Some deer hunting principles are universal and some apply more specifically to the rut. In this episode I share the story of a great hunt and the 5 strategies that enabled me to take a buck this year during the peak rut.
Take Aways:
Location, Location, Location. Almost nothing matters more than where you decide to setup. But the strategies you use all year to judge a good location need to change for the peak rut.
Habitat Improvements. Small efforts that have a small impact on deer movement can have a big pay off come the rut.
Always Mind The Wind. The wind is the friend of those who consider it, and the it is the enemy of everyone else.
Scent Control. Small, free, thoughtful actions can make the difference between a good hunt and empty woods.
Knowing when to be still and when to move. One wrong move can literally ruin a hunt, and even a whole day.
Deer calls are very popular and many types exist which can overwhelm a new hunter. This episode does two helpful things, it reassures new hunters that you don’t need any calls to be effective and we cover the four main types of deer calls and when those may be helpful.
Take Aways:
Rattle calls mimic the sound of two bucks locking antlers in a fight or sparring match.
Bleet calls mimic the sound a doe makes during the mating season.
Snort wheeze calls imitate a challenge that one mature buck may issue to another.
Grunt calls try to arouse a deer’s curiosity by letting them know there are unexpected deer over here.
Overall, calling is likely to be more of a liability to new hunters than a benefit. I do not recommend you include calls in your hunting strategy.
Calling is a risk, it draws attention to the hunter and often arouses suspicion in deer, you need to weigh the pros and cons before doing it.
The deer attractants, scents, and lore’s industry is enormous and confusing and there are big marketing budgets trying to get your attention. On today’s episode I talk about the fundamental things new hunters need to know about this subject to be successful. You do not need to pour money into scents to hunt deer, in fact, they may hinder your hunt.
Remember, there are things deer need, deer like, and deer are intrigued by. They need food, every day, about 5 times per day and if you can give them that or find where they go for it, you will have an advantage that is much larger than any scent. They like edge, cover, and habitat diversity, and if you can locate or create that, you will give them an area that they enjoy coming and staying. Whitetails are intrigued by licking branches, mock scrapes, and other whitetails. Adding those can sweeten the pot to draw them to an area day after day, all season long.
The best attractants focus on what deer need and like. Deer are going to go somewhere to eat and bed, every day, no matter what. If you can find or create that, you have no need for lures and scents. The lures are only useful for a short time each season, but good habitat and food is useful every single day of the season.
The less helpful attractants are only helpful some of the time. Lures may help sometimes, but they may also hurt sometimes. Other times they have no effect at all or they only interest younger bucks while repelling older ones. The cons often outweigh the pros. And the costs can be high. If you can find out what deer must have and use it to your advantage, you will have the best chance for success.
It is true that bucks are looking for does during the rut. But there is something else they are looking for on those days, and every other day before and after. It is best to provide what will perceive as more natural. Scents and lures may come across as natural but often they are not applied naturally, they get mingled with human scent, they are put in areas that bring deer in downwind from the hunter which causes other issues. Food, cover, and bedding don’t have this problem. So, remember that the value of an attracting scent can be overridden by the liability of the human scent you leave behind trying to spread it.
You want to avoid marketing gimmicks, no matter how tantalizing they may seem. Even things that do work, usually don’t work half as well as their marketing promises. And many things don’t even work that well. Scents and lures are of questionable effectiveness most days. Better to apply funds and focus on things that appeal to deer year-round and do not depend on the perfect day, wind, and chain of events to help you.
Listen to this podcast episode to hear more!
If you are looking for ways to see more bucks during the hunting season, check out this video I did as well:
Scent control is very important for deer hunting, but it can also be very simple and inexpensive. On this episode I cover five fundamental keys for scent control that are easy for new hunters and important for all hunters to master.
Take Aways:
There are a lot of products out there from magic soaps to cover scents to special washing machines and air tight clothing, some of them are helpful but they are no where near as important as these five keys.
It’s functionally impossible to eliminate all human and synthetic scent, trying to do so is exhausting. You need to minimize your scent and then be very conscious of where and how you leave scent.
The wind is a huge factor, but these five factors are critical no matter what the wind is doing.
If you only have one vacation day that you can use for deer hunting this year, how can you tell what is the best possible day to take it? On today’s episode I dig right into the largest weather factors that impact deer movement so you can identify the days that give you the highest chance of success.
Take Aways:
There are a lot of myths and partial truths when it comes to deer hunting. Don’t believe anything you hear without kicking the tires on it.
Any day in woods is a good day, but when you have very few days you can be in the woods, you want them to count as much as possible.
You can take a trophy deer on any day during any weather. But your chances can change drastically based on the conditions.
If you don’t enjoy hunting in certain weather then don’t. It’s not worth the time, energy, and resources to hunt on a day that makes you miserable
Listen to this episode to learn the top two weather factors that impact deer movement and how you can leverage them.
The best treestand for a new hunter depends on several variables. You might have a strong preference, but knowing which situations call for which treestands will help you improve odds for success and have more fun in the woods. On today’s episode I talk about the three primary types of treestands and when/where they are the best options.
Take Aways:
Ladder Stands: These get their name from being integrated with their ladder into one piece. They are the most difficult to assemble and setup, but they are also the sturdiest, most permanent and can afford the most room for people and cargo.
Climbing Stands: These stands are basically climbing contraptions that let you inch your way up a tree and then sit using friction to hold you. They are the fastest to put up and the most flexible, but they can be the most difficult to use.
Hang-On Stands: These lightweight barebones stands use a simple strap and friction to hang onto a tree. They are light, portable, and are distraction free. They are also free of amenities.
Each of these stands has a scenario when they are the best option, and the worst option. Listen to the episode to find out more.
There are a lot of elements that are the same between rifle and bow hunting but there are a few key differences that you must take into account to be successful with archery. On this episode I talk about the two biggest aspects that are critical for archery, and when I say archery I give specifics for both regular bows and crossbows.
Take Aways:
Concealment
For new archery hunters to successful, it is vital that you have concealment, either in a tree or a hunting blind.
Hunting from the ground is extremely difficult with a bow and not recommended as an effective strategy.
Get into a tree, nothing beats altitude when it comes to deer hunting.
A hunting blind is a good plan B if you have no good trees or aren’t ready to get off the ground.
Range
The average crossbow has an effective range of about 50 yards.
Regular bows can be accurately shot by the average marksman to about 30 yards.
In either event, you want to setup 15-20 yards from where you plan for the deer to be.
Never plan to take shots at your maximum range, even if you can make the shot at the range. The real world ads variables you do not experience at the range and you want some margin.
Be careful shooting at targets that are too close because of the steep downward angles needed.
Archery season for deer can be as long as four months in some areas, while rifle season may be as short as two weeks. The number one thing deer hunters can do to spend more time in the woods is pick up a bow. On today’s episode I talk about why a crossbow is the best option for new hunters to extend their season.
Take Aways:
Crossbows are an easier entry point into the sport because they require less physical ability, skill, and practice than a regular bow.
Crossbows use similar skills to rifles meaning many hunters already have some familiarity with the technique.
Crossbows are easier to aim than regular bows, they have more range, and more power.
Crossbows can be less expensive than regular bows and rifles. I’ve used this modestly pricedcrossbowand it has everything a new hunter needs.
Crossbows create a level playing field for those with less than ideal physical size, strength, and stamina.
Most importantly, a crossbow is the easiest way to get you into the woods longer so you can enjoy hunting the days that have ideal weather, conditions, and placement in your busy schedule.
Contrary to popular belief, does and bucks only coexist for brief periods of time. Most of their lives are spent in different areas. On this episode I talk about understanding the habits of both so you can hunt each more effectively.
Take Aways:
Does tend to live in the same areas year round.
Bucks have a home range that is more isolated, and for good reason.
Bucks leave their home range, in part or whole, during the rut.
Even when does and bucks come together for the rut, they both will behave differently and have different movement patterns.
If you want to understand the life cycle of a buck then you need to understand and annual cycle of their antlers.
If you see bucks on your land throughout the year, they will likely be absent during the rut.
And if you see no bucks during the year, it is likely they will come around during the rut, but not in the exact same places as does.
When it comes to food plots, there are two primary schools of thought for deer hunters. But neither philosophy is helpful for new hunters. On today’s episode I talk about a cheap, easy, small, and excellent food plot strategy for new deer hunters.
Take Aways:
Every time you see a deer move they are likely either going to food or from food. It is a huge part of their lives.
You don’t need to worry about getting the deer enough food to keep them alive, God takes care of that.
New hunters don’t need to spend a chunk of money every year planting acres of food for deer, you have other priorities.
New hunters only need to do enough to impact deer movement habits.
With 1/8 of acre and $10 you can impact deer patterns, and even help impact the size and quality of the heard in your area.
A small one time effort can impact your hunting prospects for years to come.
