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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
August 8, 2008
Is Your Deer Hunting Rifle Shooting Straight? 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…
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
August 1, 2008
Can Wind Affect Deer Rifle Accuracy? 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 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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
July 28, 2008
How to Use your Air Rifle for Deer Hunting Success 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…
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
July 25, 2008
Perfect Practice Makes Perfect Deer Hunting! 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…
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
July 21, 2008
Waterproof Your Deer Hunting Rifle 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…
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
July 18, 2008
4 Steps for Successful Deer Scouting 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…
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
July 14, 2008
Following Deer Tracks that Seem to Disappear
If you would like to listen to this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog post as a podcast click the play button…
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
July 11, 2008
Deer Tracks: Are You Following a Buck or Doe? 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…
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting--Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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
****************************
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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
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
****************************
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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
May 4, 2008
Think Like a Deer to Fill Your Tag

If you would like to listen to this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog post as a podcast click the play button…
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
****************************
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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
May 1, 2008
How Well Can Deer See?
If you would like to listen to this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog post as a podcast click the play button…
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.
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
****************************
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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
March 31, 2008
Main Rut Deer Hunting Success 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…
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.
To subscribe to the weekly Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com Newsletter or 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.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Deer Hunting 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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
March 28, 2008
Pre-Rut Deer Hunting Success 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…
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
****************************
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 ***
If you want to keep up on new deer hunting 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.
=========================
*** Help Your Deer Hunting Buddies ***
Help your deer hunting buddies and support deer hunting…it’s free to do… Go ahead and email this Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog URL to your deer hunting buddies or use our Tell A Friend form at http://www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com/ .
=========================
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
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
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)
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
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)
June 26, 2007
John Gets Big Bobcat
John Traps Big Bobcat
Free Deer Hunting Tips Community member, John Gagnon, shares his trapping story:
My name is John Gagnon and I live in Bennington VT.
I am a avid outdoorsman who loves to hunt, fish, and trap. I thought I would share a couple pics from this past winters trap line!
I had been set on a carcass that the local Game warden had given me for bait for about a week without luck!
I was expecting to take a couple fishers that have been working the area, but to my surprise I almost walked into this big tom that pulled up the trap and drag and got snagged on a tree 50 yards away from the set!
I know this is not a hunting story or pic but it was a special moment to me just the same! I hope this is something you can use on your web page and if so I have more pics of other fur-bearers I'd like to share!!!
Thank you
John Gagnon (Madtrapper)

John,
Thanks for sharing your trapping story and photos with the Free Deer Hunting Tips Community.
Congratulations on your successful trapping adventure.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)





