Whitetail Deer Hunting 101

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If you're a new hunter, spend the time to learn to be a good, safe, responsible hunter. You'll be glad you did!

Learn to look through the brush... Practice looking for the parts of a deer, not the whole animal. Look again, there is a line which is almost horizontal; the other deer's back. In "empty" brush you would seldom see a horizontal line.

We naturally want to get around brush, trees, or other obstacles when walking. When we get around and have a clear view the deer are gone. Deer look through brush! They see your shape or movement. Superman had x-ray vision! Work at this skill, and you'll surprise be surprised at what you can see sometimes.

SAFETY FIRST! Most hunters are very interested in the guns and bows used for hunting. Hunting is a relatively safe sport, but that is because most hunters understand the danger and make safety a priority.

Our previous generations grew up on farms. They were around animals, natural and domestic. The game and livestock were often killed to eat. It was a part of real life.

Today more people live indoors and are seldom exposed to such things. It may be seen on TV & movies, games... but it's not real.

Many have never seen anything killed and may not have a clear understand of killing, death, pain, suffering...

Why teach hunting?

Guns, knives, arrows... are made for killing. Your responsibility is to be thoroughly educated on these tools. No gun, knife, or bow should be in the hands of a novice without extensive, serious, teaching, and training.

Not only safe handling, but also how they work, their capability... a center-fire rifle could shoot through a house, a barn, a car... it can be dangerous at a range measured in miles...

We love bow hunting, but a new hunter probably needs a gun. Bow-hunting is simply too challenging for most new people to have any success.

Check your State Hunting Regulations for the legal firearms where you will hunt. Study our pages on guns, scopes .... View the gun manufactures websites, gun stores, read books on guns...

You may need or want some other things, accessories: knives, saws, binoculars, food, water, camera, trail camera, bags, packs, compass... Take a look at my hunting list.

Whitetail deer are incredible animals, they deserve respect, proper hunting, fair chase, and humane treatment. Don't fall for the easy "hunting" which some do today. Using feed or feeders to lure deer in for an easy kill. Paying for a hunt which assures success. That's not hunting, and your reward should be equal to your effort. Little or None!

When you're a hunter who has learned, studied, worked, and your plan comes together; you should be proud, you have accomplished something. Your skills have lead to your success. You can continue to raise your skill level and enjoy hunting for a lifetime. Hunters sometimes get buck fever even after years of hunting this impressive animal.

To hunt whitetail deer successfully you have to know them. It's not hard, it's fun! You will become a student, you become skilled, but you will never completely graduate from whitetail school. You should continue to learn.

The whitetail deer's sense of smell is his most powerful sense. His sense of sight is different than ours. He can see better in the dark, and in every direction except behind. He can hear very well, and pinpoint most sounds quickly. He is seemingly always alert, and has amazing reflexes. He's smarter than many animals, and after a couple of years of age; makes few mistakes.

To hunt whitetail deer you will need to learn some scouting, how to read deer sign: tracks, trails, droppings, scrapes, rubs ... habits, and habitat: How they live, what food they eat, when they eat, when they sleep, when they mate... all of which change depending on the weather, the season...

As you learn about whitetail you will begin to see them more. You will need to choose how you will hunt: stand or blind hunting in the beginning, try stalking or still hunting maybe when your more experienced.

Once you harvest your first whitetail deer along with the excitement, you may be wondering: What do I do now? After a hunting harvest, field dressing, processing, cooking, donating, mounting...

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