Parrott's Big Buck

EDITOR'S NOTE: Five-time World-Champion turkey caller and longtime, avid deer hunter Walter Parrott of Fredricktown, Missouri, represents Knight & Hale Game Calls, Mossy Oak Camouflage and Bass Pro Shop's Redhead's Bowhunting Team.

Question: What type of a gun do you use to deer hunt?
Answer: I deer hunt with a Model 700 left-handed BBL .30-06. I use 150-grain bullets.

Question: Why do you like this rifle for hunting deer?
Answer: The .30-06 has been around for years and years. This rifle is great for someone who can only afford one gun. When I first bought my rifle, I could only afford one rifle. You can use heavier bullets and elk hunt with it, or you can deer hunt with 150-grain bullets, which expand quickly on a thin-hide animal like a whitetail. You can hunt antelope with this gun, or you can move up to a 220-grain bullet and hunt moose or elk with it.

Question: At what range do you generally take a buck?
Answer: The range I take a deer at depends on the location I hunt. I've shot deer as far as 400 yards away and as close as 20 yards. The terrain can make a big difference. Since I hunt mostly in Missouri in thick brush and woods, the usual distance I'll take a deer at will be 40, 50 or 60 yards.

Question: Can you tell me about the biggest buck you've ever taken?
Answer: I took my biggest buck in Kentucky with my Remington rifle. The buck grossed 168 points.

Question: How did you hunt that buck?
Answer: We were hunting during the rut out of some fixed-position tree stands, but the deer activity was just out of our range. The deer were foraging about 80-yards away from our stand. I was videotaping that hunt for Knight and Hale Game Calls, and we needed a successful hunt. That afternoon after lunch. we immediately set up our climbing stands closer to the location of the deer activity. We moved to the right place at the right time. Changing locations made that hunt successful. When a hunt isn't going in your favor, change your methods or strategies to put the hunt in your favor.

Question: What are your secrets for taking big bucks?
Answer: First of all, find a food source. Once you locate a food source, you'll pinpoint the does. If you find does, bucks will show up sooner or later in that area. Next, make sure you know your rifle and your limitations with your rifle.

TOMORROW: Parrott -- The Best of the Best