Virtually none of the areas opened to managed deer hunts allow deer hunting during the regular portions of the deer season, and many accordingly harbor both numerous deer and trophy-class bucks. "We have managed hunts to, basically, manage the population," Burns explained. "Most of the time we are looking to reduce deer numbers on these areas."

To give you an idea of how many deer you might find during a managed hunt at such an area, consider that the deer density at Fleming Park West in the Kansas City region averages about 76 deer per square mile!

"The possibility of killing a really big buck does exist on some of these areas as long as you put the time and effort in," Burns said. "In several of our hunts we have a couple of guys who shoot really big bucks, but these guys spend the time scouting ahead of time and then hunt all day."

EXPERT ADVICE
As a youngster born and raised in the Ozarks of southeast Missouri, Alex Rutledge hunted to put food on the table. But necessity turned into passion, and he has since made a career as a member of the Pro Staff of Hunter's Specialties. Rutledge has appeared on many outdoor TV shows and made many entertaining, instructional tapes and DVDs on which he demonstrates to thousands of hunters his methods for success as a deer hunter. He was kind enough to share his vast knowledge on muzzleloader deer hunting with Missouri Game & Fish.

"Pay close attention to heavy cover during the muzzleloader season," Rutledge advised. "Thickets, clearcuts, slash areas -- wherever heavy cover is available is where the big bucks feel safe at this time of year."

Aside from heavy cover, Rutledge concentrates his efforts on food sources, bedding areas and travel corridors. "Hunting is as complicated as you make it," observed Rutledge. "The guy who goes the extra mile and creates his own success by scouting, hanging trail cams or whatever is the guy I try to be. I think that successful hunters have to make things happen."

Rutledge does a lot of his deer hunting in Missouri in the southeast region. He reports that the rut starts later there, and is very sporadic. The second rut is one that Rutledge really focuses on late in the season -- provided he's lucky enough to catch it.

"The second rut is a much slower rut," he stated. "The bucks will still be active and respond to calls, scents and decoys. The buck sign will also still be active, and I like to try and find the freshest buck sign available."

Rutledge believes that the more mature, aggressive bucks will still use rubs and scrapes made earlier in the season, and even make new ones. One of his favorite ways of bagging a late-season muzzleloader buck is to freshen a scrape with scent, thus piquing territorial instincts.

"I really like to reactivate ground scrapes at this time of year," he said. "I first make certain that I'm as human-scent-free as possible by using scent elimination products and wearing rubber gloves and boots, And then I douse that old ground scrape with some dominant-buck urine."