Whitetail Deer Hunting 101.
 

Please post tips and tricks to bagging those elusive whitetail. From the simplest to the more seasoned ideas all are welcome. Lets create a forum full of ways to improve our time in the woods. Ask questions and post answers. The only question that is a stupid question, is the one that was not asked. So lets have it lets see if we can improve our time and the time of others within the woods oh how we the outdoors men/ladies love the wilderness.

I have Many, i can think of but the # 1 tip i could give to ANYONE, would be SIT LONGER, dont look at the time every 3 minutes waiting for 9:30 or 10:00 AM or whatever time you usually get up. That makes time go slower, and if possible, sit longer, enjoy the woods, watch the birds
bugs, whatever...Deer do and will come they dont know they were supposed to walk out by 10 AM.... they walk when they are ready

PLUS as other hunters leave the woods sometimes they will pressure deer towards you:s4:

Keep the wind in your face.

1-have confidence in your setup. there was a reason you put your stand in this area, hopefully it's because you found proof that a deer is using the trail.or food source, but remeber they don't alway's go the same route to the same place everyday.
2- be scent free, and you don't have to alway's worry about the wind in your face.

SCENT ELIMINATOR! I can't stress it enough

except when peeing. lol!
walk heel to toe.
if you have to cough, cough through your grunt tube.
pick a spot and don't move.(for the most part)
don't rush your shot, if it's there,take it. if not,there's always next time.
keep the sun to your back. (when possible)
be patient.
don't shoot the first deer you see. wait, there might be more behind it.
have fun and enjoy your time hunting.

Practice, Practice, Practice. Whatever your weapon of choice is, shoot it till it hurts. Know where it hits and do it consistently. More than anything else proficiency with your weapon is the #1 tip. If your weapon is an extension of you, hunting deer is easy. Knowing your weapon is the best tip I know of....
Live it up! Doug

All of the stuff already mentioned is great advice!

My only contribution would be to get out in the woods as often as you can. It's never a wasted trip even if you don't see so much as a bird or squirrel. You'll learn something every time you go afield.

Beware of your movement!

The deer will see you three times as often as you will see them, as they come in from ALL Angles...
Remember the only predictable thing about a deer is that they ARE Unpredictable! Swatting mosquitos and bending your legs to keep comfortible are a neccessary evil, So Beware

Picture your self walking in the woods and the times you were startled by an Owl or Hawk you never saw in a tree. UNTIL it Moved!!!

How many times have you had a deer walk into your setup and didn't notice them UNTIL they were @ 20 yards??? Chances are you were pretty stabile. What if you weren't stabile? Then you never knew WHAT could have come in because you were picked off @ 50 or 60 yards - oops:s201:

Darn mosquitos:s9:

If it's mature bucks your after, allow yourself time before season to scout the area, cause you can't kill him if he's not there. Like someone else said scent control is key, take every precation you can if your serious about having an opportunity at the boss.

If you hunt public land stay put let the impatient hunters do the work for you.Find natural funnels.I cant tell you how many times I've set up on funnels and had other hunters push deer to me......patience ,patience,patience.

Sit down and shutup.

what are you looking for during your early season scouting trips?

My # 1 tip for young hunters is not to measure the success or quality of your hunt in inches but rather in lessons learned, friendships made and good times had. Deer hunting is so much more than just killing a big buck.

Get out and work at hunting or you will never learn anything. You have to develop your own style. I would never do half the stuff already mentioned, but that is not the way I hunt. You have to figure out what works for you.

Watch out!!!!
 

Don't be a trespasser, or poacher. There ain't nothing worse! Up here in Michigan, we got something for ya!:happy0001:

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/oak-1381063-burr-corn.html

Believe scent elimination to a point.... This is the funniest element. it is religion to some and ignored by some. I have a buddy that has a trouphy wall of racks that he and his dad have killed. His dad smokes like a train and camoflauge is whatever piece of hunting clothes they have laying around. $300+ scent control outfit doesn't guarantee you a trouphy buck.

Understand your hunting property. Look for bedding areas, and feeding areas. Hunt bedding areas in the morning and feeding areas in the afternoon. If you understand where then you can truly hunt the travel locations and not get too close to the bedding area in the morning. Get there early, stay late and be extremely, extremely patient.

as I have gotten older and tired of cleaning deer... I would also repeat another post... set and watch the first few smaller bucks pass through. It makes you relax, gives you a little rush to enjoy what your doing, and gives you confidence to set longer. Not to mention it is good management. A lot of the times now I make it a game to see how close I can get, or how close they can get to me and if I can remain invisible to them. I've actually had deer bed down not 15 yrds from my feet and then after a nap have gotten up and fed towards me until they realize I am setting right there. Closest yet is 5 steps from my feet. No scent loc suit and laying on the ground.

hunting has little to do with skill and more about opportunity.
The guy in california hunting public land is less likely to kill a deer than the guy in Texas hunting a huge private ranch.

Bell Curve...
 

The most important lesson I have learned when being in the woods is the early bird gets the worm. Scientific research has discovered something that most hunters already knew. Deer do not move very much if at all during the midday, except during RUT. So if your a bow hunter get out there at least one hour before you are allowed to shoot anything stay quiet and still the less movement you make during twilight the point that deer are most aware of their surroundings the more opportunities you will have at getting what you want. Bell Curve has been discovered deer move more during the 30 minutes before and the 30 minutes after most hunting is done in the morning and late afternoon usually during bow season. So from my research and experience which is not much you really only have a one hour sweet spot during an entire day during bow season to shoot a deer. So long story short get out there early be still and keep your eyes open. you may just have the granddaddy of the woods strolling up on your back door pretty soon.

As a new hunter I have benefited greatly from those who have hunted for years. Much of what is shared by those who have hunted for years is good info and true at times. But leave room in your thinking for the Deer to act contrary to the norm because they will. For example,I went out on a day when the winds were forcast to be as high as 25 to 30 mph. well they were. Also it was almost 11 am when I decided to call it a morning and come down from my stand. No sooner had I lowered my Bow to the ground the 6 Does I was hunting came right where I thought they would and caught me with no Bow in my hands. They busted me trying to get it back up. Lesson learned,they do move in high wind and late in the morning and I would not be surprised if the reason they were movrng is because someone of something spooked them from where they were beded down. Another practical tip is in regards to releaving yourself while in a tree stand,take a pee bottle with you and make sure it has a large opening you won't pee all over yourself trying to get it done. And lastly if you take a snack with you make sure the wraper or bag you put it in does'nt make a lot of noise when you open it. I remove the labels off my gator aide or water bottles before heading out. Noise control is a must.