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Hunting Intelligence

The Contors Field Guide

Practical, no-fluff guides for serious whitetail hunters — from reading the wind and the terrain to timing the rut and e-scouting a new property.

Wind Science

How to Use Wind Direction When Hunting Whitetail Deer

A whitetail's nose is its #1 defense. Play the wind right and a mature buck never knows you exist.

Wind directionScent controlMature bucks
Terrain

How to Read Topo Maps: Funnels, Saddles, Pinch Points and Benches

Deer move through the path of least resistance. Topo lines reveal exactly where that is.

Topo mapsTerrainStand placement
Hunting Pressure

Hunting Pressure: Why Mature Bucks Avoid Certain Areas and Where They Hide

Every truck door, every trail, every careless entry teaches a buck where danger lives.

Hunting pressureBuck behaviorSanctuary
Weather

How Weather Drives Deer Movement: Barometric Pressure, Cold Fronts and Wind

Bucks get on their feet when the weather tells them to. Learn the triggers.

Deer movementCold frontsBarometric pressure
Bedding

Where Do Mature Bucks Bed? How to Find Buck Bedding Areas

Find the bed and you've found the buck. Here's how to locate bedding from a map.

Buck beddingE-scoutingSecurity cover
Thermals

Thermals Explained: How Morning and Evening Air Currents Carry Your Scent

In hill country, thermals beat the prevailing wind at dawn and dusk. Ignore them and you'll get busted.

ThermalsScent controlHill country
The Rut

When Is the Whitetail Rut? A Timing Guide by Phase and Region

The rut is the best two weeks of the year — if you know when it actually peaks where you hunt.

Whitetail rutRut timingSeeking and chasing
E-Scouting

How to E-Scout a New Hunting Property with Satellite Maps

Find the best stands from your couch before you ever set foot on the property.

E-scoutingSatellite mapsProperty mapping
Travel Corridors

Food Sources and Travel Corridors: Connecting Bedding to Food

Bucks live between the bed and the buffet. The connection is where you kill them.

Travel corridorsFood sourcesStand placement
Gear & Apps

What Makes the Best Hunting Map App for Whitetail Deer?

Not all hunting apps are equal. Here's what actually matters for killing mature bucks.

Hunting appMappingWhitetail strategy