November 10, 2007

Sharp Broad Heads Can Cut Deer Trailing Time by Half

A big doe stands 20 yards away from you broadside. You raise your bow and send the arrow flying. A perfect shot. You figure the doe will be down fifty yards from where you shot.

You wait 30 minutes before tracking the doe. There is a good blood trail, and it’s easy to follow.

You trail the doe for well over 300 yards before finding her. Why did a perfect shot result in a deer running so long?

One answer could be your broad head was not razor sharp.

Keep in mind not all blades are factory sharpened. Some require sharpening prior to being used for deer hunting. Broad heads can become dull by removing and replacing them in your quiver. Some broad heads could lose their edge from being exposed to the weather or oxidation.

Always test your broad heads before you head out deer hunting.

The easiest and possibly the safest way to test your broad heads is with a rubber band. Pull a rubber band taut, and very gently without putting any down pressure on the broad head blade, run the blade across the band. If the rubber band snaps immediately, your broad head blade is sharp.

If you have to place any blade pressure on the rubber band, or even worse, use a back and forth sawing motion to slice the rubber band, it is time to sharpen your broad heads or replace them.

The key to recovering an arrow shot deer quickly is through massive blood loss. The only way this can be achieved is with a razor sharp broad head at the end of your arrow. If your broad head is so sharp it scares you, then it is sharp enough for deer hunting.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com

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October 20, 2007

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

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October 18, 2007

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

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October 15, 2007

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

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October 1, 2007

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

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September 7, 2007

How to Prepare Your Deer Hunting Clothes for Deer Hunting

Preparing your hunting clothes has been a heated topic of debate for many years.

Should a deer hunter wash his/her clothes in expensive UV inhibitor detergents and no scent soaps?

Does it matter if a deer hunter, after washing his/her clothes, dries the clothing in their home dryer or should you hang your deer hunting clothing outside to air dry?

Once dry, should you place your deer hunting clothes in a vacuum sealed bag?

In my never ending quest to find out what works best for every deer hunter I tested many different ways to clean my deer hunting clothes and store them for my next hunt.

I will share my tips for preparing your deer hunting clothes in an upcoming newsletter.

Here is what Fred Vorrasi of upstate New York does for his deer hunting clothes every year. It works for him. He always gets his deer.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

Preparing Your Camouflage Deer Hunting Clothing by Fred Vorrasi

I personally get all my camo deer hunting clothes out around mid August and make sure it fits. I suggest you do the same. This will allow you enough time prior to your bow season opener to buy new clothes if need be.

Once you have determined your deer hunting clothes fit, here are 9 steps to prepare your clothes for deer hunting.

1. Set your wash machine to its large load setting.

2. Set wash cycle for COLD water wash and rinse.

3. Fill wash machine with your deer hunting clothes.

4. Add two cups of baking soda only and start wash cycle. Do not add any other detergents.

5. When the wash cycle has completed, find a shaded area out side to hang a clothes line.

6. Be careful that the area you hang the clothes is away from odors such as grills, car exhaust, pet odors, or chemical sprays.

7. Hang your clothes outside, out of direct sunlight, for one to three weeks until dry.

8. After your clothes have dried outside, place into a thick clear plastic bag containing one to two pine branches, or two apples cut in five to six pieces.

9. Seal the bag with a twist tie or if the bag is so equipped, with its zip top type closure.

Placing pine branches or cut apples in the bag will omit a natural odor to your clothing. When you open the bag for the first time after sealing it you can smell that your clothing has been naturally scented.

Through out the season keep placing your clothing in the bag when not in use and place new pine branches or apples every other week. Changing the branches or apples regularly insures the scent on your clothing is strong.

This really works, I bow hunt in NY state hard woods and pine forests and have had great success.

Good luck hunting.

Frontier Fred.

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (2)

May 9, 2007

Deer Hunters Keep In Shape by Bow Fishing

“Deer Hunters Keep in Shape by Bow Fishing by Marty Prokop” 

Hunting with archery equipment offers the deer hunter a longer season. In many states the archery deer season starts around mid-September and runs through the end of the year.

 

Deer hunting with archery equipment is a true test of determination and patience. An archer has to wait for the perfect, close range shot.

 

With archery equipment, I find I am using different muscles than I use during the rifle or muzzleloader deer hunting season.

 

What can an archer do to keep the shooting eye sharp and muscles in shape during the off-season?

 Perfect Practice Makes Perfect Recommends Marty Prokop 

Set up a bow range and practice often.

 

Creating a safe bow range is fairly easy to do. If you live in the city, check your local regulations regarding having a bow range in your backyard.

 

When choosing a site for your personal bow range, look for an area that will offer you a few different yardage options. Choose the yardage options that you would most likely experience while out deer hunting.

 

My bow range, for example, will allow me to shoot from distances as close as 10 yards all the way to 75 yards.

 

If you plan to hunt from a deer hunting tree stand, for archery practice build yourself a shooting platform equaling the height you will be deer hunting from. Place your shooting platform at the most likely yardage you would encounter deer while you are deer hunting.

 

I place my shooting platform at approximately 30 yards from my target.

 Marty Prokop Advises to Choose a Good Archery Target  

Personally, I like to practice with 3-D targets. There are many different brands of 3-D targets available today. They range in price from $60 up to $300.

 

Since I mostly hunt whitetail deer, I opted for a life sized whitetail deer 3-D target. Using a life size 3-D target simulates a real deer and allows me different shot possibilities at different ranges, which gives me perfect practice.

 

Make sure the target you choose has a replaceable vitals section. This will save you money in the long run. Instead of having to purchase a whole new target, you can simply purchase and replace the vitals section.

 Safety First Reminds Marty Prokop 

Before you nock your arrow to the bowstring, make sure there are no people, animals or objects in or beyond your line of fire.

 

Always make sure you have a strong, oversized back stop behind your target. A back stop prevents arrows from passing through your target. It also stops arrows that have missed the target completely from traveling outside of your bow range.

When constructing your target back stop use material the arrow cannot pass through, but that does not damage your tips or arrows. Your back stop should be a minimum of two feet taller than the target. Make sure the back stop extends at least one foot wider than each side of the target.

 

When you practice, I recommend you use regular tips and not broad heads.

 

If your local regulations do not allow you to set up your own archery range in your back yard, find a local sporting goods shop that offers an indoor range.  

Practice Archery and Fish at the Same Time says Marty Prokop

One of the ways I keep my hunting eye sharp and my muscles ready is to bow fish. Bow fishing is the only sport I know where a person can hunt and fish at the same time.

 

Check your state’s local rules and regulations regarding bow fishing before you head to the nearest lake or pond. Make sure you know how to swim or you are wearing a floatation device while on or in the water. Always keep safety as your top priority.

 

Your targets are rough fish; such as carp, suckers and gar to name a few.

 

You can equip your hunting bow for bow fishing for around $75. This will get you a great bow fishing reel, arrow with fish point and the line needed to attach to your arrow.

 

A good pair of polarized sun glasses will help you spot the fish lying just under the water’s surface. Searching for fish just below the surface keep your hunting eye keen.

 

On a good day bow fishing you can take up to 100 shots at fish. This will help keep your muscles in shape for the archery deer season.

 

The added bonus is the fun of reeling in fish.

 

If you haven’t tried bow fishing yet, I hope you will after you read this week’s newsletter.

 

Keep your hunting eye sharp and your bow hunting muscles in shape during the off season. Perfect practice during the off season will make you more confident in your deer hunting tree stand come deer season.

 

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

 

Marty Prokop

www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

November 5, 2006

A Buck with a Bow

I received an email and some pictures from Fred Vorassi from Upstate NY I would like to share with you.

Hi Marty

I am sending you photos of a buck I got with a bow on October 18th it was a week of rain in upstate NY and high winds. The hunting was a little poor due to the weather. But finally I got a break, on the morning of October 18th. I was in my ladder stand looking forward for an hour and ahalf. Then I decided to get up and stretch when I stood up I saw the buck about 50 yard behind me looking in my direction. I used a prerut lour, the buck seem to be eager to walk my way with both ears moving. He walked into a clearing 22 yards away.

I was at full draw for about 30 seconds when he came into the opening I took the shot. I got him in the lungs I waited one hour and then I tracked it but I could not find any blood. So I started to zig zag in a golden rod field where I saw him last enter and there he was expired. He ran about 100 yards from my tree stand. Great morning.

Marty, I am a taxidermist and my website is fftaxidermy.tripod.com I always check my website and I noticed your advertisement on my home page. That is how I found out about you and your news letter. You have my permission to post my buck story and photos on your website. Thank you very much

Sincerely,
Fred Vorrasi

Freddy,

Congratulations. Any deer taken with a bow and arrow is a great achievement.

If you would like, You can send me a picture of your deer as well as a few details of your hunt. With your permission I will then post your story highlights and pic on the website.

Again, congratulations.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty

www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (3)