrets to hunting mature deer, but there is a lot of hard work involved. For me, that work is not only rewarding but fun."

FOUR SEASONS
Though the Wisconsin archery season starts in mid-September and runs into early January, Sutter believes that long span actually consists of four distinctly separate hunts that correlate directly with big-buck behavior. Savvy hunters adjust their approach and tactics to match each of the four seasons.

"From the opener until about Oct. 1, bucks are still living in their summer range and following their summer pattern," he said. "This is an excellent time to shoot a big deer because he's behaving predictably. It's a really special short season that a lot of guys ignore, but I've seen and shot some of my nicest bucks then."

Sutter relies on observing feeding areas from a distant vantage point to nail down a buck's pattern to score during this narrow window of opportunity.

"I shot an 11-pointer during this time frame a few years ago that typified how this hunt takes place," he said. "I start in mid-August and watch fields from an area where I know the buck can't see or smell me. And I don't believe that bucks follow 'patterns' then, so much as they repeat general behaviors. For example, you can spot a big buck feeding in a certain field, but he may have several trails he uses to enter that field.

"That's where the challenge comes in. You have to decide which trails where you have the best stand setups. Then you place the stand, and wait for the perfect wind before hunting it. I shot an 11-pointer during this time frame a few years ago using this same technique," Sutter continued. "It's a combination of observation, hunting smart and just plain luck. The buck has to pick the same trail you're sitting on that night, and then you have to capitalize on the opportunity.