deer hunting

Hunting Utopia – Wisconsin Deer Hunting

By Wesley Locklear

When I moved to Wisconsin from North Carolina in June of 2000. I was excited about the opportunity to go deer hunting. My father in-law and brother in-law both had long traditions of going out the weekend before thanksgiving with the intent of harvesting a huge Wisconsin buck.

I did not own a rifle so I borrowed my father in-law’s 308 and took to the woods. I shot a small 5-point buck. I was hooked. In those days when you bought a deer license you got a buck tag. If you wanted a chance to take a doe you needed to apply for a choice permit. A few years went by and I wanted more chances to bag that big Wisconsin buck. So I started bow hunting.

I met a few local guys playing softball in a local beer league that owned a few acres of private land that was accessible for bow hunting. I harvested a small buck every year. I never really had a chance to bag that huge Buck.

With seasons coming and going the Wisconsin DNR made doe permits more readily available. They made some deer management units T-Zone units. This meant there were special doe only hunts twice a year. At first I thought this was just a chance to spend more time in the woods. But a few years later when T-Zone units turned into Herd Control Units more and more does were taken.

The measures the DNR took to control the herd depleted one of Wisconsin’s most desired resources. I was finally able to harvest a mature 10-point buck with my bow in 2007. But the last two years my deer sightings were way down.

Deer hunting brings in a lot of money into Wisconsin. Not only by selling licenses. Buying guns, ammo, gear, lodging and food brings in millions to the local economy that struggles up north. I hope the DNR makes a change. If they don’t everyone will suffer.

www.huntingutopia.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wesley_Locklear
http://EzineArticles.com/?Hunting-Utopia—Wisconsin-Deer-Hunting&id=3412917

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Man Vs Deer

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A Guide to Deer Hunting Accessories

By John Border

As a deer hunter you should be able to go out and hunt without any hassles in the hunting area. For hassle free hunting you will need to make sure that as a deer hunter you have all the accessories with you.

Of course there is no end to the hunting accessories but there are some things that you just cannot ignore. The main things that you need to have in the arsenal are the binoculars and the spotting scopes. Next item is the knife which is a must as we have a lot of folks who would like to have the field dressing done for the deer.

If you are new to the area in which you are deer hunting then you need to have a map of the area with you. The main reason is that most hunters would not like to be using their time searching their way around the land. Apart from the map now there are GPS instruments available in the market. These can help you enjoy a good hunting stint.

A lot of hunting folks forget about the ropes as an accessory but the truth is that as and when you kill a deer you will need to haul it to your truck. The deer being heavy there is no way that you can have that deer in your truck without dragging.

Binoculars are the most important thing that you should have in your arsenal. The simple reason being that you just cannot any closer to the prey. You need to wait and watch with bated breath for the deer. Binoculars provide you with the much needed closeness. There are several brands which are available in the market so choose carefully. However, that said the first and foremost thing that we need to look at is the magnification of the binoculars. The next is the field of view. These two factors are very important for binoculars to work properly for you.

The other accessories that most deer hunters have are the rattlers antlers and the calls. These two are needed to make sure that you attract the deer successfully.

The other most important thing that you will need is the first aid kit. In the hunting area you can get all sorts of bruises and cuts do the first aid kit is very handy for that.

Last but not the least buy a good back pack to carry all these things or a good belt strap too to hold a few items easily. Use the neck strap for the binoculars.

The author is a hunting enthusiast who thinks that binoculars light transmission and binoculars lens coating are very important.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Border
http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Guide-to-Deer-Hunting-Accessories&id=2319851

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Deer Hunting Scent Free

By Todd Janssen

I know a lot has been written about eliminating human scent while deer hunting. It still amazes me that so many hunters neglect this aspect of hunting big game. Although human odor cannot be 100% eliminated, it can be minimized or reduced to the point that deer will not notice it or even react to it. The reason that the human odors can never be completely eliminated is because we are naturally producing human odor molecules 24 hours a day.

I think we can all safely say that the # 1 defense mechanism for deer is their nose. Deer not only use their nose to avoid danger, they use it during mating season and also when foraging for food. They are constantly checking and testing their surroundings with their sense of smell. It has been said that deer may avoid an area for up to a month after being spooked by human odor.

When hunting whitetails, the most important thing that you can do is minimize your odor and other odors that you may pick up along the way. How many times have you witnessed hunters filling up with gas with their hunting clothes on or perhaps sitting in the restaurant right before the hunt? Now get this, it has been documented that deer have winded hunters from ¾ of a mile away! That is a very good reason for not only bow hunters to eliminate their scent, but gun hunters as well.

Every big animal has a sense of smell that is hundreds, if not thousands times superior to humans. Hunting whitetail deer, mule deer, elk, and other big game animals will require the hunter to recognize this fact and take steps to ensure that they be as odor free as possible.

For the sake of comparison, one could use this analogy: A fire sprinkler system consists of sprinkler heads that are designed to trigger when the heat level reaches a certain temperature. If the temperature does not reach a certain point, the sprinklers are not activated. In similar ways, deer have a certain threshold of human and foreign odors. When the threshold reaches a limit, the deer will avoid the area altogether or go on high alert and bolt. On the other hand, if steps are taken to minimize these odors, deer will not react to them or notice them at all.

Depending on if you are actually hunting or not, scent control should be considered when setting up stands or just scouting your hunting area. The closer you are to the actual hunt, the more concerned you need to be with scent control.

In future articles I will get into the actual products that are on the market today for scent control that you can use to fool that big buck. The most respected whitetail hunters in the world use these products all the time and you should be too. You will not only begin to see more deer, but have them close enough to shoot with a bow.

Todd J.

Thanks for listening and stop by to see us at http://www.deerhuntingmasters.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Janssen
http://EzineArticles.com/?Deer-Hunting-Scent-Free&id=897468

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Deer Hunting Tips

By Anne Clarke

The best deer hunting tips are the ones that you figure out for yourself and can offer to others. After all, few things feel better than finding the way that works for you. Of course, until you reach that point, here are some deer hunting tips to help you get there.

Deer Hunting Tips:

· Deer are generally crepuscular: they are often active at dawn and dusk and sleep during the middle of the day and night.

· This does not, however, mean that you will not see them feeding during the middle of the day.

· Bucks are more often during hunting seas

· Go scouting. Do this during early to late summer. When you scout, be as careful as if you are actually hunting. Stay quite and do not leave much scent.

· Find the food source that the deer will be eating during the hunting season.

· Look for trees that will have the most acorns.

· Look for areas with greens like clover or rye covering the ground.

· Look for deer trail routes. The ones with the freshest tracks are the best.

· If you are going to set up any sort of hunting stand, be sure to set it up pre-season, before the deer start feeding in that area. Otherwise, you can scare them off.

· Mark your “hot spots” on a GPS.

· Also be sure to take lots of notes. Do not expect to simply remember everything. You want to write down everything that you find.

· You can find where the bucks are if you scout during the pre-season, right after the bucks have rubbed the velvet from their antlers. During this time, the rut (mating season) a buck is going to leave more markings on trees than he will afterward.

· Look for areas with thick and dense brush. It is in areas like this that deer like to sleep. You can set up on the outskirts of such an area… somewhere where you will be able to see better.

· Remain still! Do not move unless absolutely necessary!

· Do not fall asleep! This can be tricky when you remain so still, but falling asleep not only will lose you your deer, but it can also be quite dangerous if you are up in a tree stand.

· Use special products to mask your scent. Deer have an excellent sense of smell.

· Keep the wind direction in mind. Stay downwind of whatever feeding or sleeping spot, etc. you are “staking out.” Constantly check for changes in the wind.

· Wear a harness if using a tree stand.

· Move the site of your tree stand around. You do not want your deer to start associating deer stands with humans!

· Try to avoid walking a long a deer trail or even walk parallel to one. Take the back route… walk up streams, etc.

· Be sure to always be ready. Make sure that you have checked your equipment right when you get to the stand, not once a deer is already out!

· The majority of deer are shot downwind from a food source.

These are only a few deer hunting tips. There are actually many deer hunting tips available on many different websites from many different, experienced hunters. Before hunting in a certain spot, is a good idea to ask locals hunters for their own, personal tips. Different areas can vary, and everyone has his or her own tricks of the trade.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, the environment, recreation, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on hunting, please visit Deer Blinds.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke
http://EzineArticles.com/?Deer-Hunting-Tips&id=269513

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Deer Hunting on the Move: Stillhunting for Deer, or, Getting off the Stump

By Paul D. Smith

Deer hunting on the move, or stillhunting, is commonly misunderstood as to what it is and how to go about it. It is stalking deer, not waiting on a stump or in a blind for the deer to come to you. It can be the most rewarding deer hunting experience you can do. It can also be the most frustrating, since it is a skill which requires you to slow everything everything – your sight, your breath and your walking gait. But the payoffs go beyond the hunt to your better enjoyment of nature itself.

This article will talk about some things I’ve learned while hunting deer in the Vermont woods and oak mast ridges of Wisconsin. These few simple techniques can be used on your next hunt – whether you choose to stillhunt or not, the principles are the same. These techniques will also make your deer hunt a richer experience. It’s all about: you’re outdoors – enjoy the scenery, hunting or not.

Generally, as deer hunters, we think of one thing when we hunt, and that is deer. Not deer in general, but that deer. We are aided in this compulsion by our brains, and our eyes. Let’s talk about eyes first.

Hunt Deer with Soft Focus – See Them as They See You

We see as all predators do – forward, and tightly focussed. Take a look at your average housecat and watch it stalk something. It pursues its object with its eyes narrowed and every muscle relaxed, yet steeled at a moment’s notice to pounce. We share with the cat and all predators having our eyes in the front of our head, designed to focus on a single thing.

However, deer, and all prey species, have eyes designed to detect motion. Deer and all prey species have eyes on the side of their head, and this aids in perceiving motion first, long before the animal can make out whether what they see is a threat, or just some pattern-breaking motion in the woods. When stillhunting for deer, we must adopt to the way they see. We must see motion first, patterns out of sync second, and the deer last. The only way to do this is to relax our focus and broaden our field of vision.

Here’s how to practice. Stand facing a wall, about six to eight feet away from it. Stare hard at a spot on the wall. Raise your arms, index fingers extended, fully out to the side from your head (and slightly behind). Now, keeping your arms straight and your index fingers extended, bring your arms slowly in front of your face. Notice the moment when your fingers come into view – this is your field of vision (FOV).

Now, turn to the wall again. This time, soften your focus so that your eyes, while seeing objects or spots on the wall, do not lock on any one spot. Repeat the index-finger practice. You should see your fingers enter your FOV much earlier than before. It is this type of sight – gained through practice, for it isn’t natural to us anymore – that allows us to see changes in woods patterns, motion – in short, to see deer out in the distance, possibly before they see us.

Now, onto walking.

Walk Toe-Heel, not Heel-Toe

YOu see it all the time – the hunter walking through the woods as if he’s on rice paper.

It doesn’t work. As a hunter, you’re going to make noise. But then, so do deer and other game. So does anything living and breathing in the woods. What you want to avoid is making the rhythmic gait a hunter makes when he’s running, usually after a deer, or doing everything he can to be quiet, when he doesn’t yet see one.

Walking toe-heel is the way to walk, because the palm of your foot can be more flexible in its response to the softwood twigs and deadfall underfoot – like deer, whose hooves make relatively light contact with the forest floor. Walking heel-toe makes for a heavy, stiff step – a human step. Walking heel toe, take a few steps, pause, and, using the soft-focus described above, take in the environment, in a holistic way. Above all else, if you find yourself entering in to a steady, rhythmic gait, break it up. You also want to avoid any obviously sounds coming from anything man-made, such as metal or hard plastic. Bottom line – brushing past an oak stump is o.k. Marching in cadence is not, nor is that canteen banging against your hunting rifle strap buckle.

Know the Wind

Finally, walk into the wind. Yes, this is rule 1. But many hunters, especially those used to staying in a relatively insulated hunting blind, forget this cardinal rule. I’ve stood with my bow drawn on a buck 10 yards away, with the buck clearly trying to figure out what the heck this would-be rambo was up to – only to watch it spring to life once the wind shifts, and thanksgiving was a bit – thinner that year.

Don’t even bother still hunting on blustery days, with no prevailing winds.

The bottom line, when you are hunting deer in this way, is to get used to is slowing yourself down, for hours at a time, and softening your focus to “deer hunt” for motion – not deer.

But act like, see like, deer, become more a part of where you are, and you will reap many rewards – whether you bag a deer or not.

Paul Smith lives in the northwoods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He divides his time between his family, teaching the Japanese martial art of Aikido (Aikido Marquette) and building http://www.a1-outdoors.com, a website devoted to information and retail resources for hunting gear and other outdoor pursuits.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_D._Smith
http://EzineArticles.com/?Deer-Hunting-on-the-Move:–Stillhunting-for-Deer,-or,-Getting-off-the-Stump&id=110352

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Patti’s Deer Hunting

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