Limit Deer Stand Hunting
Deer Hunting Tips – Tree stands are a very valuable tool when it comes to deer hunting. They provide the hunter with the ability to rise above both the sight levels and smell levels of deer. This reduces the chances of being detected by the deer.
The key to successful tree stand use is limiting how often the stand is used in any given deer hunting area. Over use will counteract the many advantages that they provide. It is better to hunt sparingly as opposed to hunting the same spot repeatedly.
Constant hunting of the same area will add pressure and alarm the deer. Instead, locate a variety of stand set up locations and switch from one place to another. This limits pressure and keeps the deer less alarmed.
Depending upon the size of the property, simply moving a few hundred yards away can make all the difference. In preparation, several different stands can be used or only one stand that is moved to each location.
If using the rotating single tree stand technique, simply prepare each individual area for the set up. This includes any trimmings that may be needed. That way when the time comes to move, the transition will be fairly simple.
How often one rotates depend mainly upon deer movement. On average, after three straight days in one area it may be best to relocate. Sometimes moving every other day may be effective.
Once one set up is moved, give that area several days before returning. Remember that deer can and will pattern hunters. Staying away for awhile helps reduce this from occurring.
Use these deer hunting tips and see if they will improve your hunting results. Be safe and good luck.
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3 Key Deer Hunting Strategies
Deer Hunting Tips- There are numerous techniques that can be used for hunting whitetails. From rubs and scrapes to watering holes and travel zones. But there are three key strategies that provide the basic foundation for the season.
Food
By far the most common factor during the entire season is the search for food. Regardless of the time of year, food more than any thing else dictates deer movement. Even during the rutting period, the hunter should spend as much time as possible monitoring and focusing on hunting the available food sources. Whether it be acorns, field crops, or other browse, find the food and find the deer.
Bedding
In most cases, deer bedding areas are generally located near the current food supply. Beds often are some where within a 250 yard range of the food. Depending on cover and pressure, beds may be within 25 yards. Locating the food source and back tracking the travel areas will provide information needed to find such bedding areas. Many times it is better to hunt the travel zones that lead away from the beds such as funnels, creek banks, or ditches. Hunt close but not too close to a bed.
Rut
The rut provides the hunter with a great chance at a mature buck harvest. Many hunters refuse to hunt any other time of the year. The sightings of bucks are considered more frequent during the rut. Bucks will be on the move more often searching for a receptive doe. The key to finding the bucks is to locate the does. This is when hunting a current food source comes back into play. The does will feed, the bucks will follow.
Take advantage of these deer hunting tips for continued success. Be safe, good luck. and enjoy your next hunting experience.
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Deer Hunting Cut Overs
Deer Hunting Tips: Cut Overs
Cut overs or clear cuts as they are also called, often can provide ideal deer hunting locations. After the first year that the land has been cut, there will be an abundance of browse foods available as well as adequate cover for the deer.
The initial first season of a cut over will normally be used as a food source assuming it has had time to begin new growth. It may also be used as a travel zone leading from a bedding area to another feeding area if the under growth isn’t available yet.
Deer Hunting New Cut Overs
In order to prepare for hunting, walk the edges of the cut over searching for trails, rubs, and scrapes. It may be possible to place stands along the outer edges. However, often it will be better to back track the trails or buck signs leading to the cut over.
Locate the best and most obvious signs of buck use and place stands 50 yards or so away from the cut over. After a few days of hunting you should see deer. If not, move the stands another 50-100 yards further away from the cut over. Continue this process until sightings occur.
Deer Hunting Older Cut Overs
After a few seasons the cut over will not only hold browse for feeding but also provide excellent bedding sources. There will be enough cover available so the deer will spend more time during day light. Hunting these locations can provide both excitement as well as frustrations. There will be more deer but they will be harder to see.
Stands
The hunter must be able to see so a stand placed on any remaining tree left after cutting occurred may be used providing deer activity is nearby. This is also a good time to place tripod stands through out the cut over. They are more versatile in such terrain. Obviously you wilh be looking for the best available buck sign preor to placement* This can be tricky since the food is every where.
Drives
Another idea that can be used for deer hunting cut overs is to set up controlled man drives. This requires several other hunters for best practices. Depending upon the size, it may require several persons walking and several persons setting up on the perimeters. Obviously extra caution should be applied for safety.
Still Hunting
Still hunting such locations will be difficult but very possible. There will be limited visibility so a slow approach with the use of binoculars and scent control is most important. Walk into the wind to reduce detection. This approach can be very effective on days with steady winds. It will help reduce any noise by the hunter. It will require the hunter to be extremely observant.
Try these deer hunting tips for cut overs and see if they can be used in your area. Good luck and be safe.
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Deer Hunting Isolated Areas
Deer hunting isolated areas can at times offer an excellent opportunity at harvesting a nice buck. The seclusion of such places often provide cover and a sense of security. The key is to find such areas that have a nearby food source.
The locations of isolated areas don’t necessarily mean that they are miles away from anything else. A small acre food plot, for example, that is surrounded by cover may only be 100 yards from a large field crop.
Another example could be an oak grove nestled inside a small patch of woods. If the oak trees are producing acorns, the deer will come. Such a location provides for good hunting.
Even if hunting farm land that are large in size, many times there will be a section of only a few acres that are used as fill crops. Deer will often feed on field crops in these smaller areas quicker than in the larger fields.
Another isolated area could be a small section of woods that run in between different crop fields or even cut overs. These areas are used as roads by the deer. They connect one type of terrain to another.
Water such as creeks or rivers that run through a hunting property also generally have isolated sections. Deer will find a shallow crossing area and use it. These locations should not be over looked as they will be used often.
Bedding areas are sometimes found on small isolated sections of a property as well. Especially if hunting near large open areas, there may be only a few places that provide adequate cover for beds. Deer will use such areas to be close to food sources.
If deer hunting on heavily pressured lands, this would be the time to go deeper into the woods. You may need to travel further to locate such areas that have not been disturbed by other hunters. Finding these areas may put you ahead of others.
Good luck and be safe.
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Tree Stand Set Up
Tree Stand Height
One of the more popular questions when it comes to deer hunting from tree stands is how high to climb. There is no perfect answer when it comes to feet. Stand height can be determined by a variety of factors. The size of the trees in the area to be hunted is one. You Can only go as high as the trees will allow. In some areas 10 – 15 feet may be the maximum. Whereas in other areas 20 – 25 feet may be possible.
Another issue is concealment. This is broken down into two parts, scent and cover. The stand needs to be high enough off the ground to reduce the chances of being detected by the deer’s nose. The stand also needs to have adequate cover provided by the tree or surrounding trees to prevent deer from seeing you.
Tree Set Up
When placing stands, make note of which direction the sun will be shining during the times that the stand is to be hunted. The stand should be positioned to have the sun at your back if possible. This helps the hunter see better by not looking into the sun. It also reduces the chance of being silhouetted.
Place the stand near several other trees to help break your outline. It is better for stands to be placed just off the travel zones of the deer. Being too close often will result in being seen when attempting any movement. When hunting near open fields, set back off the field edge at least 5 yards. If hunting near a bedding area, remember not to get too close as to spook the deer.
To And From
An important factor to remember about tree stand set up is how to get to and from the hunting location. It is better to choose a route that will offer the least chance of alarming the deer. It doesn’t do any good to find the best spot in the woods only to spook the deer every time you walk to the stand.
Good Luck and be safe.
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Bedding Area Deer Hunting
Early Season
The warm temperatures often associated with the early deer hunting season sometimes result in late day or even after dark feeding habits. A hunter can set up near a bedding area to catch deer as they first begin moving towards food sources. This approach can often lead to better activity than hunting the actual food supply sources.
Mid Season
As the summer feeding habits end deer become more nocturnal. They spend most of the day bedded down. Hunting near a bedding area is an excellent tactic for producing results during these periods. A well placed stand that takes into consideration wind directions should offer a good hunting opportunity.
Rut Periods
The rutting period is known as the time of the year when bucks are the most active during day time hours. Finding bedding areas that are used by does can be a very effective way of harvesting a nice buck. Since bucks are in search of estrus does during this time, they will often visit and monitor various locations that the does use to bed down in.
Late Season
The late season brings with it shorter day light hours. Deer will move less frequently during the day due to hunting pressure and dropping temperatures. They prefer to bed down and absorb as much heat from the sun and spend more time on foot after dark. In some cases, hunting a bedding area is the only chances at consistently seeing deer late in the season.
Locating Bedding Areas
Deer will use many different bedding areas during the course of a season. For the most part, these areas are based on nearby food sources. Since the food sources change throughout the year, so will the locations of the bedding areas. Find the food source and back track the trails to locate the beds. Also look for rub lines as they will generally be directional from a bed to the food.
Beds can be found in tall grasses, patches of woods, thickets, cut overs, swamps, ridges, and anywhere else that offers concealment. The main criteria is that they provide protection from danger with numerous ways to escape should the deer become alarmed.
Tips On Hunting
The main rule to follow when hunting beds as with any other form of deer hunting is to not be detected by the deer. Unlike other set ups, deer are less tolerant to intrusion near their beds and will leave and relocate if too much pressure is put on them. Pay close attention to wind directions and scent control. Make quiet approaches to and from stand locations. It is better to hunt these areas sparingly to reduce the chances of being detected.
Good luck, be safe, and enjoy your next hunting experience.
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Deer Hunting With Kids
I grew up in a farming and hunting community in the south. During those days deer hunting was more of a necessity for food than anything else although it did offer much enjoyment. Every year after the field work was completed, the anticipation turned towards the upcoming deer season. Groups of adult hunters would gather together at an old cabin to begin hunting preparations. Along with the adults were also children.
The kids were always given an active part in helping out with a variety of duties. These may be cleaning the cabin, stacking fire wood, trimming out driving or shooting lanes, and stand placements. In my opinion, these activities helped build character, helped with socialization skills, and created many life long bonds with others.
Once the actual deer season arrived, the kids were allowed to participate in the hunts. Although not all were old enough to use a gun, they still were able to find enjoyment waiting on stands hoping to see a deer. There was also the chance that the child could witness a deer harvest. This gave the kids something special to look forward to.
The kids were taught to be safety minded and ethical hunters. As they grew older, and accustomed to shooting, they were allowed to carry their own gun. This offered the kids the first chance at harvesting a deer for themselves.
As one of those kids, I can recall many years of enjoyment that has continued on into adulthood. Today, I have children of my own and have given them similar opportunities to learn about and experience wonderful moments in the deer woods.
For me, seeing their smiling faces as they make their way along a trail towards a stand is what life’s all about. Each year as they have grown older only brings more joy and happiness for us all.
Until next time, be safe, good luck, and enjoy your next hunting experience with a child.
Deer Hunting Staging Areas
Deer Hunting Tips: Deer Hunting Staging Areas
A staging area is used by bucks to hold up in while waiting for darkness. They are generally found on the edges of travel zones, near bedding areas, and near food sources. A staging area is generally a small somewhat open area that is surrounded by cover. Within these small staging areas there normally will be an abundance of buck rubs.
Rubs
The rubs within a staging area are not the same as those found in a rub line. What I mean by this is a rub line may have a rub every 5-25 yards or more in a directional pattern. Whereas a staging area may have 15-25 rubs within a 10-15 yard radius. However, staging area rubs are often found along rub lines.
Bedding And Feeding Areas
Bucks will exit their bedding areas often before dark. They will move to a nearby staging area and wait until after dark before continuing on to a food source. While waiting, they will freshen up the rubs or make new ones. This is often a daily ritual since most bucks, especially mature bucks, rarely will feed in open food source areas until after dark. Some staging areas will be close to the bedding areas and some will be close to the food source.
How To Hunt
There are several challenges when it comes to deer hunting staging areas. The first of course is finding them. This can be done by walking around the edges of food sources, travel zones, and bedding areas. Look for an abundance of rubs together in a small area.
Then you must be able to enter and exit these areas without disturbing or alarming the deer. Placing stands before the season is a best practice. However, if done properly, midday stand placement can also be effective. Just remember not to over hunt a given area. If you are able to locate several staging areas, it is better to hunt each sparingly as to not alert bucks of your presence.
As with any deer hunting situation, always pay close attention to wind directions. Never hunt these areas if the wind is wrong. The use of scent control products is also important. Never enter the woods without making an adequate effort to control human odors.
Next to the rutting period, hunting staging areas offer one of the best opportunities for harvesting a buck.
These tips for deer hunting staging areas are provided as helpful information. Good luck, be safe, and enjoy your next hunting experience.
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Use Scouting Skills And A Stand While Deer Hunting
Placing stands prior to the season can be an excellent approach for deer hunting. However, don’t be afraid to strap your stand to your back and use a scout as you go approach. Often the element of surprise will work in favor of the hunter.
Make sure to bring along a back pack with all needed accessories such as a climbing safety vest, pull rope, flashlight, food and water if needed, and so on. Making a checklist prior to the hunt is always beneficial. Try not to pack too much stuff as to over weight your back. The use of a light weight climbing or lock on stand is important. Also make sure to control your scent.
Start on the outer edges of the given property. You may be able to find a good set up location immediately or you may need to move deeper onto the property. Take your time and slowly scout as you go. Keep notes for possible stand locations for future hunts as well. Look for active deer signs in the area and set up accordingly. Also be alert for deer movement. Remember to pay attention to the wind as you make your way along. Use proper scouting skills.
This hunting technique allows the hunter to be able to move and hunt based on found deer activity. This approach can be used daily which offers the hunter the ability to move on demand. It is also good at limiting the chances of being patterned by deer which can occur if hunting the same stand location each time out. It is also effective in keeping up with and being able to hunt the freshest deer signs.
Use these tips for deer hunting as you scout. You may find them rewarding. Good luck, be safe, and enjoy your next hunting experience.
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Decoys For Deer Hunting
Deer Hunting Tips: Decoys For Deer Hunting
The use of decoys for deer hunting can offer added excitement for hunters. The purpose of a decoy is to provide a visual target for the deer to see. This can result in drawing deer in from a distance. Here are a few tips for deer hunting with decoys.
Types Of Decoys
There are a wide selection of decoys available on the market. They come in many models such as standing, head up, head down feeding, and even bedded down. There are buck and doe decoys. They are made of many different types of materials such as foam, hard plastic, heavy cardboard, and others. They can be full sized 3-D or single layered light weight versions. There are also the more advanced mechanical versions that offer moving parts such as tail and ears.
Which Decoy To Use
Deciding which decoy to use boils down to individual preferences and of course the amount one is willing to invest. A decoy can come with a high price tag depending upon the brand name, quality, and style. Many hunters prefer the more realistic full sized 3-D versions. There are more light weight types such as the fold up styles that have a picture of a deer printed on both sides of a cardboard or foam back ground.
Decoy Placement
The main goal of the hunter is to place the decoy in areas where it will be seen by the deer. Locations such as field edges, open woods that offer a good field of view, or any other areas where deer will see the decoy from a distance. The more visible the better. If hunting near heavy cover that offers open areas along the outer edges, this would be an ideal place for a decoy.
Decoy Set Up
The decoy should be placed upwind of the hunters stand location. Generally, a 25-30 yard maximum range from the stand will be sufficient. Deer will normally approach a decoy from downwind. This will provide the hunter with a relatively short shot. Place the decoy slightly to the left of the stand if deer are expected to come in from the right. Place the decoy to the right if deer come in from the left. This will provide a broadside shot as the deer walk by the stand. In most cases bucks will approach a buck decoy from the front and a doe decoy from the back. Keep this in mind when deciding how to face the decoy.
Scent Control
Make sure the decoy is free of human or unnatural odors. Use scent elimination spray products to saturate the decoy. Use rubber gloves when handling the decoy to prevent scent transfer. When transporting, make sure the decoy is not placed where it may come in contact with chemical odors such as gasoline from your vehicle.
Doe Or Buck
A doe decoy is often the most successful during the breeding periods. The use of estrus scents placed on the ground around the decoy is an added bonus. Buck decoys are often more productive during the rest of the season. However, it may be beneficial to experiment with both throughout the season.
Use these tips for deer hunting with decoys and see if they add more excitement to the hunt. Be safe, good luck, and enjoy your next hunting experience.
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