Hunting resembles an incredible journey with lots of adventurous periods of time, especially when you hunt deer. You should always prepare everything before entering a shooting range, just like students review their lessons carefully before they take an examination.
In other words, you should do your homework precisely before the beginning of the deer hunting season. It is very easy to take a bow or a firearm and come to the hunting range immediately. However, it is a bit difficult to become a professional deer hunter in a short period of time. This is why I want to share my own experience through 10 tips that I have learned from my previous hunting seasons with a lot of mistakes. Keep on reading to learn about these tips below.
Top 10 tips for being a great deer hunter
#1 – Make your own checklist
Why do you need to make your own note for deer hunting? Making your note is looking for your checklist with lots of details about what you need to do and pack for deer hunting. It is simple to understand the benefit of making a checklist.
Well, it will help you completely to know what kind of hunting gear you should pack and it also will support your memory as it draws attention to some important things that you should bring along such as warm clothes, rifles and compound bows for deer hunting. Additionally, you can replace anything that it will not be vital for your next hunting season. You can also compare checklists with more experienced hunters and discover new things you will need. Even some obvious items may slip through and it’s also good to have a second opinion.
#2 – Choose a small hunting area first
Do you want to hunt deer in a wide forest or a large area? If yes, you should rethink about this strategy before wandering out into the woods. Deer often move with their herds rather than one or two deer around a small area only.
Furthermore, selecting a small area will support you to have a deep understanding of that place and will increase the opportunity to shoot the right target for the upcoming time.
Whether you are a deer hunting guru or not, hunting in the small region first is a smart choice to get closer to the deer herd.
Choose between a 40-acre and a 90-acre area for identifying where deer live, the place they always find foods, and the route they often go around.
When you collect enough information about a deer family, you should create your own maps and notes. Then, always bring these in your bug to remind you when necessary. After that, you can try to hunt in a larger hunting range.
In case you want to hunt in a larger area in a forest, then you should try to narrow down the shooting range place. For example, deer often arrive at some places with many oak blocks of wood and a swamp.
#3 – Try to understand a deer’s eyesight
Deer have a wide view which is approximately 310 degrees, but they cannot see a single point. Thus, you should find someplace and sit in that area where they cannot see you clearly. However, you still need to find an area where you are able to take a clean shot without having to move through thick vegetation or clear any other obstacles.
What’s more interesting to know is that deer have a good eyesight at night, so they always go around the forest in the dark, in the early morning, and at dawn.
However, please note that you must not hunt at night because some states do not allow hunters do that. Even more, night hunting can be dangerous and you may end up injuring yourself.
Therefore, the best time for deer hunting is in the early morning and you should finish your hunting trip in the afternoon.
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#4 – Wear an orange outfit to create a great camouflage
Why should you wear the orange outfit? When wearing the orange color, deer are unable to see you clearly and you have fewer chances of being spotted.
This is a suitable camouflage to help you blend with the environment. In fact, deer cannot recognize the color and you will go undetected if you move carefully.
Another reason for wearing the orange outfit is that every hunter should follow the regulation of the state (some states require this as stated by the safety laws, while others do not).
Nonetheless, young hunters do not prefer wearing that color, so they wear an orange hat. Only older, more experienced hunters are willing to do that since they know that it also keeps them safe from other hunters. After all, a deer wouldn’t wear an orange jacket.
#5 – Try to walk like a deer
When most beginners hear of this tip, they think this is some kind of joke. However, learning to do this will support you a lot during the deer hunting season. Pay attention to your every step and slowly walk without making noise. Do not rush since cracking twigs or dry foliage can make a lot of noise!
Also, you can choose the right hunting boots and wear them during the deer hunting season. If you are not sure which hunting boots are the best ones for you, then you should consult with more experienced hunters. They know about the terrain and about how difficult it is to move when the elements come into play.
#6 – Do not miss out the wind
Most of the experienced hunters often use the wind to help them in the deer hunting season. This is a smart choice because the wind supports you to catch the right target without being spotted, whether you use a firearm or a compound bow for deer hunting.
However, you should observe the wind direction and choose a proper stand site which will support you to hunt without your odor being spread throughout your hunting area.
Check the weather and identify the wind direction before the day you plan to go hunting for deer.
#7 – Try to be patient at all times
Hunting and fishing are good ways to practice your patience. If you are not patient, then you may go back home empty-handed. You will have nothing to put on the table or brag about.
I for one love deer hunting a lot and this activity teaches me a lot of things that I cannot find in books. Things such as how to ask permission for hunting in a private land, how to control a bow or a firearm, how to build a good relationship with other hunters for getting advice and other hunting tips, how to shoot the right target, how to “communicate” with deer, and so on.
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Of course, I was a little bit scared during my first time, but after a while, I was able to train my mind positively. I probably still make a mistake now and then, but I usually catch up and I try to learn from these experiences. Last but not least, I have never given up no matter how hard it was or how harsh the weather was.
If you are patient, you will not only be able to bag a deer, but it will also help you to build self-confidence.
#8 – Understand more about the hunting area and consult the experts
Even if you know the hunting area, you should also consult an expert. Why should you do that? There are always several situations that you cannot guess before entering that area. Moreover, an expert like a state biologist often has much knowledge and understanding about the hunting place than you. About the route of deer and their favorite foods in the area.
What’s more, they will give you some attractive places for hunting deer since they often monitor such places to find out more about the rituals of deer. They will point you in the right direction for places where deer find for food as well as fresh water.
#9 – Try to think as a mature deer
This is a daunting task indeed when you want to hunt deer, but it is necessary to do this because you will have a deep understanding of deer. Study some aerial photographs and other ground places such as cedar swamps, overgrown cutovers, etc. where mature deer often come around.
Also, you will need to study their habits, their behaviors, what food they eat, the place they live, and the relationship between them in a herd. You will need to ask several questions and try to give the answers by taking time to observe deer when you have a clear understanding of their behavior.
For example, if you hear a sudden noise, you will identify the frequency carefully. Then, you will be going to run or create a special signal for your herd if a danger is coming closer. Deer have behavior patterns that may go unnoticed at first. The more you learn about your prey, the better the chances of hunting it.
#10 – Stay warm during deer hunting seasons
Deer hunting seasons often brings hunters out during the winter or in the early spring. The weather conditions during these two periods of time are always cold in most of the states. Therefore, you should stay warm by wearing warm clothes while coming to the hunting ground. Drink hot beverages such as tea or hot chocolate and avoid alcohol since it is a very bad idea.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that hunting is a tremendous activity, but it will be a perfect journey with many unforgettable moments if you do your homework carefully before taking part in the real game.
I am sure that you will become a great deer hunter when you read and apply my recommendations about hunting deer. Hope that my ten tips will help you a lot to become better as a hunter. Kick off your deer hunting season this year and build your own experiences!
This article was written by William S. Guerrera for Prepper’s Will.
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