Deer are more active in the daytime when the moon is visible. Bucks settle dominance disputes before the breeding season begins. Rattling antlers and grunt calls are very effective during this pre-rut period. Ground scrapes are made by bucks of all sizes. The size of the track in the scrape, not the size of the scrape itself, indicates the size of the buck that made it.
Bucks approach scrapes from downwind.
Travel corridors, where several heavily used doe trails join or parallel one another, are patrolled by bucks during the peak of the rut. These are locations where you may see a mature buck trailing a doe during daylight hours. Where corn is still high during the rut, expect to see bucks along field edges close to cover. Once corn is harvested, mature bucks continue to skirt the edges of the fields searching for hot does but often travel inside the edge of the woods. There, at field corners, are excellent locations for stands.