Whitetail deer

Whitetail Deer Hunting Tips – Help For Your Hunt

By S. George

Hunting whitetail deer has always been a popular leisure activity in America, but did you know that their numbers were once almost wiped out due to excessive hunting? A number of stringent game management measures that were put into effect over the years, have helped restore the whitetail deer population again. The male deer is called a buck and is easily spotted because of its lovely prominent set of antlers which grow each year and fall off in the winter again. Female deer are called does and can give birth to up to three babies at one time. Both male and female deer have reddish-white-brown coats in the summer which become a grayish brown color by the time winter comes. White tailed deer in the wild can live up to 11 years and probably even longer. In fact, hunters often find hunting whitetail deer easier as it has been found that once the deer mark their territory; they are inclined to stay there instead of leaving their home even if there is a lack of food.

Must-Know Hunting Tips

Seasoned hunters will tell you that the whitetail deer has a keen sense of instinct and if you want to have a successful hunt; then keep in mind that no precaution on your part is too small or insignificant.

• Whitetail deer have a highly sensitive nose, which means that they can pick up your scent in a hundred ways. It makes sense to clean any hunting products with a scent free detergent and to avoid smoking or chewing tobacco. If you can’t do without your tobacco, then be sure to rinse your mouth well. Although it may sound weird, these deer can also pick up the scent of urine, so if you want to do it right; take along a plastic urinal bag or a bottle for whenever the need strikes. The slightest smell which seems unfamiliar to them can make the deer run for cover.
• These deer also notice any movement in a split second and can vanish just as fast. Hunters should camouflage themselves and make the effort to blend in with the natural surroundings. Avoid wearing brightly colored clothes and leave your blue jeans behind. Choose clothes that keep you comfortable and which are appropriate for the weather.
• Using the right equipment is a must and it’s important to practice with a good quality bow, before the actual hunt. Experienced hunters often advise practicing at a target range first, because you will most likely need to climb trees or hide among the bushes in order to get a close shot. If possible, practice aiming at a fixed target from various angles and heights in order to get a feel of what the real situation will be like.
• The location of your hunt is of prime importance. Whitetail deer eat often and sleep for long periods during the day. Most hunters prefer hiding in greener cover or in thick brushes as these areas are usually the favorite haunts of deer although it makes sense to stick to a used trail. Seasoned hunters will tell you that the best time to hunt whitetail deer is during the mating season, as bucks tend to search for a mate longer and also because their senses tend to become slightly dull in this period as well. This means that they are likely to be in the open for longer and it gives any hunter an edge.
• A hunter needs to have a tremendous amount of luck and skill to get a deer on the first hunt. Being prepared and doing your homework is part of the process. You need to think like a whitetail deer, know its hiding spots, water spots and learn how to read tracks. A few trips with a seasoned hunter will teach you the many little tricks that can help you get lucky on the hunt.
• It doesn’t hurt to spend some time reading about whitetail deer, their habits, and how to have a successful hunt. In fact there are plenty of dedicated whitetail deer hunting magazines which are chock full of practical tips and articles by experienced hunters. If you are bow hunting, then subscribe to a few magazines which have tips or information on how to nail your target using a bow.

And remember – have fun on the hunt!

S. George writes about hunting for various types of animals. She does work for different companies including a company that does various hunting services to help hunters have a great experience, including whitetail deer hunts in the Oklahoma area.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S._George
http://EzineArticles.com/?Whitetail-Deer-Hunting-Tips—Help-For-Your-Hunt&id=4914362

Powered By WP Footer

Whitetail deer

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

Powered By WP Footer

Whitetail deer

October Deer Hunting Tips

By Dale Bender

Bow hunting seasons are now open in most states. Here in Wisconsin we have been hunting for a few weeks now. We have passed up shots at some smaller bucks. The bigger deer have failed to show themselves yet.

Now is the time to hunt close to the bedding areas. The deer have sensed the change in the seasons and have noticed the increased human activity in the woods. The mature bucks will most likely stay bedded until just before dark, so set as close to the bedding area as you can without spooking the deer. I watched a doe come out of the swamp ½ hour before dark, but no bucks came out.

This weekend us here at AWH will be heading to Iowa for our first hunt down there this year. Our goal is to bring back three big does. The farm we hunt has a lot of does and we need to our part in trimming the herd. By shooting a few does, we will help keep the buck /doe ratio more balanced. This will cause more competition for the breeding bucks, come November. This will make the bucks to respond better to calling, rattling, and decoying. The second thing that shooting does will do is that there will be less deer eating the farmers crops, and it’s good to keep the farmers happy. He will be more apt to let you hunt if your do him a favor by shooting more deer. So if you have a doe tag, now is the time to fill it. You can then be very selective with your buck tag.

October is also a good time to hunt different stands then you normally hunt. I have a tendency to hunt a certain stand that has always produced good bucks in the past. But it is set close to the bedding area and I believe that the bucks will sit tight till dark and then they here you get down from your stand and walk out of the woods. When this starts happening it’s time to let that stand rest for a while. I will then hunt other stands that I don’t hunt too much. You might catch deer leaving the bedding area from a different direction and get a shot at them by hunting the other stand.

We have scouted out some new hunting areas the last time we were in Iowa, so this weekend we will hang a stand or two in the new spots and hunt them a few times. You must always be looking for new spots to hunt, unless you buy the land yourself, you will eventually lose it. We always are looking at new places to hunt. On this hunt we will hunt the mornings and evenings, and then scout during the middle of the day. Hopefully we will come across and great, new honey hole.

As October progresses, It will be the time that I start hunting mornings, I don’t hunt mornings too often during the early part of the season. I have found that the mature bucks have usually gone back to the bedding area by first light. But as we get to the later part of the month you will start to see some scrapes and rubs made by the younger bucks as they start sensing that some does are coming into heat. This is the time to start doing some calling and rattling. This technique has worked for me in the past. I hunted a Saturday morning in late October, I was sitting in my funnel stand and I decided to do some rattling. A half hour after I rattled I looked to the north towards the funnel and a deer with nice polished antlers was looking my way. I got ready and as if on cue, it moved in front of me and I drew when it went behind a tree. It stepped out into one of my shooting lanes that we had cut way back in August, and I put the pin on it and I watched my arrow disappear into its chest. It was a great feeling when all are hard work paid off and everything went to plan.

Are you still shooting your bow? It is always a good idea to keep shooting during the season to keep sharp. I keep a target in my truck and before I go into the woods I shoot a few practice arrows to make sure that I am still on. You don’t need to shoot 100 arrows every day; you just need a few here and there to keep yourself sharp.

If you are experiencing the dreaded “October Lull” have faith the deer will be on the move again. Hunt some less disturbed stands, hunt at different times, keep shooting and remember that the rut is only a few weeks away.

Good Luck and shoot straight,

dale@advanced-whitetail-hunting.com

Dale Bender is a engineer for a major plumbing manufacturer in Wisconsin. In his spare time he enjoys bow hunting for trophy whitetails and writing about it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dale_Bender
http://EzineArticles.com/?October-Deer-Hunting-Tips&id=791073

Powered By WP Footer