Helpful Deer Hunting Tips
The average deer hunter with only average knowledge and commitment, over time gets only average results. Any hunter can bag a small buck once every year or two and might occasionally get lucky, but bringing home that majestic trophy buck with regularity takes commitment and knowledge.
In order to help you become a better hunter, I am going to provide you with the advanced deer hunting tips used by deer hunting masters.
1. Scout Your Area Ahead of Time - I don’t mean analyze where you are going to sit when the truck drops you off, I mean really get to know the area you are hunting. Some of my most successful hunting seasons were started months before opening day. Scout all the areas where you plan to hunt, being sure that you have permission to do that first. I surveyed all the potential hunting sites and then did a “dry hunt” — went through the motions of hunting but without a gun, so I could get to know the areas that had the most deer movement, the largest bucks, and the best buck-to-doe ratios. You can walk around the lease in the middle of the day, looking for big buck signs that I could see.
2. Know the Signs of Big Bucks. When you know what you’re looking for, you can zero in on the spots where the trophy deer gather. One thing you want to look for are tracks. Be aware of the size, number of, and the direction of the tracks, which will clue you in on the size, number of and movements of the deer. Look for Scrapes. These are the areas where bucks scratch against the ground and urinate to mark their territory and attract does. Usually scrapes are beneath low-hanging tree branches along the edges of heavy brush. Another thing you want to look for are rubs. As a buck attempts to get the velvet off their new antlers thy need to rub on trees and posts. They also do this to mark their territory during rutting season. If you find a “rub line,” you will be able to find six or more rubs in a matter of about 100 yards. The rubs are typically on the side of the tree that the buck is traveling form so noting which sides of the trees have rub marks in a rub line gives clues as to the direction of movement. Observe how big the bedding areas are once you find them. If you are not able to find any signs of bucks, it means there are no bucks in the area.
3. Know Your Firearm and Ammo - You need to know the ballistics of the bullet and cartridge you shoot. Figure out how to fire your weapon depending on how far your target is away from you, adjusting for other factors as well. Take some time to practice estimating distances. If possible, walk around the likely sighting areas ahead of the hunt, so you’ll know what length of shots you’ll be making and what sort of drop your bullet will make at that distance.
4. Know Where To Place Your Shot - Once you fully understand the aim and ballistics of your deer hunting rifle, you will be able to concentrate on where you are going to place your shot. I am a “neck shooter,” which means I believe a shot well-placed anywhere on the neck will bring your deer down every time. There are many hunters who disagree with me on this preference. If your shot lands lower on the neck you have severed the carotid arteries, high on the neck and the spinal column is breached, hit the center of the neck and you get a combination of these deadly effects. If you’re hitting the dear from a broadside or quarter angle, you’ll hit the neck just as easily as the lower shoulder target area, and you’ll bring it down faster. Don’t ever try a full rear shot, unless it’s the only way to get a fantastic trophy buck; you won’t be nearly as effective at bringing down the buck, and it’ll be very uncomfortable to have to clean a butt-shot deer. Always make wise shooting decisions; making a fast, efficient kill is be the goal of all advanced deer hunters.
5. Calls, Attractants and Rattles - There are other things you can use to get deer in your line of sight, like deer calls, rattling, and attractants; these are very hepful deer hunting tips that you shouldn’t take for granted. You have to do some prep work beforehand with food attractants. Just like any garden, food plots takes a lot of time and attention. Continuous feeding of an area should start weeks or even months ahead of the hunting season so the deer get used to the location and timing of their free meals. Calling or rattling up bucks is a hit and miss technique that normally only works during a rut. I have had bucks come to my rattling slowly and cautiously out of curiosity when they were not in rut, but typically when it works well they tend to come rushing. I have almost been run over by bucks when rattling in the field, so if you become proficient at this technique be prepared for quick action. Proficiency is required, and it takes lots of practice. There’s a bit of a learning curve that comes with accurately recreating the sounds of deer fighting, but if you get it right, it’ll be very advantageous.
Every deer hunter wants to display a trophy buck at some point, and some of us can’t rest unless we bag at least one grand creature every season. If you plan to become an elite hunter, you need to know the advanced deer hunting tips that the finest hunters have mastered.
You are welcome to use these suggestions in the coming deer hunting season. We also welcome you to visit http://www.deer-huntingtips.com to get more useful information to help make this your best deer hunting year ever.
