Whitetail Deer HuntingGain a better understanding of the World's most popular big game animal and the techniques that will help you become a better deer hunter.
My name is Matt and I'm brand new to hunting. I lived with my mom growingup (who hates guns) and none of my friends were into hunting so I never had much of a desire to do it. For some reason, this summer the bug struck me. I took a hunters ed class and got a rifle. I have a friend who is into hunting but he just had a baby and never has time to go.
What should a guy like me do? I've been out 2 times with my buddy and love it, even though we didn't see one deer. I'm anxious to learn and gain as much knowledge as I can. I've looked at some books, but there is nothing I could find that is really written for the beginner.
I would be interested in meeting other hunters in some way, whether it was in a club or something like that? Are there any options like that available? Are there some good books or videos that you would recommend for a beginner like me? I just want to learn as much as I can and enjoy the sport as much as possible. Any info you could share would be greatly appreciated.
Check with your state for available public areas. Look for state specific magazines and books. Talk to people at your local hunting stores. Be patient, you don't have to try and learn everything at once. Down here deer leases are every where. Check local papers for clubs looking for members. Find your states wildlife agency's web site it should have some good info on it. And welcome to the club, it's a good one to be in.
I would imagine most current adult deer hunters started out as children and learned everything over many years. But there is one reason this should not discourage you at all: no one knows it all when it comes to deer hunting. I have hunted since I was a kid and I gotta tell ya, I am always meeting guys/gals who know far more than I and who are far better hunters and woodsmen. The point is, we are essentially all in the same boat - learning as we go.
But you are starting from scratch. So here is what I would do:
1. This first year, I would go hunting alone if I couldn't scrape up a buddy. This is no big deal really if you do it right. If you don't have private land, I would find available public lands and hunt them.
2. I would not so much focus on getting a deer. I would instead focus on developing a good personal hunting culture that you will teach your children - learning ethics, the basic upsoken rules all good hunters follow, and focusing especially hard on safety (can't stress this enough). Just start slowly, get a map of the area you will hunt. Enter it during the day, perhaps marking it with brite-eyes. Follow your path on the map. Then later, enter the same area in the early morning darkness (the woods will look drastically different than in the day). Try always to develop a sense of place when you hunt. Go deeper into the woods as you gain confidence. There are many areas now that I know very well, so well that I can literally walk for miles in and out of them in the pitch black. I know the rocks, the tree stumps, a certain root that crosses the path, and when that path will disappear and then reappear, when the creek should start to babble on my right, when I should run into a thick wall of brambles and move right, etc., etc. It will take a lot of experience to develop this sort of confidence on any given property of any real size. Just start slowly. Use maps and, if possible, aerial photos (terraserver.com) especially in unfamiliar woods. Your goal should be to be able by the end of this season (again, the END of the season), to confidently enter the woods in the pitch black darkness, find your place, sit confidently, exit confidently, feeling in control at all times.
3. You should take time to hit the field hard this year if you can. You use the time to learn and acquire the gear you need in case of emergencies. You should also use the time to read about and even develop your own tricks for finding comfort while on stand (i.e. ways to keep warm. You should find the time this season to read at least a few articles on field-dressing (just in case you get game). Visualize the process. It is easy, but a deer carcass can be a big thing. So see it in your mind first.
These first three items are more than enough to keep you busy this season. And you can do them right now. All the while you will be hunting simply because you will be quietly and safely in the woods.
4. Directly after the season, when no one should be in the woods hunting, when the leaves are all down and you can really see the ground, you should begin to really learn how to hunt. All year long, your way to relax should be to get out and into the woods. Take your wife with you. I do this. Apart from some very nice romantic times, we both get to know the area I will be hunting (wife doesn't hunt, but loves to hike in the woods). At these times you should be working on woodsmanship, how to recognize plants and trees and how your quarry responds to them. You should work on "orienteering" skills, you should so much develop a picture of your property in your head that you no longer need a map, but can see it all mentally.
As you are doing this, you should be trying to discover where deer are at the end of the season and where they go "normally," when there is virtually no pressure on them. Try to learn what deer scat looks like, what a rub looks like, a scrape, a bedding area, etc. and why deer make them. Try to find this stuff on the property. Read about how deer act and try to see if the deer on your property are conforming to what you are reading.
I bet that after nearly a year of scouting and learning, when NEXT fall starts approaching, you will be typing this sort of post instead of asking for one. You will also be very eager to hit the woods for the real deal. You will have an amazing amount of confidence, and most significantly, you will have a pretty good idea where your deer is hiding.
Hope you score a whopper this year. But don't look for it. Just enjoy the rapidly disappearing woods while they last.
Good advice given ,Where are you from? You know I am always looking forsomeone to help learn to hunt,but in my area it seems there just ain t ever anyone that is looking for a mentor. The weapon is just a small part of the hunting experience. Get to learn the habits of the animal your hunting.Actually put yourself in their place. Dont let any little thing you see get past you. Keep a journal to refer back to. When discouragement sets in ,remember It part of the learning process.
Hey Guys, thanks so much for the thoughts and advice. Everyone I know that hunts has done it since they were young and learned a lot from their dads. Just getting started at my age can be tough since all the books, videos and magazines seem to be written for those who have been doing it for a long time. Just a couple questions for you all...
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ORIGINAL: A5Mag12
Talk to people at your local hunting stores.
Down here deer leases are every where.
Check local papers for clubs looking for members.
And welcome to the club, it's a good one to be in.
A5Mag12, I'm always worried when I go into the hunting store that I'll look like a total idiot. I guess those guys would be the ones to talk to about getting into hunting in this area though. I'll give it a shot next time I'm in there.
What is a dear lease?
Where in the paper would I look for hunting clubs? Classifieds? Outdoor section? Any tips on that would be great.
It's great to be in the club. So far I have loved learning about and actually trying to hunt, even though I've yet to even SEE a buck.
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ORIGINAL: Swampmonster
1. This first year, I would go hunting alone if I couldn't scrape up a buddy.
2. learning ethics, the basic upsoken rules all good hunters follow,
Hope you score a whopper this year. But don't look for it.
Swampmonster, thanks for your monster reply. Lots of really good info in there. I have thought about going hunting alone, my only concern is what to do if I actually shoot one. I've read a little on feild dressing, but don't know if I could actually do it without some sort of actual guidance. Is it OK to shoot a deer and not feild dress him till later that day when I get home when I could have a friend or the internet to help me?
Your second point is the one I'm most worried about. The ethics and unspoken rules of hunting. I totally respect them, I just have no idea what they are. How does one go about learning the ethics and unspoken rules of hunting. I assume most of them are good ol' common sense.
I too would love to shoot a whopper this year, but am not counting on it. So far I have really just enjoyed being out there.
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ORIGINAL: cardeer
Good advice given ,Where are you from?
Keep a journal to refer back to.
Cardeer, I am in Boise Idaho. I would love a mentor and hope to find one.
What kind of info would you keep in a journal? It sounds like a good idea.
Matt, I keep a record of the stands I hunt,Deer seen,Sex of deer,time of day seen, direction they were moving,wind directions,dont forget sun glare in the morning sunrise or sunset.that sounds trivial. But I missed opportunities because of sun glare.If the sun is in the deers eyes now thats good.Sometimes at a new spot I have to fine tune the location after sitting there a couple times to get closer to the deer.I make a note of other hunters in the area and if i see where they are set up that comes in handy. Sample, If i'm hunting a spot and notice there is a guy that comes in a little late usually. I will make sure I am in my stand early. By now I know the habits of the deer in that stand and Zero in on the area the deer will be coming from when the What I like to call< Daylight dummy> walks in and could chase me a deer.I get to know the deer individually. Oh there is fat momma with 2 fawns,there is the doe with a scar on its butt.I try not to shoot a young deer,so me getting to know the deer from year to year I can make a educated shot on a mature animal.anyways it will all fall in to place.the best education is experience and lots of time in the woods,even if aint huntin season. Never shoot unless you have 100% ID your target and only clean ethical killing shots.Have fun
There isn't a lot more that can be said unless you have specific questions that the guys haven't already answered. But one thing that I'd like to point out and commend you on whole heartedly on, is your mentality in regards to the fact that you want to gain overall hunting knowledge. You just don't want to pickup a gun and go kill something. You desire advice and knowledge about hunting as a whole. I wish you lived closer to me as Cardeer said. I would have you in my deer camp anyday of the week!!! I'm certainly not saying that I know everything there is to know..but I'm sure I could help you out a fair amount.
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I'm always worried when I go into the hunting store that I'll look like a total idiot.
Don't ever worry about that. We all started from ground zero at one time and probably asked the same questions you will ask. The only dumb question is one that goes unasked! Sent you a PM...check it out.
I'm going on my first-ever deer hunting trip next weekend. I'm looking forward to it. I've got a million questions about stuff. So many, in fact, that I don't know where to begin. I'm counting on the owners of the property I'll be visiting to clue me in a lot (they know I'm a first-timer).
Answering several of your questions, Matt, from my vantagepoint.
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A5Mag12, I'm always worried when I go into the hunting store that I'll look like a total idiot. I guess those guys would be the ones to talk to about getting into hunting in this area though. I'll give it a shot next time I'm in there.
When I don't know something and want to learn from the experts, I "know nothing" with confidence. In other words, I tell the experts right up front that I am a novice and am learning. Then I ask specific questions (this is important. You need to ask a lot of questions - just make sure they are specific). Questions like "How do you scout for deer?" are probably too broad in a quick discussion, since there are so many things to do. But try to pick scouting apart and ask specific questions on each part. Here are good scouting-related specific questions: 1. "What are sheds?" 2. "What does a scrape look like?" 3. "Can you tell the difference between buck and doe tracks?" 4. "Do you have a favorite time in the year to do your scouting?" Just ask tons and tons of questions like these and in short order you will build up a lot of information. THE KEY will be to turn that info into real knowledge of the "in your bones" sort. The only way, I'm afraid, for you to do that is to rely on your two buddies "Pat and Ben." You gotta pat yer foot and ben yer knees, walkin' them woods and looking for the stuff you have been hearing about! Takes lots of work, but it is good for the mind and spirit.
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What is a dear lease? Where in the paper would I look for hunting clubs? Classifieds? Outdoor section? Any tips on that would be great.
I don't do these things, so I have no firsthand experience with them. But I will say that if I am gonna drop bills for a hunting club, I am gonna be sure to check it out. I suspect all clubs aren't alike and some clubs will probably be down right ridiculous.
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It's great to be in the club. So far I have loved learning about and actually trying to hunt, even though I've yet to even SEE a buck.
Well not seeing a buck for long stretches makes you an official member of the club. Somebody will make sure you get your plaque, but there is just one way to get that trophy - you gotta never give up - ever - and be sure to evaluate and re-evaluate what you are doing. I think things through after EVERY hunt and after a bit of hard trying, I will change things a bit. You ought not expect to get new results by holding to the same failed policies - a thing folks in Washington seem never to learn.
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I have thought about going hunting alone, my only concern is what to do if I actually shoot one. I've read a little on feild dressing, but don't know if I could actually do it without some sort of actual guidance.
Have you ever gutted a squirrel? It is really a quite bit like that, except that you have a few extra "things" to take care of, especially if you down a buck. Hey, ultimately all you have to do is get the guts out of the carcass in a timely manner. Don't make it harder than it has to be. Read a few articles about field dressing and just go after it as best you can. It will make half-decent sense to you when the carcass is in front of you. You just have to be a bit fearless. Try not to angle your blade so much that you end up cutting the paunch and get mess everywhere. Depending upon how it was shot, I can dress a deer so cleanly that I scarcely even get blood on my hands. Everything just falls out in a nice clean pile. Look to make your job as clean as you can. But if it isn't clean, well, just git 'er done! You'll learn as time goes on. Its the only way - just git 'er done.
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Is it OK to shoot a deer and not feild dress him till later that day when I get home when I could have a friend or the internet to help me?
Absolutely not. Once your monster is down in the field and you walk up to it, be ready to shoot it again if you have to. Tap it on its eyes to see if it winces. If not, well, you will be at your little personal Rubicon and you will just have to cross it - or else. Start dressing it right away. You want to get that carcass cooling down as fast as possible. Trust me on this - it makes a BIG difference in how the meat tastes. Some guys may disagree with me - but they are just wrong ( while duckin' and runnin'). Seriously, it is not that hard. Just get at it.
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Your second point is the one I'm most worried about. The ethics and unspoken rules of hunting. I totally respect them, I just have no idea what they are. How does one go about learning the ethics and unspoken rules of hunting. I assume most of them are good ol' common sense.
Yeah. Most of the rules are unspoken because they are just good ol' fashioned common sense and decency. If you hear a shot and a deer runs near you nearly collapsing and you happen to put it down, well, what does honor tell you to do? Do you take the deer for yourself or do you give it to the hunter who really put it down. If you shoot an animal that happens to bolt away, do you track it and look for it for as long as possible, even though it means the rest of the day's hunting is over? Do you poach or break other game laws (part of hunting is doing it within the official rules. If you score outside of those rules, well, your score just doesn't count. You may get the trophy on the wall or eat the meat, but it is nothing special). Do you practice safe firearm handling AT ALL TIMES? And many more... (My personal rules): Are you quiet in the woods even when you are not hunting? Do you shoot only that which you will eat (my sons are all taught that if they shoot a snake for no reason, they are gonna eat it. I make exceptions here- yotes, crows, etc. But there are guys who just enjoy killing stuff and who seem to have little respect for nature. That just turns me right off.)
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I too would love to shoot a whopper this year, but am not counting on it. So far I have really just enjoyed being out there.
Yup. Don't worry about scoring. Worry about all that other stuff, the woodsmanship and other skills. Scoring will just "show up" as you use your ever growing set of skills to increase your chances of getting lucky.
28 yrs old and Brand new to hunting
while duckin' and runnin'). Seriously, it is not that hard. Just get at it.
