My camouflage pants and jacket, draped over the deck railing, retained that shape when I tugged them. Shivering in long underwear, I pulled more layers from snap-top totes on the porch and then, flinching, donned the stiff outerwear, and blaze orange vest and hat.

I shrugged into my backpack, preloaded with doe bleat, grunt call, scent killer spray, doe-in-heat urine and rattling antlers. It was a Friday morning, and the two-week rifle season would end the following day.It was very windy, so I decided to walk to a place that was out of the wind. There was thick cover there, and I reasoned that after the first week of the season, the deer had used the early days of the second week to regroup. Playing the wind, I hung two scent wicks and backed into cover.I laid my rifle on the ground in front of me and got out the rattling antlers, doe bleat and grunt call. I waited about 20 minutes, then started with the "can" doe bleat. Nothing. I put the grunt tube in my mouth and rattled the antlers, started quietly tinkling the tips and soon launching into full-fight mode.Almost immediately after starting with the antlers, I heard something crashing toward me from my right, coming fast. I was still holding the antlers, grunt tube in my mouth, and a buck was suddenly within 10 yards, right in front of me, broadside, fortunately looking away. I spit out the grunt tube, put down the antlers and grabbed the rifle.I'd be the first to admit I'm not fast with the rifle, much preferring to hunt with a bow. I wasted time trying to find the right spot in the scope, which was all brown. Quickly, just looking over the rifle and aiming at the buck's shoulder, I made the shot. It was so close it launched him off his feet sideways, and he stayed where he fell.So, if you haven't "gotten your buck" yet, don't despair. Stop aimlessly walking, because the deer are on high alert. Find thick cover and call like it's the rut - because it is. The second rut should be taking place the second week of the season.What is the second rut?The sex ratios are not balanced in the Pennsylvania deer herd; in other words, there are many more does than bucks. According to much research, the ideal sex ratio to obtain the healthiest individual animals in a herd is three does for one buck. If wildlife managers attempted to attain that ratio in Pennsylvania through additional doe permits, hunters would be picketing the game commission offices.With the sex ratio unbalanced, the bucks can't mate all the does during one breeding cycle. That means that 23-26 days after the first rut, the does that haven't been bred will come into estrus again. Also, doe fawns that were born late in the spring (June), from does that were bred in the second rut, may come into their first estrus when they are six or 18 months old (December).Here are some tips for "Second Week" hunting:• Pay close attention to scent control. The deer have been pushed by humans for a week. Wash your clothing in unscented detergent and hang it outside. Spray liberally with scent killer spray, especially boots and backpacks.• Use rut tactics. Get out your rattling antlers and deer calls. Use urine-based scent lures. If you hang scent using wicks or other containers, handle the objects while wearing gloves.• To bag a second-week buck, hunt the does. Seek the places where does may congregate, such as thick cover near a food source and water.