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October 30, 2007 09:00 AM
Five Steps to Fast Track Success Deer Hunting
Five Steps to Fast Track Success Deer Hunting
1) Know when and where to hunt. The best time to harvest the buck of a lifetime is after you have completed enough scouting to understand the deer behavior and travel routes in your deer hunting area. Then you perch your body and gear in a tree stand or ground blind that the monster buck decides to walk by.
2) Rid yourself of limited thinking. Remove words like “never” and “always” from your deer hunting thoughts, beliefs and vocabulary. Most important, don’t be talked into staying out of the woods because of phrases like “post rut lull” or “big bucks are always nocturnal.” My dad always says you can’t catch fish at home in the bathtub. This means you can’t harvest a buck when you are sitting on the couch. You have to get into the field and deer hunting woods.
3) See, read and understand deer signs. Big bucks provide visual signs of there presence. You will find rubs and scrapes. Use rubs and scrapes as a starting point for scouting. Don’t always assume the bucks are going to come back, especially during the rut. Scrapes are a great starting point, but scrapes alone are usually not enough to guarantee a deer. Look for additional signs such as deer trails, food sources and bedding areas. Use these to pattern deer movement and behaviors.
4) Know more about the deer trails. Well worn trails do not automatically guarantee you deer. Instead of instantly placing your stand over a trail, invest some time in understanding where the trail goes, what the deer are using it for, what time of day or night they may be coming through and where the trail leads in all directions.
5) Set achievable goals. The deer hunters on TV and in magazines shoot big bucks or several big bucks in one season because they are hunting on pre-scouted land that is proven to hold big bucks. Your deer hunting area may not hold a monster whitetail, but it may hold several really nice bucks or does for the freezer. Be realistic and grateful for all your hunting experiences and accomplishments — including just being out in the field.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 9:00 AM | Comments (0)
October 25, 2007 09:00 AM
Using a Trail Camera to Pattern Big Bucks
Trail cameras are one of the newest and more technical pieces of deer hunting equipment. Trail cameras help you discover deer movement, which enhances your chances of being in the right place at the right time.
Make sure when you are checking them, you do so at a time when the deer are most likely not in the area. At first, you will have to take your best guess. As you begin to see the pictures, which contain date and time, you will be able to better pattern deer movement.
The night-vision infrared cameras do not flash during dark hours. This better conceals your outdoor photo studio from the watchful eyes of wildlife.
By using trail cameras you may discover that a mature buck has changed his pattern from early morning feeding — when more hunters are usually in the field — to midday feeding, actually following the hunters out of the field to the food plot.
During the pressure of deer season, deer may conserve energy and try to avoid hunters by feeding midday. This may require you to be in the woods during workdays. So consider planning a few vacation days or reworking your daily schedule to be out in the field.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 9:00 AM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2007 09:00 AM
How to Call Deer
Below, Terry asks a great question concerning the True Talker Deer Call.
How can a deer hunter reproduce the sound of the fawn bleat during deer season to attract does?
You can read my answer under Terry's comment.
Marty Prokop
Marty,
Someone gave me a true talker deer call. I have never used a call before and would love to try it. I have read that you can call in does with a fawn bleat. How do you make that sound? I hunt in an earn-a-buck unit so I need to harvest a doe. Any help you can give me would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Terry
Terry,
The Hunter’s Specialties True Talker is a great call. I personally use one each year and have had great success.
The True Talker has four bands over the top of the reed. Depressing each band will produce different deer vocalizations. You can also vary pitch and tone, and alter the volume, rhythm and inflection when calling. The True Talker's four memory bands allow the caller to quickly find the desired tone.
The Bleat is the fawn version of the bawl, it is given by the fawn when it wants urgent attention, is hungry, or wants care, and may be heard as far as 100 yards away with the human ear.
The Bawl is an intense call used by deer in distress, often when caught by a predator or trapped. The sound is a loud baa. Does often respond to the call by running in, presumably out of maternal instinct.
The pitch of the fawn bleat is low-medium-low. The tone is low-medium, and the volume of a fawn bleat is low-moderate.
The Mew is used by the fawn when it wants attention, or is given in response to the maternal grunt of the doe. The mew sounds much like it is spelled. The pitch of the sound is low-high-low and lasts about 20 to 30 seconds in length. Both tone and volume of this call are low.
If you have the chance to go into your local sporting goods store before your season begins, look for a deer vocalization tape or cd. Listen to the tape and try to duplicate the sounds with your True Talker.
Practice as much as you can before you head out into your deer hunting woods. When deer season opens you will be calling like a pro.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 9:00 AM | Comments (4)
October 20, 2007 09:00 AM
Staying Warm While Deer Hunting
If you are deer hunting in the northern climates, especially during November or December, you must plan ahead and dress warmly if you plan to spend the day or many hours in your deer hunting tree stand or ground blind.
You must dress warm but still be able to move, navigate and effectively use your gun or bow. You don’t want a crunchy coat to scare off a big buck.
Layering is a great way for deer hunters to keep in heat and yet be able to effectively deer hunt.
In cold climates, on your upper torso, consider wearing a turtleneck as your base layer. On top of that follow with a thermal shirt. Then added layers such as a sweatshirt with a fleece vest over it. Top this all off with a fleece jacket or a jacket made of material that does not crunch or make noises when you move, draw or aim.
If you are deer hunting cold climates, on your lower body, consider two pairs of thermal underwear with a pair of insulated hunting pants as your top layer.
When selecting your layers, remember cotton layers soak up and hold moisture. This means you could sweat during the walk to your deer hunting tree stand or ground blind. This could soak your cotton layers. When you finally sit still in your tree stand or blind, you may find yourself quickly freezing and unable to keep warm.
I make sure my feet are going to stay warm by using a good pair of thick socks (or two) and great insulated boots. Since people lose a great deal of heat out the tops of their heads, I recommend a wool cap to round out your deer hunting outfit.
Before you layer up and go to the woods, first layer up at home and practice lifting your gun or shooting your bow. Make sure your deer hunting outfit allows for safe, quiet use of your bow or gun. Replace any outfit piece that gets in the way or makes too much noise.
Follow this and when the cold winds of deer hunting season blow, you won’t be headed for the fireplace. You’ll be able to grab your gun or bow and head for the woods for the big buck of your dreams or a nice doe for the freezer.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 9:00 AM | Comments (0)
October 18, 2007 09:11 AM
How to Stalk Deer While Deer Hunting
Below is a great question I received from Dakota regarding How to Stalk a big Mule Deer Buck.
You can read my answer below Dakota's question.
Marty
Hey Marty,
I started bow hunting and im trying to get my first ever mule deer buck.
Can you give me tips an stalking up on mule deer?
I was stalking up on this mature buck but it heard me.
Dakota
Dakota,
Thanks for your email. Congratulations on becoming a bow hunter. The thrill and excitement of taking a deer with a bow is often greater than that of harvesting one with a rifle.
Taking on the challenge of stalking a deer adds to the excitement. You are putting your wits against those of big buck, a master at survival.
Stalking a mule deer with a bow is a great challenge. Mule deer are notorious for being spooked very easily.
It is not surprising the mule deer heard you. His ears are a bit larger than a whitetail deer and a mule deer is often more alert. That being said it is not impossible to stalk a mule deer.
Tips for stalking a muley are very similar to those used to stalk a big whitetail buck.
1.) Plan the stalk before you move. Look at all possible paths you can take for getting into bow range before you take the first step forward. Having a plan will keep you focused and prevent errors.
2.) When stalking deer keep the wind in your face. This keeps your scent from blowing in his direction.
3.) Stay low to the ground. Sometimes it is necessary to belly-crawl to get into range.
4.) Make small, almost non-noticeable, movements. When stalking deer, slow and steady will get you a lot closer for a shot. Quick movements will alert a deer to danger every time. I was stalking a nice doe one afternoon and it took me one hour to move 25 yards.
5.) Use the surrounding terrain to help conceal you. If there are rocks, trees or tall grasses between you and the buck, keep the objects between you and the mule deer buck.
6.) If the big buck lifts his head while you are moving forward, STOP. When his head is up he is scanning the area for anything that resembles danger. If the big buck senses danger, he will bolt.
As with anything perfect practice makes perfect. Notice I said perfect practice. Practice your stalking movements as often as you can. It may feel awkward crawling around in your back yard, but the more you practice the more natural it will become when you are out deer hunting.
Stalking any game animal is a challenge but can be done successfully as long as you are patient.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
Posted by Marty Prokop at 9:11 AM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2007 09:00 AM
Deer Hunting During the Deer Rut
Late Fall is when you will generally see rutting behaviors, but in some areas, the rut can continue into December.
Doe deer coming into estrus late or those who were not bred during the main rut may catch the attention of bucks well into December. They don’t watch a calendar or care what month it is, so neither should you.
Even during deer bowhunting in December carry along your deer scents and deer calls. You may find that you are out in the field late in the bowhunting or muzzleloader season and hear a dominate buck grunt. If you have your deer calls with you, you can use them to bring in the big buck.
If you are bowhunting or muzzleloader hunting for deer later in the season, be prepared in case you find yourself deer hunting a late season rut.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 9:00 AM | Comments (0)
The Surprising Secret to Retrieve Down Deer in Half the Time
You’ve made the shot and scored a solid hit on the deer. You know it was a
good shot, but the deer took off running. You have a couple options now. Get
down and tear off through the woods hoping you catch the deer or sit in your
tree stand watching where the deer ran.
I choose to sit and watch where the deer runs.
Once the deer is out of my sight, I sit for at least 10 minutes longer looking in the deer’s general direction. As I sit, I watch the bushes for any movement.
After my 10 minute calming period, I climb down from my deer hunting tree stand and walk over to where the deer was standing when I shot. I look at the area to determine if my hit was solid.
Once I determine the hit was good, I sit for another 20 minutes.
After a total of 30 minutes has passed since I took the shot, I begin tracking the deer.
The 30 minutes before tracking a wounded deer that has run allows the deer to find a place to lay down and “stiffen up.” This will also help you avoid pushing the deer farther away from the place you shot it.
I have been fortunate in that only a few deer have run off after I hit them. With each one I waited for 30 minutes before I tracked them. In many cases the deer was found in a bed within 100 yards of my deer hunting tree stand. When I walked up to them, they have usually expired.
If you shoot and know you made a well placed shot, your deer still gets up and runs off, wait 30 minutes before tracking it. This will usually keep the deer a little closer to where you hit it and keep you from pushing it farther into the woods.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 9:00 AM | Comments (0)
October 10, 2007 09:00 AM
Deer Hunting Food Sources
During deer hunting season, hunting food sources can be a good technique for harvesting whitetail deer.
In farmland, deer like to work over fields looking for grains spilled during the harvest. They also look for new green shoots from winter cover crops such as winter wheat, which can be growing through or under snow cover.
Winter food is available but the deer need to work harder and move around more often. Look for a food source the deer are using that is not depleted yet.
Set up your tree stand or your deer hunting ground blind nearby.
During the later part of the deer hunting season, the deer move from food source to food source at all times of the day. So plan your deer hunt so you are in your deer hunting tree stand or ground blind all day.
Being prepared to sit all day could put in front of a big late season buck.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 9:00 AM | Comments (0)
October 5, 2007 09:00 AM
Conserving Body Heat While Deer Hunting
Conserving body heat is a high priority during whitetail deer hunting.
Hunting locations that face south are good for finding deer at this time of the year because they get the most sun and gather heat for deer. South-facing hillsides, ravine slopes and other areas with a southern exposure are deer magnets during cold weather.
Dawn and dusk are always good times to hunt for whitetail deer, but for December deer hunting midday hunts can be just as good. And during midday a great place to hunt is south-facing slopes.
Deer are attracted to these areas in midday when the sun is it’s warmest to eat on twigs, leaves and acorns.
If you can find thickets and food sources on south slopes, you may just have found a deer hunting hot spot.
Dawn and dusk are always good times to hunt for whitetail deer, but for December deer hunting midday deer hunts can be just as good. And during midday a great place to hunt is south-facing slopes.
Deer are attracted to these areas in midday when the sun is it’s warmest to eat on twigs, leaves and acorns.
If you can find thickets and food sources on south slopes, you may just have found a deer hunting hot spot.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 9:00 AM | Comments (2)
October 1, 2007 06:47 PM
Deer Bowhunting the Thick Stuff
Have you ever walked pass briars, swamp grass or thick brush and decided it was just too difficult to penetrate?
During deer bowhunting season that’s exactly where you’re going to find the most deer. The nastier the cover, the more they like it.
In December, most leaf cover is gone from the trees and the woods are wide open. Deer feel very nervous. And by this time the local deer have become expert escape artists after dodging hunters during the prior month’s gun deer hunting season.
The lack of foliage and deer hunting pressure force deer into whatever security they can find.
Try working your way to the center of the thicket. You will need clear shooting lanes. So carry a set of pruning clippers to trim the brush and branches. Place a tree stand or a ground blind. The deer will be up close and only a few yards away.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop at 6:47 PM | Comments (0)
