Tree Stand Preparation
Deer Hunting: Preparing For Tree Stands
Preparing areas for a tree stand to be used for deer hunting takes time. In most cases, whenever possible, this should be done several months prior to the season.
Entry And Exit Routes
It is important to have simple and clearly marked entry and exit routes to the stand area. These routes should be cleared of anything that may cause noise or create problems when walking through.
The path should be marked with easy to follow tacks, tape, or ties that reflect light during darkness. Doing so even on easy access areas will prevent locating problems.
When encountering a turn, place more than one marker. This will remind the hunter to adjust accordingly.
Place markers close enough to be easily found all the way to, and including the actual stand tree. This will reduce searching in the dark.
Shooting Lanes
The first step in preparing shooting lanes is distance. After determining most likely deer travel routes, make notes of the distances by walking them off or by using a range finder.
Begin at the point of impact and clear away any limbs, saplings, thick grass, or other objects that may deflect a shot. At the very least, allow enough open space that is the size of one whole deer in length.
Saplings that need to be completely removed should be cut to ground level. Saplings that can be adjusted can be cut partial way through and allowed to lean over.
Stand Tree
Work your way back to the stand tree. Make sure to climb the tree for a better visual and remove anything remaining on the ground that may cause issues.
In preparing the actual stand tree, clear away any debris at ground level that may hang on equipment.
If using steps, make sure to place them short distances apart to allow for easy climbing.
While climbing the tree, remove any limbs, vines, or bark that may cause problems.
After hanging the stand, climb on, sit and stand up to make sure there is not anything else that needs attention.
Remember to use good scent control tactics and always use proper safety equipment.
Related:
Using Scent Elimination Sprays
Deer Hunting: Scent Control
Scent elimination sprays have become big business in the deer hunting field. And for good reason. These products provide the hunter with an excellent tool for fighting the nose of whitetails.
How They Work
The scent elimination sprays work by masking or removing human odors. By spraying the products on clothing and equipment, the hunter can enter the deer hunting woods scent free. Since smell is the whitetails number one defense, scent elimination becomes the hunters primary concern.
Using Sprays
In order for the scent elimination sprays to work, hunters must be willing to use them properly and thoroughly. This requires the hunter to follow a few steps each and every time the hunter plans to hunt.
Proper Steps
Starting with the first layer of clothing, and each additional layer, the scent elimination spray should be sprayed liberally covering the entire garment. This will also include any gloves, hat, face mask, and boots.
The scent elimination spray should also be used on any and all deer hunting gear to be used in the field. These include tree stands and or steps.
Once the hunter is in the stand, the scent elimination spray should be reapplied to all outer layers of clothing. When sitting for extended periods, reapply every few hours for best results.
Conclusion
For scent elimination sprays to work properly, the hunter must stick to using the product every time in the field. The hunter can and should also use a total scent free regimen for masking human odors. This includes the use of soaps, detergents, and other products prior to hunting.
End Of Season Bucks
Deer Hunting Tips: Late Season Bucks: As the deer hunting season winds down, there will still be opportunities for harvesting a buck. Here are a few late season tactics.
Late Rut Activity
Towards the end of the deer hunting season, most of the does have been bred. However, there may be a few that missed the primary breeding period.
Bucks will still be alert to the smells of estrus. Some will continue to roam seeking out these last remaining does.
Hunters should pay attention to these signs and spend time near breeding zones or doe bedding areas.
Thick Cover
Deer hunting will also put pressure on bucks. By late season, the bucks will often be located in isolated thick cover areas.
These areas will generally be near a deer food source. Bucks return to being conservative about spending too much energy.
They will mainly stay in the thick cover moving only occasionally. Hunting near such locations can catch a buck slipping through the thickets.
Land Not Hunted
Deer will also take advantage of terrain that has not been used by hunters. This is only a natural progression as the season goes on.
Many hunters wisely leave part of their hunting land as a so called safety zone for deer. These areas often offer excellent opportunities for the hunter during the last few weeks.
Food Sources
At the end of the season, the bucks will again be focusing on food. These food source areas will be primary deer hunting locations.
The hunter should try and locate as many feeding areas as possible. In many cases, the bucks will bed in thick cover not far from food.
Search for remaining farm crops, especially those in isolated out of the way areas. There also may be a few acorns or apples left.
In any event, finding the available food in the area will produce the best chances at harvesting a late season buck.
Finding breeding areas, thick cover, and food sources are keys to end of season bucks.
30th Annual Dixie Deer Classic
Hunting News: The 30th Annual Dixie Deer Classic
This weekend March 5, 6, and7 the Dixie Deer Classic returns to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. This years special guest include Lee and Tiffany Lakosky from “The Crush” television series as well as Michael Waddell from the “Bone Collector” television series.
List Of Events Include:
- Hunting Seminars
- Hunting Products
- 3-D Archery Tournament
- Record Whitetails On Display
- Official Whitetail Scoring
- NWTF Turkey Calling Contest
- And Much More…
Show Hours:
- Friday March 5, 2010 11:00 am – 9:00 pm.
- Saturday March 6, 2010 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
- Sunday March 7, 2010 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Admission:
- Three Day Tickets $10.00
- Kids 12 And Under Free.
- Friday Only Youth Tickets $5.00 (Ages 13-18)
- Tickets Available At The Gate.
Location:
- North Carolina State Fairgrounds
- 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
- Raleigh, N.C. 27607
For More Information Visit DixieDeerClassic.org
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Venison Simple Lasagna
Deer Recipe For Venison Simple Lasagna
Ingredients:
1 pound ground venison
1 package lasagna noodles (8 ounces)
1 jar spaghetti sauce (26 ounce)
1 package cottage cheese (16 ounces)
1 cup shredded cheese of choice
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Procedures:
1. Cook noodles according to package until almost done.
2. Brown venison in large skillet. Drain. Return to skillet.
3. Add spaghetti sauce to skillet and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Combine Parmesan cheese, cottage cheese, and ricotta cheese in bowl.
5. Lightly spray pan with non stick cooking spray.
6. Place lasagna noodles in bottom of pan.
7. Spread portion of meat mixture on top of noodles.
8. Spread cheese mixture on top of meat mixture.
9. Add shredded choice of cheese on top.
10. Repeat layers.
11. Cook in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
How Close To A Roosted Gobbler
Turkey Hunting Tips: One of the first decisions to make while turkey hunting is how close to get to a roosted gobbler. There is no perfect answer. The logic is to set up as close as possible without being detected.
There will always be certain factors while turkey hunting that will helping making this decision. For the most part, experience in the field will be the deciding factor.
This experience comes from knowledge. The knowledge comes from an understanding of turkey behavior and an understanding of the terrain to be hunted.
Understanding Turkey Behavior
In most cases, the gobbler on the roost will generally have a predetermined route of travel at the start of the day.
Barring such things as being spooked, an overly excited hen, or even weather conditions, the gobbler will usually fly down in the same general direction each day.
For the hunter, this is one part of the turkey hunting equation.
Understanding Terrain
The hunter is wise to have a good idea of how the turkey hunting terrain is set up. What areas is the gobbler more likely to travel? Are there any obstacles that may prevent the gobbler from moving through and so forth.
How thick or how open is the terrain? Can the gobbler see for long distances or is there plenty of leaves and foliage to hide the hunters movement?
Another thing to consider is how far away is the gobbler on the roost? If the gobbler is facing away from the hunter, gobbles will appear farther away.
The gobbles can also be muffled by ridges or thick foliage. In this case, again the gobbler may be closer than he appears to be.
Understanding this information will help the hunter with deciding on the best possible location for a turkey hunting set up.
So the answer to the question of how close should a hunter get to a roosted gobbler will always depend upon individual situations, knowledge of the terrain, and of course experience in the turkey hunting woods.
Other Helpful Turkey Hunting Tips
Turkey Calling Imperfections
Turkey Hunting Tips: Ever listened to a turkey calling contest in person or on television? The callers try to produce as clear, crisp, and asperfect sounding notes as humanly possible.
Now have you ever heard a real hen turkey in the wild? They are just talking naturally with many odd notes or tones. The differences are related to calling perfection. On the callers part, not the hens.
In the wild it is not uncommon to hear a live hen making less than perfect sounds. They will squeak, squeal, sound off key, pause in mid call, go up and down in volume, sound almost hoarse, or simply just sound bad.
In many cases hunters new to turkey hunting, or even those that have some experience, can be afraid when it comes time to call in a gobbler. Sure they call a few times, but if they hit a wrong or imperfect note, they suddenly clam up.
The only way to become a successful turkey calling hunter is to stick with it. Everyone can and does make mistakes. Even the turkeys.
Sure it is important to practice and become proficient with the calls of choice. But an occasional blooper is normal. Just keep going with the sequence as if nothing happened.
In some instances, making an additional squeal or squeak may be what gets the gobblers attention and response. The imperfect sound may make him sound off when the perfect one didn’t.
So keep on clucking and yelping and let those imperfection build confidence in the turkey hunting field.
Other Helpful Turkey Hunting Tips.
Make Contact With Gobblers
Turkey Hunting Tips: A key advantage while turkey hunting is to maintain contact with the gobbler. This can be done by either sight or by calling tactics.
Keep Them In Sight
Some gobblers get moody and for what ever reason will refuse to gobble no matter what. In these situations, keeping a visual on them when can be helpful.
Although this tactic is better situated for fields, whenever possible, keep the gobblers in sight. This way one can see how, if any, response to calling is occurring.
Is the gobbler strutting? Is the gobbler headed in your direction? Is the gobbler headed away from the set up? Keeping visual contact will answer these questions.
Keep Them Gobbling
The other side of contact comes by way of gobbling. The idea here being to use whatever calling style that will get a gobble response.
Sometimes soft yelps and purrs may be wanted. Other times aggressive yelps and cutting will be more preferred by the gobbler.
In either case, as long as vocal contact between the hunter and the gobbler is occurring, the odds of having success on the gobbler will usually improve.
Gobbles will let the hunter know the approximate location of and where the gobbler is headed. This will help in deciding whether or not the hunter needs to stay put or needs to relocate for a better set up.
Even on gobblers that don’t come towards calling, keep up the vocal contact. The gobbler may be with hens. At some point in time he may decide to head your way.
Remember that often a gobbler will go silent once he starts heading towards the sounds of calling. Be patient and allow him time to make his way into the set up area.
Other Helpful Turkey Hunting Tips
Single Gobbler Tactic
Turkey Hunting Tips:As the turkey hunting season progresses, often gobblers can be found alone later in the morning. In most cases, these gobblers will be more susceptible to turkey calling techniques at this time.
After locating a single gobbler, try to set up within a hundred yards or so without being detected. Make sure this location will allow the gobbler easy walking access with no obstacles to work around.
Once in position, start off calling with soft yelps, purrs, or clucks to see if the gobbler responds. In some cases the gobbler will respond by gobbling immediately during or shortly after the hunters calling effort.
If this occurs, continue calling softly once or twice more and then stop calling altogether. Often the gobbler will head in the direction of the hunter. Be patient and wait the gobbler out.
In other cases, the gobbler will only respond to more aggressive yelps and cutting type calling tactics. In this instance, increase the aggression level as need be for a few series and then stop calling. Allow the gobbler to work his way into the set up.
If after thirty minutes or so the gobbler has not made an appearance, start back calling. Sometimes it will be necessary to continue being aggressive to the gobbler all the way in. Each gobbler will be different. Allow the gobbler to dictate the calling sequences and style.
Other Helpful Turkey Hunting Tips.
Hen Calling Tactic
Turkey Hunting Tips: Turkey hunting boils down to a match of wits between the hunter and the gobbler. But sometimes getting a hen irritated can result in bringing the gobbler in just as successfully.
The key to calling in a hen or several hens, is to draw their attention. This may be done at daybreak while the hens are still on the roost or throughout the day when hens are observed on the ground.
In order for the plan to be effective, the hunter must be willing to call as much, or sometimes as little, as necessary to get a response from the hen.
Use clucks, purrs, yelps, or even cutting if need be. Once a response is made by the hen, start mocking every sound that she makes. If the hen clucks, you cluck. If the hen yelps, you yelp. Be louder and more aggressive than she is.
The idea is to make the hen mad enough to fly down to or move towards the calling hunter. If the hunter can be effective with this method, generally the hen will bring the gobbler with her.
This technique will require the hunter to set up within 100 yards or so of a roosted hen or a hen that is already on the ground.
The worst case scenario will result in the hen moving away from the area. However, often this can be very helpful in situations where the gobblers are not responding to normal calling tactics.
Other Helpful Turkey Hunting Tips.
