Tag Archives | Deer Hunting

There are two types of hunts; those that are good, and those that are great. This hunt happened to be great. From the second I found out that I had drawn my first choice tag I explained to my father that I wanted to shoot a big buck this year. My goal was to shoot buck bigger than last years, a 3 point or larger. Weeks of anticipation and preparation flew by and before I knew it my hunt was upon me.

The alarm started buzzing at 3:00 A.M. and a half hour later my dads truck was fired up. We were ready to rock n’ roll! We rolled up to our huntin’ grounds aapproximately 45 minutes before daylight. I was feeling optimistic after passing several deer on the way in. With the rifle in hand and daylight quickly approaching, my father and I both knew it was time to wear off some boot tread. We headed up the mountain and were in, as my dad would say, “prime deer country.” We reach a small knoll at the base of the hill and quickly began glassing. After about 30 minutes I had decided as the only tag bearer of the family, it was my job to bring home the meat.

I made an agreement with myself that if I seen a buck, no matter the size, I was going to take him. An hour into glassing we decided to move to a rock outcropping 300 yards away. We hadn’t made it 100 yards when we jumped a group of 7 bucks. Just as I shouldered my rifle, my dad whistled and stopped the largest buck in his tracks. Presenting me with an abnormally perfect broadside shot, I centered my reticle on the buck’s chest. Squeezing the trigger, I let the lead fly.

We knew I hit him hard as he ran with his nose down over the hill. Our tracking job ended 20 yards from the impact site. My dad spotted the expired buck and we rejoiced. I raised up the head of the 4×5 buck and smiled as my dad took pictures for the memory book. 2 hours later the deer was field dressed and in the back of the truck. Its the unpredictable moments in hunting that keep me hooked. I can’t wait for the moment when I get to help my dad pack out a buck and repay the favor.
Author: Trevor Heyer

Deer Hunting Tips

Deer hunting is an interesting thing that reminds you of those golden old
ages of 19th centuries, where a handsome hunk well equipped with all
hunting material rides on horse searching for his target animal either
for the purpose of displaying his masculine powers or for enticing and
wooing his lady love. Sounds interesting and fascinating? Yes it is! But
unfortunately, gone are those days. However, even when deer hunting is
carried out these days; it happens to be a amusing and entertaining
experience.

Successful deer hunting doesn’t require much of a deliberated effort on
the part of the hunter. Rather, if few simple tips and things are kept in
mind, it would certainly make it a triumphant adventure. So, now pack up
your bags and get ready to play the exciting game of hunting deer without
any extra ado.

Timing:
Time is one of the chief factors to be kept in mind before leaving for
deer hunting. The best time to bag a deer are sunsets and sunrise. This
is because the lightning at these times confuses the sight of deer and
you can see herd of this poor animal looking for its food for the purpose
of filling its empty stomach. These timings also ensure the safety of
your teammates. You can also start as early as possible before sunrise by
hiding yourself in safe places. This way you can easily pounce upon your
required variety as sun rises, without getting noticed by them.

Things to avoid:
If you think your most expensive perfume will aid you in catching your
prey, then think again. It would be better, if you avoid any kind of
perfumes, after shaves, colognes or any kind of sturdy scented fragrance.
Try to keep the artificial smells to minimum. Before leaving for deer
hunting, try to blend the smell of your body with countryside, otherwise
the smell of human body may deteriorate your purpose of deer hunting. You
can always try out these expensive and powerful smelling deodorants after
you are finished up with your deer hunting.

Silence: the best guiding factor
Keeping mum considerably increase your chances of deer finding. Though
deer hunting may be a fun-packed and amusing experience for you and your
friends, you need to take care of the noise factor. Deer remain quite
cautious about sound. This is the most important tip to be kept in mind
while driving for deer hunting; otherwise you will end up losing that
prized buck.

These few simple basic tips, if kept in mind, will result in a better
deer hunting experience; a memorable amusing and enjoyable adventure not
only for you, but for your team mates too. So what are you waiting for?
Get, set and go on your hunting spree.

Deer Hunting: Texas Style

If you go to Texas, you will find out that there are a large number of
deer hunter fanatics out there, who just love to hunt deer. It is a very
routine kind of a thing there. Also, do you know that Texas is the second
largest place in the nation to comprise of deer hunters? In Texas, there
are a large number of deer available and all of different sizes and
breeds. Even though, deer are in large numbers, many are discontented as
they are allowed to hunt only a small number of deer.

But, to increase the popularity of deer hunting among out of the state
people, hunting on land owned by private owners is permitted. A price is
quoted for those who want to hunt on a private land by the owners
themselves.

But, in order to do so, a license is needed for the land owner too to
give access to others to hunt in their land

Also, to Texas residents, if they want to hunt in some wildlife parks or
some national parks, though it is permitted, a license is required for
hunting. You are bound to go behind the bars if you are not having a
license. As Texas is such a large state, laws are strictly put into
effect and also are quite stringent.

People who are interested in hunting can walk their dream in many ways.
Often, they accompany their friends along to the hunting place and have a
ball out there. Also, there are guides available for new people to Texas.
If you are lucky enough, you can come back home with a deer trophy in
your hand. But, not anybody can participate in hunting. It is quite
necessary to pass a safety hunting course, which is put into effect by
the authorities, if you want to participate in the competitions.

There is another way also to enter this adventurous competition. It is a
lottery system implemented to bring more and more people into deer
hunting, which are mostly applicable for a span of ten days. So, if your
fate is walking with you, you can be chosen for the competition. During
the season of the competition, many people come to see it. The whole
competition area is flooded with audiences desperate to catch a glimpse.
Texas Department of Wildlife says that more than 1.3 million is produced
at the time of the season and that too in a year. It is advisable that
you plan and book your hotel as soon as possible, if you are planning to
go to Texas for a deer hunting journey. It is likely that no hotels will
be available, if the schedule is delayed.

The money generated from the competition goes into conservation of the
wildlife. Thus, it will be indeed a great experience to see the deer
hunting programs in Texas.

Deer Hunting: Hunting Mule Deer

Mule Deer are normally found in the Western US Region in bachelor groups.
They are also found in southern western of Saskatchewan and are at time
also spotted in Minnesota and Missouri. Mule Deer are very adaptable to
most kinds of terrain. Regions providing low water and nutrition content
are normally devoid of mule deer.

Description:
Mule deer have very large mule like ears. Their color is reddish-brown in
the summer while in winter it turns to grayish-brown. They also have
white patches in the body in belly, throat, and nose eye and ear areas.
Black spots as well can be found on the chin. They have a white tail
which ending in black.

Special Features:
• Mule like ears give them an ability to listen sharply
• Binocular vision. however cannot detect motionless objects
• Good runner and swimmers

Living habits:
Eating: They are normally gazers and eat green plants, nuts and corn, and
herbs.
Lifestyle: They foray into deep valleys and bushy fields. However, after
feeding and watering themselves, they move to the areas where their beds
are. Their beds are normally in the areas located on ridge slopes, rocky
areas, bushy areas or areas with timber work. The selection of their
sleeping area or bed areas thus looks to be dependent upon having enough
support for their back. They also want to be in little higher regions so
as to keep a watch on the approaching predators. This makes it difficult
for us to locate them.

Tracks: The track of mule deer varies depending upon the landscape. In
softer and woodland areas, their foot print is a little pointed whereas
on harder ground the print has a blunt tip.

Main Predators for Mule Deer:
• Mountain Lion and Coyotes in the Nevada region
• Other predators include black bear, grizzly Bear, wolves and any
human animal

Hunting Mule Deer:
For a bow hunter: you should try spot and stalk style of hunting.
although it is difficult, but not impossible. All that you would require
is a collection of proper optical glasses, binoculars and a spotting
scope. You should scan the areas like high ridges, pockets in mountains
and brushes where mule deer are most likely to be found. Scan the high
ridges, brush pockets and rock outcroppings.

After locating a buck of your interest, you should start working on your
plan. Since these mule deer are in higher terrains, you will have to use
breaks in order to install your stalk. The best way is to surprise the
animal from upper area. Successful stalk gives good opportunity for hunt.
For a running buck wait for it to stop and then try the stalk.

To summarize, one should always be patient while hunting.

Deer Hunting: Finding the Perfect Location

Deer hunting is an art. You need to have a perfect place to hunt a deer,
probably a perfect tree stand. Some tips which help you to hunt a deer
can really be helpful to find a perfect spot for getting a deer down.

Basic Preparation:
For hunting a deer, you need to know that where the deer actually reside.
The preparation for finding a deer location should begin at least three
to four weeks in advance. Catching a deer location before that might not
really help as they might have changed their routes.

However, you can keep a few areas where deer can be found in your mind
and may be re-consider and re-evaluate those areas while actually going
for hunting.

Care should be exercised in making minimal changes to the surroundings
and leaving little, or if possible, no signs of you being there. After
finding the perfect spot, place your tree stand over there. This is done
to get the deer used to seeing that stand at that location.

Choosing multiple sites can be helpful as this might leave little scent
behind.

Checking for the food source:
Awareness in terms of the food that deer eat during the season for
hunting can be helpful. Trees that are producing nuts start dropping the
nuts while the hunting season starts. Therefore once can track the deer
foot-prints by finding out areas where hickory or nuts or acorns are
dropped around. Other food items such as mushrooms, farm crops, herbs,
apples, grass etc are also consumed by deer. Trailing these foods can
help you find a deer location.

Rest Domains:
One should also check for the rejuvenating and sleeping areas of deer.
Generally they sleep in areas where there are thick bushes. Also find the
trails where the deer move for feeding their child. These areas might be
at a distance and off the track. Larger bucks normally go beyond the
normal areas into further deeper brushes.

Their sign might not be seen into some most common trails. These large
bucks follow the common trail only while they go up for feed.

Problems Faced:
• Boring as you have to wait for the deer to appear
• High chances of you dosing off to sleep while waiting for the deer
• Making unnecessary sounds and noises or movement due to uneasiness

Solutions:
• Make yourself comfortable by coming out of the tree stand whenever
you feel uneasy
• Set up heat and motion detectors at the deer trails, using a deer
trail monitoring system. These can alert you whenever the deer is
approaching you

Thus, these tips can help you select a perfect location and have a nice
hunting season with deer.

Deer Hunting: Deer Hunting Blinds

Initially, blinds were just used as a cover device for the hunters to
protect them from getting detected by the animals. Deer hunting blinds
helped in locating deer hidden in the cliff area.

Deer hunting blinds is a commercial product easily available in the
market place. These are also placed in deer hunting grounds and at
different farms so that hunters can use them along with the other
facilities of staying and lodging built over there in the form of a cabin.

Hunting deer in neighborhood-Prefabricated sets:
Deer can be hunted in the backyard of your house as well. However, the
problem is only related with the inability to hide properly in the woods.
Also, we tend to leave our scent behind in the hunting ground. These
situations can be avoided by using proper hunting blinds. Pre fabricated
hunting blinds are easily available in the market. Construction sets
available in the market also help to build your own blind by setting the
angle and height.

These sets can be easily disassembled and again be assembled to make it
ready as a blind. You should look for steel brackets so as to assure that
they are strong enough and can provide you enough safety.

Check:
While using a hunting blind just ensure that these hunting blinds are
properly assembled. Disassembly instructions should also be carefully
followed by you so as to leave you with no further questions on the
safety aspect. While buying any such device, safety should be the top
most priority. Cost concerns should be ignored as inexpensive units might
ultimately lead you to loss.

Deer hunting blinds should be able to meet all the basic requirements of
the hunter without causing any troubles. This does not mean that they are
to be luxurious or should have excellent aesthetic features. The color
should be simple to mix with the color of woods and trees and that is all
that is required.
I
mportant Elements of Blind:
One should be able to set up blinds in very little time, so that movement
from one spot to other is easily possible. The most important thing that
is required while sitting in a blind is the visibility. It is your
ability to see a deer from different sides of the blind that is
important. Moreover, the deer should not be able to see you. Many
prefabricated blinds are available which can provide you these features
without having letting to pay you any extra money for this.

Deer blinds might not be allowed legally at all the places. Therefore a
hunter should check the laws before using any such device. Simply sitting
at a standstill at a tree base is anyway permitted in all the regions
where hunting is legal.

Deer Hunting: Alabama Deer Hunting

If you are dreaming about hunting a white tail deer, then Alabama is the
best place to be looked into. It does not matter, if you are an aspiring
hunter or a well-experienced hunting champ. Alabama offers the best
ambience for catching your prey. Here, you can easily hunt in
well-managed properties specially designed for hunting purposes. It
offers you to choose between bow and a gun for your hunting adventure.

No matter you are amateur or well experienced; you’ll surely have great
time hunting in Alabama farms. This place provides you a wonderful
opportunity of hunting white tail deer, which is the most familiar
species of deer, found in south. Alabama offers you an area of more than
5000 acres of land for hunting purpose, where you can easily found a good
number of deer population.

Recent developments:
It is quite rewarding to know that the amount of money generated and
quantity of hunting activity, both have tremendously increased in
Alabama. Alabama has increasing prospects of deer hunting today. Also
some of well-established farms provide deer hunting classes in winters in
wooded areas. This sounds amazing and fascinating, right?

In Alabama, you can choose amongst the wide variety of pastures or
hunting lands according to your suitability and desirability. You also
have an option of choosing from guided hunts or from your self- assessed
hunting understanding.

Time factor:
This may sound as a shortcoming as deer hunting in Alabama is seasonal in
nature. You just can’t walk into woods seeking for your trophy deer at
any moment of time. It is very important to take the timing factor in
notice, before packing bags for hunting adventure in Alabama. You also
need to check with relevant authorities regarding the same.

Favorable months:
Mid October is the best time for bow hunting in Alabama. For gun hunting,
you need to wait until November ends. Even the dates are not fixed; you
need to contact the concerned authorities and should go through schedules
of hunting season from Alabama wildlife department.

Alabama deer hunting is getting quite popular. Many enthusiastic and
passionate white tail deer hunters have started residing in nearby places
in Alabama. Deer hunting in proper season gives one rewarding results as
they can have an eye on number of prey target.
As Alabama provides number of hunting opportunities with minimal
restrictions, it proves to be a very profitable business option for state.

Deer Hunting: Aggravation Or Alleviation

Do you know that deer hunting is the most famous in the United States of
America? One reason behind this is that they are available plentiful in
the country. But, it is indeed not so easy to hunt the deer as they also
make use of tricks. Also, a deer does not behave the same way every time.
According to weather, mating season and time of day, they change their
behavioral characteristics. A good hunter will know what behavior the
deer is fitted into in a specific type of season. In the United States of
America, one can hunt in public or private grounds only if one obeys some
strict laws enforced, which say that you should have a license to hunt.
Moreover, one should obey the rules and regulations of the season very
strictly.

It is not easy to be a hunter. You should pass the hunter safety test in
order to qualify for the hunting competition or season. They come out of
their hiding places just moments before dusk and dawn. Hunters get only
thirty minutes to implement their hunting skills before sunrise and after
sunset. Moon also plays an important role in controlling the movement of
the deer. A good hunter will always know about the various moon cycles
and how they are going to affect the deer as it will be quite essential
for hunting. Also, hunters are aware of what time is the sun going to set
and what time is the sun going to rise. This travelling just daylight and
twilight is because of the fact that deer are nocturnal animals. If one
does not know about all these factors, he is bound to get so irritated
and frustrated that he may give up his idea of hunting due to bad outcome.

Moreover, another advantage that deer has over human beings is that they
are gifted with the sense of identifying smell or odor in a jiffy. Also,
they have very good hearing abilities and can be aware of some danger
even if a slightest noise is made. So, one has to be extra careful while
on the hunting venture for deer.

Moreover, deer come out of their hiding places, when they feel hungry or
they hear some sort of sound of winds or rains etc. But, the hunter has
to be lucky enough to be on his toes when the deer is out.

Mostly, it is said that fall mating season is the best for hunting. It is
very ordinary to see deer out in the center of the daytime in this
season, which is actually the time to take a nap for the deer during
other seasons. This is because during this season, their behavior is
quite uncommon. So, the opportunities escalate during this season for the
hunters.

Thus, hunting can be a great pleasure if you are victorious in it. Else,
it can also be a matter of aggravation.

Deer Hunting: About Axis Deer

If you are wondering about hunting the breed of axis deer, you can take a
look over numerous ranches placed throughout the state of Texas. Axis
deer, known for their large horns, fall under the most favorable hunting
category for hunters. Axis deer form the top class breed amongst the
other type of deer breeds, thus providing the best meat among all wild
breed deer.

About axis deer:
Hunters find the bodies of these axis deer quite appealing and striking.
The body spots of these axis deer find a resemblance and blends finely
with its natural environments featured by thickly layered forest and
scrub brushes. Hunting an axis deer is a challenging and thrilling task,
which tempts the hunters to pursue it at any moment of the year. On an
average, the length of antlers on these deer ranges from two to two and a
half feet, if measured lengthwise. Hunters find it very eye-catching and
feel like having one of such breed in their hunting adventure. Sometimes,
a hunter who strikes on such trophy quality deer appears delightful and
pleasantry surprised on finding the antlers size of three feet.

Axis deer are known as natural fighters and have left behind the category
of Bengal tigers in their native land of Sri Lanka only. This quality of
axis deer excites the people to carry outhunting of these special kinds
of deer on regular basis. Axis deer shed their antlers on regular
intervals, thus their left out antlers pave the way for their hunters
quest by prompting and inciting them. There are no proper schedules or
fixed measures with which hunters can determine the deer’s antler
transformation.

Don’t get demoralized:
You will notice that axis deer always stay in herds and very rarely move
in single. It may be quite frightening for some and demoralizing for
some. Guys, if you really wish to catch your prey make sure you are
skillful in various techniques of hunting but at the same time; work in a
very human way. Axis deer is a very smart social animal that knows very
well about the way of building the best alarm systems around themselves,
so that it can help him in times of danger. They bellow and bawl in order
to warn its fellow deer about danger.

Hunters need to take proper steps in order to have an axis deer in their
side; otherwise all the efforts for hunting this sturdy and brawny minded
deer will be in vain. The absolute and sheer size of axis deer makes them
quite appealing among hunters hunting list. Thus, to conclude, we can say
that if these simple minor things are kept in mind then efforts made in
respect of hunting an axis deer will surely get you fruitful results.