Posts Tagged ‘Deer Hunting’
Awesome Dixie Deer Classic
This year the Wake County Wildlife Club presented another outstanding Dixie Deer Classic. The 30th annual three day event provided hunters and outdoorsman with some much needed relief from the winter blues.
I especially enjoyed sitting in on a variety of seminars. They were educational, entertaining, and often humorous. Special guest Michael Waddell along with special guest Lee and Tiffany Lakosky also provided great seminars with their vast knowledge and experiences in the field.
The hunting exhibitor booths offered something for everyone from kids to adults. Good thing the event lasted for three days as there was so much to see and do. There seemed to be tremendous crowds each day.
The Outdoors Lore workshops provided useful and valuable information on a wide variety of topics.
The deer racks scoring competition offered many outstanding deer from the state. There was also an exceptional display of record bucks from around the country.
I was very impressed with the added attention given to kids. The “Take A Walk On The Wild Side” program provided educational workshops, seminars, and hands on demonstrations.
The show was well managed and provided maps and directions for ease of access to all events.
My hats off to the Wake County Wildlife Club for another awesome show. I look forward to next year.
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.
