Before I start when I say successful I mean taking game on a regular bases. I enjoy my time outdoors but eating tag soup year after year is getting old soooo...
How do you guys manage to consistentley take game?
How do you choose your tree stand locations?
What kind of sign do you set up on?
Theres a milliom more question I could ask but we'll go from here.-Scott :archer:
without question the most important things are persistance and attention to detail!!
as far as stand locations and sign... i try to set up in funnels whenever possible and/or multiple trail intersections. i don't really hunt over sign but use it to tell me there are deer and good bucks in the area
How do you know deer are walking past your stand during shooting hours?-Scott
The biggest change that I have made over the past years is hunting multiple properties. In the past I was spending too much time in one area and I think it burns it out when I am there too much. When I aquired some different properties to hunt on I could hunt the different areas based on weather, wind, and other condition versus "this is the only place I have to go". That one thing has really increased my success rate.
Minimizing presence is big for me.
Secondly, like md126, funnels, interesections and travel routes have always been good to me. Sometimes I sit at a distant vantage point for a couple of days to study deer movement and move my stand according to what I see. dino
Scout your area.
Find their food source.
Whitetails Favorite food White Oak Acorns
Lots of patience
Lots of hours in stand or ground...
USE Scent control.
Some good luck helps also..
Scott, the biggest mistake guys make is not hunting the right wind. If yoy have an idea where the deer are feeding in the evening set up a hundred yards or so from threi food source and make sure the wind is good. Funnels are great but ya need to know which way deer are traveling so you can hunt the wind. deer can pick you off at hundreds of yards if the wind is not in your favor. Shawn
Hunting new property first thing i do is get a topo map and mark where they will be. Locate water, hardwoods, fields, funnels, gullys, etc etc. Remember deer are lazy they will always take the easiest route to minimize energy loss. Now once you familiarize yourself with the area via map get in the woods and look around if there are streams or rivers walk along em find where they cross or find the travel patterns. If your hunting big heavy hardwoods and there is a small steam running in there they will follow it so they dont have to fight the brush.
Plus the water/mud makes for easy sighting of tracks and what not. Easy to pickup where they cross.
Where fields meet hardwoods find both parts where the hardwoods taper out to the thinnest spot b/c the deer will travel out of their way if it means staying in the woods that extra 100 yards or more till dark but the woods will help funnel em in close to ya.
Also where the field funnels in narerow the deer will expose them in those areas first before they get out into the vast openenn.
TIME IN THE WOODS! You wont learn their patterns unless you are there to watch em. Dont be afraid to move mid season. This year we moved to a different part of my state and I had to find new hunting grounds. With only 2 days to scout I got my map found some nice little openings in hardwoods and then went a foot to hang stands. My stand was hung with zero hours in the woods but yet I've managed to take 2 deer out of it. Find the food/water and find the bedding try to setup somewhere in between.
Majn I could go on for hours of little tips...and I learn somethign new every day i hunt every day i talk to a hunter. There are a ton of little tricks but follow the basics and you will do fine!
Deer are lazy and will take the path of least resistance and they must always eat! The have a 4 chamber stomach they can't afford not to eat so they will always move.
Scott: You need to become a "student of the whitetail." You'll find there's not any one big secret other than dedication. I genuinely enjoy sharing knowledge but have a hard time finding the time to share it. That was one of the reasons I started my whitetail bootcamps (www.brothersofthebow.com). Just tonight I had a guy call from Ohio who attended my bootcamp in March of 2004. He said prior to attending he used to average seeing 8 or 9 bucks per season. This year he said he saw 56 bucks while hunting. He called tonight just wanting to thank me. I really appreciate calls like that. I obviously get a lot of self satisfaction by helping others. But I must stress, I might be able to teach you, but then you have to go out and apply what you learn. Scouting/studying whitetails leads to understanding; understanding gives confidence; confidence gives you patience and patience equals success. Read up on whitetails, hang around with other successful hunters then get out there and do it. Have fun. bw
Do deer ever disappear on you? This year I thought I had everything perfect the deer would come to this apple tree at the same time every day. I set up my tail cam and a pop up blind weeks before the season opened. I have several pictures of bucks and allot of does. But on sept 15 the deer were no where to be seen and the apples were still there. Was it me? or do deer just do that sometimes? thanks for all the replies-Scott
Mr.Wensel your boot camp might be the thing to turn my luck around I'll talk to my dad about it.
sometimes deer just stop...or they come back. They hit spots for a while then leave em alone. Where did you put the blind and the camera? Maybe you fussed with the area to much? I noticed with cameras these days people want to be there everyday to check them out. I personally think they spook alot of game b/c people frequent the area to much and the deer know this and will change their patterns.
I only go in and out of the woods for my camera on rainy days or when i know it will rain that night and follow my same scent precautions as well as slipping in and out quiet and i dont play around while im there. Just swap memory cards out once before season opener and move on. Then when I want to check it I'll do it whenever i hunt if I have it up during the season.
because I live with my mom and hunt at my dads on the weekends I only get in the woods one day a week. So i figured once a week wouldn't be to much pressure right?? Alot of the public land i hunt has sign but a trail deer use often is non existant most of the ones i've found are faint and don't look like theyre used often. Also I dont think the deer actually move that much because for the most part the woods are thick and full of laurel and they can just eat acorns in their beds. do you think thats what they're doin?-scott
deadbolt your the man :archer:
This year it didn't do any good to hunt the oaks in my neck of the woods so i focused on travel routes, thickets, and funnels. Filled all three of my archery tags.
Scott
Hang in there.
This is a great time of year to do some aggressive scouting. Snow on the ground will show the heavy traveled routes and when the snow melts the heavily traveled trails will be a mud line since there isn't any vegetation growing right now.
Shed hunting is a good time to gather information also. But I strongly agree with the other comments too. Watch the wind and change your site if you have to and get out as often as you can throughout the year and study you prey and their habits.
Your game camera is a great tool so keep using it.
Are you hunting public or private land? If you can post a satellite picture of your hunting area do it and see what kind of advice you get from that.
Your day will get here and you will remember it forever.
Good luck.
Tom
I once read that mature bucks spend 90% of their time in 10% of their habitat. I don't know if its true or not but it has proven fairly accurate for me through the years. One thing is for sure... you can't kill a deer if their aren't any around. When scouting new ground, I try to look at a topo map first to look for natural funnels, then look for food, cover, water sources. IF you can find deer that are in their natural pattern (meaning that they haven't been heavily pressured) you will be ahead of the game. On public land, this may mean that you will have to get further from the road. When scouting use a compass when picking stand sites so you will know which kind of wind you will need to hunt there. Never hunt an area if the wind is wrong. A deer may see you or hear you and not know what you are or become suspicious, but if it smells you, game over. Its a long learning process, just be patient.
Happy huntin"
David
Scott you need to scout the area now.Use maps,use your camera,use your legs. If the deer stopped eating apples,you should find what they changed to.
I like pizza,but I get tired of it if I have it more than once a week. If a new food source becomes available,the deer will go to it.
Use your eyes when you are scouting to notice all the SMALL signs they leave. Right now you should be able to find a rub line and follow it to a bedding area.
Go to see Uncle Barry. I would go in a heartbeat if I had the money.
Good luck,but the harder you work,the luckier you'll get. Dirty Bill
With all species I have hunted: scouting is the key.
What did Hill say ? the only trick in being a good hunter is.....HUNT HARD.
Hunt were there are alot of deer nothing improves your odds more than having a lot of game in the area,which can vary from block to block in some locals and day to day.
Sometimes even a little hunting pressure is going to push them out of your area especially if they have better less pressured habitat near by not uncommon when hunting relatively small hunting plots here in the east.
The deer will concintrate on your neighbors that have the better habitat and less pressure.
How big is your huntig area are you the only one hunting it or do you have invited or uninvited guest when your not there. Do you have food plots planted are they better than your neighbors. These and many more will effect your particular hunting. Don't give up and become too discouraged perhaps its not what you are doing its what others are doing.
The fellow hunter that has a large parcel of undisturbed land with lush food plots that gets to hunt everyday is going to have far better hunting than you.
You have gotten good advice from others here follow threw and eventually you will score and the reward will be proportional to your efforts. Good Luck
QuoteOriginally posted by Shawn Leonard:
Scott, the biggest mistake guys make is not hunting the right wind. If you have an idea where the deer are feeding in the evening set up a hundred yards or so from their food source and make sure the wind is good. Funnels are great but ya need to know which way deer are traveling so you can hunt the wind. deer can pick you off at hundreds of yards if the wind is not in your favor. Shawn
Scott,
This is probably the best advice you have gotten on this. You obviously know you have deer in your area. You have to figure out where they are staying during the day so you know what way they are likely going in the mornings and evenings. Once you have done that pay attention to what Shawn is telling you here. The most important thing to watch in my opinion. I watch way too many guys ignore this and at teh end of teh season they still have their tags.
The only other thing I would suggest is scout and find more food sources. They will change often and without warning. Have a few stand sights set up and use them all. Don't burn out a stand by sitting it everyday. It sounds like you wont based on just hunting weekends. Just before season or right when it starts, instead of just going into a stand maybe you should sit back at a distance and watch to see where the deer are moving. You can hunt one of your stands in that area the next day.
Good luck. Once the first one is down they start to come easier.
Scott, I don't want this to sound like an advertisemnet but Uncle Barry's Bootcamp could really help you chnage the way you look at things. I've seen him time and time again over the last 20 or so years, pick not only the right area but the exact TREE to be in.
We were hunting Iowa one year, 94 I think. I had two stands up on some tremendous rubs and scrapes and hunted them several times without seeing the "big one". I asked Barry to look over my set-up. He walked over the hill and I heard him whistle. I walked over and he said "right there" Long story short, I killed a 157" non typ a few days later and there have been other P&Y bucks taken and mmmmmmissed out of that tree.
If you can take the time this spring to attend his Bootcamp, I'm sure you'll be pleased. He ain't gonna keep doing them forever you know.
For me the hard part was missing deer, and after trying for 3 years with nothing to show for it. I learned something after taking two nice bucks within 2 months this season. TAKE SEVERAL PRACTICE SHOTS BEFORE HEADING TO THE STAND. I shoot before going to the stand until I feel confident. This has made the world of difference for me to the point now that I will not hunt unless I have half an hour to practice before heading out. Even if it means shooting arrows at 10 yards inside under lights before the morning hunt. Be persistent and don't give up.
A question I have is what is your problem? Finding deer, getting close, or making the shot? With whitetails success is kind of three-fold.
The first is locating deer. A lot has already been written and the only thing I might add is do your best to hunt undisturbed deer. That means private land where few others are hunting or secluded public places. Patterning natural deer movement is very hard to do if others are pushing them around. If that is the case you have to discern how they react to hunting pressure and pattern them accordingly. Tough to do. It's much easier to pattern the natural patterns of undisturbed deer ie. bedding/feeding trails, rut sign, etc.
The second aspect of success is once locating deer being in the right place to get the job done. Bowhunting requires that you hunt spots not areas. A common mistake new bowhunters make is hunting areas. Okay for long range weapons but not effective for the bowhunter. Placing stands in areas may lead to seeing a lot of deer but few shot oppurtunities. I may set a "scouting" stand in an area so I can watch and get a better idea of how deer move through the area. Sometimes it may work out to be a good hunting stand also. But when I set a hunting stand it is in the exact spot where I expect a deer to be. I set the stand with the confidence that the deer will walk by exactly "HERE". Of course each stand site might cover more than one specific "HERE" but setting your ambush to intercept the deer at exact spots that afford CLOSE shots at the proper shooting angle is paramount. Set your stands for shots inside of 25 yards so you'll not only see deer but you'll have the chance to make the shot.
When you set up for close shots on undisturbed deer it is very important to leave minimal impact on the area. Stay out of the stand until the wind is right. Leave minimal scent behind. For me that means wearing clean rubber boots and using hang on stands with steps or climbing sticks that I take away. When I climb my stand I touch only the steps/sticks which again I remove when I leave. If I use a ladder stand I wear rubber gloves when I climb it. I do my best to keep the deer undisturbed by not leaving a bunch of man scent behind. Even then I rotate my stand sites because it is impossible to be totally inconspicuous. That's why I never stand hunt whitetails from the ground. I believe it is impossible to spend a significant amount of time on the ground without leaving behind a lot of scent. The deer walks by a few hours later and smells where you have been. They will remember and they will avoid that area in the near future. As far as what to look for in setting stands on specific spots as a rule trails leading from the bedding area to the feeding area are the easiest to scout and offer the most oppurtunities at all deer.
The third aspect is having the archery skills to deliver the goods. Shooting is covered extensively here so the only thing I'll say is 10-15 yard shots are a whole lot easier than 25-30 yard shots which again underscores the importance of the second aspect I mentioned.
hey scott anytime bud...i dont think them emails went through if ya tried. if not no worries take your time!
also a great way to scout is to pretend hunt. now especially b/c the leaves and what not are down and your visability is much greater. Find a nice vantage point bring a climber in if ya have it and hike way the hell up in the tree. Pack for the whole day if ya can and sit sunup to sundown and simply watch where they move to and from. All that takes is one day to see their travel routes then simply find the trail and move along it and you can find there feeding patterns, core area, bedding area, and a whole bunch more info simply froms pending a day in the woods.
when i use my camera i ussually face it north or south so the sun doesn't ruin the pictures but also dpending where the sun is in the sky i can tell what time of day they are moving and from what direction...i can't change the time or date so thats how i time stamp mine LOL.
We don't have the deer density in NH that other states have. My successes are not based on bucks but taking legal deer. I have found that the wind is important but food sources are what I key in on because that is what the deer do. Knowing what deer are feeding on and adjusting to the changes is key. I would also add that scent control is big for me as is time in the woods....patience and persistence are also big. Trail cameras are also useful tools. Finding areas, even small ones, where deer are undisturbed and you have the place to yourself is another thing I hone in on.
In terms of whitetails I would recommend reading an inexpensive little book called Whitetail Tactics with Recurves & Longbows by Jim Hamm.
He covers a lot of what it took me many years of trial and error to learn.
If you are holding out for mature bucks that is one thing and you may may need some expert help or a new spot.
If you are not getting a chance at anything then you need adjust your tactics and methods (read up) or again find a new spot.
This thread is a goldmine...
While my knowledge or experience cant begin to stack up to some of these guys, I will say this;
You have got to put in the time in every aspect if you going to be consistently successful. Scouting, shooting, equipment prep, stand prep, and hunting all demand a lot of long, hard hours, and you've got to put that time in...
Best of luck...
Used to wander all over the mountains chasing mulies, and then I read that Fred Bear was a prolific blind maker. Bingo! Have taken many more deer from ground blinds than by trying to stalk through noisy sage country. I see lots of good advice here from whitetail hunters- wind, habits,habitat. It all applies to mulies too. Just learn from your mistakes. Every deer can teach you something. Bow'narrow
Check out
67 Plants Dam Rd, East Lyme, CT
This is where I'll most likely be doing my hunting next year. I just joined this club and they let you hunt there. If you look it up on google maps or google earth youll see three major openings. On the far right there is a long skinny one which is a 200yd rifle range, to the left of that there is a square opening which is a skeet field, then to the left of that there is another skinny opening which is the archery practice area. To the north of the skeet field there is another opening which is the club house. There is a 30 acre parcel across the street which is open to hunting as well. Deer and turkeys have run across the rifle range(even when people are shooting) and are seen often in the archery practice area. Thanks for all the help guys-Scott
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/archery10x/Niantic2.gif)
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/archery10x/Niantic1.gif)
Lots of scouting all year long and persistance. Did I mention LOTS of scouting,LOL! Glassing from a distance is good to help you understand what the deer are doing, but putting miles on your boots, all year long, will help you get there.
Those topo maps didn't show up like I hoped they would. This weekend I'm going for a walk to get a feel for the land whish we had some snow. Time to get serious and put my time in. I've learned alot from this post and you guys have given me hope and confidence for the new year. Tradgang is the best-Scott :archer:
From the ground... :thumbsup: ;)
Scott, find your area on google maps and try to center it and enlarge it as best you can. Then copy and paste the link. That will give us the best view.
Anyway, I'm not expert, but trails/funnels are key for me. Food sources change and deer get pushed around, but travel corridors stay active all year long. Watch the wind and put your butt in the tree... good luck.
I have filled a deer tag every year (most years my limit)for the past 30 years. Our season ended Dec 31st but guess where I spent most of the day TODAY? that's right...IN THE WOODS. Scouting and patience is a priority, knowledge of the area you hunt is a MUST. I saw more deer and black bear sign today than you could ever imagine. I was blessed this past fall with LOADS of acorns and the deer and bear are still rooting the leaves for them. My advice, 'for what it's worth'....learn the area you hunt. Know where the food sources are. Know where they bed AND, know where they seek refuge when they are pressured. And, you want to learn buck sign and body language. Learn why you see the little deer alone all the sudden or why a doe walks by with her tail sticking straight out. This thread is priceless and everyone here has offered great advice. I wish you the best of luck. NOW, get out there and do some scouting.
best afield
I was out scouting today as well and found this guy's tree stand 100ft up in a tree, well maybe not that high, but it gave me a nose bleed just looking at it.
Now is the time to look for deer sign in the areas that you hunt.
You need to find the sign then plan the hunt...
Danny? Is that you way up there? LOL. :biglaugh:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=niantic+sportsmans+club&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.883429,82.617188&ie=UTF8&ll=41.339958,-72.250235&spn=0.00 6058,0.010085&t=h&z=16&om=1 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=niantic+sportsmans+club&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.883429,82.617188&ie=UTF8&ll=41.339958,-72.250235&spn=0.006058,0.010085&t=h&z=16&om=1)
Here's the link for google maps.
Thanks for all the solid advice can't wait to get out there.-Scott
Scott E. I have had the same trouble and have wanted to ask this same question. I read alot about hunting techniques, watch the videos, talk to any experienced bowhunter I can. I've been to a "camp" to help learn what to do. I would love to go to Mr. Wensel's camp. I would love to have some one look at my hunting area and give me some advice and teach me the why's behind the advice. I've heard that the best way to learn is with a mentor, but that ain't always possible. If you can get that topo map on here and give all the particulars about your area, hopefully some one can get enough info to help you. One thing I want to suggest is practicing a doe bleat with your mouth while out in the woods. If I had used this while hunting this last season, I may have taken the one buck that I had a shot at. You other hunters please tell me if you think this is ok advice, but I have been practicing a doe bleat while on stand a time or two each time out. It gives me more confidence to try it if deer show up. The sound is usually too soft and squeeking the first time because I've so ingrained the "you must be quiet" thinking.
If anyone wouldn't mind helping ME. I will provide maps and info. You can pm me.
scott check your email bud ya got some stuff
The more you hunt, the more you learn. Pay attention to details, and figure out why you saw deer where you did if they weren't in bow range, and don't be afraid to move if you don't.
Sign, Sign, Sign.........gotta find and hunt sign...fresh sign.....travel corridors/funnels, terrain transition areas and corners. Find what they are eating, and know what they are going to eat next when the source they are gorging on now is replenished. Find out where they browse as well, and where they stage before dark and mill around.
And I've heard nothing but praises about Barry's Boot Camp. Thanks for posting Barry.
Like others, I highly recommend Barry's boot camp (I hope to attend it sometime). If you can't afford or do not have the time to attend the camp buy, read, then study, Genes Wensels book come November. If you follow his advice you will get into deer on a regular basis. Just remember Gene's and Barry's number one rule "Where you hunt is a lot more important then how you hunt..." and everything else takes care of itself, if you follow their advice.
"Where you hunt is a lot more important then how you hunt..."
Good point Walt...that's certainly been true for me.
the where you hunt is huge and just go out there as much as you can. Don't worry about what mistakes you might be makeing.
If your at a point in your life where you have no family obligations but you have more time than money go spend some time in the woods.
good luck & hope ya shoot a Biggie :D
can't wait for saturday. I would hunt but havent gotten my January tags yet. So I'm going to scout hard and see what I can find I think each one of these responses will definetley help me. I have a five day weekend next week so productive scouting this weekend could result in a deer next week :pray: . Wish me luck and thank you for all your tips keep them comin.-Scott
Deadbolt sent you an e-mail
i have killed quite a few over the years and im by no means amature...BUT...I have a couple questions myself...some said look for the white oak acorns...ok but where i hunt there are white oaks everywhere so what then?...and some said to find where they bed...ok...but I mean I know where ALOT of bedding areas are and the only way to KNOW which ones are fresh is by actually going and checking risking jumping them up or maybe put a trail cam at every place they bed...sometimes they just bed whereever for no particular reason also
Some acorns tast better than others, i guess. If you look for it when you hunt oak's you'll see that some trees are better than others. I've got three big red oaks that the deer have feed under for years. If i hunt one of those trees i'll kill a deer. The best trees will look like a dozer had been plowing around them.
Bedding areas can be a tricky thing. I have at least three doe groups on my place and they all bed in a differant spot. You need to keep a record of when and where you saw deer. This will help remind you where to go and where not to go at differant times during the day. Bucks will frequent these spots during the pre rut and the rut.
After Biggies lessons from Barry I gave him shooting lessons then it all came together for him.I think Shuster or Joebuck taught him how to swim....RC
Something else that might be helpful, is to keep a log or journal of your hunting and scouting trips from year to year. I've been doing this for a number of years now and I always review the log during the current season. I look to see what I was seeing and where I was seeing it in past seasons. Deer are very much creatures of habit. Usually if you find an area that is productive at a certain time(scrape line, feeding area, etc) one season, it will follow much the same pattern year after year. I know the deer on our property seem to utilize certain areas more at different times throughout the season. I don't know how many times that I have found scrape lines, often under the same overhanging limb, year after year. Keeping a journal will allow you to have notes to refer to for in-season scouting.
As has been mentioned already, TIME is the best teacher. The more of it you can spend in the woods, the better hunter you will be.
Good luck!
If you see a deer in an area at a particular time what are the chances of you seeing that deer in that area again around the same time? not including the rut of course.-Scott
QuoteOriginally posted by Scott E:
If you see a deer in an area at a particular time what are the chances of you seeing that deer in that area again around the same time? not including the rut of course.-Scott
This question is probably out of my league but I will relay a recent experience that I had.
It can kind of very I think.
For instance, last week my trail camera showed a doe in an area at 9:am this is typical where I hunt. The morning activity is usually between 7:00-9:30. So I setup close to the area of the game camera. At 8:45 I heard a deer snort (up wind of me) and seconds later I saw 4 does and a buck pass 100 or so yards to my east.
The next day I setup on the trail that the deer ran on the day before and I saw nothing. They may have changed their pattern because they were spooked in that general area the day before.
I often don't have the time for scouting like I used to so I often scout on the fly while I'm hunting. I often pick a general area and fine tune my stand placement over several sits, depending where I see deer. I have also done some trapping and through that have learned a lot about how animals view and use the landscape. These days, I hunt more using landscape features than microhabitat features like food sources and bedding areas. Movement corridors are where I start and google maps is a great way to begin that interpretive process. Fine tune your set ups once you've done some "ground truthing" based on sign.
Of course, homogeneous environments are a bit more difficult if you don't have the topography to help you out. I often print my maps with topos on one side and aerial photos on the other. I refer to them constantly when learning a new area.
I also found that my skills as a hunter increased dramatically once I started hunting new areas after I dispersed from my "natal" home range where I grew up. Hunt new areas and you will develop a better understanding of how deer use the landscape than if you just get to know one area really well.
I was 14 when I started hunting and 18 when I killed my first deer. Patience is key... Good luck on your long weekend.
Hate to show my ignorance but what is a funnel?I have never heard anyone use that term hunting the blacktails that I hunt in Oregon and Washington.
A funnel is where the game your are after narrow down into a travel corridor created by a variety of terrain variables and transitions.
I'll post some examples in a bit....and maybe others will also.
Funnel is any structure (pond,fence,saddle in ridgetop, river, blowdown, edge cover,,,ect) that forces deer to "funnel" their movements.
My key is to find the bedding areas as well as the food source at the correct time of year. Food source could be crops, mast or a weedy browse patch. Deer leave ragged riped edges when they browse, rabbits, ect. leave clean crisp cuts.
Get out this time of year and find where the bedroom is. Crawl if you have too through the thickest cover on your property that people never go into. You will find deer sign. I like to pick a rainy day so I don't make much noise.
Experience is a great teacher. Call your state deer biologist if need be. They are a great information source regarding food sources. Remember if this was easy it wouldn't be any fun.
John II
Good post JD.
Narrow strips of woods between crops, saddles, narrow pinches in bluffs, water barriers that coincide with other hard to travel terrain features, thicket narrows with hardwoods on both sides etc...
RC's right. (there's a 1st time for everything)
It doesn't do much good to find 'em if you can't hit the crease. Don't forget to practice whilst you learn all this stuff.
"You just gotta be in the right place,at the right time".....My Dad
"You can't shoot deer sittin' in The Diner".....My cousin "Buzzy"
"The best time to shoot a buck,is when he walks in front of you".....My "Uncle Pete"
"If you aint out there hunting,then you aint hunting".....My GrandDad
"Sometimes ya just get Lucky"....."woodchucker"
Alot of good stuff so far!
When it comes to bedding areas, once you find the primary bedding area stay OUT of it. Walk around at a distance and find how the does come in and out of it.
Pay attention to the the weather and wind, when the wind blows backward the does will be sleeping some place else that night.
Know what food is available available to the does and how do they get there.
I guess to keep it simple, pay very close attention to the does, understand them and what they do when they do it and why they do it. If you concentrate on the does, that will take care of the bucks.
Don't over hunt an area. Thats a good why to screw up all the scouting you've done from afar. I try not to hunt the same the same area more then 2 nights in arow. It dosen't take much for a belle doe to know your there.
Like most people know, if the wind is wrong for that tree or blind stay away.
Another thing I really like to find are trees that have been rubbed on for multiple years especially when your opening up a new area, kind of lets you know that something there is favorable to the bucks, could be a staging area maybe. The does might be out in that bean field eating the tops and the bucks are just hanging back alittle. Theres a whole bunch more to learn but you usually do that by making mistakes.
Keep track of the ladies, unless you mess up they stay pretty tight to their home area.
Scott, you have no shortage of replies on here from successful hunters. A lot of great replies. My only addition is be out there as much and possible and keep the wind in your favor. Also remember even us self proclaimed successful hunters aren't successful every time.
Good luck!
As a ground hunter....I try to stay as clean as possible. I'm a believer in Cover Scents, I wear soft fleece camo(ASAT) and I never wash them. I want the cover scent impregnated in my clothing.
Stillhunt mostly in cross wind, move slowly and glass often. Never disturb the bedding areas. Scout Jan/Feb to find new areas and travel routes to and from bedding/feeding areas.
When setting up natural ambush locations, I do this in Jan/Feb so the animals get use to the new unatural "blind". Set up ambush locations on both sides of travel routes at different locations, play the wind.
Use mock scrapes, make them large, dress them up with good lure, I prefer JV Scrape Gel. Follow a good scrape or rub line and hunt the fringes, always paying attention to wind. key to know the predominant winds in morning and evening.
99% of all my shots are quartering away. Past few years been using a face mask with the eyes cut out. Just seems to work better from the ground than face paint. I've had deer walk by me at 5yds....my kind of shot. Timing your draw is important another reason I dropped my bow poundage to 55-57#. I can hold longer until the shot presents itself.
Sharp heads, a well tuned bow, a well placed arrow equals venison on the table.
Funny; the original question was totally open-ended with regard to WHAT was being hunted, but 99% of the answers referred to whitetails, implicitly from tree stands. Nothing wrong with that, but can I really be the only one out here who thinks bowhunting is a bit more complex than that? In terms of he answer to the original question, it doesn't really matter. The answer is: spend as much time in the field as possible, and learn as much as you can while you are there. There are no short cuts. Don
Funny; the original question was totally open-ended with regard to WHAT was being hunted, but 99% of the answers referred to whitetails, implicitly from tree stands. Nothing wrong with that, but can I really be the only one out here who thinks bowhunting is a bit more complex than that? In terms of he answer to the original question, it doesn't really matter. The answer is: spend as much time in the field as possible, and learn as much as you can while you are there. There are no short cuts. Don
Don't know if it's been mentioned, but what really helps is living where there's game! May seem obvious, but if you live where there's lots of whatever you are hunting and you are constantly rubbing shoulders with the critters, you learn about them even if by accident.
I live in rural ND, a state where the deer population is considerably higher than the human population. I see, encounter, and observe deer literally every day around my farmstead. I know their habits, where they are feeding & bedding and how it changes as the year progresses, and by the beginning of season, which bucks are where.
Because of this, my wife and I usually bump off 125" or better bucks with bow every year, plus rifle tags and several extra doe tags. I think the last year I failed to fill my bow tag was around 1985.
It also helps in that you'll get lots of opportunities to trial & err. The more shot opportunities you see, the more you learn and you'll err progessively less.
BTW, I highly recommend that if available, get extra doe tags and fill them. The more game a guy puts on the ground, particularly starting out, the more confident and proficient he becomes. Nice to have that in your corner when you are drawing on a good buck, knowing you have bumped off a couple does in almost exactly the same circumstances earlier in the season...
A friend of mine sent something to me when I started hunting.
The more time you spend in the woods, the better you're chances.
I'm not the best hunter but persistance pays dividends.
I usually have a sucessful season, if it's measured by taking game. I am constantly learning from my mentors and peers. Always listen to fellow hunters.
I think what kills most folks is ground scent. It the deer is down-wind of you, it's over every time. Playing the wind is a must, but what you leave on the ground can be detected long after you are gone. I wear knee high rubber boots when stand hunting, setting stands, or scouting. Never leave ground scent to ruin your spot even when you aren't around to spook anything. Have several stand sites so that none get burnt out. Never, ever touch anything with your hands at the deers level. Rubbing your hand up and down that monster rub you just found has told many bucks you are in their territory!
Persistence. We all get lucky sometimes. I spend 70-80 days a year in the woods chasing game. Probably deer hunted 40 days last year. There aren't tripping over themselves where I hunt either, but I do kill a few every year. You can't kill them at home watching the ball game!
I learned a long time ago to become a student of whatever game I'm pursuing, as well as their habitat. Learning what your quarry is doing is only the first step. Taking that knowledge and pursuing why they do what they do is ultimately what I'm after.
When I first started hunting, all I cared about was "what". What trail to the game use, what areas do they feed in, what places do they use for bedding areas. And that was great information...for hunting in one particular place. But until I started seeking out the "why", I could never translate the "what" from location to location.
The "what" allows you to be successful at one single place. The "why" enables you to be successful no matter where you are.
I know there are books, books and more books, but two of the best I've read which have helped me are: Bowhunting Forests and Deep Woods by Greg Miller and Hunting Open-Country Mule Deer by Dwight Schuh - then get into the woods and apply what you've learned.
Good Hunting!!!
All I'm seeing so far is some of the basics. No one has replied as to how one can successfully take game year after year. How one first starts being successful by following some of the basics such as, the right winds, areas, timings, patience, knowledge of game, proper placement of ambush spots, shooting skills, well tuned equipment, etc... Don't forget some of the other basics that will pop up shortly I'm sure. Sit still, right camo, blend or melt into your surroundings, see with your ears first then your eyes, learn to spot game, learn to spot parts of game, (i.e. ears, legs, antlers, etc...), learn to enter and exit your spot sounding like the game you pursue, learn to language/calls, etc... I could go on and on here but they are all just basics, search for the essentials, the answers can only be truly found when you begin to piece them together.
There are numerous basics that successful hunters use year after year and enjoy success but never truly understand what it means or what it takes to be successful. For 35+ years I've relied on the basics myself until I've found/discovered what I call the essentials. What the essentials are, is a combination of the basics grouped together all at once, all the basics and I mean all the basics. It's the big picture so to speak. Once you unlock the essentials you will be able to hunt any animal you pursue successfully to the point where hunting with a trad bow seems unfair. I have used the essentials twice to take game, once to a rabbit and once to a deer. I'll never use the essentials again to take game unless my life depends on it. I was filled with deep guilt and almost stopped hunting completely. I'm still searching within to find the answers I'm looking for. I'm not very religious but I've become very spiritual where hunting is concerned. When I take game now I may use just one essential combined with some basics, never 2 or more essentials at once. Hmmm I wonder how many people have stopped reading my post now? For those of you who plan to read on, it's going to get a little crazy... LOL and no I'm not on drugs....
I have followed as many of these threads as possible over the last few years and there was only one guy who ever mentioned/eluded to one of the essentials and he was a native too. I will not share with you the essentials, for they are the journey, but be fore warned, once you unlock the essentials, hunting will become a sacred endeavor you may never view the same again. The taking of game will become extremely difficult, as it seems as thou the animals have no chance it becomes unsporting. (Note; I have never considered hunting a sport, for me it has always been a way of life, as I was introduced to at the age of 3 and been involved with it every single year since). So the Reward can become the spoils, don't worry it is a natural progression. I've seen posts over the last few years where hunters get to a point in their life when they no longer hunt or hunt but no longer kill, they are just content to let the animal pass once they've gotten it in bow range. Embrace the knowledge you gain as you seek out the answers to the questions that all hunters have asked since the beginning of time. (And no I don't think I know all the answers, I'm not trying to be some know-it-all here, I'm sharing with you an enlightment I've had, one that has taken me 37 years of hunting experiences to figure out exists). Many/most hunters will spend a lifetime hunting and will never be aware of what is out there awaiting to be discovered. Most will hunt using the basics all of their life. Yes they will be great hunters, yes they may enjoy year after year of successful hunts, but most will never know of the Essentials. How many times have I heard "there's no such thing as a great hunter, you just have to be lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time". The Essentials will put you in the right spot at the right time. (Don't use the essentials to take game, been there, done that, and it's not a pleasant feeling). Why then do I talk about them? It's an Awakening, the best way I can describe it is; hunting with the basics is like going to an art gallery, only at night. Walking up and down all the corridors looking at the all the paintings with the lights turned off. You know the painting are there, you may even catch a glimpses of them as the lights reflect from a passing vehicle. But once you start to unlock the essentials it's like your seeing the paintings for the first time in the light the artist intended them to be viewed. You may have spent days, months, years walking through the gallery, but it's only now you see the paintings clearly. Yes it is possible to see the paintings with the lights off if you put in enough time, have enough patience to be in the right spot at the right time, so when the passing vehicles lights reflect and light up the painting momentarily your there to see it. Like hunting with the basics. You still with me?
If you focus on the animals you pursue alone, you'll never find the answers. You need to look far to see what's right in front of you. I know I'm talking in riddles but understand I want people to know there is more out there then just the basics. I have never shared what I call the essentials with anyone, nor do I want to as of yet, because I'm still discovering/unlocking secrets that amaze me like you wouldn't believe. (I suspect there are others who know of the essentials but they will never spill the beans neither, they are sacred, they are each and every ones personal journey). I've shown people I've hunted with parts of it, unknowingly to them. Came close to spilling some of the beans this year when I took a mule deer doe at 10 yards after being as close as 5 yards to her in the wide open, I was able to walk, draw my bow, and move at free will when I was on the ground less then 10 yards from her without her even being the least concerned. (I shared with my hunting party what I did, but not how I did it). She walked around me at 5 yards, directly down wind of me, still not alarmed. (This encounter lasted for over 2 hours in a wide-open field as we circled each other at various distances). How was this possible? Was this a fluke encounter? Nope I've had many encounters like this, with moose, whitetails, mulies, caribou, coyotes, fox, wolves, bears, owls, ravens, rabbits, squirrels, grouse, partridge, etc... Can I have an encounter like this every time I take to the woods? No, but they do happen more frequently now that I've started looking with the lights on, so to speak...
Many people referred to hunting the right winds, (one of the basics), but remember, the right winds are not always the right winds, some times the right winds can be the wrong winds and the wrong winds can be the right winds. Confused yet? You shouldn't be, just think about, see it, learn to feel what's around you to your advantage. (i.e. ever watch the wind straight out of the west blow leaves around in the easterly direction. Ever notice what happens when the wind that is due west hits an object i.e a wall, a building or fence that is running north and south). Yep your getting the picture, back pressure, the leaves that moments ago where heading east as the west wind blew are now heading west into the wind, some are swirling around going in every direction. This is just one example of how hunting the right wind can be the wrong wind and most people never clue into these back pressure spoilers. What can cause back pressures in a hunting environment. Thick tree-lines for the field hunters. (Picture this, you are set up on the edge of the treeline, the winds are in your face the deer are working there way along the treeline and bang, just before they present a shot they scent and spook). What else causes back pressures or wind direction shifters, Hills? Valleys? Treelines, even treelines inside of treelines, ie the transition zones where tree get closer together and thicker like fur trees in the valleys of hardwood ridges, etc... Don't forget updrafts and downdrafts...Right Wind, what's the right wind? Pay attention, see all that's there for you to see. You must tune into your surroundings. Some people believe they have picked the perfect tree, the basics are all lining up. They know the game, where they bed, eat, drink, move, timings, the weather conditions that produce the most activity, etc... But fail time and time again to close the deal, because the right winds are the wrong winds... Crazy hey? Just think about it...
As a guide I have had the privilege of watching many different hunters over the years, (started guiding at the age of 13), some dressed in the finest camo money can buy, placed in a known hot spot where game animals walk past daily and yet for some reason they can't see any animals or can't get them in range, the game always spots them first. They stick out like sore thumbs. When other hunters wearing just plaid shirts or cheap camo were able to have game all around them while hunting in the exact same spot under the exact same conditions. They were able to melt/blend into their surroundings. This brings me to what I call Earth Rhythms; everything around us moves in a harmonious fashion/order, but nature can be very chaotic at times, i.e. the grasses move more then the bases of the big trees when the winds blow. Most everything we encounter in nature is alive or was at some point in time. Everything out there has it's own Rhythm, the manner in which it reacts to the forces of nature being applied at that particular given time. The next time you take to the woods, look for the Earth Rhythms, see them for the first time. Be aware of them, see them all at once, start trying to see the Big-Picture. Some hunters have the ability to blend or melt into their surroundings easily because they sit in a place that resonates at or very near the same frequencies as they do, yet they are never aware of why they blend in so well. The trick is to try and figure out your own Earth Rhythm, then find your place in the natural balance of nature. Don't be the wind instrument sitting in the middle of the strings in an orchestra, you'll be out of place and easy to spot. Earth Rhythms, bet I lost a few more here. LOL
A hunter must spot the game first, then he must be aware of their senses, all 6? What 6 sense you ask. The 6th sense, the one we all have yet over time we have desensitized ourselves to the point where most of us never experience this sense. (The gut-feel/instinct). Some have had experiences in their lives where they might have tapped into this sense from time to time. Ever feel like you are being watched only to look around a crowded room and make eye contact with someone who is staring at you? Ever have the reverse happen? Ever have this happen when watching game animals? The 6th Sense, hmmm there goes the rest of them. LOL
Oh there are so many pieces to this puzzle, and I hate to end it here, but I love beans, don't like spilling them. Another time maybe?
For now, knowing there's more to see then what you can see, there's more to feel then what you can feel, and we all have the ability to find these answers we seek. The ESSENTIALS will unlock the answers and solve many of the mysteries... The Essentials exist, just knowing they are out there should speed up this process for you. The journey begins...
"Successful Hunters How do you do it?" Wow what a deep question...
I wonder how many people read my entire post... LOL
HUH?
I did! :bigsmyl:
I am not a consistantly successful hunter, though, and am not qualified to add anything to the discussion. Interesting thread, though.
Killdeer :campfire:
When I was getting into bows and arrows and dreaming big dreams, all of which I'm still doing, I took note of an advertisement for Hoyt Archery, and the caption said "It's about putting yourself out there again and again and again." I've found that to be pretty accurate.
I'm in the woods year round either running the dogs, fishing, hunting, stump shooting, whatever so I know my areas like the back of my hand. I scout year round and know well before hunting season where stand locations for deer will be, where the grouse are thick, what the bears have been doing, how the acorns and apple crop is, if the woods are wet or dry. I watch the life cycle of the woods I guess is the best way to put it to be sucessful.
Keep trying.