Hunting-Tips

My hunting-tips are on this page,
and some other pages linked here.

List Are Great! A pleasant way to start a list is to day-dream about previous hunts in detail. It helps you remember what you did. List the equipment you needed to do it.

Make different list for different: seasons, places, camping...
Git-R-Done List: Things to do around the house, job, business...
Things that could interfere with your hunting.
Remember: Try to keep Mom happy too...

Check Your Calendar: Are there conflicts you need to take care of? Check Your Equipment: Make sure everything still works. Something forgotten, or which doesn't work can spoil your hunt.

When hunting, relax, but don't completely let down, stay alert and ready, and make every minute count. I've had opportunities when eating, sleeping... Make it a habit to have your bow or gun in reach.

Hunting-tips for walking: don't walk out in the open, walk in the shade, try to stay somewhat hidden. Always! If you stop for any reason, you are still hunting, not just resting... The better the area the more important.

You can often see much better in a forest by getting low and looking under most of the tree limbs.

I don't know if it's a sixth sense, my subconscious, or what, but:
I sometimes get a feeling just before something happens. Sometimes nothing happens, but I have learned to trust that feeling, and I get ready!

Weather: know before you go. Wind direction is very important; it and other weather factors can help you plan your hunt before you get there. Read: A Sense of Smell

Slow Down! Start hunting before you make a move. How many deer have you busted before you really started hunting, or because you were in a rush to walk somewhere and get started. We all make fewer mistakes when we go slow and think about our moves. Less can be more! Sometimes we try to do everything in one short hunt. Do less, but do it thoroughly. You may enjoy it more, and have more success.

There is advantage in hunting the same area for years. You can learn to predict the deer movement somewhat. I hunt a staging area (transition area) often. The prevailing winds force me to most often hunt there in the evenings. The deer are moving out of the woods/bedding areas, and into the staging area (semi-open area) about sun down. They tend to hang-out there, often in small groups, until it gets pretty dark. When dark they move on to the wheat fields... Later in the season, around the rut, deer come and go at different times. They often travel through this area at some time of the day, and it's still pretty good at sundown.

Cheap Call: I transfered my old predator and crow call cassette tapes to my computer, and then to my iPod. I use a small battery powered speaker made for another small electronic call with it. It's not as good as the $500 calls, but I already had everything except the $25 speaker.

When I'm hunting where there is a chance for quick unexpected short range shot, I keep my scope set to a lower magnification.
A long shot will often allow time to turn-it-up as I get into a more stable shooting position.

Hunting-Tips: The more "stuff" you use; decoys, remote calls, even scents... The more you have to move around your hunting area to put them in place. They may help, but you are moving, making noise, disturbing "the natural". Even more important you are adding your scent to a larger area.

Hunting-Tips: Camouflage mask and gloves are very important. We move our hands and face more, and they can "give us away". The face is especially sensitive to itchy fabrics. Some head garments can restrict your vision. Gloves can make you clumsy. Good ones can help you stay warm. In hot weather mesh gloves and camouflage make-up is an option. Keep trying until you find what works for you.

A maybe tip: A couple of times I've hung my white handkerchief flapping in the wind, or even parked my truck, to try and divert deer movement slightly. I think it worked once, but I'm not sure, and it could blow the whole deal. None of these tips come with a guarantee. Buck

CLICK HERE: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION,
OR A HUNTING-TIP TO SHARE.

Find more tips on these pages:
Curiosity
A Stuck Truck
Blinds & Hides
The Sense of Smell
Field Dressing Deer
Stalking and Still Hunting
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