The word "rut" will get any deer hunters' blood pumping and with the rut rapidly approaching, skyrocketing anticipation of a true trophy whitetail to present himself is upon each and everyone of us. While gold and crimson leaves continue falling and temperatures plunge downward, a whitetails activity and testosterone levels are on the rise. The period just prior to peak breeding is known as the seeking and chasing phase, which is a dynamite time to be in the stand as many of you know, as bucks have high hopes of seeking out a doe to reproduce during this time.  Bucks will navigate trail after tail to locate doe groups. With this increased travel bucks tend to let their guard down as does are on their mind, which in turn makes them disregard possible dangers in the woods. Although mature bucks will be a little more careful than a young buck, traveling routes with more cover. These bucks are waiting for does to enter their estrous cycle, which typically does not happen instantly, leaving the bucks frustrated. To alleviate this frustration, bucks will create rubs and scrapes along with urinating in multiple areas in hopes of peaking a does' curiosity. Along with peaking the interest of a doe, bucks will begin to show their dominance by chasing off other bucks that are seen as threats. With the increased buck activity you need to be in the woods during this time. Here are two tactics I like to implement when the rut is ramping up.Making Some NoiseWith bucks cruising around for does and their will to show their dominance, bucks are much more receptive to the use of calls I have found. Do not be afraid to let out aggressive grunts paired with a snort wheeze to lure that buck into shooting position. Or use a series of grunts combined with a doe bleat to make a buck go crazy. This particular calling combination is meant to replicate the the sounds of a buck chasing a hot doe, making it an extremely valuable calling strategy while hunting the rut. Another type of calling that can help you be successful is rattling. With their driving will to reproduce, bucks will show their dominance by fighting or challenging another buck to a fight. This means they are more susceptible to the use of rattling  as the want to ward off any threats. It is important to remember that calling does have its limitations and other factors like buck to doe ratios can affect the effectiveness of calling. Sometimes calling should be used more sparingly but do not be afraid to use this tool as a testosterone filled buck at times can not resist, giving you that perfect moment of opportunity.Scent Success The second tactic I like to implement is the use of scents such as Wildlife Research Centers Special Golden Estrus. Many of you know that a whitetail has a very profound sense of smell. So why not use the advantage of powerful scents to lure that trophy but into your hunting area. I dip my quik-wiks in Special Golden Estrus, strategically placing them in my shooting windows. Paired with the scented quik-wiks, I like to use a dragline doused in Special Golden Estrus to create a "hot" trail a cruising buck might sniff out. So implement scents into your rut plan, giving you the upper hand in drawing a buck into shooting distance.Although I only discussed two helpful tactics, many other things need to be taken into consideration when hunting the rut. Things like stand placement, human scent control, probable bedding areas, and travel routes need to be looked at in depth. You have to continue to hunt smart but more importantly get out there and give yourself one of the best opportunities to harvest a true trophy. Good Hunting.