The best way to hunt is going to depend on your experience, preferences, local terrain, weather, budget, and the properties you have permission to hunt on. The three strategies that we talk about in this episode are the most likely methods that new hunters will use to successfully hunt whitetail deer. The one that is best for you will depend on your situation.
Take Aways:
Tree hunting gives you the best chances for success most of the time, but you need to know your spot really well, have the budget and energy to get set up well in advance of the hunting season, and pick a limited area to hunt.
Ground huntingwith a good cushion is the most versatile and cost effective way to hunt. It requires the least preparation and you can move spots as easily as you can stand up. It does however put you right in the middle of a deer’s sense of sight, smell, and sound as you are in the same place as their predators.
Ground hunting with a blind gives some concealment but limits you to a specific area, and adds additional cost. It can be a good option if you need to hunt areas without good trees to climb or lean against.
Still hunting, or walking and hunting is an advanced technique, but it is possible to have some success if you play the weather and terrain just right.
The best thing you can do is get into the woods and hunt. Experience will inform you about where to invest your time and resources. Don’t spend too much your first year, focus on getting experience so you can make informed decisions next time around.
Before you step foot into the deer woods you need to have a plan for what you are going to do if you are successful. Most newer hunters are not ready to process or butcher their own deer. Learning to hunt, getting equipped, scouting, and field dressing absorbs all of their focus. I recommend you save processing a deer for a future hunting season, if you are interested in trying it.
Finding a good deer processor is key and will relieve a lot of anxiety when it’s time to hunt because you will have a solid plan. This episode will help you learn everything you need to know about finding and vetting a good deer processor and what you need to do before and after.
Take Aways:
Get your deer to a processor as quickly as possible. Field dress it within minutes of the kill and then go straight to the processor to minimize chance of spoiling.
If you are able, wash out the animal and pack it with some ice. Nothing else is needed after you field dress it, and even these steps are optional.
Make 100% sure the processor you find will give you back the meat from the deer you brought in, not just meat from the last deer butchered.
Ask the processor for a nice variety of meat items back, even if it costs a little more. Get steaks, roasts, ground, sausages, sticks, jerky, and any other options they have. It may cost a little more but it will help you learn what you like and you will enjoy the animal to it’s fullest.
Expect to only get back meat that is 60-70% of the weight of the deer after it is field dressed, if everything on the animal is perfect. There are many things that could result in you getting back less meat, and some things that could help you get a little more.
When it comes to deer hunting, it is best to think about what to do when you succeed before you ever step foot into the woods. Feeling prepared and comfortable enough to field dress a deer is very important to the overall experience. It will give you confidence and help you focus on the hunt. In truth, gutting a deer takes about 5-10 minutes. It is a fast, simple process that anyone can learn to do. In this week’s episode we talk about how to get ready, what you need to be prepared, and how to get over feeling squeamish about it.
Take Aways:
You always want to shoot a deer in the front lower quarter where the vitals are.
Never ever ever take a shot a deer’s back half, it will make field dressing most unpleasant.
Always have some rubber or plastic gloves on hand, you can get goodGame Cleaning Gloves or around $5, maybe cheaper.
Keep a sharp knife in your pack at all times.
There is no best way to do this. Watch lots of videos and pick the techniques that you are most comfortable with.
Watch videos until you feel comfortable and can tell the difference between how different people do it. When you can do that and say which way you like more, you are ready.
Whether you are very meticulous or do a complete hack job, if you don’t puncture the guts, and you keep things clean, it does not matter much. This is easy.
When it comes to deer hunting there is no perfect gun. There are just too many variables such as your size, style, preferences, hunting area, local hunting laws, budget, etc. But there are some basic principles and recommendations that can help you select the right firearm to get started. In this episode I give guidelines that can help you find the right gun, as well as a few sample recommendations.
The most important thing to keep in mind is once you get some experience, you will develop preferences and opinions about what your ideal firearm for deal hunting is. So do NOT spend a ton of money on your first gun, get something that will do the job and enable you to get some experience, then you will know what you like and you can make an informed decision.
Take Aways:
Go with a used or very inexpensive firearm to start. Next year you can probably sell it for close to what you paid and put that towards getting your ideal gun.
Get something that has good ammo availability and reasonable pricing in your area.
Make sure your gun is light enough to carry through the woods for a day.
Once you find a potential gun, pull out your phone and do some research on that model while you are still in the store to see if you can identify its strengths, weaknesses, reliability, accuracy, and any safety recalls.
Make sure you test the trigger before you buy. It is very important that you are satisfied with the trigger, nothing impacts accuracy more.
I recommend getting a.308rifle, a.30-30rifle, or a12 gauge shotgun to start with. A partial list of other good rifle calibers include the.30-06,.270, 7.62 x 54r, or the.243 if you are recoil sensitive.
The .223 can be used for deer hunting, but it requires a more precise shot at closer range, so I do not recommend it for new deer hunters unless you already have one, are a smaller individual, or have an injury that makes recoil a concern.
If you want a new firearm, look for seasonal sales and manufacturers rebates.
Hunting gear, specifically clothing does not need to be expensive. In fact, you can often find it very inexpensively, but you have to keep your eyes open. This is a year round pursuit, and often you will find things out of season. But you can build a set of excellent gear for pennies on the dollar if you poke around and keep your eyes open. In this episode I talk about some examples and first hand experiences about where to look and how to develop a year round buying philosophy to find great gear at very low prices.
Take Aways:
Keep an eye open every time you go to a store, even if it’s not a hunting store.
Look at discount stores in the off season.
Look at thrift stores, auctions, and estate sales.
Be watchful even at grocery stores, drug stores, and places you wouldn’t expect.
Always look around at hiking, outdoor, and campaign gear, just in case.
Do not be too worried about the brand, learn to discern the quality and buy accordingly.
It is good to have a variety of gear items so you can be ready for different weather and hunting environments.
Again and again I have found quality hunting gear at places that I did not expect, such as Sam’s Club, or Rural King. You can sometimes find fair gear at Wal-Mart but often the gear lacks key features like a windproof membrane or sufficient insulation, or it may just not be quiet enough to mask even minimal movement. But there have been times where I was grocery shopping at a store and they had a special buy with an great hunting coat for the money.
Shopping right after the season is also a great time to look for gear. I have gone out to find hundreds of coats on clearance for $30, and I mean really substantial insulated windproof parkas in every size. This can be one of the best times to get new gear. You won’t be able to use it until the next season but for the price, you cannot beat it.
If you are a new hunter, it may be best to try and make it through your first season buying as little as you can get by with and then stock up on new gear as soon as the season is over for pennies on the dollar. Also keep in mind, you likely need less gear than you really think you do in order to be effective. Marketing is going to make you feel like you need more than you do. Often only spending time in the woods can help you figure out what you really need and what would be more effective for you.
Another important factor to consider is the construction of your hunting gear. No matter the cost, the right kind of gear with the right materials and insulation will help keep you comfortable. If you are fighting the elements you want some kind of wind and water-resistant barrier. It does not have to be GORE-TEX, there are much cheaper options. What counts is that your garment is made for the conditions you plan to hunt in.
Warm weather gear, no matter what it costs will do a poor job in the cold. If you can find cheap gear made to do what you need it to do, then you can succeed with minimal budget impact. Yes, you can get more by spending more, but it is also possible to get high quality gear for low prices IF you know what to look for. Here is another episode I did:Making Sense Of Insulation For Hunting Gear.
Listen to the whole podcast episode for more and here are a few videos to help take you deeper as well!
You can get started hunting deer with very little equipment and spending very little money. The biggest thing to account for is the weather, colder weather will mean more total gear is needed to stay out for long periods of time. There is a big misconception that you need all professional camo gear to hunt with. That just isn’t true.
What you need is gear that is warm enough, offers some concealment, and will enable you to start hunting so you can get some experience and see what kinds of gear you want to invest in down the road. On this episode we talk about the bare essentials, and give some modest recommendations for cost saving entry level items.
The below specific gear recommendations are items that I feel are worth investing in right off the bat. For instance, you don’t need to spend $500 on a top of the line blaze orange coat, you can get whatever warm neutral colored coat you already have or can get at a thrift store and then toss a nice $30 blaze orange camo vest on top of it and you are in good shape. You can also get by with cheap or existing boots if you have good socks and some warmers to add to them, and if you can stay dry.
Specific Gear Recommendations Mentioned On The Show
First Aid Kit, Including safety whistle and compass
Camo, Black, or Neutral Color Backpack
Don’t forget that deer do not see reds, oranges, and browns well or as threatening. Blue’s, violets, yellows and whites can stand out like bright glowing indicators. Never wear blue jeans, never wear white, and avoid anything that shows any of those colors whenever possible.
Staying in the shade, keeping still, and being quiet will do more for you than any fancy high priced gear. Yes, quality gear can help you, but 100 years ago people were still enjoying white tailed deer hunts without the big ticket brands we have today. No matter what your budget is, you can have fun and be successful.
Finding a good place to hunt deer may be the single most important thing you can do to be successful, second only to being stealthy. For new hunters I recommend pursuing doe instead of bucks. The tactics are simpler, the chances of success are higher, and it is just an easier entry point. If you can take a buck, then great, but I would save that pursuit until after you get your feet wet if you are able. In much of the country you can get a doe tag, and often doe season is lesscrowded, so the hunting is easier too.
Here are four approaches to scouting you can use to help you find a good place to get started.
Water – Find streams, lakes, pools, springs, or puddles that deer can drink from. Then walk those areas looking for sign, mainly footprints and droppings. When you find some density of deer tracks, you have identified a travel route or congregation point. That can give you clues about where to setup and start looking for vantage points.
Food – Deer like to graze in fields, on bushes, under oak trees, as well as under apple and other fruit and nut trees as well. Find areas that have food and search around them for sign.
Trails – If you are hiking and exploring an area you are likely to follow the paths of least resistance through the terrain, especially if it’s thick. Deer do the same thing. So as you are walking, regularly look down and you may be surprised how often you find yourself walking in the same place deer do.
Vantage Points – If you have limited options when it comes to hunting areas, you may have to start by looking for the best vantage points of where you could sit and safely take aim. If this is the case, then find the best vantage points available to you, and scout out your shooting lanes looking for sign. Then pick the best vantage point as your spot.
Deer hunting is a great place to start, they are one of the most hunted game animals in North America and for good reason. This episode is the first of a series dedicated to helping you get started or get better at hunting deer. Specifically we look at the reasons you might pursue deer hunting.
Here are four reasons why you might hunt deer:
An Iconic Game AnimalIn the United States there are few hunting pursuits more widespread and historically celebrated as deer hunting. It is an American past time, even children who do not hunt and are in non-hunting families are often intrigued by majestic white tails. They are beautiful animals and a joy to hunt.
Good Sport – Deer are challenging and rewarding quarry, they are smart, instinctive, and cautious animals, designed to outsmart predators. They can be a lot of fun to go after. And there are different levels. Taking a doe may be the easiest. Taking a buck can require more skill and strategy. Taking a mature or even a trophy level animal can be an advanced pursuit that even hunting masters do not tire of.
Culinary Delights– Deer are delicious, plain and simple. I have had venison that rivals the best filet mignon I’ve ever had. I’ve also had lousy deer meat. What you do as a hunter and a chef can greatly improve quality of the meat and the final product. If your first experience with venison isn’t great, don’t give up, it can be some of the best meat you’ve ever had.
They Are Around – Just being real, you can only hunt what lives in your hunting area. Deer cover the continent. Hunting skills you develop in your area can easily translate to deer hunts a thousand miles away. They can also translate into skills that are valuable for bigger game like elk and even moose.
As I mentioned in the show, Paul Harrell has an awesome YouTube channel with some great tips for deer hunting, hunting in general, and smart practical firearms use.Check it out here.
Everyone wants to hunt somewhere that no one else hunts and that the animals are undisturbed and grow big. Private land seems to be that ideal place. Often it’s not as great as it sounds but there is no doubt that it is usually the best available option. Getting permission to hunt on a nice parcel of private land can prove difficult.
On this episode we discuss 4 strategies that you can use to get access to private land:
Talk with your game commission to see if they have a hunter access program that lists willing land owners.
Use you maps orOnX Hunting Appto find ideal places, scout them, and try to build relationships with the owners.
Train your ears and be more thoughtful with your conversations to identify people you know or meet who could connect you.
Do not overlook the small opportunities that you have not considered or wrote off before you knew better.
Finding a place to hunt can be one of the biggest challenges for people new to the sport. Public land provides some unique opportunities but also has some issues. However, if you know how to find it and how to use it, public land can be a major asset.
When I first started hunting I did not know about all the public land close to me, I didn’t even know how to find out about it. I asked someone once and they told me about a place and the directions were essentially “east”. It was maybe a year before I found a way to figure out where that land was. It was two or three years before I learned what was there and figured out how to make use of that land. On today’s episode I will tell you how to get years worth of learning in minutes. No exaggeration!
Key Take Aways:
You don’t need any permission to hunt on public land, and it’s free.
Public land tracks are often larger than private.
Public land has more hunting pressure and requires a strategy to use well.
You can find public land through the game commission, Google maps, and best of all a good hunting app.
OnX Hunt is a must have tool for every hunter, new and experienced. It saves so much time, energy, and confusion. There is no easier way to find and navigate public land. You can learn more at their sitewww.onxmaps.com
