Start with Salt! One of the best places to hunt deer is near natural mineral licks where salt and other minerals seep to the surface from underground springs. Deer love salt and will alter their travel patterns to incorporate salt deposits into their diets. But what if you can’t find any natural licks in your hunting area? Create your own. Buy a 50-pound sack of rock salt, and dump it at a strategic location specifically where you can access the area without spooking resident deer. Before long the deer will discover their new lick and set up shop nearby. The best time to apply the salt is early to mid-summer.

When following a recent kill trail, don't shout or make loud noises. This may alert the deer if it is still alive and cause it to run off.

Better Hero Shots! It all depends on preparation. If you want your hunting pictures to turn out, the first thing you need to do is prepare the animal. For example, always make sure the tongue of a deer is placed entirely inside its mouth. And always remove all blood on the head and carcass as well as in the immediate vicinity. Additionally, these kinds of pictures have a habit of turning out best when they’re shot in a natural setting (as opposed to, say, the bed of a pickup truck or a driveway or a garage). In fact, the best photographs are typically taken right where the hunter recovered the animal. It will not only look better but will mean more to the hunter as time passes.

After you have purchased your new bow, it is important how it set up and “paper tuned” take it to your favorite pro shop and take advantage of all the technical expertise of the employees there.

In early archery season before the bulls begin bugling steadily, plan to hunt wallows and game trail between feed and bed areas. Also plan to stalk elk who are feeding in open areas. Elks are not quite as wary as deer and a careful bowhunter can often stalk within range.

Never take a bowshot at a deer who is looking at you. A deer's reflexes are so quick it will whirl and be gone before the fastest arrow gets there. The term for this malady is called, "jumping the string."

CALLING ALL DEER - The grunt call is a very successful device used for bringing deer into your shooting radius. Use the grunt call every 15 to 20 minutes while on your stand. Bucks in the rut may travel great distances looking for does. He may have been a mile away 15 minutes ago, but now he’s in ear shot of your call. Use the grunt call even without seeing the deer first.

Look for a lightweight bow. This will make it easier to carry it if you walk long distances through the woods.