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February 27, 2007 11:24 AM
Following a Deer Trail...How Far Should You Go?
I read in a book that a person should follow a deer trail both ways to determine where the deer are coming from and where they are going to.I would like to know how far a person should walk before turning around, especially a person like me who gets lost easily.
ML
Thanks for the great question.
I agree. A deer hunter could choose to follow a deer trail in both directions to see where the trail leads to and from.
How far to travel will depend on what you see while following the deer trail.
I personally like to follow the trails until I find one of three things; a bedding area, a food source or a watering hole.
If, while I am walking, I find the trail leads to a bedding area I stop and turn around. Rarely will I go into where the deer may be bedding. I simply do not want to disturb the area. The only time I will enter the bedding areas is if I have a wounded deer that went into one.
If I find the deer trail leads to a food source or food plot, I will look over the area to see if there is a good place to set up a deer hunting tree stand or ground blind overlooking the food source.
If I come across a watering hole on the trail I will look to see how heavy the deer traffic is around the water source. If deer sign is heavy, I will look to see if there is a place to hang a deer hunting tree stand over looking the water hole.
Often times you may find that a trail leads to food or water in one direction and to a bedding area in the other direction. A great place to put a deer hunting tree stand is half way between a bedding area and a food or water source.
As the deer gets up from the bedding area it will move to either feed or drink. You will have your deer hunting tree stand set up to intercept the deer.
Avoid Getting Lost
Getting lost in the woods is never fun. A GPS is a great tool to help you find your way back out of the woods. They are a bit expensive, but they work very well.
An inexpensive way to keep from getting lost while you are walking deer trails is to purchase a roll of plastic marking ribbon. Each roll costs around two bucks. The ribbon comes in many bright colors and each roll is about 100 feet in length.
When you start to follow a deer trail, tear off a piece of marking ribbon and tie it around a tree. Every 20 feet or so tear off another piece of ribbon and tie it to another tree. Mark your way as you follow the trail. Follow the ribbons back out of the woods.
Knowing where the deer are going to and from could help you bag a big buck.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you come across a deer trail you want to follow.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 11:24 AM | Comments (4)
February 22, 2007 05:58 PM
Which Way do Deer Travel?
I recently received this question from one the members of the www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com community. If you would like to have your questions answered, make sure to go to the questions and comments link below this post.
After typing your question, hit submit and your question will be sent to my inbox. I answer all questions that come to me and will post them to the internet within 48 hours.
Marty,Something I never pay attention to is, does a deer travel in the morning from north to south or south to north or do they just travel any direction?
This is a great question.
Whether during the morning, noon or night…most often, deer travel with the wind blowing in their faces or simply “into the wind.”
The reason deer do this is so they can “wind” or smell everything ahead. This allows deer to avoid dangerous situations.
Although deer prefer to travel with the wind in their faces, on occasion deer will travel with cross winds, which blow from one side to another. The currents from cross winds will still alert deer to any dangers from left or right.
But, I have seen deer travel with the wind at their backs for a couple of reasons.
It can happen when they are being pursued.
Plus, on my deer hunting land, I have watched deer run to food plots with the wind at their backs. This is usually for very short distances. And, as soon as they hit the field, they immediately turn their noses back into the wind.
Next time you notice deer running north or south (or any direction) when you are out deer hunting, see which way the wind is blowing. It’s likely the deer is heading into the wind.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 5:58 PM | Comments (0)
February 18, 2007 02:19 PM
Can Reading a Book While Deer Hunting Spook Deer?
Marty,What is your opinion of reading in the treestand or woods while deer hunting ? I myself find it relaxing.
Thanks,
Marcel
Marcel,
Reading in the woods is a matter of personal preference for each hunter.
I personally choose not to read while I am in the deer hunting woods.
All of my attention goes to watching and listening to every noise and movement.
I want to make sure I can get my bow or rifle up and be ready when a shot presents itself.
If I had a book in my hands I do not feel I would be able to put the book down fast enough to raise my bow or rifle.
Keep in mind most book covers have a glossy coating. If the sun hits the cover at the right angle it could produce a flash similar to shining light on a mirror or lens. If an approaching deer sees sun bouncing off the book cover it could bolt before you get a clean shot.
Most book pages are white, a danger color for deer. Turning pages could flash enough white to alert deer of your presence. A deer seeing a flash from the white pages may associate this with danger and run before you can shoot.
One could eliminate the problem of the sun bouncing off a cover or the white pages alerting a deer if they hunt from an enclosed blind.
I know you, Marcel, hunt from an enclosed deer hunting tree stand, so the sun’s reflection off a book cover or the flash from white pages may not spook deer while you are deer hunting. I am sure you will be fine reading books while in your tree stand. But, if you hunt on the ground, I would shy away from reading a book.
To see a picture of Marcel’s deer hunting tree stand read the November 1, 2006 blog post.
Reading while you are out deer hunting can be an enjoyable and relaxing activity while you sit and wait for a big buck to appear. As long as the deer doesn’t see flashes from white pages or a reflection on the book’s cover you could still get your deer.
It is purely the hunter’s choice whether to carry a book to his stand or not.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 2:19 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2007 12:03 PM
If Hunting Over a Scrape, What Deer Scent Should I Use?
Below is a question I received from Andy after he read his Free Deer Hunitng Tips newsletter called Get More Results from Your Deer Scent. Thanks for the question Andy.
What deer scent do you use when hunting over scrapes?Andy
Andy,
Thanks for your email.
I recently answered this question on the www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com blog at www.marty-prokop.com.
Most generally, scrapes start popping up about a week before the main rut begins. A buck will revisit the scrape all the way through the rut.
The main thing a big buck is looking for is a doe in estrus. But, a big buck will also be checking to see if another buck is in his territory. This being the case, I use two types of scents when deer hunting near a scrape.
I use doe in estrus scent, also called doe-in-heat scent, and I use dominant buck urine.
I place one scent wick with dominant buck urine and one scent wick with doe estrus over the scrape. If possible hang the dominant buck scent wick right on the licking branch. Hang the doe estrus scent wick so it can drip into the scrape.
Any buck coming to visit the scrape will smell the doe in estrus scent and the dominant buck scent. The visiting buck will rework the scrape and start looking for the other buck to chase out. If you have positioned your deer hunting tree stand in the right place, you could get a great shot at the buck while he reworks the scrape.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 12:03 PM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2007 03:51 PM
Deer Scent Question
Below is a great comment I received from Marcel regarding a prior blog post which talked about using natural cover scents for hunting. In his comment, Marcel, asks another great question. Below Marcel';s comment you will find my answer.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty
Thanks for your answer. I’m glad I wasn’t doing all that work for nothing.You asked me what kind of deer scent I use to put on the deer droppings I bring back to my tree stand from other places. Before I started talking to you, I did not think it made a difference. I always thought as long as a deer smelled any deer scent it was ok. Could you remind me and every body else what is the best deer scent according to the time of the rut right. Thank you.
P.S. I told one of my nephews about you saying a fake scrape should have a branch above the scrape to look more real. He is a good hunter and he didn’t know about that.After I told him, he said, “You know, now that you mention it, every time I watch a deer hunting program on TV, there is always a deer rubbing a branch with its face or its eyes.” “Thanks,” he said.
He also laughed at me every time I told him I bring deer droppings in a plastic bag to my tree stand. I got him this time. I’m going to show him your reply on that one. We’ll see how he laughs then.
Marcel
Marcel,
Thanks for the comment.
A person can spend a small fortune on deer scents. There are three main deer hunting scents I use when I deer hunt. During the pre-rut, I use a plain doe pee. If a buck is passing by and smells the scent of a doe he may stop just long enough to give me a shot.
As the rut reaches its peak, I will use both doe estrus (also sometimes called doe-in-heat) and rival buck scent.
During the peak of the rut most doe deer have come into cycle and are ready to breed. Big mature bucks are also on the move looking for these does. Here is what you can do.
Saturate two scent wicks with doe estrus/doe-in-heat scent and two scent wicks with rival buck scent.
Place the doe estrus/doe-in-heat scent wicks in a shooting lane approximately 20 yards from your deer hunting tree stand. Try to hang the wicks on a small tree branch or shrub, so the wind can blow the scent farther.
Place one of the rival buck scented wicks fifteen yards to your left, and the other fifteen yards to your right. Again, use a small branch or twig to hang your scent wicks off the ground.
Not only will an approaching buck smell the doe estrus/doe-in-heat scent, but he will also smell the rival buck scent. A big buck, smelling both scents, could come running towards your deer hunting tree stand.
When the main rut is over, I switch back to plain doe pee as my deer hunting scent of choice.
I am glad you shared the mock deer scrape tip with your nephew. Having a licking branch over a mock deer scrape makes the scrape more realistic to deer. I have seen lots of scrapes in my deer hunting woods. Ninety-eight percent of the deer scrapes I have seen have licking branches over them.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
Posted by Marty Prokop at 3:51 PM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2007 04:57 PM
A Question of Human Scent and Human Urine While Deer Hunting
Marty,Is it a good idea to urinate in a deer scrape?
If I hunt where there is a pool of water or brook, I usually urinate in spurts to make it sound like a deer urinating. Do I do that for nothing?
I have heard a lot of stuff from the old hunters. I don’t want to teach any body the wrong thing. It is hard enough to get a deer and I don’t want to do anything to scare them way for any reason.Thanks,
Marcel
Marcel,
The subject of urinating by or not near your deer hunting tree stand has been a deer hunting topic debated for years.
Decades ago when I started deer hunting, I was taught to never urinate by my deer hunting tree stand or anywhere near my deer hunting area. As a result, I always carried an empty soda bottle and used it. If I forgot my bottle, I would walk a half mile or so, relieve myself, and head back to my deer hunting tree stand.
Sometimes the bottle posed a challenge of its own. On a cold day, hitting a small target while bundled up in my deer hunting clothing didn’t always work so well. (LOL) Unfortunately, there were times I just plain missed and ended up wearing some urine on my deer hunting clothes anyway.
If I forgot the bottle and walked a good distance away from my tree stand to relieve myself, it seemed I was consistently jumping deer on my way back to my deer hunting tree stand. Usually the deer were only a few feet from my tree stand.
Since I couldn’t go an entire day without relief, I began to search for the answer.
Over the years I have read countless stories on whether or not to urinate by a deer hunting tree stand. Many articles stated human urine does not affect deer behavior. I’ve also read a few that still touted never to pee by your deer hunting tree stand.
So, of course, while deer hunting I had to try my own experiments. Here’s what I’ve found from personal experience.
I tested different scenarios:
1) Climbing down from my deer hunting tree stand and peeing at the tree’s base
2) Walking a short distance from my tree stand and relieving myself
3) Urinating right off my deer hunting tree stand platform
The results were really shocking.
When I climbed down from my deer hunting tree stand and either walked a short distance away or peed at the tree’s base, I saw fewer deer. On the days when I relieved myself from the deer hunting treestand platform I saw more deer.
Interestingly enough, no matter where I relieved myself, I found deer tracks on or near the pee.
I believe on the days I was climbing in and out of my stand to go, my movements, not the smell of the urine, is what kept the deer from coming in.
As far as urinating on a deer scrape, I personally have not tried that one. I read one guy has tried this. He even went as far as to create a mock scrape using only human urine. He claims to have photographed more deer on that scrape than ones created by deer themselves.
In regards to peeing in spurts in a stream to sound like a deer, I would get it done quickly and get back to hunting. I’ve found the deer are more spooked by extra movement than attracted or spooked by human urine.
Good Luck and Great Hunting
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 4:57 PM | Comments (0)
February 9, 2007 12:40 PM
Choosing the Best Hunting Location
Marty,When a person is checking around to see if it’s a good place to put a treestand, and see no big heavy trails, just droppings, is this a good place for the tree stand?
Thanks,
Marcel
Marcel,
Without knowing more about the area you are deer hunting I would have to say no. But there are these exceptions. Let me tell you more.
I would not pick a deer hunting tree stand location based solely on deer droppings.
If you are seeing a few deer droppings and not seeing a deer trail nearby, the deer in the area could be using that particular location sporadically as they run through.
Rocky Terrain
One exception to this would be if the terrain where you find the droppings is rocky. If you are hunting over a rock outcropping, there could be plenty of deer activity in the area, but the rock’s surface will not show tracks.
If this is the case, walk small circles from where you found the deer droppings. Look for a trail leading to or from the top of the rocky area. If you can see trails leading into or away from the rock, and are seeing other deer sign like rubs or scrapes, the rock could be a good place to hunt over.
Food Plot
Another possible exception is if the droppings are in the middle of a deer food plot or feeding area. If the droppings were found in an opening or food source area, start walking the edges of the opening. Look for main trails leading to the opening.
Once you find a main trail or two, follow them back into the woods. Look at the areas the trails are leading to. If a trail leads into thick and gnarly brush, you may have found a bedding area. I don’t go into the bedding area, because I don’t want to disturb it.
Set up a deer hunting tree stand in the woods between the open field and the thick, gnarly bedding area. You could intercept a big buck as he walks from his bedding area out to feed.
Taking into consideration these possible exceptions, if you do not see any deer trails near the deer droppings consider putting your deer hunting tree stand in a better location. The droppings you see may be from a deer just passing through the area.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 12:40 PM | Comments (0)
February 6, 2007 11:16 AM
Natural Cover Scents for Deer Hunting
Marty,During deer hunting season when I’m walking anywhere in the woods and see fresh deer droppings, I usually pick it up with plastic sandwich bag I carry with me all the time. When I get to the place where my tree stand is, I put the deer droppings on the ground and spray deer scent all around. Am I doing all this for nothing?
Marcel
Marcel,
Thanks again for the great deer hunting question.
I think your idea of placing fresh deer droppings near your deer hunting tree stand is a good idea and here is why.
By placing the deer droppings near your tree stand you are adding more of the deer’s natural habitat to your deer hunting location. The deer droppings could help cover some of the human odor you have left behind as you walked to your deer hunting tree stand. When a deer sees the droppings near your stand, it could assume another deer has come through the area.
Spraying your deer hunting area with deer scent will also aid in masking some of the human odors present. Are you using a deer urine or doe-in-heat type scent?
In the past, I have seen mock scrape building kits that contained freeze-dried deer droppings along with deer scent and scent wicks.
The reasoning for the deer droppings in the kit is to make your mock scrape appear more natural to the deer visiting the area. One downside to freeze-dried deer droppings is that they do not retain as strong an odor as the fresh droppings you picked up in the deer hunting woods.
Overall, I think placing the droppings around your deer hunting tree stand along with scent can help mask the human odor and could be a plus.
Marcel and I have shared our experiences. I’m open ears to hear about your deer hunting and deer scent experiences. You can post your questions and comments here at the Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog by clicking on the “Questions and Comments” button just below to the right.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 11:16 AM | Comments (4)
February 2, 2007 02:00 PM
I Looked Up and the Elk Was Gone
Hi Marty,Last year, when i was elk hunting with my dad, my dad and I saw a group of elk maybe 50 yards away. We sat there for almost a half an hour spotting those elk. My dad gave me the rifle and said if you see a shot to shoot. I was looking for almost 15 minutes until I saw a 5 by 5 elk walk into view.
I put the cross hairs right behind the shoulder and went to flip the safety off. When I looked back through the scope, the elk was gone.
What could I have done to get that elk and can an elk or deer hear the safety being flipped?
I know elk isn’t your specialty but I just thought I’d ask.
Matt
Matt,
Thanks for the great questions.
There are a few different possibilities that could have resulted in the 5x5 elk disappearing.
It is likely you were hunting in the mountains. This being the case, the potentially ever changing wind direction would be one variable I would consider. Wind currents are constantly changing on hillsides.
Another possible scenario is the bull elk winded you and took off. Always be aware of what the wind is doing and which way your scent is moving.
Another factor was you taking your eye off the elk when you flipped your safety. Whenever I am hunting and spot an animal I want to harvest, my eyes always stay on the animal. If the animal moves while I am taking off the safety, I am able to follow its movements and keep my gun ready for a shot.
You ask whether deer and elk can hear the click of the safety. I have tested this on my deer hunting land, and my answer is yes. Moving a gun from safe to fire produces an unnatural, metallic sound which deer or elk are not accustom to and normally are not exposed to in their natural environments. This unfamiliar sound could cause them to bolt.
I have had deer as far out as 100 yards. I clicked the safety off, without trying to be quiet. As soon as the deer heard the metallic click of the safety, they went from feeding to looking straight at me. At fifty yards or less, not only did deer look my way, but they took off running.
Here is what I suggest to help you on future hunts. This method works very well for hunting rifles equipped with a cross bolt or button safeties.
Here are 7 Steps to Practice Quietly Moving Your Safety to Fire:
1) Make sure you are in a safe area to practice. You will be pointing your gun forward as if a deer or elk is in front of you. It may be best to do this at the range or wherever you safely sight in your gun.
2) Remove ammunition from your gun. It is not needed to simply practice moving your safety to fire mechanism.
3) Keep your eyes on the target at all times.
4) With your scope on the target and eyes looking ahead through your scope, carefully reach down to the safety mechanism.
5) Put your thumb on one side of the safety button and your index finger on the other. You will be “pinching” the safety between your thumb and index finger.
6) Move the safety button from safe to fire, by pinching the safety mechanism between your thumb and index finger. Keep a slight amount of pressure on the index finger side of the safety button while moving the gun from safe to fire mode with your thumb. This pressure with your fingers “absorbs” much of the metallic sound.
7) Practice taking the gun off safe as much as you can. When I was younger I would practice nearly everyday. It’s just like anything you want to get good at…practice, practice, practice. And make sure it is perfect practice. Practice alone does not make you an expert. It is PERFECT practice that makes you an expert. As a result of my practice, I have not had deer bolt due to them hearing the safety click.
With perfect practice you will be able to move the safety from safe mode to fire mode without any noise.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 2:00 PM | Comments (0)
February 1, 2007 03:47 PM
Do Squirrels Let You Know Deer Are Approaching?
Marty,Is it true if you hear a squirrel or a jay squawking around you it could mean there might be a deer not far away? The reason I ask is I read in a book that was just a myth. But, twice while I was in my deer hunting tree stand, squirrels and jays were making a lot of noise.
A few times I saw squirrels and jays just eating away and never saw anything else. Is this a coincidence? To me it might not mean that there is specifically a deer there, it could be any thing or any body right? So be on your guard?
Marcel
Marcel,
This particular question has been a topic of deer hunting debate for years.
It is always a great idea to keep your eyes and ears searching for any sign of deer activity when you are sitting in your deer hunting treestand, deer blind or out deer hunting.
Red squirrels are notorious for chattering when something new is in their territories. I can not recall one instance when I did not have a red squirrel chattering at me while I was sitting on my deer hunting tree stand. It is just the squirrel’s way of letting you know it sees you.
But, I have had squirrels alert me to an approaching deer on more than one occasion. In these cases, the squirrels were 50 to 100 yards distance from me when they started to chatter.
When I turned toward the squirrels’ callings, there were deer coming from those directions.
Did this happen every time? No. Many times the squirrels were simply chattering to let me know they saw me.
I have heard squirrels chatter at other animals like fishers, mink and coyotes too. Nonetheless, I believe squirrels could alert you to something approaching your location.
Jays, on the other hand, are opportunists. They will fly in and around your deer hunting area looking for food. When food becomes a bit more scarce, jays can be territorial, squawking to chase off other birds or squirrels.
I have listened to and followed the calls of jays and crows to help me find downed deer.
A few years back I had taken a nice buck toward the end of the deer hunting day. I knew I had a good hit but could not find any sign. I tracked the deer for an hour. Finding no sign, I opted to let the deer go over night. It was the only deer I have ever let go overnight. Talk about a sleepless night.
The next morning, I went back to where I saw the deer go into the woods. I noticed about 60 yards into the woods that two bald eagles were perched high in one tree and crows and jays filled the next tree over.
The eagles were quiet. The crows and jays were squawking. I walked towards the tree the crows and jays were calling from.
Twenty yards into the woods, I picked up a good blood trail. Forty yards further into the woods, right below the jays and crows, was a nice 10-point buck.
Always pay close attention to the sights and sounds when you are out deer hunting. Although squawking jays and chattering squirrels don’t always alert you of approaching deer, there are times they will. The next time a squirrel chatters in the distance, he could be telling you a big buck is heading your way.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 3:47 PM | Comments (1)
