new to deer hunting
01-06-2004, 11:07 AM
#11
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Shakopee MN USA
Posts: 1,001
RE: new to deer hunting
Everyone is giving great advise and really only time in the woods will make you a good hunter. Learning from your mistakes. Three things that I have to add.....
1)whatever type of weapon your using...know it and be good at shooting it before you step out in the woods!!!! Know how to use it in a lot of different types of "hunting" situations. This will serve two purposes....1)you will much less frustrated if your not missing your target all the time. Don't get me wrong...you will miss and most likely more than once, we all have and will continue to do so. 2)By practicing and knowing your weapon, you will have less of a chance of wounding animals that you can't find. You can't be a hunter without being a marksman or an archer 1st.
2)Hunting shouldn't really be about always harvesting an animal. It's about being out in nature and trying to figure out or out-smart the game your trying to hunt. Sure it's VERY, VERY nice and rewarding to do so, but this is how I gauge a successful year. If I have made every attempt to put myself into position to shoot a big deer(because that's what I opt to shoot for or shooting doe), or if I see something new or learn something new. That to me is a "GOOD" year.
3)Keep a log book of everytime you go out. Let's say you go out today...write down where you have gone, what the temp is, what's the speed and direction of the wind, how many deer you see and what types of deer you see(fawns, doe, bucks(size), when and if you harvest a deer and what time of day you are hunting. It's just something fun to do and it tells you generally what is the best time to see deer, what were the conditions when you saw the deer, what stands were good and at what times...with different weather for your area. It's kind of interesting to go back 5 or 10 years and see when you hunted...what deer you saw etc...
Good luck to you. Feel free to keep asking questions. The guys on here can and will give you all the information you need or want.
1)whatever type of weapon your using...know it and be good at shooting it before you step out in the woods!!!! Know how to use it in a lot of different types of "hunting" situations. This will serve two purposes....1)you will much less frustrated if your not missing your target all the time. Don't get me wrong...you will miss and most likely more than once, we all have and will continue to do so. 2)By practicing and knowing your weapon, you will have less of a chance of wounding animals that you can't find. You can't be a hunter without being a marksman or an archer 1st.
2)Hunting shouldn't really be about always harvesting an animal. It's about being out in nature and trying to figure out or out-smart the game your trying to hunt. Sure it's VERY, VERY nice and rewarding to do so, but this is how I gauge a successful year. If I have made every attempt to put myself into position to shoot a big deer(because that's what I opt to shoot for or shooting doe), or if I see something new or learn something new. That to me is a "GOOD" year.
3)Keep a log book of everytime you go out. Let's say you go out today...write down where you have gone, what the temp is, what's the speed and direction of the wind, how many deer you see and what types of deer you see(fawns, doe, bucks(size), when and if you harvest a deer and what time of day you are hunting. It's just something fun to do and it tells you generally what is the best time to see deer, what were the conditions when you saw the deer, what stands were good and at what times...with different weather for your area. It's kind of interesting to go back 5 or 10 years and see when you hunted...what deer you saw etc...
Good luck to you. Feel free to keep asking questions. The guys on here can and will give you all the information you need or want.
01-06-2004, 12:41 PM
#13
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Fremont, NE
Posts: 552
RE: new to deer hunting
I agree with everyone else. Learn by doing! It may take a couple of years to get it all down. It's not like riding a bicycle, catch on in a few short hours. Hunting is a great sport that you will never get bored with because things are constantly changing. That makes it a lot more exciting also! Good luck to you!
01-06-2004, 08:03 PM
#14
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Alabama
Posts: 703
RE: new to deer hunting
I agree with everyone else, but would like to add this. As a new hunter, your interest may have been sparked by seeing a video, or by a friend, or by tasting some of the food produced from a hunt. My advice on hunting is to learn to enjoy the outdoor experience and don't get wrapped up in being "successful". Hunting success comes in many forms and they're not all about the kill. Take note of how enhanced all your senses become while in the outdoors. The smells, the beauty to be seen in the woods, the sounds, and the experiences you will have can be both remebered and shared. If you will do these things, hunting will be much more rewarding and patience will come. Welcome to the society of providers and defenders of the creation.
01-06-2004, 08:29 PM
#15
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 6,921
RE: new to deer hunting
The 3 P's advice is right on the money (practice, patience and persistance). I agree with Taz take something out of each trip be it experience, learning, finding a new trail or sign, etc. Look at these as success vs weighting your hunts or season on the harvest portion. My keys to success have always been enjoy the moment, scout, the 3 P's and always keep learning!
Hunting post rut my advice is hunt the FOOD! Bucks will hunker down for a while to rest following rut and then hit the feed bag hard. Get yourself on a travel route leading from bed to breakfeast, the deeper the better as these bucks have seen and smelt lots of boots over the past few months. Also some does may have not been bred in the first rut and the bucks will keep close tabs for a second crack (or poke
). I would look for places that give deer cover while traveling to and fro, natural or made funnels can be an excellent spot for a higher % chance. Ridges, saddles and draws are other land mass structures that will produce, just think deer safety zones and get into them to intercept. Watch your wind direction as mentioned these deer have been pressured and any wiff of something just ain't right they will vamoosh!
Good Luck and enjoy
Hunting post rut my advice is hunt the FOOD! Bucks will hunker down for a while to rest following rut and then hit the feed bag hard. Get yourself on a travel route leading from bed to breakfeast, the deeper the better as these bucks have seen and smelt lots of boots over the past few months. Also some does may have not been bred in the first rut and the bucks will keep close tabs for a second crack (or poke
). I would look for places that give deer cover while traveling to and fro, natural or made funnels can be an excellent spot for a higher % chance. Ridges, saddles and draws are other land mass structures that will produce, just think deer safety zones and get into them to intercept. Watch your wind direction as mentioned these deer have been pressured and any wiff of something just ain't right they will vamoosh!Good Luck and enjoy
01-07-2004, 04:07 AM
#17
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location:
Posts: 23
RE: new to deer hunting
thanks for all the advise, i will be in touch again, as i am full of questions...one last question.....when do the bucks lose thier racks??? i was amazed when i found out that they lose them and grow them back all in 1 year...WOW !!!
01-07-2004, 04:16 AM
#18
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fredericksburg Virginia USA
Posts: 13,672
RE: new to deer hunting
Bucks lose their racks at different times of the year in different parts of the country, here in Va. (at least in the area I hunt), depending on their health and age it may be as early as the end of January or as late as early March, but I would say most of them lose thier racks here in Febuary.
01-07-2004, 02:10 PM
#20
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Port Neches, Texas
Posts: 5,514
RE: new to deer hunting
You have been given some good advise here, especially by Taz and Gobbling Buck!
Here is some advise for next season, scout out your area well! You can't kill 'em if they are not there! I hunted four or five years before getting my first one. Part of it was being a rookie, part of it was there just were not many deer where I hunted.Since then, I have been successful every year for the past 15 years!
Someone else has given you good advise too! You don't have to make a kill to be successful! Enjoy the whole experience! Good luck!
Here is some advise for next season, scout out your area well! You can't kill 'em if they are not there! I hunted four or five years before getting my first one. Part of it was being a rookie, part of it was there just were not many deer where I hunted.Since then, I have been successful every year for the past 15 years!
Someone else has given you good advise too! You don't have to make a kill to be successful! Enjoy the whole experience! Good luck!