Guide Rob Nye typically rattles in numerous big bucks during November, but warm weather squelched deer movement on our hunt.

Still, beginning on opening day, we gave it our best. In the dark on the first morning, the skies were clear, the air almost cool. We drove several miles of gravel roads to one of Rob's favorite rattling spots, where we strapped on our headlamps and hiked into the dark bush. Josh and I climbed into treestands in a spruce tree overlooking a tiny L-shaped opening in the bush while Rob planted his folding stool in a clump of pines, 15 yards behind.

We ascended the tree, clipped on our safety harnesses, and sat waiting for shooting light. Rob would remain quiet until I gave him the signal that we had adequate archery and video light. He would then begin his deer music.

At the break of dawn I expected to hear gunfire, but the woods remained silent. In fact, we didn't hear a single gunshot until late afternoon. That seemed odd. Back home in North Dakota, the area would have sounded like Gettysburg by sunrise. Here we heard only the honking of Canada geese and the occasional gravelly-voiced raven.

Finally, I nodded at Rob, and he started with a couple of soft grunts. Then the sudden crack of his rattling antlers in the calm morning air almost made me jump into Josh's stand. Any buck within miles would hear that racket.

Knowing something might happen fast, I put a stranglehold on my bow and clipped my release to the loop. My ears reached out for sound, any sound, and my eyes darted from one shadow to the next. Certainly, a buck could not surprise us in the dry, noisy woods.

Of course, that doesn't mean one couldn't come from the wrong direction! From behind Rob, we suddenly heard deer sounds -- hooves in the leaves, branches breaking. A deer was coming fast. But then the woods went quiet. Apparently an approaching buck had sensed our ruse and exited stage left.

That immediate response got us excited, but the excitement soon died down. Over the next three days we covered miles by truck and on foot, hiking into one setup after another. At each spot, we climbed into existing stands, hung stands in new locations, or hunted from natural ground blinds or pop-ups. Rob called and rattled until his arms ached. We never encountered another buck. The deer just weren't moving. We blamed the hot weather. The big November bucks with their heavy winter coats most likely were curled up in the cool shade during the day. They sure weren't running around, demonstrating their high testosterone levels.

CLEARLY OUR STRATEGY WAS not working, the weather was not changing, and Rob was getting anxious.

"In these conditions I think we need to put you guys on a bait," Rob said. "I know you'd prefer not to hunt over bait, but baiting is legal here, and you should at least try it so you know what it's like."

Continued -- click on page link below.