Free Deer Hunting Tips by Marty Prokop: Deer Hunting Archives

http://www.marty-prokop.com

715-868-1109

P.S. Did you get the “Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters” ... It’s my gift to you at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

It’s awesome and totally FREE. Go over there and get it now.

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*** Would you like to learn to process your own deer? ***

I’ve processed over 7,800 deer and developed the Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters. You can get it free at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

======================================

*** Warning! Deer hunters, don't butcher your deer until you read this... ***

Health departments discover 87% of meat shops process lead into deer meat — so dangerous it’s recalled and destroyed. A partial ban is issued on ground venison.

But it’s not just meat shops, Department of Natural Resources tests find 1 in 5 deer hunters also process lead in venison.

Keep your family safe, discover why you don’t want your deer processed after 6 pm and much more. It’s shocking. Deer hunters and their families gotta know this stuff. Go get the free Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters at http://www.huntingheadlines.com now. It’s free.

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Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=======================================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

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Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

November 6, 2008

“Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters” from Deer Processing Expert Marty Prokop Offers Solution for Lead in Venison Problem

Free deer meat guide reveals 10 common deer processing mistakes to avoid to keep food banks, deer hunters, families and children safe from lead in venison.

Marty Prokop, who has processed over 7,800 deer in his 26 years experience as a professional meat cutter, deer processor and deer hunter, whose videos are used in Advanced Hunter Education says, “This isn’t speculation anymore. Deer processors and deer hunters can’t guess and can’t use the same old deer butchering ways.”

“To keep your family and children safe,” Prokop continues, “you must know what to do and look for in proper, safe deer processing — whether you process deer yourself or have a butcher process for you. The ‘Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters’ offers the solution to the problem of lead in venison and it is free at http://www.huntingheadlines.com”

Disturbing statistics and findings surfacing show:

• The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study released in November 2008 found that higher levels of lead show up in blood of people who eat deer harvested with lead bullets than people who don’t — causing danger for families, especially pregnant women and children.

• The deer meat processed at meat shops and eaten by deer hunters, families and children is not inspected for safety or approved as being fit for human consumption like beef and pork. Due to a Department of Agriculture meat inspection loophole, venison harvested by deer hunters is uninspected meat.

• Department of Agriculture tests showed 87% of meat shops tested processed lead in venison, due in part to lack of inspection.

• Lead fragments were discovered in deer meat as far away as 18 inches from the initial bullet entry point, resulting in lead being overlooked, processed and fed to families.

• Department of Natural Resources tests revealed one out of five deer hunters don’t know how to correctly process deer resulting in dangerous lead in the deer meat they butchered.

Marty Prokop teaches safe deer processing in seminars and at Online-Deer-Camp.com, where his step-by-step deer processing videos are available to watch 24 hours a day.

Here are Marty Prokop’s “10 Common Deer Processing Mistakes to Avoid” — for the complete explanation and solution visit the free “Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters” at http://www.huntingheadlines.com:

Deer Processing Mistake # 1

Believing deer processing and deer meat are inspected for safety like beef and pork.

Deer Processing Mistake #2

There is a severe lack of deer processing training for deer hunters and meat processors and no certification or inspection for safety of the deer meat.

Deer Processing Mistake #3

How using saws and the wrong knives can lead to lead in venison and higher bacteria in venison.

Deer Processing Mistake #4

Sharing a grinder with other deer hunters — one hunter’s dirty trim can contaminate hundreds of pounds of other hunters’ venison.

Deer Processing Mistake #5

Having your deer processed after 6 pm

Deer Processing Mistake #6

Not watching what cuts of meat go in the grinder. Trusting the meat in ground venison is not contaminated or dangerous — whether processed at a meat shop or by the deer hunter.

Deer Processing Mistake #7

Lack of education on what is safe deer meat and what is not.

Deer Processing Mistake #8

Deer hunters feeding deer rib meat and deer fat to their families.

Deer Processing Mistake #9

Eating slightly discolored meat that looks safe, but it’s not.

Deer Processing Mistake #10

Accepting stinky or bad tasting venison.

Resources:

Marty Prokop is available for immediate media interview 24/7 by calling Lori at 507-304-1062 or lori@huntingheadlines.com. Ask for video, audio and media kit.

Marty Prokop bio at http://www.huntingheadlines.com/who_is_marty_prokop.htm

“Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters” is available free at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

Marty shows deer hunters how to properly butcher deer in his deer processing videos available for immediate online viewing at Online-Deer-Camp.com at http://www.online-deer-camp.com.

You can read his deer hunting and deer processing blog at http://www.marty-prokop.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

October 28, 2008

Deer Processing: How to Butcher a Deer

Learn to process your own deer with these great deer processing videos

Did you know ...

Health departments discover 87% of meat shops are processing deer meat with lead in it — so dangerous the venison is recalled and destroyed.

Department of Natural Resources tests found 1 in 5 deer hunters do too.

Learn answers to protect your family now…

http://www.online-deer-camp.com

Warning! Deer hunters, don’t take your deer to any meat shop until you read this ...

I’ve combined my 26 years of deer hunting ... and deer processing over 7,800 deer ... into “Deer Processing Done Right” online videos for deer hunters who want to butcher their own deer.

It keeps your family safe, saves you big money on deer processing and gives you great tasting venison.

Plus my “How to Save $200 to $400 Per Month on Your Grocery Bill ... Without Coupons” online video series shows you how to use those deer processing skills to save big on the other meats you need to feed your family.

Want to see how clear and detailed these videos are?

http://www.onlinedeercamp.com

Protect Your Loved Ones from Lead in Venison and Recession Proof Your Family

Your family will really love venison after you use my deer processing system.

When venison is gone for the year, deer hunters and their families head to the grocery store to pay through the nose for beef.

You may not realize the cost per pound of beef, but you do know a big chunk of your paycheck disappears after a trip to the grocery store.

Let’s keep more of your paycheck in your pocket.

I’ll show you how to turn your deer processing skills into savings of $200 to $400 per month on your grocery bill ... each and every month ... without coupons — and feed your family better.

How?

I’ll show you how to get delicious, tender, restaurant-quality steaks ... normally $10.99 a pound ... for just $2.29 a pound.

And save big bucks on other meats like delicious boneless pork chops, mouthwatering roast beef, tender beef ribs, juicy roasts and extra lean ground beef.

I’ll show you these grocery store wholesale meat secrets and how this $200 dollar to $400 dollar a month grocery savings can be yours ... with all the hard work already done for you.

Let me explain at http://www.onlinedeercamp.com where you can watch the video and learn about all of this.

See you there.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

Deer Hunting Expert

Deer Processing Expert

http://www.marty-prokop.com

715-868-1109

P.S. Did you get the “Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters” (link to http://www.huntingheadlines.com ) ... It’s my gift to you at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

It’s awesome and totally FREE. Go over there and get it now.

=====================================

*** Would you like to learn to process your own deer? ***

I’ve processed over 7,800 deer and developed the Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters. You can get it free at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

======================================

*** Warning! Deer hunters, don't butcher your deer until you read this... ***

Health departments discover 87% of meat shops process lead into deer meat — so dangerous it’s recalled and destroyed. A partial ban is issued on ground venison.

But it’s not just meat shops, Department of Natural Resources tests find 1 in 5 deer hunters also process lead in venison.

=======================================

Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=======================================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

=======================================

*** Newsletter and RSS Feed ***

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*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***

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Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

October 20, 2008

Free Deer Processing “Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters” is Lead in Venison Solution

Lead has been found in venison. This blog post is about the solution for deer hunters to keep your family safe when it comes time for deer processing.

The Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters is ready for you free at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

It shows you how to keep your family safe.

You can see the short 1 minute video telling you all about it at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

Here’s the scoop…

Health departments discover 87% of meat shops tested process lead into deer meat — so dangerous it is recalled and destroyed.

A partial ban is issued on ground venison.

But it’s not just meat shops…

Department of Natural Resources tests find 1 in 5 deer hunters also process lead in venison when butchering deer and feed it to their families without knowing.

Here’s what the Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters includes…

** Why 87% of meat shops tested processed lead in venison

** Why you don’t want your deer processed after 6 pm

** Proof meat inspection loopholes cause venison meat dangers

** Warning! Deer hunters, don’t process your deer until you see this…

** Nasty deer processing industry practices

** Stop sharing meat grinders with other deer hunters

** 5 step deer processing system — how to butcher a deer the right way

** How to ensure the safety of your family and children

** What if you don’t have time for butchering deer?

** Don’t take your deer to any meat shop until you read this…

** And much, much more…

As you can see, I cover a lot in the Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

You can get it free, because I hope you’re enjoying your deer hunting tips newsletter and my deer processing and deer hunting blog posts.

Hey, help keep fellow deer hunters and their families safe.

Forward this email to your hunting buddies and their families to let them know the “Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters” can help keep their families safe.

They can get it too … free at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

Let’s keep hunters and families safe … and deer hunters out deer hunting.

We put months into the Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters.

I’m getting feedback that I could offer it for a decent price, but I want you to have it free to keep your family safe. The 1 minute video will explain.

It’s so important, all I ask is that you go get it now at http://www.huntingheadlines.com and consider passing it on to other hunters and their families.

Help them stay safe regardless of who is doing the deer processing.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

Deer Hunting Expert

Deer Processing Expert

http://www.marty-prokop.com

715-868-1109

=====================================

*** Would you like to learn to process your own deer? ***

I’ve processed over 7,800 deer and developed the Deer Meat Safety Guide for Deer Hunters. You can get it free at http://www.huntingheadlines.com

======================================

*** Warning! Deer hunters, don't butcher your deer until you read this... ***

Health departments discover 87% of meat shops process lead into deer meat — so dangerous it’s recalled and destroyed. A partial ban is issued on ground venison.

But it’s not just meat shops, Department of Natural Resources tests find 1 in 5 deer hunters also process lead in venison.

=======================================

Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=======================================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

=======================================

*** Newsletter and RSS Feed ***

=======================================

*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***

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Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

October 8, 2008

Free Vension Recipes: Vension Schnitzel

Fall is in the air. Cool crisp nights, leaves changing colors and the promise of another deer hunting season just around the corner.

A favorite part of a successful deer hunt is sitting down to a meal of fresh venison tenderloins. Add a little salt and pepper to taste and sauté in melted butter to medium rare. Makes your mouth water just thinking of it.

As hard as it may be to believe, there are other ways to enjoy venison tenderloin.

The following recipe brings back memories of visiting Great Grandma on Sunday's. She loved to cook, and cook she did. There was always enough food to feed a small city and it always tasted great.

Here is one of her old-world deer meat recipes for Venison Schnitzel using tenderloins.

Venison Schnitzel

2 pounds venison tenderloin

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons bacon drippings

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons milk

1 cup dry bread crumbs

1/2 cup crushed buttery round cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut tenderloin into 1/2 inch steaks. Slice each steak in half horizontally, from the smallest toward the largest side, until there is only a very small section keeping the two halves connected. Slice a few small scores on the outer edges of each steak to prevent them from curling up when frying.

2. Preheat oil and bacon drippings in a large heavy skillet over medium high heat. In a large shallow dish, combine flour, salt and pepper. In a separate shallow bowl, beat together egg and milk. In another shallow dish, combine bread crumbs and cracker crumbs.

3. Dredge the steaks in the seasoned flour, and using a meat mallet, pound them down to just slightly less than their 1/4 inch thickness. Dip the steaks in the egg mixture, then coat each steak on both sides with the crumbs. Set aside on a clean plate. When all steaks are evenly coated, place prepared steaks gently in a single layer into the hot oil.

4. Fry steaks for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle each steak lightly with lemon juice.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting and Deer Processing Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=========================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

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October 3, 2008

Free Deer Meat Recipes: Venison Meatballs with Pepper Sauce

Ground venison is a great meat to work with when it comes to cooking. Like many other ground meats, ground venison has literally hundreds of uses. The challenge with ground venison, as with other ground meats, is finding great tasting venison recipes.

Here is another great way to use your ground venison.

You can serve these tasty venison meatballs as appetizers or over rice or noodles as a main dish.

Venison Meatballs with Pepper Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup evaporated milk

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 envelope onion soup mix

2 pounds ground vension

Sauce:

1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 1/2 cups ketchup

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

In a large bowl, combine the first three ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls. Place on a greased broiler pan. Broil 4-6 in. from the heat for 5-8 minutes or until browned. In a Dutch oven, combine the sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; add meatballs. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour or until the meat is no longer pink.

Serve as appetizers or serve over noodles or cooked rice as a meal.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting and Deer Processing Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=========================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

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October 1, 2008

Free Venison Recipes: Venison Goulash

Great tasting venison is nature's gift to every deer hunter.

It can be a challenge finding new, great tasting venison recipes that your family likes. This can be especially true with ground venison.

Don't get me wrong here, I love venison meat in all forms. But sometimes I grow tired of plain old venison burgers. I like to spice it up a bit. Make something new that sticks to the ribs.

Here is another great tasting ground venison recipe that tastes great on cool fall nights.

Ground Venison Goulash

1 pound lean ground venison

4 potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/4 cup sliced onion

1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels

1 (15 ounce) can cut green beans, drained

1 cup elbow macaroni

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (optional)

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Directions:

1. Place ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside.

2. Add all ingredients (except noodles) to browned ground meat and simmer for 1 hour, then add noodles.

Grab your favorite spot at the dinner table, fill your plate, sit back and enjoy!

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting and Deer Processing Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=========================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

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September 29, 2008

Ground Venison: Free Deer Meat Recipes

Have you ever noticed how venison steaks, roasts and chops are first to disappear from your freezer? And rightly so. Venison steaks, roasts and chops make fantastic meals.

But what can you do with all that ground venison?

In my next few posts, I will share with you some great tasting, family pleasing ground venison recipes that are sure to satisfy.

Here is an old favorite with a tasty twist.

Venison Sloppy Joes…Greek Style

Ingredients:

1lb. Ground Venison

1/2 cup Chopped Onion

(15-ounce) can Tomato Sauce

1/3 cup Bulgur

1 tsp. Dried Oregano, crushed

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Greek Seasoning

1/4 tsp. Black Pepper

2 cups Shredded Romaine Lettuce

6 Kaiser Rolls, split and toasted

4 ounces Crumbled Feta Cheese with Tomato and Basil, or Plain Feta Cheese

In a large skillet cook ground meat and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat. Stir in tomato sauce, bulgur, oregano, greek seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 5 minutes or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

To assemble, arrange romaine on bottom halves of rolls. Spoon meat mixture on romaine. Sprinkle with feta cheese; replace top halves of rolls.

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Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting and Deer Processing Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

****************************

Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=========================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

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*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***

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Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

September 26, 2008

Free Deer Meat Recipes

Venison steak sizzling on a grill, seasoned with garlic and seasoning salt is awesome. But some deer hunters want a little more variety.

Emails from Free Deer Hunting Tips members have been pouring in asking me if I can help make a venison dinner more exciting.

In my next few posts I will share some of my favorite recipes with you.

Try these to see why they have become favorites.

Venison Nacho Dip

Ingredients:

1 lb ground venison

½ large onion, minced

salt and pepper to taste

6 oz refried beans

2 oz chopped green chiles

1 ½ cup grated cheddar cheese

6 oz mild taco sauce

3 green onions, chopped

10 ripe olives sliced

1 cup sour cream

1 cup guacamole

tortilla chips

Cook meat and onion in a nonstick pan until meat browns and onion is soft. Season with salt and pepper.

Spread the refried beans in a flat 10-inch casserole dish. Layer the meat over the beans. Sprinkle chopped chiles over the meat.

Cover with grated cheese and taco sauce.

Bake at 400 degrees F. for 25 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with green onions and olives.

Serve with tortilla chips. Use sour cream and guacamole on the side.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting and Deer Processing Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=========================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

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Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

August 18, 2008

Top 5 Ways to Miss Your Deer by Marty Prokop

If you would like to listen to this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog post as a podcast click the play button…

There are five main reasons deer hunters miss deer when they are deer hunting.

1.) Not sighting in your deer rifle before you go hunting.

This sounds pretty basic, but year after year some deer hunters refuse to go to the rifle range to sight in their deer rifles.

They may figure, “Well, it shot straight last year when I put the rifle away.”

Regardless of how straight your deer rifle shot when you cased it up at the end of season, go to the range and sight it in again for the next season, preferably several times before deer season arrives.

Why?

Sights and scopes can get bumped while cleaning, handling or transferring from gun cabinet to deer hunting woods and back again.

2.) Using different ammunition than used to sight in with.

Different bullet weights and even various ammunition brands will shoot differently from the same rifle.

Make sure you stock up on the same brand and bullet weight of ammunition, the brand and weight you sighted in your rifle with, before you head to the deer hunting woods.

3.) Taking free hand shots.

Free hand shots are the least effective for deer hunting, because in many situations you are not rock solid when shooting.

If you don’t have a good rifle rest in your tree stand or blind when you are deer hunting, use your knee to steady your shot.

Another option is shooting from the prone position, but don’t try this from a tree stand.

Always try to use a solid rest before taking the shot.

4.) Not enough perfect practice.

There is more to shooting a rifle and becoming a good shot than just simply sighting in your rifle.

The more you can practice with different shooting scenarios, the better you will become at handling your deer rifle.

5.) Not knowing your shooting limitations.

This is really simple. If you don’t feel you can make a long range shot, don’t shoot.

At times, some deer hunters let their egos take over.

Only shoot the distance you have practiced for. This will keep you from wounding deer.

How can you avoid missing your deer the next time you go deer hunting?

• Sight in your deer rifle several times before deer season arrives.

• Remember to deer hunt use the same brand and bullet weight of ammo you used to sight in your deer rifle.

• Always use a solid rest when taking a shot.

• Perfect practice. Perfect practice. Perfect practice.

• Take shots only at distances you are comfortable shooting.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting and Deer Processing Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

****************************

Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=========================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

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Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

August 15, 2008

Is Day Dreaming Costing You Your Big Buck? by Marty Prokop

If you would like to listen to this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog post as a podcast click the play button…

Most deer hunters have the best success, and bag more deer, during the first two hours of each deer hunting day.

Why?

During the first two hours of a deer hunting day, the deer hunter is focused on getting a deer. He/she is constantly looking for, listening for, thinking about and concentrating solely on seeing deer.

As time moves forward, some deer hunters begin to let their minds wander from deer hunting. This results in the eyes and ears of the deer hunter missing crucial sights and sounds in the deer hunting woods.

When the mind wanders, a deer hunter must continually stop and re-focus on deer hunting to bring the mind back on track.

Looking and listening for deer becomes harder and harder as the mind wanders further from deer hunting.

Deer hunters can become caught up in the mind’s rambling on about work, the never ending honey-do list and countless other chores that should be done. The deer hunter is not paying attention to the woods for sights and sounds of deer.

If this trancelike state progresses, the deer hunter becomes oblivious to the external surroundings and is simply going through the motions of being in the deer woods.

If a deer hunter cannot break this trancelike spell, he/she may be better off taking a break from the woods as they would not see a deer if it were right in front of them.

The best way to tag a deer when you are out hunting is to think, smell, see and breathe deer hunting. Concentrate on looking for deer signs and listening for sounds that could be made by deer.

You will be a more successful deer hunter by increasing your awareness and concentrating on deer hunting when you are out in the field.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting and Deer Processing Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

****************************

Find Deer Games, Pictures and Hunting Fun at: http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

=========================

*** More Free Stuff ***

Get Your Own Free Audio Deer Hunting Tips, listen to the Deer Hunting Podcast, subscribe to our RSS Feed, see Big Buck Pictures and read the Deer Hunting Secrets Blog at: http://www.marty-prokop.com

=========================

*** Newsletter and RSS Feed ***

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*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***

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Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

August 11, 2008

Good Deer Hunting Guns for Deer Hunting Thick Woods by Marty Prokop

If you would like to listen to this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog post as a podcast click the play button…

I have been asked by numerous Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Members what the best gun is for deer hunting in thick woods.

If you deer hunt in an area that has thick undergrowth and lots of smaller saplings, you need a gun that is quick to shoulder and has enough power to bust through the brush.

Here is a list of guns and calibers I use:

• 30-30

• 12 gauge shotgun with rifled barrel

• 30-06

Let’s look at each one.

Winchester Model 94 30-30

I prefer the Winchester Model 94 30-30 for making deer drives through thick woods. The gun is short and quick to shoulder.

Since most shots are within 30 to 50 yards, I use iron sites with a hood or peep site on front.

The 30-30 cartridge is not super fast. But loaded with a 180 grain bullet, it will bust through brush fairly well without flying too far off target.

12 Gauge Shotgun with Rifled Barrel

A 12 gauge slug can barrel through some pretty thick brush and still stay on target.

I prefer using slide or pump action shotguns.

I like the Mossberg 500. I have used this gun since I was twelve. It has performed flawlessly for me. I purchased a rifled slug barrel and topped it with a red dot scope. The red dot is sighted in for a 50 yard shot.

30-06 Rifle

This caliber has been around for many years.

When loaded with lighter 150 grain bullets, it has proven to be a great varmint rifle, as well as a good long range deer rifle.

When loaded with a heavier 180 grain bullet, the 30-06 is a good choice for a brush gun.

Choose a carbine style rifle if you plan to hunt thick brush. The shorter length of the carbine will allow you to pull up the gun quickly in heavy brush for a faster shot.

Using Scopes in Thick Brush

You can use a scope when hunting thick brush as long as you are able to get quickly on target, because a shot in thick brush will happen rather fast.

Make sure the scope you choose is a fixed power scope, not a variable scope. This will allow quicker target alignment. Usually a four power scope is sufficient.

Hunting thick brush is a great way to put deer in front of you when deer activity seems to be low due to hunting pressure. Carrying the right gun with the right ammunition is vital to your success.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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August 8, 2008

Is Your Deer Hunting Rifle Shooting Straight? by Marty Prokop

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You are at the rifle range sighting in your deer hunting gun. You take a three shot group. You notice the first shot is a bit off from the other two shots.

You take three more shots and find the grouping of bullets very acceptable. You pack up, head home, clean your deer rifle and wait for deer season to open.

Opening morning of deer hunting season arrives. You take a shot at a big buck at the distance you practiced at the range.

At the range you were holding a two-inch group.

Today somehow you miss.

Was it deer hunter’s error or buck fever perhaps? Or was your gun shooting off target?

Let’s look at this.

Remember back at the range when you fired the first bullet from your well cleaned gun?

You noticed it was the only bullet that was out of sync with the other rounds you shot. All of the bullets after that first shot hit perfectly.

Very few deer hunters clean rifle barrels between shots when at the rifle range. This means we are actually judging how well our guns shoot through “dirty” barrels.

In the scenario above shots fired after the very first shot seemed most accurate.

Test the shooting accuracy of your gun by shooting two 3 shot groups.

For one 3 shot group clean the barrel after each shot.

For the second group shoot three consecutive shots without cleaning in between rounds.

Pay close attention to the very first shot out of the clean barrel. Notice if it strikes the target differently than subsequent shots.

If it does, your rifle may perform better after a shot has been fired.

Remember, the first shot at a deer is usually the most important one and often times the only one you get.

If your gun performs better after a shot has been fired through the barrel, consider safely firing one shot through your barrel before you head out deer hunting.

Clean your gun after shooting, but remember the first shot out of your clean gun will be the least accurate.

Why clean your gun if it shoots poorly when clean?

A dirty barrel will shorten the life of your deer hunting rifle, perhaps causing rust and deterioration. If left extremely dirty, your gun may become dangerous to shoot.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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August 4, 2008

Fun and Easy Way to Test Your Long Range Shooting! by Marty Prokop

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You have been diligent in practicing your long range shooting skills at the rifle range. You are able to consistently shoot a 3-inch group at 250 yards. This is great shooting and is an important step towards deer hunting accuracy, but this shooting is under a semi-controlled environment.

Think of this.

How many times have you had that big buck in front of you while your deer hunting rifle was in a gun vise or propped up on shooting bags on a shooting bench? Never happens.

Here is a fun and easy way to test your long range shooting skills out in the field.

Your targets will be one-gallon plastic milk jugs filled with water. Add food coloring to the water so you can see a difference in color from the water to the background.

One gallon plastic milk jugs are the perfect target at long ranges as they will be comparable in size to the vital heart/lung area of a deer. So save milk jugs.

Next, find a safe field or area to set up your targets. Make sure there are no buildings, people or animals in your line of fire or beyond the milk jugs.

If you hunt from a tree stand, and you are able to, you could even set up your tree stand to simulate actual shooting from that angle.

If you shoot from a ground deer blind, consider setting up your deer blind to shoot from it.

The goal is to create the closest conditions to your actual deer hunting situation.

Pace off 200 to 300 yards from your shooting location or whatever distance you feel confident shooting.

After placing your milk jug targets, walk back to your shooting area. Take aim and see how well you shoot.

A direct hit will have the milk jugs exploding. An off center hit will still have the jugs emptying on the ground. You can actually see the liquid leaving the container.

If you find your original distance of 200 to 300 yards has you missing the target or hitting off center, move closer in 20 yard increments until you can hit center consistently.

Once you find you are hitting center consistently, you have found your true long range shooting ability under quasi hunting conditions.

This may be a bit humbling at first, but it is far better to know exactly what your long range shooting abilities are before you head out deer hunting. This knowledge will help ensure you don’t wound an animal.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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August 1, 2008

Can Wind Affect Deer Rifle Accuracy? by Marty Prokop

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There he is, Mr. Big, the big buck of a lifetime, out 200 yards in front of you.

You have practiced at this range and are quite comfortable you will make a good, solid hit.

You take aim, BANG!

The buck runs off.

You walk up to where the big buck was standing and find nothing. You search the area for hours looking for any sign of a hit and still nothing.

You wonder, “How could I have missed that shot?”

The wind!

According to the “Sierra Bullet Reloading Manual,” a 180-grain 30-06 pointed bullet leaving the muzzle at 2700 feet per second with a 20 mile per hour crosswind will blow 6 inches off course at 200 yards. That same bullet with the same 20 mile per hour crosswind will blow 14 inches off course at 300 yards.

Regardless of wind speed, bullet drift can occur if the wind is hitting your gun barrel at certain angles.

On the other hand, if you are shooting into the wind or the wind is directly behind you, wind will have little effect on your bullet’s path.

Study ballistic charts to see how your bullet will fly and how wind speed can affect your bullet trajectory. Learn the bullet drop of your load at different distances.

Before you head out to the deer hunting woods, make sure you listen to the local weather report, specifically wind speed and direction.

With a little research and some perfect practice, you could be zeroed in on a big buck at any range under any circumstances.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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July 28, 2008

How to Use your Air Rifle for Deer Hunting Success by Marty Prokop

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You know the more you practice with your deer rifle the more comfortable you are when you are out deer hunting.

It would be great if you could be out at the rifle range at least once every week practicing for deer hunting season. But, not all of us have the opportunity or luxury to have a full fledged rifle range in our back yards.

The solution? The modern air rifle.

Today, modern air rifles sport the look, feel and weight of many deer rifles. Many are surprisingly accurate at close ranges. Modern air rifles are a perfect choice for deer hunters, who do not have the ability to shoot a deer rifle at home, to get plenty of shooting practice.

Better air rifles are spring piston operated and will have a consistent 600 to 1200 feet per second (fps) muzzle velocity. Higher end air rifles will cock with a single motion (break barrel action) filling the air chamber. Some brands to consider are Gamo, Crossman and Sheridan.

If you use a scope on your deer rifle make sure to mount a similar style scope, designed specifically for air rifles, to your air rifle. This will give you the look and feel of your deer gun.

Practice with a good air rifle that has the look, feel and weight of your deer rifle. You will be conditioning your muscles, training your eyes and coordinating your body for a good shot at a deer in the woods.

Consult local rules and regulations to make sure you can discharge an air rifle in the area before you purchase your air rifle and set up your shooting area.

Make sure you set up a good back stop to capture all pellets. If you prefer, you can even buy a pellet trap and use it as a back stop. Always make sure the location you practice has nothing in or beyond the line of fire.

If you don’t have the luxury of a rifle range in your backyard and still want to practice your shooting skills get a modern air rifle and set up your own target range. Who knows, the perfect practice you put forth could have you shooting a big buck come deer season.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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July 25, 2008

Perfect Practice Makes Perfect Deer Hunting! By Marty Prokop

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Knowing how to really handle your deer hunting rifle … fast and safely … is paramount to your deer hunting success.

Think about it. Most good shots at deer happen in only seconds.

Seconds are all you need, if you know how your deer hunting rifle handles.

Perfect practice makes perfect deer hunting. Notice I said PERFECT PRACTICE, not just practice.

At least once a week, all year long, take your deer gun off the rack. Always make sure your deer rifle is empty.

Pick a spot on the wall (make sure there is nothing or no one on the other side of the wall, even though the gun is empty).

Pretend the spot on the wall is a deer that just came into range and is giving you a clear shot.

Start with your deer rifle at your side. Raise your rifle and take aim at the spot you picked. Take off the safety mechanism but Do NOT dry fire your deer gun. Simply raise your rifle from your side to your shoulder to aim for a perfect shot. Put the safety mechanism back on and try again.

Do this two to three times as if you were taking a shot at a deer.

It is important that you are able to do this smoothly when you are under pressure or fighting buck fever.

Perfect practice makes perfect deer hunting.

By going through the motions of bringing up your deer rifle and aiming, it will become more natural with each repetition.

After many repetitions, you will find your cheek is naturally sliding to the right spot on your rifle stock and your hand is flawlessly finding and operating the safety mechanism.

When you are completed with your weekly practice make sure your deer rifle is stored unloaded with the safety on. Make sure to wipe off any fingerprints or smudges on the barrel or gun finish also. This will keep your gun in tip top shape when deer season arrives.

By the time deer hunting season rolls around you will enter the woods with new confidence and experience more successful deer hunting.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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July 21, 2008

Waterproof Your Deer Hunting Rifle by Marty Prokop

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You clean and oil your deer hunting rifle; spray it with one of those silicone gun waterproofing sprays.

But what happens if you are deer hunting in a steady, all day rain?

The waterproofing washes off.

That’s right.

Even the silicone based waterproofing spray can wash off in a steady, all day rain.

So how can you protect your gun from the rain?

Car wax!

Yes you read that correctly, car wax.

Car wax lasts longer than gun oils and silicone spray lubricants.

After you have applied a safe car wax to your rifle, let it rain! The water will bead up on the fresh coat of wax.

But be careful as to which car wax you use. Make sure the car wax does not have any buffing compounds that would remove the bluing or gun stock finish.

If the forecast calls for rain during your next deer hunt, try a good coat of safe car wax on your deer hunting rifle before you head into the woods.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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July 18, 2008

4 Steps for Successful Deer Scouting by Marty Prokop

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One of the very best ways to increase the odds of you seeing and shooting more deer is by scouting.

Think of deer scouting as having four main steps.

1.) Choose good deer hunting property.

It sounds pretty basic, but many deer hunters take whatever deer hunting area they can get.

Learn about the land you consider hunting.

Ask some of the locals about a certain piece of property before you buy or lease it. Talk to people at the feed mill or even the local postal employees.

I did this. The mail carrier, barber, farmer down the road and feed mill guy all told me about the big bucks running across the road out of the property that I hunt.

So ask around.

Check with the local DNR and ask them about deer populations on or near the land you consider hunting.

2.) Learn the contours of the deer hunting land you are considering.

Purchase a good topographic map of your deer hunting area.

Look at the map and make notes where you might find food sources, watering holes, natural funnels and potential bedding grounds once you are out scouting.

3.) Head into the woods searching for deer sign.

After studying your topographic map and three to four weeks prior to your deer season opener, head into the woods.

Usually by this time of the year the deer have switched to their fall patterns. What you see in the woods will be current information.

First go to the areas you pin-pointed on your topographic map as potential hot spots.

If you have the financial resources to do so, place a trail camera on a potential hot spot. Check your camera(s) at least once per week.

4.) Put all the pieces together.

This is where you bring all of the information you have gathered together and use it to pattern deer on your deer hunting land.

The added bonus of trail camera photos is to show you deer size, as well as times and dates of when and how often deer are moving.

Together, this information will make deer hunting tree stand site placement much easier.

Remember these 4 Steps for Successful Deer Scouting, and you could pattern a big buck each time you head into the deer hunting woods.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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July 14, 2008

Following Deer Tracks that Seem to Disappear

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You found a huge set of fresh deer tracks and decide to start following them to see if you can catch up to the deer that made them. All is going well, until the tracks seem to disappear.

Did the deer vanish into thin air?

Did it magically sprout wings and fly through the forest?

No. It walked firmly on the ground, but maybe the light hitting the deer tracks is playing tricks on you.

Disappearing tracks have been tricking deer hunters since the earliest times when man started to first track animals.

Here is a solution if this happens to you.

Without stepping on the actual tracks and ruining the trail, Indian trackers used to step from side to side to allow the most favorable light to shine onto the trails.

With favorable amounts of light cast at the right angles onto the trail, hoof impressions or the upturned leaves seem to pop out because of the shadows they cast.

Try this Native American tracking trick the next time you seem to lose a set of fresh deer tracks in the woods. It could have you walking up on a big buck in his bed.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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July 11, 2008

Deer Tracks: Are You Following a Buck or Doe? By Marty Prokop

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A while back I wrote a Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter and blog post about following deer tracks.

A Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com reader asked me how a deer hunter could tell he was on the trail of a buck or a doe.

It is my experience that even if you are following big tracks, obviously made by a big deer, that deer could be either a big doe or a big buck. Yes, I have seen some very large doe deer especially offspring of big bucks.

I have followed more deer tracks since I wrote that newsletter just to see if additional experience would show me something different. Here is what I found.

Following Deer Tracks

After following many sets of fresh deer tracks on my deer hunting land this past fall I have made some interesting conclusions.

I still believe if you follow one solid set of big tracks pressed deeply into the dirt, you could be following a big buck or doe.

Here is where I saw some variances:

If you are following a set of big deer tracks that are meandering through the woods, chances are high that you are following a doe. As you are following these meandering tracks and you notice urine in one spot, you will be following a doe. Doe deer squat to pee in one spot.

A buck walks through the forest moving from point A to point B following the path of least resistance. If a buck comes across something in the trail in front of him, such as a downed tree, he will walk around it and get back on to the main trail and continue walking. A doe, on the other hand, will often go under it.

A line of big deer tracks with urine dripping into multiple tracks is most often made by a buck as he will urinate as he walks.

Deer tracks splayed (a wide gap between the front of hooves in the shape of a “V”) tend to belong to a buck.

Deer tracks with drag marks behind them are usually made by big bucks.

The reason big bucks tend to drag their hooves is because bucks are structurally different in the hip region than does. This structural difference causes mature bucks to swagger from side to side and drag their feet when walking.

The longer and deeper the drag marks behind each track usually means the bigger and heavier the buck making the tracks.

I followed a number of deer tracks to see if a deer hunter could tell the size and sex of a deer solely by its tracks. I found, if you are on a fresh set of big deer tracks and focus on the size of the tracks only, you could be following a big buck or a big doe.

When I added drag marks and urination patterns in combination with the tracks, I could get a pretty good idea of size and sex of the deer being followed.

You be the judge. Try this for yourself and see what you find.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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July 7, 2008

Recovering Your Deer After the Shot

BANG!

Your shot was well placed. You expect to see the deer not far from where you took the shot.

After waiting 20 minutes, you climb out of your deer hunting tree stand and walk to where you took the shot.

You see a good blood trail. You start tracking being careful not to disturb the blood trail.

As you continue following the trail it seems to almost disappear. You look a few feet ahead and off to the left and right and still see no deer.

You are puzzled. Where could it have gone?

“It was a great hit,” you rationalize as you replay the shot through your mind.

This happened to me in a past deer hunting season. I shot a huge doe at less than 50 yards with my 12 gauge. Normally, at close range with a 12 gauge slug, deer have dropped in less than 50 yards.

So what did this doe do?

After the shot, the doe turned and ran straight away from me. I followed her blood trail nearly 100 yards. I noticed she turned back to where she had come out of the woods.

I found her another 30 yards up the trail towards the direction she came from. She was circling back around.

Deer are herd animals. I believe they feel safer in numbers. Perhaps this doe was heading back to the group she was with.

Next time you start following the trail of a deer you have shot and can’t find it immediately, try circling back to where you first took the shot. Chances are you will find the deer near that location.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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June 6, 2008

“9 Top Deer Scouting Tips that Deer Don’t Want You to Know About!” by Marty Prokop

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Every successful deer hunt begins with great scouting.

Sure you hear the occasional story of the guy who stumbles into the woods, plops down on a log and shoots a nice deer. But how consistently does that guy score big?

To really increase your chances at a big buck every year, use these 9 Top Deer Scouting Tips.

1.) Start scouting EARLY in the year.

If your work schedule will allow, start your deer scouting by mid-summer.

When deer season ends, start looking around for deer signs you may have missed earlier in the year.

Write this information in a deer hunting journal. Use this information when you start scouting and deer hunting the next year.

2.) Learn everything you can about your deer hunting area.

The internet is a huge resource for topographic maps.

Make sure your scouting time includes online research of your deer hunting area. Learn locations of ponds, bedding areas, food sources and natural funnels. Use this information to help you pattern deer movement.

3.) When you are scouting look for DEER SIGN not deer.

Looking for good deer sign is quicker and easier, and you will see more. If you spot a deer consider this a bonus.

4.) Don’t over do it.

Spending too much time wandering around a deer hunting area is not a good thing. You can leave too much human scent in the area, which could cause big bucks to shift their patterns.

5.) WALK through the woods looking for deer sign instead of riding your ATV or driving your vehicle.

If you walk through the woods looking for deer sign you will see and learn more. In most cases you will also make less noise.

Prepare yourself ahead of time for the physical demands of scouting on foot, don’t over do it. Only walk if you and your doctor feel you are able.

6.) Scout multiple locations.

Pay close attention to grain fields, water crossings, pine plantations and hardwood forests. Deer will use all kinds of cover as well as many food sources throughout the full deer season.

7.) Look for fall feeding areas.

Don’t waste your time looking for summertime feeding areas. Deer browsing will change with the seasons. Concentrate on fall feeding grounds like white oak trees and grain fields that will be ready for fall harvesting.

8.) Be aware of deer patterns while you are deer hunting!

Deer patterns will change near instantly when deer season opens. Be aware of the changes and be ready to make a move to follow these changing deer patterns.

Why would you want to scout pre-season if deer patterns change once deer season opens?

An important part of pre-season scouting is for you to become very familiar with your deer hunting land.

You need to know the food sources, water and cover your deer hunting land holds and how deer are using and could potentially use these resources.

You want to know all the deer hunting options available to you on your land so you can change your patterns and plans to match deer activity.

9.) Always look for FRESH deer signs.

Old trails with hardly visible deer sign could mean the deer have changed their daily patterns. Look for fresh repeating signs such as new tracks, fresh droppings, new scrapes and fresh buck rubs. This will insure regular deer activity in the area you plan to hunt.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

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June 3, 2008

Finding Early Season Deer

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In my Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter and blog posts I write about one of the most favorable spots to set up your deer hunting tree stand during early season overlooking food plots or well-used deer trails. These spots can indeed be good, but don’t over look other great feeding areas.

During early deer season you may want to find a good stand of white oak trees. White oaks, unlike red oak and black oak, drop acorns more readily. White oak acorn nuts are not as bitter as those from red and black oaks.

When white oaks have good acorn crop, target these areas. They will draw deer. Deer will use these heavy acorn producing trees year after year.

Make sure you do plenty of pre-season scouting to help you locate if and where your deer hunting woods holds white oak trees.

When scouting for white oak also look for areas with lush grasses, vines, wild grapes and wild fruit trees such as apples and plums.

You may have an old homesteaded or abandoned farm on your deer hunting land. Watch this location carefully.

The folks who homesteaded these now abandoned locations may have planted fruit trees to harvest for their pantries. If these trees are now abandoned, they become great hangouts for deer to find early autumn food sources.

Once you locate an abandoned homestead, look for well-used deer trails leading to food sources, water and cover. Study deer movement surrounding the old buildings and orchards on the property.

When you have patterned deer movements to and from the food sources choose your deer stand locations wisely. Make sure your deer hunting tree stand is set up downwind from food sources you plan to hunt.

You might get a shot at the big buck nobody else has seen yet.

Get blog post delivered to you by subscribing to our RSS feed by clicking on one of the RSS feed buttons in the right hand column of this blog at www.marty-prokop.com .

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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May 7, 2008

Deer Food Plots...What Food Plot Seed Should You Plant?

Below is a comment and question I received from Free Deer Hunting Tips Community member Pat.

Pat asks...Thanks for all your good information. We want to plant a food lot on our 20 acres. What is the best kind of seed to plant?

Here is my reply:

Thanks for your email.

To answer your question, I need to ask you a few.

Are you planting the whole 20 acres?

Have you had a soil sample conducted yet?

What type of soil do you have? (ie: loamy sand, clay, etc)

How much annual rainfall do you get each growing season?

What area is your deer hunting land located? North, South, etc.

Are you going to use a herbicide to help clear the land of unwanted weeds and vegetation before you plant? Or, are you going to try to use more organic methods to control weeds?

All of the above factors and several more will play a crucial role in deciding what seed to plant.

For example, if your soil test reveals your soil to be acidic, you will have to add lime to neutralize it.

The 60/40 Rule

Here is some food for thought…I suggest you plant your food plots with 60% perennials and 40% annuals.

In other words, plant 60 percent of your total food plots with something you need plant only once and will continue to grow year after year. Then plant the remaining 40% with a food source that needs to be planted each year.

Annuals grow much quicker and will provide a good food source for deer while the perennials are establishing their root systems. Planting annuals will help keep deer from over browsing the perennial crops while they are growing.

Some annual seed choices would include: Corn, soybeans, cow peas, sunflowers, rye grass, oats, etc

Perennial seeds could include: alfalfa(buy deer specific seed), chicory

I have used The Whitetail Institute products with great success as well as Biologic seed blends.

Before you buy any seed make sure to get a soil test if you have not already done so. A soil test will tell you the type of soil you have, the pH of the soil, lime requirements and fertilizer requirements for your soil. Without soil test information, you could spends hundreds of dollars on seed and have poor results.

Soil tests usually run between 10 and 30 dollars and is money well spent.

If you would like, I would be glad to look at your soil test results and then make a more targeted suggestion for seed choice for you.

I look forward to hearing more from you.

Want more deer food plot secrets? Subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or get blog posts delivered to you by subscribing to our RSS feed by clicking on one of the RSS feed buttons in the right hand column of this blog.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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May 4, 2008

Think Like a Deer to Fill Your Tag

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Discover the best place on your deer hunting land to find deer by thinking about what deer need and what your land can provide them.

Is it food, water, sun, shade, a place to rest, a place to hide or a windbreak? Or a combination?

Think about what deer need and where they will be at what time. Consider time of day, weather conditions and hunting pressure. Then head to the appropriate spot on your deer hunting land.

For example, let’s say it is cold, the wind is blowing and the ground is covered with snow in most areas.

Ask yourself, what do deer need today? The answer could be sunshine, a windbreak and easy food.

Hunt a south facing slope where the sun has melted some snow, making acorns or other browse available for deer while keeping them out of the wind. Come in so you are downwind so the deer will not pick up your scent in the wind.

If you can think like a deer, you can put more meat on your table.

Want more deer rutting secrets? Subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or get blog posts delivered to you by subscribing to our RSS feed by clicking on one of the RSS feed buttons in the right hand column of this blog.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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May 1, 2008

How Well Can Deer See?

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There has been much debate as to how far the whitetail deer can see. Are deer eyes better than human eyes?

The answer may surprise you. Here it is…

Yes and No.

Low Light Vision

In low light conditions deer can see better than humans.

Deer eyes have more rods, which are the light receptors. Human eyes contain more cones, which are used for gathering more color.

Rods are much more capable in gathering light than cones.

Night Vision

Deer also have a layer of reflective pigment in their eyes called tapetum, which increases the ability of deer to see better at night.

Here is how tapetum works in a deer’s eye. If light passes through the rods of a deer’s eye without stimulating the rods sufficiently, the tapetum bounces the light back to the rods. This allows the light receptors in the eye of the deer to respond again.

Deer have night vision superior to humans.

Colors and Distance

It is believed, however, a deer cannot perceive colors as well as humans, nor can deer see as well at longer distances.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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April 28, 2008

Post Rut Deer Hunting Success

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Post-Rut is most often forgotten by many deer hunters.

In the northern part of the USA, Post Rut occurs during the some of the coldest times of the year. Perhaps this is why some deer hunters choose to forget Post Rut.

Regardless of the thermometer reading outside, Post Rut deer hunting action can be extremely hot.

When Does Post-Rut Begin?

Doe deer not bred successfully during Pre Rut and Main Rut will go into estrus 28 days after Main Rut. Count out 28 days from Main Rut and you will be smack dab in prime Post Rut deer hunting action.

There will be fewer doe deer going into estrus during Post Rut than during Main Rut, because most does are bred during Main Rut.

Sign of Post Rut Activity

One tell-tale sign of Post Rut is a quick increase in deer activity.

Doe deer in Post Rut estrus show more aggressive approaches to finding breeding bucks.

You may notice doe deer trotting along and stopping frequently to deposit estrus urine.

Set up your deer blind or tree stand nearby. Make sure you are down wind of where the deer activity is taking place.

Doe deer in Post Rut estrus become more vocal, using soft grunts more frequently, trying to catch the attention of bucks in the area.

Bucks in the area that whiff the estrus pheromone quickly swarm the estrus doe. It is quite possible to have several bucks chasing one doe. It is as if the bucks realize this is the last hurrah for the year.

Who knows, you could be faced with the option of which buck to shoot.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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March 31, 2008

Main Rut Deer Hunting Success by Marty Prokop

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Main Rut or the peak of the rut lasts much longer than the pre-rut we discussed in my prior Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter and blog post.

In my deer hunting area in northern USA, generally the main rut will begin the last week of October to the first week in November and run to the end of November.

During Main Rut you will notice daylight hours dwindling. This change in the amount of daylight, also called photoperiodism, triggers higher testosterone production in bucks.

The combination of less daylight and more testosterone makes the bucks more agitated and less friendly towards other bucks. If you happen to see two bucks meet during Main Rut a fight usually occurs.

Scrapes… What Do They Mean?

During Main Rut, as you walk through the deer hunting woods, you will notice more scrapes on the ground and more rubs on trees and saplings. Both are calling cards to other bucks in the area that this territory is taken. All challengers welcome!

Big bucks check their scrape lines and rub lines frequently during Main Rut.

Bucks will make scrapes by pawing leaves, grasses and debris off the ground’s surface and exposing fresh earth. The buck then urinates on his tarsal glands, which drip onto the fresh earth leaving his scent behind.

There is always a licking branch above a buck scrape. Look for it. A buck will rub his pre-orbital glands (near his eyes) on the branches and lick the branch to leave additional scent. This lets both bucks and does in the area know he is there and ready for action.

Big bucks will make multiple scrapes throughout their territories. Finding a big buck’s scrape line is a great tool for intercepting him, as he will be checking the scrapes frequently.

If you find an area that has multiple scrapes relatively close to each other, you may have found a big buck’s scrape line. Set up your deer hunting tree stand off the main trail and downwind of the scrapes.

Tree Rubs… What Do They Mean?

Tree rubs are made by bucks as a way to release their frustrations as well as prepare for future battles with other bucks that enter their domains. Bucks will also make tree rub lines to mark their territories.

To locate a tree rub line stand facing a rub on a tree and look in the direction going directly away from the first rub. For example, if you spot a rub on the south side of a tree, the buck was traveling north when he made the rub. Look towards the north for additional rubs on saplings and small trees.

If you see a “string” of tree rubs in a line, you have found the buck’s travel route.

Setting up a deer hunting tree stand or ground blind near this tree rub line could put you in a big buck’s front yard.

Doe… a Deer... a Female Deer

One key factor in hunting Main Rut is to have lots of doe activity near your deer hunting location.

During Main Rut bucks will only make ground scrapes and tree rubs if there are female deer nearby. During Main Rut, bucks will travel and move to where does are located.

If there are doe deer in front of you, and the rut is on, pay close attention to their body language.

If does are running about, seeming to be overly skittish and looking over their backs constantly, be on the lookout for a big buck.

As a doe is ready to accept a buck she will hold her tail cocked off to one side. If you see a doe doing this, pay very close attention as the big buck could be close by.

There is still one magical part of the rut that is often overlooked, and it can also produce a truly huge buck. That is Post-Rut.

We’ll look at hunting Post-Rut in my next Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter and blog post.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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March 28, 2008

Pre-Rut Deer Hunting Success by Marty Prokop

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Deer hunting during the rut and being in the right place at the right time can have you shooting the monster buck of your dreams. But, which rut should you hunt?

You might be thinking, “Wait a minute Marty Prokop, have you fallen off your rocker? There is only one rut.”

Actually there are three very distinct parts to the deer rut: Pre-Rut, Main Rut and Post-Rut. Knowing and understanding each could help you bag the buck of a lifetime.

In my Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter and this blog post I will share with you secrets for deer hunting success during Pre-Rut. In the next tips I will cover Main Rut and Post-Rut.

What is the Pre Rut?

Pre-Rut is triggered by mature does, those that are at least 4½ years old, going into a very short estrus cycle. This cycle lasts only 24 to 36 hours.

In the northern areas of the USA, Pre-Rut usually begins in early October.

Up until this short estrus cycle, bucks are still wandering around in their small bachelor groups.

As soon as the smell of an estrus doe hits the air, the bucks react by making scrapes and rubs. During this 24 to 36 hour period, deer hunters who are in the woods may notice vast numbers of fresh scrapes and rubs almost appearing overnight.

Noticing these new scrapes and increased deer activity as part of the pre-rut phase, could increase your odds of tagging a big buck.

Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

Remember, Pre-Rut only last a few days, so timing is everything. Here are some options for connecting with a big buck during Pre-Rut.

Set up your deer hunting tree stand overlooking one of the new scrapes. Make sure you are downwind of the scrape. Then you simply wait him out. Eventually he will come to check his scrape.

Another way to attract the dominant buck and lure him to you is by making a mock scrape.

A mock scrape should be about two feet in diameter, with a licking branch approximately three feet above the ground.

Mock scrapes are made by removing leaves, grasses and debris off the ground’s surface and exposing fresh earth. This can be done with a stick or garden rake.

Once fresh earth is exposed, pour a good amount of Dominant Buck Urine and Doe in Heat (doe in estrus) urine onto the scrape. Saturate two scent wicks, one with dominant buck urine and the other with doe in heat deer scent, and hang them on the licking branch above the scrape.

Place your deer stand downwind of the mock scrape and wait for the big buck to come in.

During the short Pre-Rut, testosterone levels of buck deer begin to increase and very few bucks have the chance to breed the few doe deer that go into estrus. Many bucks become frustrated. This frustration is how Mother Nature alerts and prepares the rest of the bucks for the upcoming Main Rut.

We’ll talk more about the Main Rut in my next blog post.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Deer Hunting Expert at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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March 20, 2008

Whitetail Deer in Deep Snow

And You Thought Your Winter Was Bad...

Above is a picture I received from a Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com reader.

This photo was taken in 2008 in Canada.

Can you imagine deer trying to find food in this deep snow?

Look at the lead deer in the photo. You can't even see her back!

Tell us what you think of this picture by leaving a comment here at the blog.

Send in your deer photos and stories by emailing marty(at)free-deer-hunting-tips.com. Make sure to replace the word (at) with the @ sign.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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March 15, 2008

Marty Prokop at Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Announces New Podcasting and Changes to RSS Feed

The Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog is being enhanced and more free services added for deer hunters.

Podcasts Added to Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com

We are adding audio podcasting of our free deer hunting tips at http://www.marty-prokop.com

The Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com podcast is like having a deer hunting coach and guide with you sharing successful deer hunts, giving you tips, helping you remember techniques and secrets to bag those big bucks and preparing you for your next successful deer hunt.

You can receive free deer hunting tips audio podcasts and text blog posts delivered through our new RSS feed.

Here are the RSS feed details…

New RSS Feed

If you have signed up for our prior RSS feed or added our blog to your own RSS feed we are upgrading and changing the RSS feed so it will send you the new audio podcasts in addition to the text blog posts.

What does this mean to you?

How to Receive Podcasts via RSS Feed

If you have not signed up for the RSS feed yet, here is how you can. Just click one of the feed reader service chicklets (buttons) in the right column of this blog.

How to Receive Podcasts via Your Current RSS Feed

If you have already signed up for the Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com RSS feed in the past to receive the new audio podcasts delivered to you via RSS feed you will need to subscribe to the new RSS feed by entering the following link into your feed reader:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/%20Free_Deer_Hunting_Tips_By_Marty_Prokop

Fix Podcast Feed

If you are reading blog posts and receiving podcasts through a feed reader and don’t make this update, the blog posts and podcast may come through unclear or look funny.

To fix this simply subscribe to the new feed by entering the following link into your feed reader:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/%20Free_Deer_Hunting_Tips_By_Marty_Prokop

What about the Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter?

If you have signed up for our Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter and are receiving our deer hunting tips via email, you will continue to receive those tips via email. This does not change your newsletter subscription. Audio free deer hunting tips come through the RSS feed.

If you would like to receive our Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter (which has tips in addition to the blog posts you receive from our blog) you can subscribe to the newsletter at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com .

What is an RSS Feed?

With RSS you will receive the Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog posts and audio podcasts sent directly to your computer via feed reader software or service as soon as they are posted to our blog.

You get free feed reader service when you click on one of the RSS feed reader service chicklets (buttons) in the right column of this blog.

Free feed reader service is really similar to your email software, but without any spam. Your RSS feed will allow into your computer only blog posts and podcasts that you have signed up for. You don’t receive any spam. So you could say it is similar to spam-free email.

You are guaranteed to receive the blog posts and audio podcasts because RSS feed readers bypass email and spam filters. Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog posts and audio podcasts will be delivered straight into your RSS feeder right on your computer.

You will be able to read the blog posts through your favorite feed reader instead of having to remember to come out and visit the Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog each week. You can go to the blog to leave your comments.

You will be able to listen to the audio deer hunting tips just like you can music or other audio files on your computer or MP3 player.

RSS feed saves you time, sends the free deer hunting tips right to you, protects you from spam and gives you maximum privacy.

What is an Audio Podcast?

Audio podcasts are audio similar to radio shows, only generally shorter. I will be recording Free Deer Hunting Tips in audio files and distributing them through the Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog.

You can hear free deer hunting tips audio podcasts on your computer using a media player (such as Windows Media Player) or through an iPod or MP3 player.

You can listen to these free deer hunting tips all year around on your computer. An MP3 player makes Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips portable, and you can listen to Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips audios on the way to your deer hunting camp and even while you are sitting in your deer stand.

You can receive our Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com audio podcasts free by visiting http://www.marty-prokop.com or subscribing to our new RSS feed.

You can subscribe to our Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com newsletter at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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January 17, 2008

More Trail Camera Proof Mock Scrapes Attract Big Bucks

Here is even more trail camera proof that mock scrapes can get big bucks to move into your deer hunting area. The picture above shows a big buck visiting and reworking the scrape I had made just three hours before.

There is no doubt in my mind that creating mock scrapes can attract big bucks onto your deer hunting land. The proof is in the picture.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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Do Mock Scrapes Really Work for Attracting Big Bucks?

Take a look at the pictures above. These four bucks all came into the same mock scrape I had made. Notice the licking branch above the scrape. You can see I had placed a scent wick directly over the scrape, and the scent wick has drawn a lot of attention from the four bucks that visited the site.

Mock scrapes work great for attracting buck deer to an area. A mock scrape set up properly will bring in the big bucks. It will also attract the little guys too as you can see in the picture to the left.

How to Make a Mock Scrape

Mock scrapes are made by choosing a location under a licking branch and exposing fresh earth with a garden rake or stick.

After you have loosened the soil and removed all grasses and leaves from the scrape's surface, place dominant buck urine and doe in heat scents on the scrape.

Always make sure the scrape site you choose has a licking branch above it.

The licking branch should be about three feet off the ground and directly over the scrape.

Bucks use licking branches to leave scents from their tongues and pre-orbital glands (near their eyes). A licking branch is a way for a buck to leave his calling card and let other bucks know he is claiming this territory.

Scrapes without a licking branch will be used very seldom, if at all.

After you have placed deer scent on the scrapes surface, saturate a scent wick with doe in heat deer scent and hang it on the licking branch over the scrape. The scent wick will drip onto the scrape and wind currents will blow scent into the surrounding area. Placing a saturated scent wick over the scrape will help keep your mock scrape more active for a longer period of time.

If you want to attract more bucks from neighboring land onto your deer hunting land, try using mock scrapes. They work, and work well, as you can see in the pictures.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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December 7, 2007

Alyssa's First Buck!

Hey Marty! I got my first buck this year!!

I went out for the evening hunt on the 3^rd and final weekend deer hunting looking for my buck. I had already gotten two deer the first weekend, 2 does, and I now I was going to be more selective. We did have doe tags still open so I was told to shoot a doe if I saw one.

Where I was hunting it is quite a walk to get to, I had to walk through the cow pasture, which entails going through an electric fence and under a barbed wire fence on the other side. There was a bull in the pen but I was told by the farmer that he was not aggressive, he wasn't aggressive at all but still I was pretty uneasy going through the pen.

Then I had to walk into the woods to where there was a clearing to my stand. The farmer apologized to me saying that I might not see anything that night, third weekend hunting for us has not always been successful, so I was looking forward to taking a nap in my stand.

There wasn't a sound to be heard, not even a bird was flying around. By this time the sun had fallen just behind the trees and my viewing area had changed.

I began looking around to see what was there. Looking to my left I saw something move along the clearing. I knew it was a deer but couldn't get a good look at it to see if it had antlers or not.

I brought my scope up and looking through the scope I didn't see any horns. Just then the head came up. Now I was almost busted so I checked the deer over quick and thought it was a very good sized doe so I decided to take her.

I took my safety off and waited for her to start grazing again. I tried to get a better shot and I must have made a noise and the head came back up. BOOM! I shot her right in the neck and down she went.

The deer seemed to fall very odd, on top of the head. My cousin shot a nice buck 2 weeks earlier and it had fallen the same way, on top of the head looking up at the sky, but I didn't want to get my hopes up.

The sun was getting lower and realizing that I still had to walk past that bull, I climbed down from my stand and headed back in. The deer was sitting right where I had shot it and I knew it was not going anywhere, plus I couldn't drag it out myself. I headed in and the farmer and my husband helped me drag the deer out.

I was very excited to see horns on this big does head. Though I didn't get a trophy buck, I am still very excited that after 7 years hunting I was able to get a buck of my own. And yes, I gutted him out myself.

Talk to you later.

Alyssa

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December 5, 2007

What to do When Your good Deer Hunting Stand has Gone Bad

You very carefully approach and exit your deer hunting tree stand or ground blind. You give great attention to the wind direction and scent cover, making sure you enter your deer hunting location with the wind in your face.

Days and weeks after being pursued, no matter how careful you are, smart deer and big bucks will realize they are being hunted.

By late season, even reliable deer hunting tree stand locations can stop producing fresh signs. Here is the good news. Studies have proven that pressured deer often shift their behaviors and patterns but stay in their home ranges.

Deer stands that go cold are a great reason to pull out your aerial maps to locate your deer hunting land’s most remote and rugged area with good cover. Read your map and scout for spot that might be challenging to access because of thick cover, rough terrain or a stream.

If the terrain is a challenge to get into…this is a location that could produce deer. The deer in easier terrain may be already taken or have felt the pressure and retreated to safe cover to survive.

Identify one or two tough-to-access locations in your hunting area which may be holding these later season deer.

Watch the wind and go in pre-dawn with the wind blowing the perfect direction to move your scent away from the deer. Sit up against a blow-down or thick tree. Don’t put up a ground blind or tree stand, because the noise and motion could easily scare the already alert deer.

Make sure to enter and leave this area as quietly as possible after staying for as long as you can.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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November 30, 2007

What to Do When You See Signs but No Deer

You are out in the field and you see signs all around you, but not one trace of a deer. What should you do?

This is a common challenge. You pre-scout your deer hunting area. You find fresh signs and decide to hang a tree stand or place a ground blind. Days go by and you don’t see deer.

It could be the signs you have found were created at night. Especially as hunters enter the field, deer may switch from day activity to night. They may change from morning and evening to midday when hunters go in for lunch and there may be less pressure.

Here is the question you need to answer. What were the deer doing when they left these fresh signs?

Look for paths out of the area containing the fresh signs. Where are they headed?

Could the sign have been made in the pre-dawn hours and a fresh path leads to a bedding area for the day to avoid hunters? This would likely be a thicket or area with heavy brush.

Could deer be coming through on their way to water or a feeding area?

Study an aerial photograph or map to identify bedding areas and food sources. Bedding areas can be rougher, elevated areas with thick cover or swampy areas with dry patches where the deer can bed. You can look for isolated areas or spots with thick cover and blow-down trees.

As deer hunting season progresses, bucks can leave seclusion in late afternoon and return minutes into shooting daylight. So make sure you are ready in your tree stand or ground blind early in the morning and stay until shooting light is over.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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November 25, 2007

How to Save Your Deer Hunting Season When There’s No Sign of Deer

In late deer hunting season, food sources can dry up or be overgrazed. Tender green leaves vanish. Grains left in the fields from harvest are gone. Apples fallen from trees have been devoured.

The signs you see appear old. The droppings are dried up. Tracks are faint. Rubs are inactive or turning grey with age.

The deer have left the area searching for new food sources. It might be winter crops just starting to come up. It could be a timber area just logged with leaves and tree tops on the ground. Deer have been known to move to active logging areas, even with the noises, to eat the tender tree greens.

Focus a half to full day on scouting for what has pulled the whitetail away when deer and fresh signs of deer disappear.

Check areas of your deer hunting land you haven’t been in lately. Look for active trails in and out of your deer hunting land.

You can hop in your vehicle and check adjacent properties from the road. Travel back roads looking for signs or possible active food plots. Remember trespassing is not allowed, but you can often see a great deal from the road.

Scout until you discover the situation and location attracting deer away from their usual patterns.

Then next hunting day be downwind waiting. Make sure it is your own deer hunting land or you have received permission to hunt another’s land. You may want to very quietly walk through the area giving special attention to food sources.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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November 24, 2007

Deer Hunting and Tracking Deer: To Shoot or Not to Shoot?

Below is an email correspondence I had with a member of www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com

Marty,

Have you ever hit a buck directly in the shoulder with a rifle and not recovered him?

I hit a big buck this past Saturday. I found a quarter size piece of bone in the blood and lots of blood. I am talking paper plate size areas for about 100 to 150 yards and plenty of other drops for about a 1/4 mile and then it all stopped. The blood was bright red. The deer ran but was all hunched down to his right side and ran 2 circles in one field crossed in front of me ran 2 circles in another field and then headed into the woods. I am sure his left shoulder was gone.

Do you think a major artery was hit and this deer is dead somewhere. I can tell you that my friend and I spent 10 hours in total looking for this deer in the thickest briars you could ever imagine and covered every inch of those thickets. We were even on our hands and knees crawling through the thickets looking for any blood we could find. We have the shredded hands and legs to prove it. We did search every inch looking for just the deer also.

Please let me know your thoughts. I am sick about losing this deer. It is the biggest deer I have ever shot or seen in person.

Thank You,

Curt

Curt,

Thanks for your question.

I have hit deer and they have run off, but I have found every one I hit. I have only had to let one deer go over night before picking up the blood trail the next morning. I found that deer 30 yards from where I stopped the night before.

Without seeing the blood trail and bone fragment it is hard to say what happened for you.

Was the deer standing directly broadside to you when you shot? Could your shot have glanced off a shoulder bone and not hit any vitals? Was the blood trail on both sides of where the deer was standing? What distance is your rifle sighted in for? How close was the deer when you shot? Did you graze its back bone? Could you have hit low on a front leg?

There are a lot of questions that need to be answered before I can answer effectively.

Is the deer dead somewhere? Possibly. Again it is hard to say without seeing the fragments and blood trail.

If you can, send me the answers to the above questions.

Marty Prokop
www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com

Marty,

The deer was standing in parallel with me. His rear was facing me. I definitely hit his shoulder, because the piece of bone I found looked like it was part of a socket. I could not find the original impact area, because it was in a cut down cotton field and hard to find any blood or the exact location to mark it. My rifle is sighted in for 100 yards. The deer was about 50 -60 yards when I shot. I did not hit the back bone at all. It is very possible that I hit low on a front leg, but I believe that I hit more of the shoulder than anything, because of the bone fragment found. I found the fragment in a blood soaked area after he had already ran about 50 yards and 4 circles to the right. The blood trail that I found seemed to have blood on both sides of the deer.

I hope this helps.

Thank You,

Curt

Curt,

Thanks for getting me the answers to my questions. I appreciate having a dialogue on this.

If the deer’s rump was facing you and you aimed for a shoulder, then your shot most likely did not hit any vitals.

I don’t think you would have hit a main artery either due to the angle at which you shot.

Under no circumstances should this type of shot be taken. The likelihood of wounding the deer are too high. If all you are presented with is a rear end shot, let the deer walk.

The best shot to take is a direct broadside shot. This puts the deer’s whole body in front of you, and gives you a clean shot into the vitals of the deer. A quartering away shot is also a good shot to take. A quartering away shot will expose a good portion of the deer’s vitals.

For this particular shot you would aim a bit farther back on the rib cage that is facing you. Correct shot placement would have you hitting at least both lungs which would result in the deer falling fairly close to where the shot was taken.

From what you described, the shot most likely hit a leg bone and caused some soft tissue damage resulting in blood loss.

I would like to make a suggestion. Only take broadside shots at deer. Your chance of hitting the vitals is much greater and you will be able to follow the blood trail to the deer.

If a deer doesn’t present itself for a good broadside shot, wait until it does.

If it doesn’t present a broadside shot at all, let it walk.

Allowing a deer to walk away for another day is better than having a wounded one running around or worse yet a wounded deer running off and dying later.

Marty Prokop
www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com

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November 20, 2007

Improve Your Shooting in Just One Hour

Though this tip may sound way too obvious, I have found it is often overlooked.

Sight in your deer hunting rifle for the area and terrain you plan to deer hunt.

If you are deer hunting deep woods and your most probable shot will be 50 yards or less, there is really no need to have your rifle dialed in for a 300 yard shot. I mean really, in the woods what is the likelihood you will even see a deer 300 yards away through the brush and branches?

The opposite holds true if you are hunting wide open fields and ranges. There are cases in wide open country where a deer may come within 50 yards. This is usually the exception not the rule.

When I hunt open grasslands I usually site in my rifle for 200 yards minimum. While at the range, I even take a few shots at 300 yards to see what my bullet will do. This way, if Mr. Big walks out at 300 yards, I will be ready.

Match the bullet weight to the conditions you are hunting in as well as the animal you plan to hunt.

I use 180 grain bullets when hunting in the woods near my home. I switch to 165 grains when I travel to wide open country.

For each season, each hunt and specific conditions make sure to check your rifle’s performance for each bullet weight you plan to use.

A properly sighted rifle, set up for the specific conditions you are hunting, could mean fewer wounded deer and more venison for your grill.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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November 15, 2007

How to Attract Big Bucks

Here is a nice picture of a big buck I recently attracted onto my deer hunting land.

Here is an email I just received from a www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com reader asking how to do the same with his deer hunting land.

Marty Prokop,

I am getting so frustrated. I enjoy your tips each week and don't know if you respond to e-mail or not, especially on November 13th!

I usually consider Nov. 6 - 14 the peak of rut in Ohio, but I haven't seen the big bucks or the chasing this year. I am open to some tips on how to get deer under my stand.

I hunt in a small yard which borders thousands of acres in the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreational Park. I see many deer in the woods, and many come under my stands, but I can't get the big ones off of their trails, 50-75 yards into the park. I have bow hunted here for 6 previous and have taken 13 deer and passed on multiple deer a year.

I have harvested 2 bucks, one a 7 - pointer scoring in the 100 - 115 inch range. I have seen the 120 to 150 class bucks, but can't get them to cross onto my legal shooting area. The park rangers know me and are very nice and always allow me to track the deer all over the park after shooting them.

I just purchased a Matthews Switchback and can group arrows better than ever, golf ball from 20, softball from 30 and football from 40, which I could never do with my Browning Mantis. Just after purchasing the bow last January, I shot a doe from 40 yards right at dark through the heart, so my confidence level is high if I can just get those bucks my way.

I grunt, wheeze, rattle, and use Tinks™ 69 over mock scrapes. I haven't invested in a motion camera, but I did stoop to buying some stuff called C'mere Deer a week ago and watched a spike eat it at 15 yards.

Help, I really want a Pope and Young, Ohio Big Buck, or a B & C deer-120, 140, or 150.

Thanks,

Desperate Don

Don,

Thanks for your comment and questions.

I feel your frustration. Last deer season was similar for me. I needed to get those big bucks onto my deer hunting land, then do what it took to hold them there.

Do you own the land you are hunting on? Or, do you hunt land with permission from a landowner?

The reason I ask is this, to get big bucks to want to leave the safety of the park, you need to attract more does to your side of the fence. During the rut big bucks will spend their days and nights chasing does. If you can hold a few more does on your deer hunting land, odds are you will attract bucks.

I planted food plots to get more does onto my deer hunting land. The deer food plots are strategically placed near water and bedding areas. On any given day I see fifteen to twenty does grazing. When the rut is on, I see four to five nice bucks tending the does.

A good food source that attracted more does was key for me seeing and holding more bucks. Since you are facing winter in your location, food plots will be an answer for you next year.

For the remainder of your deer hunting season try the following suggestions.

First, start using dominant buck urine along with a doe in estrus deer scent. Buck Bomb™ is a great choice for filling an area with deer scent without spreading too much human odor. Once you activate the Buck Bomb™ climb into your deer hunting treestand and the wind will spread the deer scent for you.

Try using two deer decoys, one buck and one doe. Place dominant buck urine on and around the buck decoy and doe in estrus deer scent on and around the doe decoy. This will make it seem a buck has moved in on a hot doe in another buck's territory.

With your deer decoys in place, call and rattle to entice a buck to come in to investigate. A deer call to try is The Can by Primos. This call imitates doe bleats made by a doe in estrus. When combined with the grunt and rattle calls, the scenario of two bucks fighting over a hot doe becomes more effective.

Before placing a decoys be sure to check your local deer hunting regulations for legality.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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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

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November 5, 2007

Deer Hunters have to be Persistent, and Lucky, to Tag a Monster Buck.

Scouting your deer hunting land and knowing deer movement are important. You increase your chances of harvesting a monster buck if you know when and where it has been observed.

By actually patterning a monster buck on your deer hunting land, you at least know the buck exists and therefore you have a possibility of harvesting it. While it is always awesome to tag a monster buck, for the most dedicated deer hunters, knowing that a monster buck exists on the land being hunted is ample satisfaction and excitement.

Remember, you don’t have to tag a monster to have the experience of deer hunting.

When a monster buck presents himself, that doesn’t mean the deer hunter is ready. Remember, the definition of success is opportunity meeting preparation.

Make sure shooting a monster buck is not your only goal. Instead, each deer hunt and from deer season to deer season, compete against yourself raising your standards for all elements of successful deer hunting each time you are out.

Your goals could include learning more about deer scouting and applying your knowledge better in the field. Learning more about deer signs and reading them more accurately. This is how you work your way to a monster buck. The deer hunter whose goal is to take only monster bucks will have much space between successes.

Learn when to pass on deer and when the deer in front of you is as good as it is going to get. The challenge of the hunt is more important than the size of the rack or gender of the deer.

For many deer hunters the chance to harvest a monster buck may never happen. But keep the thought in your mind and prepare for the time when it does happen.

It’s the possibilities of what might show up in the field that inspires serious deer hunters to increase their deer hunting knowledge and prepare so they can be successful if and when that monster buck does appear.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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Thanking Deer Hunting Guides

Many deer hunters dream of the day they might be able to make a living from deer hunting. Some dream of becoming product testers, outdoor writers or company spokespeople. Others aspire to become deer hunting guides.

When you really think about the life of deer hunting guides, while they are making livings doing what they love, it is not always easy work.

During the deer hunting season, nearly every day they awake before dawn to instruct their clients where to hunt for the best results.
Feeling exhausted from tracking a deer all night? Picked up a sinus cold out in the field? Just need a few extra hours to sleep in?

Too bad, you’re up and headed to the field.

After investing thousands of dollars, some clients may understand but no deer hunter is going to shorten his hunting hours to accommodate a guide not being able to deliver. It makes for a tough business.

Many of the best guides are some of the hardest working people. Think about it and all they have to prepare and invest in providing great deer hunting experiences.

They have to place tree stands and deer blinds well before season. Often, this is during times when bugs and brush are the thickest. They have to master the deer patterns in the area, shifting deer hunting sites in midseason, if needed.

When clients harvest a deer, the guide jumps through hoops to track it, field dress it and drag it out of the woods.

Sometimes, after all this work and personal investment, great deer hunting guides have to deal with a few "know-it-all" deer hunters pointing out how nearly everything about the preparations and locations are wrong. Others are just impossible to please.

To add salt to the wound, great guides love deer hunting but find themselves with no time to deer hunt.

But the flip side is all the appreciation of truly dedicated deer hunters who realize great deer hunters come from those who observe and repeat the actions of other great deer hunters. A great deer hunter realizes he has two ears, two eyes and one mouth for a reason and uses them in that ratio.

So with that, I say thank you to all great deer hunting guides and all the professionals who support deer hunters and our sport.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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October 30, 2007

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

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October 25, 2007

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

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October 21, 2007

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

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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 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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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

http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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October 10, 2007

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

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October 5, 2007

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

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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 17, 2007

Choosing the Right Deer Cover Scent

Below is a comment I received from Marcel about a prior blog post talking about preparing his clothes for deer hunting season. You can read his first question at http://www.marty-prokop.com/archives/2007/09/how_to_prepare.html#comments

You can read my response to Marcel's new questions below.

Marty,

Thank you for your answers.

One more question.

I bought a spray bottle of human scent eliminator should I still wash the hunting clothes with baking soda? And is that scent any good?

I also bought a corn scent foam ,same thing, there is no farm or corn where I hunt . Do you think if I spray some by the tree stand 3 weeks before hunting season it would work?

I also bought a bag of food called beef mash . Is it good to put some around the tree stand ?

Thanks again,

Marcel Mclaughlin

Marcel,

Thanks for your questions.

Yes, wash your clothes with baking soda. It is by far the least expensive treatment you can do for taking smells out of your hunting clothing.

Human scent eliminator sprays will help cover your human scent. Are they 100% effective? In my opinion, no.

However they do help. There should be no real scent to the spray. If you are smelling something in the scent eliminator, then the deer will be able to smell that too.

Using cover or attractant scents that are not native to the area you hunt can be touchy. Deer are curious by nature, so they may come in and check out a new smell. But on the flip side, they may steer clear of the area too. Do you have corn fields nearby your hunting location say within one to two miles? If so, deer may be used to the smell of corn and won’t be alarmed.

As far as the beef mash is concerned, I’ve not used any such product to attract deer. You had mentioned a while back you placed some near the creek at your home and the deer ate it. If you are hunting that same group of deer, it may work fine.

If you can test the beef mash on a small scale by pacing some about 100 yards or so from your stand give it a try. After you place the beef mash, let it sit for a couple days before you recheck it. When you go back to check and the beef mash is eaten, then I would say you are fine to place it near your stand.

Before you place any bait or food out for deer, make sure you check your local rules and hunting regulations.

Have you ever tried making a deer mineral lick by your deer stand? Deer will visit them year round. There are a few companies that offer deer minerals and they are easy to establish. If this is something of interest to you, let me know.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

September 13, 2007

Deer Hunting Tree Stand Safety

Each year, a number of deer hunters are injured as a result of falling out of their deer hunting tree stands. Some of these falls happen because the deer hunter did not check his/her deer stand for worn or broken parts prior to opening day.

Check your deer hunting tree stands several times throughout the year.

After each thunderstorm or wind storm, head out into the deer hunting woods to make sure no trees or branches have fallen onto the deer stand. Always check each weld to make sure it has not rusted or cracked. In addition, check the ratchet straps holding your stand to the tree and adjust them as needed.

When in your deer hunting tree stand, ALWAYS wear your safety harness or fall restraint system.

Checking your deer hunting tree stand at least one month prior to deer season opener will afford you the option of replacing it if it is damaged without spooking the deer in your area.

Fred Vorassi of Upstate New York feels the same about making sure his deer stands are safe for each deer hunting season. Let's take a look at what Fred has to say about deer hunting ladder stand safety.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

Deer Hunting Tree Stand Ladder Safety by Fred Vorassi

It is very important to check your deer hunting tree stand ladders way before the season starts.

If you have a permanent deer hunting tree stand with wooden steps, check the stability of the steps long before deer hunting season opens so that if they are damaged or rotten they can be replaced.

You do not want to be surprised during the season walking into a tree stand and have a step fall out as you’re climbing. This could result in severe injury and possibly death.

I prefer using aluminum ladders. Secure the aluminum ladder to the tree so it will not fall away from the tree as you are climbing into your deer hunting tree stand.

Aluminum ladder steps will never rot and will last for many, many seasons. If you are worried the shiny aluminum will scare deer, you can always paint the ladder with a camouflage pattern.

If you hunt from pre-manufactured ladder stands, each year it is good practice to check the firmness of the steps make sure each step can support weight properly. Always check and insure your deer hunting ladder stand is anchored properly to the tree.

All said and done, way before the season starts, check your stands and have a safe climb.

Good luck hunting.

Frontier Fred

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

September 10, 2007

Deer Hunting Camp Joke

The guys were all at deer camp. They had to bunk two to a room.

No one wanted to room with Daryl because he snored so badly.

They decided it wasn't fair to make one of them stay with him the whole time, so they voted to take turns.

The first guy slept with Daryl and comes to breakfast the next morning with his hair a mess and his eyes all bloodshot.

They said, "Man, what happened to you?"

He said, "Daryl snored so loudly, I just sat up and watched him all night."

The next night it was a different guy's turn. In the morning, same thing--hair all standing up, eyes all blood-shot.

They said, "Man, what happened to you? You look awful!"

He said, "Man, that Daryl shakes the roof. I sat up and watched him all night."

The third night was Frank's turn. Frank, the deer camp comedian, was a big burly ex-football player; a man's man. The next morning he came to breakfast bright eyed and bushy tailed, looking well rested.

"Good morning," he said.

They couldn't believe it! They said, "Man, what happened?"

He said, "Well, we got ready for bed. I went and tucked Daryl into bed and kissed him good night.

He sat up and watched me all night."

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (2)

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.

Set your wash machine to its large load setting.
Set wash cycle for COLD water wash and rinse.
Fill wash machine with your deer hunting clothes.
Add two cups of baking soda only and start wash cycle. Do not add any other detergents.
When the wash cycle has completed, find a shaded area out side to hang a clothes line.
Be careful that the area you hang the clothes is away from odors such as grills, car exhaust, pet odors, or chemical sprays.
Hang your clothes outside, out of direct sunlight, for one to three weeks until dry.
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.
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)

July 13, 2007

Dennis Shoots Big Buck

Dennis Klass Shoots Big Buck

This was the year that I made every effort for a good hunt. I scouted. I watched when and were the deer were coming from. I put out scent bombs.

Then came opening day. I sat and I sat and didn't see a single deer. I waited until 4pm and was getting restless. I stood up, turned around and finally I see a deer.

The big deer was about 1200 yards away and running in my direction.

The only problem was there were four hunters between me and that deer.

I kept watching as it ran across one field and cut between two hunters. They must have been napping because the big deer ran on by.

The deer crossed a small hedge into another field still running directly in my direction. This was the first time I saw his rack.

Now I was really getting nervous because there were still two deer hunters in the two corners of this clover field.

The two deer hunters didn't notice the big buck at first. By this time the deer was only 100 yards away and still running towards me. When the buck was just 75 yards out, I heard BOOM!!

I guess they finally noticed it!! But what’s this? The big buck is still running towards me. They missed!

In fact the big buck is now right under my deer hunting tree stand.

I take aim, shoot, and pick out a spot on my wall for this great deer.

Thanks Fred Vorrassi for doing a great taxidermy job.

As for my deer hunting story, well the only thing I can tell you is that it was just dumb luck.

But as a great man once said, “I would rather be lucky than good any day.”

I am hoping I will be just as lucky this year too.

Dennis Klass

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (1)

June 11, 2007

David Shoots Big Buck

David Harvests Big Buck

I knew where the buck was bedding down.

At the close of opening week the wind was right.

First came the young deer feeding on acorns. I kept watching the young deer feed as the sun began to set.

Then, not twenty yards away, the big buck was standing broadside to me.

I lifted my bow quietly. Pulled back...and released my arrow. A perfect broadside shot!

Thanks Fred Vorrasi (F&F Taxidermy Bristol, NY) for the sharp looking mount.

DAVID RADER

VICTOR, NY

Great job David and congratulations on a very nice buck.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (1)

May 16, 2007

Venison Jerky Recipes

Below is a question I received from Jack in Ohio.

marty,

can you educate me on making deer jerky at home?

Thanks, Jack Withers Sunbury, ohio

Jack,

Thanks for your question on making venison jerky.

I have posted two great venison jerky recipes on www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com complete with detailed instructons. Just click the link below to read the article "How to Make the Best Tasting Venison Jerky'

http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/articles/best_tasting_venison_jerky.htm

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (2)

May 14, 2007

How to Make Deer Hunting and Fishing Your Carrer

Mr. Marty Prokop, in your opinion, what is the best thing someone wanting to make a career out of hunting and or fishing can do, considering the fact that school doesn’t have a whole lot to do about either one?

I used to be into hunting and fishing big time, but this past season I was really discouraged when the season ended and I hadn’t made any kills.

I'm only 16, but I'm really beginning to wonder what to learn in school that will help me with hunting and or fishing. If you have any advice or suggestions, please feel free to speak. I am really wondering.

Matt

Matt,

Thanks for your email. Congratulations upon becoming part of the Free Deer Hunting Tips Community.

You have listed some very good questions. Here are my comments.

I felt the same way about schooling, hunting and fishing when I was attending high school. And, looking back on my school years, I can now see many opportunities available to me that I didn’t realize at the time.

First of all is learning persistence and awareness.

I made the decision early on that no matter what the result (the harvest, fish caught, deer taken) of my time outdoors, I would be happy for every minute. I would be outdoors just to be outdoors. I became aware of how grateful I was to be given opportunities outdoors (even if this meant cleaning the barn or tilling the garden).

When hunting or fishing trips did not turn out as planned I started to look around at my skills (or lack at the time) and my surroundings to see if I could find clues as to what could be improved.

When hunting or fishing trips went well, guess what I did?

I did more than celebrate.

I started to look at my skills (or changes I made) and my surroundings to see if I could find clues as to what I wanted to keep doing.

I kept notes of these (yes, written notes). These became the foundation for being able to help others.

School will teach you persistence — as you complete those classes you may find boring (I had them too).

You can also look at each class or study asking yourself, “How can this help me become what I want?” This is awareness. You’d be amazed that just about every class can help teach you at least a nugget that might be helpful later on.

Persistence and awareness are great skills to acquire if you are interested in being a guide, wild life tracker, wild life biologist, wildlife author/writer, outdoor trainer or succeed in many other outdoor fields.

When You Can’t Get Outdoors

Learn all you can about wildlife by reading books and watching videos concerning fish and wildlife habits.

If your school library is limited as to what can be found, go to your public library and pick up as many books as you are able to read.

And keep reading the Free Deer Hunting Tips newsletter that you get free as a subscriber.

You can also write for this blog by just writing…yes, we would love for you to contribute your questions, stories, comments and ideas. This could be a great start for you in the outdoors field.

Outdoor Careers

As far as making a career out of hunting and fishing you may have some options in higher education courses. Those that come to mind are Wildlife Biologist, Fisheries Manager, Sporting Goods Spokesperson, Sporting Goods Store Owner, Wildlife Author/Writer, Wildlife Expert, Wildlife Speaker, Taxidermist, Professional Guide, Soil Conservation, Game Warden, your local Department of Natural Resources or Fish and Game Department.

Courses to consider would include math, reading, writing, business management, business marketing, wildlife biology and perhaps fisheries biology.

There are a few private courses offered for becoming a professional guide and/or a taxidermist.

Any of the above could be good options to working in the fishing and hunting fields.

Slow Season

Matt, I hear you 100% about the season. It can be frustrating to not fill your deer tag. One of the best ways to increase your odds of filling your deer tag is to increase the amount of time you are out deer hunting.

When deer hunting season arrives, being in school during the days can be tough. Stay in class, study diligently and get as much homework done at school. When school lets out for the day, hurry home get your hunting gear and head to the woods, if your parents allow.

As a young man, I used to hunt the firearm season only. After my first two years of not filling my deer tag, I picked up a second-hand bow. And after becoming very good at shooting a bow and arrow, I began to deer hunt archery season in addition to firearm deer hunting season.

Doing this could do two things for you.

It will get you out in the woods more, which could increase your chances of a big buck walking in front of you.

Secondly, as you are out in the woods, you will be learning deer behavior taught by the best teachers in the world…deer.

Use the information you acquire while out in the woods to help you pattern deer. Watch where deer come out of the woods and locate their main trails. If you notice deer coming out 100 yards away from your deer hunting tree stand, move your tree stand.

Pay attention to wind direction and deer movement. Deer will use certain trails when the wind blows from the north, south, east and west. Keep notes of which trails deer use and the wind direction each day. Before you head out to hunt, listen to the weather to see what the wind is doing that day. Choose a tree stand site that will have the wind in your face.

Another great way to learn deer habits and patterns is to go small game hunting after deer season ends. You will be out hunting, whether it is rabbits or squirrels, and you can also be out scouting for next deer season.

Rabbits and squirrels live in the same area you will be deer hunting. Follow deer trails into the woods. See where the trails lead to and from.

Big bucks have a home range or core area they spend most of their time in. If you locate a buck’s home range while small game hunting, you have just found a great place to hang a deer hunting tree stand.

Nothing beats time spent in the woods learning from the master teachers…the deer themselves.

Do not to get discouraged when you are out hunting and you don’t fill a tag. Sometimes just the excitement of seeing deer makes the experience worthwhile. Think of yourself as a student of the whitetail, as famed deer hunter Barry Wensel teaches.

In regards to making hunting and fishing a career, discovering what you love to do and choosing it as your career makes great sense. It also makes a life great. You can do it. I believe in you.

Keep me posted as to what you decide.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

May 11, 2007

Best Deer Hunting Guns for Beginners

What is the best deer hunting gun for beginners???

Zach

Zach,

Thanks for your great question.

Here are three factors to consider when choosing the best deer hunting gun:

Deer Hunting Gun Factor #1

One of the first is what your current deer hunting regulations allow in your deer hunting area. In your deer hunting area, does your state allow you to deer hunt with a rifle or do you need to use a deer hunting shotgun?

Deer Hunting Gun Factor #2

Another factor to consider is what part of the country you are deer hunting. Are you hunting in a thick, wooded environment? Or are you hunting in open grasslands?

Deer Hunting Gun Factor #3

Do you want to use your deer hunting gun for other game or is it strictly for deer hunting?

Thick Forest Deer Hunting Guns for Beginners

I first began deer hunting at 14 years old. I was hunting in thick forest. My first deer hunting rifle was a Model 94 Winchester 30/30.

I love the 30/30 cartridge but do not recommend a lever action for beginning hunters.

The recoil from the 30/30 cartridge is almost non-existent; it works great for short range shots in the deer hunting woods. Overall, the 30/30 is a great caliber deer hunting rifle for deer hunters, whether deer hunting veterans or beginners.

The Model 94 is a lever action gun. This means to shoot the next bullet, you move the lever down and up to transfer the cartridge from the magazine into the chamber where it can be fired.

The problem is the safety is off when you cycle a cartridge into the chamber. The gun is in immediate fire mode. This is dangerous.

I do not recommend a lever action gun for beginners, because placing a lever action into safety mode can be a challenge.

When I was a kid, to make sure I mastered the safety of my lever action, I practiced 100 times every day for six months putting the safety on and off with my gun empty. Most people will not do this.

Therefore, I recommend a bolt action, slide action or pump with a cross block safety or button safety. With this type of gun you can place a cartridge into the chamber with the gun remaining on safety.

But what about semi-automatic deer hunting rifles?

Semi-automatics are also great deer hunting guns. However, for the beginner, having a bolt action or pump may increase concentration, shot placement and the importance of making the first shot count.

A semi-automatic can be a great deer hunting gun if you are going to use conscious self-discipline to make your first shot count, rather than figure you have multiple shots so you don’t have to master your deer hunting aim.

Open Country Deer Hunting Gun for Beginners

If the area you plan to deer hunt consists of mostly open grassland and your average shot at deer is 100 yards or more, you will want to choose a long-range, flat-shooting deer rifle.

A good, open country deer rifle is the .243. The .243 has relatively light recoil and, with practice, is a good, long-range shooter. It is powerful enough for white tail deer, wild hogs and coyotes.

Just like the thick forest guns, for the beginners, I suggest a pump or bolt action with a cross block safety or button safety.

Deer Hunting Shotguns

Some states or even counties within states require deer hunters to use only shotguns for deer hunting.

Shotguns are great first guns for young hunters. You can deer hunt with a shotgun, and you can also use it for other hunting seasons your state may offer, such as small game and waterfowl seasons.

This is really important if you are on a tight budget. Here’s why…

You can purchase a good shotgun and buy a rifled slug barrel to convert it to a deer hunting shotgun. This can save you $500 to $600 for a deer hunting rifle, because a good shotgun can be a great deer hunting gun.

I’ve taken a number of deer with my 12-gauge shotgun.

By using one gun for multiple species, you will become accustomed to handling the gun. Your hunting skills confidence will increase.

For a beginner, I suggest a 20 gauge shotgun. A 20 gauge shotgun will have moderate recoil, and the overall weight of the gun is manageable for all day hunts.

Shotgun slugs are very reasonably priced; so you won’t spend a fortune on ammunition.

As with any firearm, it is best to practice at the gun range long before you head into the deer hunting woods.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

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)

April 30, 2007

From No Bucks to Monster Bucks

Marty,

I deer hunt with a party of six.

Before I came into the picture 7 years ago, the guys had the theory "if it's brown, it's down".

It didn't matter what size the buck was they saw, they would still shoot it.

Almost 10 years ago there was a buck that all the guys wanted. They named him the “Oh Shit Buck.”

This buck was a monster and extremely smart. He was always one step ahead of us hunters.

Every time one of us saw him we simply said, “Oh shit” as we watched from the distance.

This buck was so smart he didn't die by a hunter’s gun; rather, he died from old age.

Thankfully, before he died, the old buck produced a few monster buck offspring.

But, unfortunately, the deer he had sired have all been taken, by not just our group of deer hunters, but other deer hunters in the area.

Now 2007, we rarely see any bucks with any kind of rack, and as a result we all hunt the does.

I will spread the word to the hunters in my party and around our hunting area about Quality Deer Management. If we all practice good Quality Deer Management, maybe in a few years, we can get some good bucks back.

Now, since I am still learning about deer hunting, how can I tell the age of a deer while I am sitting in my deer hunting tree stand?

Thanks!

Alyssa

Alyssa,

Thanks for your comment. I totally understand not seeing any nice bucks due to too much deer hunting pressure and not enough Quality Deer Management.

When I purchased my deer hunting land here in northern Wisconsin, my deer hunting experience was much like what you shared. I would see countless does during deer hunting season and few, if any, bucks.

My second year deer hunting here, I learned the reason why I was seeing so few bucks.

The properties surrounding my own deer hunting land had huge groups of deer hunters.

I spoke with a few of the deer hunters from those groups. The deer hunters said they were deer hunting for any deer with a legal rack. It was in those conversations where I learned why I was not seeing any big bucks, or even small bucks, on my deer hunting land. The bucks were being harvested before they could cross the fence lines.

From No Bucks to Monster Bucks by Marty Prokop

I wanted to see the number of and size bucks increase in my deer hunting area; not only for me, but for all the deer hunters on surrounding properties also.

I began sharing my thoughts of how to increase the numbers and sizes of the bucks in our deer hunting area.

I developed a friendship with some neighbors and told them my plans of wanting to start Quality Deer Management here on my deer hunting land. We talked about how, decades ago when they were kids, there were so many more large bucks. They wanted to see those big, beautiful, breath-taking bucks again.

We knew the gene pool existed in the does who were the offspring of the monster bucks. We hoped if the pressure was off the bucks, we might be able to help bring monster bucks back to our deer hunting area.

How Quick Monster Bucks Came Back by Marty Prokop

Even though my deer hunting land appeared to have little or no large bucks in 2003, after just one and a half years of Quality Deer Management, I started seeing more bucks by 2005.

Although the 2006 season was slow for seeing a decent number of bucks during deer hunting season, I photographed a good number of individual bucks prior to deer hunting opener.

After deer hunting season, in the winter of 2006 through spring thaw of 2007, I counted fifteen individual bucks one night on my deer hunting land. That’s ONE NIGHT!

I had bucks with racks ranging from spikes, forks, six-pointers, eight pointers and two really nice 10-point bucks.

Marty Prokop says, “Quality Deer Management Really Works!”

Share your plans of wanting to start a Quality Deer Management program with other deer hunters and with your own deer hunting party. You could see an increase in numbers and sizes of future deer.

How to Judge a Deer’s Age in the Field by Marty Prokop

In my opinion, it is best to let the younger bucks grow until they reach full maturity.

Judging how old a deer in the wild is can be tough. It can become increasingly difficult when coupled with the sheer excitement and adrenaline rush experienced when you see a buck while deer hunting.

One of the best ways to be able to judge a deer’s age is to study as many deer as you can.

Look through the Deer Cam Pictures at www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com. Study pictures of deer. Watch deer hunting videos. These are great ways to learn differences between mature deer and young deer.

The easiest way to judge deer age is by the overall size. Most generally, a spike buck or fork-horn buck is probably sporting his first set of antlers. This usually happens when the buck reaches 1½ years.

But judging by antler size alone is not always accurate. Antler growth depends on many factors. Age, genetics, nutrition and stress all play key roles in antler development.

Marty Prokop Reveals a Simple Measurement to Help Age a Deer

Here is one of the best tools I use to age a deer in the field.

I focus on a simple measurement beginning at the inside corner of a deer’s eye and running to the tip of its nose.

A mature deer’s head, be it a buck or a doe, will be considerably larger than a young deer’s head.

Generally, mature deer will measure between six and seven inches in length from the inside corner of the deer’s eye to the tip of the deer’s nose.

You may ask, “How can I measure the length of a live deer standing in front of my deer hunting tree stand?”

Marty Prokop Shows…Become a Master of How to Age a Deer

Try this tip to help you better judge the size of a deer standing in front of you.

Find a life size photograph of a mature deer’s head. You could do this by measuring the deer from inside corner of the eye to the top of the nose. It should measure six to seven inches.

Take this photograph to the gun range or you can do this in your yard at your home.

Place the life-size picture of the deer head at different ranges. Look at the life-size photograph through your deer hunting gun scope or binoculars.

Pay attention to how the corner of the deer’s eye and the tip of its nose fill your lens. Make a mental note of what this looks like.

The next time you are out in your deer hunting tree stand and a deer walks in front of you, remember what you saw looking through your deer hunting gun scope or binoculars when you were viewing the photograph.

This has helped me target only the mature animals here on my deer hunting land.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

March 1, 2007

Placing Bait for Deer

If the deer only come to your tree stand at night what can a person do? I was told to cover your apples at night with blankets. Tie a rope to the blanket and when morning comes and I am in my stand to just pull the blanket away with the rope. I was told, when I climb out of my tree stand, to put the blanket back in the evening.
I don’t usually have too many apples to give the deer so how many apples should I put down? Again I was told 4 buckets first until they come every day, then cut down to one bucket.

I know the deer might taste better but money wise I can afford that many apples every day. It might sound cheap, but I’m on a strict budget.

Marcel

This question has to do with baiting deer and the proper amount of bait to use. I personally do not hunt over bait piles, but I do provide food plots on my deer hunting property, some in areas I hunt and others in areas that I do not hunt.

Check Regulations

Make sure to read your local deer hunting rules and regulations to see how much bait a deer hunter in your area can put out at his bait site (or if baiting is allowed). Many states have rules and regulations regarding maximum amounts of bait a deer hunter can place while deer hunting.

In my state for example, deer hunters are allowed to put out up to 2 gallons of bait. Baiting is only allowed in certain areas. There are certain deer hunting zones where baiting is not allowed at all.

Deer Bait on a Budget

If your deer hunting area has no limits as to the amount of bait you can put out, a large pile of apples is better than a small one. The more bait you have out, the longer it will last between refills.

If money is tight, try the two gallon option. Two gallons of apples is about 10 pounds or so and should be enough to draw in deer. However, if there are a lot of deer in your hunting area, two gallons could disappear very quickly.

If you have a local orchard near your home you may want to check if they have apples that can not be sold for human consumption. Often times, orchards will sell these very inexpensively. Another cost-savings tip is to see if you can make arrangements to pick up the apples from the ground that can’t be sold. This could save the orchard on labor costs.

Another source for apples in the fall could be your local feed store. My local feed store gave me five 50 pound bags of soft, half-rotten apples free when I bought some shell corn. The deer loved them, and the price was definitely right.

Deer Bait Tips

Trying to program deer to come in and feed during shooting hours can be a challenge. The idea of you covering your apples at night with a blanket has some merit. There is a deer feeder on the market now called the Nocturnal Nightmare. You can program the feeder to close its lid at dusk and to open the lid during daylight hours.

The theory is deer will get used to coming in during daytime hours to feed, thus providing a deer hunter with a shot.

Covering your bait pile with a heavy blanket could work. As long as you are using a very heavy blanket the deer can’t move aside, it should work to protect your bait.

Covering the bait with a blanket will not work if you have bear in your deer hunting woods. Bear will simply pull off the blanket and feast on your deer bait.

Using a blanket could pose other issues for you while you are out deer hunting. Introducing something new, such as a heavy blanket, to your hunting area during deer season could affect deer behavior. Deer may shy away from the area if they see a large mass sitting on the ground or hanging in a tree.

I feel the best way to keep your bait site stocked is to bring in the bait each morning. Instead of putting out a truck full of bait at one time, bring 2 ice cream pails with you each day. This way you know you will have bait to hunt over when you are on your tree stand. Deer may get used to smelling the apples each morning when you arrive at your treestand, prompting them to get out of their beds to have a bite.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (2)

January 25, 2007

Does the Buck Growler Really Work?

In a recent blog post from Moses, he asked if the Buck Growler by Madd really worked?

I shared with Moses that I had not had the chance to use the Buck Growler yet.

Here is your chance to help your fellow deer hunters.

If you or any of your hunting partners has had success using the Madd Buck Growler let us know.

Scroll down to the bottom of this post and click on the questions and comments link.

As soon as I receive your post I will put it up on the blog for our deer hunting community to read.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (1)

December 18, 2006

Start Planning Next Years Deer Hunting Trip Now

For many deer hunters, deer hunting season has come to an end for this year. Why let the close of a season keep you out of the woods?

No, I am not saying go out and take up poaching as a past time. Rather, use the off-season to your advantage and prepare for your next deer hunt.

If your state offers a small game season, get out there and hunt. If you haven’t already, make sure you purchase a small game license.

Here are three good reasons you may want to go small game hunting.

1.) You will be out hunting and this keeps your shooting eye in shape. Yes, you will be trading your trusty deer hunting rifle for a shotgun or .22 caliber rifle. But you will still be practicing your aim.

2.) While you are out pursuing small game look for new deer hunting hot spots for the following season. Look for deer signs and how deer are using trails. Pay attention to where the trails lead to and from. On late season bunny hunts, keep your eyes pealed for shed antlers. This will tell you what bucks survived the past deer hunting season and what trails the big bucks are using.

3.) Being out chasing rabbits and squirrels is good exercise. Most rabbit or squirrel hunts mean putting on a few miles to get them.

As an added bonus you can put a little more great tasting wild game into your freezer.

Let’s hear from you. What can hunters do to stay sharp and prepare for the next deer hunting season? What do you do?

I’d really like to hear your thoughts. What you think and do is really important and valuable and can help many hunters. Don’t think that you don’t have anything to say. You do. And I would like to hear from you.

You can post your thoughts, ideas, stories and pictures right here on the blog by clicking on the “questions and comments” links just below this entry.

Good Luck and Great Hunting.