Free Deer Hunting Tips by Marty Prokop: Tree Stands Archives

August 18, 2008

Top 5 Ways to Miss Your Deer by Marty Prokop

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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.

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Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

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

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

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August 15, 2008

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

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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!

Marty Prokop

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

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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!

Marty Prokop

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

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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!

Marty Prokop

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

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

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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!

Marty Prokop

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

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

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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!

Marty Prokop

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

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

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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!

Marty Prokop

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

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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!

Marty Prokop

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.

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!

Marty Prokop

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!

Marty Prokop

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!

Marty Prokop

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

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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)

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

www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

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

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

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

www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

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

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

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

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

October 15, 2007

The Surprising Secret to Retrieve Down Deer in Half the Time

You’ve made the shot and scored a solid hit on the deer. You know it was a good shot, but the deer took off running. You have a couple options now. Get down and tear off through the woods hoping you catch the deer or sit in your tree stand watching where the deer ran.
I choose to sit and watch where the deer runs.

Once the deer is out of my sight, I sit for at least 10 minutes longer looking in the deer’s general direction. As I sit, I watch the bushes for any movement.

After my 10 minute calming period, I climb down from my deer hunting tree stand and walk over to where the deer was standing when I shot. I look at the area to determine if my hit was solid.

Once I determine the hit was good, I sit for another 20 minutes.

After a total of 30 minutes has passed since I took the shot, I begin tracking the deer.

The 30 minutes before tracking a wounded deer that has run allows the deer to find a place to lay down and “stiffen up.” This will also help you avoid pushing the deer farther away from the place you shot it.

I have been fortunate in that only a few deer have run off after I hit them. With each one I waited for 30 minutes before I tracked them. In many cases the deer was found in a bed within 100 yards of my deer hunting tree stand. When I walked up to them, they have usually expired.

If you shoot and know you made a well placed shot, your deer still gets up and runs off, wait 30 minutes before tracking it. This will usually keep the deer a little closer to where you hit it and keep you from pushing it farther into the woods.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop

www.Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

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)

February 9, 2007

Choosing the Best Hunting Location

Marty,
When a person is checking around to see if it’s a good place to put a treestand, and see no big heavy trails, just droppings, is this a good place for the tree stand?

Thanks,

Marcel

Marcel,

Without knowing more about the area you are deer hunting I would have to say no. But there are these exceptions. Let me tell you more.

I would not pick a deer hunting tree stand location based solely on deer droppings.

If you are seeing a few deer droppings and not seeing a deer trail nearby, the deer in the area could be using that particular location sporadically as they run through.

Rocky Terrain

One exception to this would be if the terrain where you find the droppings is rocky. If you are hunting over a rock outcropping, there could be plenty of deer activity in the area, but the rock’s surface will not show tracks.

If this is the case, walk small circles from where you found the deer droppings. Look for a trail leading to or from the top of the rocky area. If you can see trails leading into or away from the rock, and are seeing other deer sign like rubs or scrapes, the rock could be a good place to hunt over.

Food Plot

Another possible exception is if the droppings are in the middle of a deer food plot or feeding area. If the droppings were found in an opening or food source area, start walking the edges of the opening. Look for main trails leading to the opening.

Once you find a main trail or two, follow them back into the woods. Look at the areas the trails are leading to. If a trail leads into thick and gnarly brush, you may have found a bedding area. I don’t go into the bedding area, because I don’t want to disturb it.

Set up a deer hunting tree stand in the woods between the open field and the thick, gnarly bedding area. You could intercept a big buck as he walks from his bedding area out to feed.

Taking into consideration these possible exceptions, if you do not see any deer trails near the deer droppings consider putting your deer hunting tree stand in a better location. The droppings you see may be from a deer just passing through the area.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (0)

February 6, 2007

Natural Cover Scents for Deer Hunting

Marty,
During deer hunting season when I’m walking anywhere in the woods and see fresh deer droppings, I usually pick it up with plastic sandwich bag I carry with me all the time. When I get to the place where my tree stand is, I put the deer droppings on the ground and spray deer scent all around. Am I doing all this for nothing?

Marcel

Marcel,

Thanks again for the great deer hunting question.

I think your idea of placing fresh deer droppings near your deer hunting tree stand is a good idea and here is why.

By placing the deer droppings near your tree stand you are adding more of the deer’s natural habitat to your deer hunting location. The deer droppings could help cover some of the human odor you have left behind as you walked to your deer hunting tree stand. When a deer sees the droppings near your stand, it could assume another deer has come through the area.

Spraying your deer hunting area with deer scent will also aid in masking some of the human odors present. Are you using a deer urine or doe-in-heat type scent?

In the past, I have seen mock scrape building kits that contained freeze-dried deer droppings along with deer scent and scent wicks.

The reasoning for the deer droppings in the kit is to make your mock scrape appear more natural to the deer visiting the area. One downside to freeze-dried deer droppings is that they do not retain as strong an odor as the fresh droppings you picked up in the deer hunting woods.

Overall, I think placing the droppings around your deer hunting tree stand along with scent can help mask the human odor and could be a plus.

Marcel and I have shared our experiences. I’m open ears to hear about your deer hunting and deer scent experiences. You can post your questions and comments here at the Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com blog by clicking on the “Questions and Comments” button just below to the right.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!

Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop | Questions and Comments (4)

August 18, 2008

Top 5 Ways to Miss Your Deer by Marty Prokop

August 15, 2008

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

August 8, 2008

Is Your Deer Hunting Rifle Shooting Straight? by Marty Prokop

August 4, 2008

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

August 1, 2008

Can Wind Affect Deer Rifle Accuracy? by Marty Prokop

July 7, 2008

Recovering Your Deer After the Shot

June 6, 2008

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

June 3, 2008

Finding Early Season Deer

April 28, 2008

Post Rut Deer Hunting Success

March 31, 2008

Main Rut Deer Hunting Success by Marty Prokop

March 28, 2008

Pre-Rut Deer Hunting Success by Marty Prokop

March 15, 2008

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

December 5, 2007

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

November 15, 2007

How to Attract Big Bucks

October 30, 2007

Five Steps to Fast Track Success Deer Hunting

October 25, 2007

Using a Trail Camera to Pattern Big Bucks

October 20, 2007

Staying Warm While Deer Hunting

October 15, 2007

The Surprising Secret to Retrieve Down Deer in Half the Time

September 17, 2007

Choosing the Right Deer Cover Scent

September 13, 2007

Deer Hunting Tree Stand Safety

February 9, 2007

Choosing the Best Hunting Location

February 6, 2007

Natural Cover Scents for Deer Hunting

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