For hunters looking to improve their chances this season, preparation and strategy are essential. Major League Fishing Pro, Kevin VanDam, shares his top tips for maximizing time in the field and increasing deer sightings. From using the DeerCast app for accurate weather tracking to setting up small, strategic food plots with a Kubota M4 tractor, here are a few expert tips to enhance your success this season.

1. Pay close attention to the weather. With all the different weather apps available, I’m able to maximize the time I get in the woods. My favorite is DeerCast – it analyzes the time of year, moon phases and other seasonal weather patterns for your exact area to tell you when deer will be most likely be moving.
2. Make sure the wind is correct. You can trick a deer’s eyes and work around their hearing, but you never get past their nose. It’s important to have the least impactful way to approach your stand or hunt site. Be sure you focus on the wind when you’re moving in and out
3. Understand food sources and where deer might be feeding. Wither it’s acorns, apple orchards, alfalfa or corn, it’ s important to know what food sources deer are using for every part of the season.
4. Hunt the does during the rut. The whitetail rut is a key time for me – there’s a two- to three-week window in November when it’s at its peak, and I focus hard on areas where there’s a concentration of does. Look for key feeing and bedding areas for does, the bucks won’t be far behind.
5. Manage small food plots. We spend a lot of time planting and caring for food plots, and I’ve learned that having several small plots close to security cover gives you a much better percentage for mature bucks in daylight hours. We plant multiple different varieties of plots, depending on rainfall, soil, etc. I’ve found that it’s real efficient to put ¼-acre plots in with my Kubota M4 tractor – it makes it easy to get into a quarter-acre plot and get it planted in a short period of time.