#1990542 - 07/12/10 10:14 AM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: Wes Parrish]
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TN RDG RNR
12 Point
Registered: 06/28/07
Posts: 6094
Loc: Rhea County
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Don't over hunt an area. I wouldn't hunt a stand or set up more than a couple times a month if at all possible. Whether you see a mature deer or not they will know you've been there if you over use an area.
Good Luck
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WARNING: The above post may contain sarcasm and/or sophisticated satire. I will not be held liable for any psychological damage sustained.
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#1990769 - 07/12/10 12:34 PM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: TN RDG RNR]
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Still-n-Quiet
10 Point
Registered: 07/18/06
Posts: 4607
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Movement while hunting will cause more deer to bust you from so far off that you will not even see that they've busted you. Learn to be still. Listen for sounds of foot steps and other "rackets." Does will typically walk at a steady pace for several steps, then stop and graze and look around. Bucks, particularly on the prowl for does, will just walk steadily, only stopping if something doesn't seem right.
Also listen for squirrels and bluejays. For some reason, they seem to make a racket with deer around. Try not to wear out your eyes focusing for deer. No quicker way to get tired during your hunt. Scan your perimeter looking to catch movement, then focus. Be still about it, though.
A little tip about deer behavior, although BSK and others are MUCH better at these tips, watch the deer's ears and tail. You obviously know that a tail straight up is a warning sign to other deer, but what many don't talk about is the "all clear" tail sign. If you hold your hand, palm down and shake it side to side a couple of times, this is approximately the same action a doe will make to tell the other deer that things appear "okay." It kind of looks like it's trying to shake a bit of water off it's tail. (Make sense?). The ears also "talk" to you. When they are focused in two directions, the deer is just taking in sounds. If you see both pointed right at you, be REALLY still and quiet! Don't look right at them (prey animals seem to have a weird sense of eyes focused on them, I don't know how). Wait for the all clear tail sign before doing any movement. One trick a wise old doe will use is the "fake" feed, then snap the heap to look to catch movement. Usually you're busted by this point, but sometimes they will settle back down after the "all clear" tail sign.
Like turkey hunting, it's always best to bring your gun up when their heads behind a tree trunk, though.
I'm rambling, though. Hope these help. You are in for an enjoyable journey of learning and fun!
Edited by Still-n-Quiet (07/12/10 12:37 PM)
Edit Reason: Dislexia really stinks!
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Mike
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16)
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#1991293 - 07/12/10 06:46 PM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: Still-n-Quiet]
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RKenney
10 Point
Registered: 03/15/08
Posts: 3633
Loc: Maury Co.
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Don't give up and above all, when things are slow, never assume
that there are no deer around close to your stand. Be ready at
all times. Many of the deer that I have killed, suddenly appeared
out of nowhere...like a ghost.
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#1991313 - 07/12/10 07:04 PM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: Still-n-Quiet]
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Tomahawk
6 Point
Registered: 07/11/10
Posts: 762
Loc: east & west tn
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Try to hunt with an experienced hunter if possible. If your completely new to deer hunting this can accelerate your learning curve exponentially. Pay close attention to him/her on scout outings. Look around and try to understand why the deer would be traveling in that location. Which brings me to "terrain terms". Knowing what a draw or bench looks like (as well as others) and how deer would use them in relation to the immediate surroundings will no doubt be instrumental in grasping what I believe is the number one piece of knowledge one can apply to consistently be a deer hunter instead of a deer waiter.
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#1991392 - 07/12/10 08:23 PM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: Wes Parrish]
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Bone Collector
12 Point
Registered: 09/09/09
Posts: 6130
Loc: Murfreesboro, TN
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Go early, stay late.
Go often.
X 2. I also hunt Public land. Have 3-4 spots where you hunt so you don't over hunt one area and if you get to a place and someone is there you can move to another spot.
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Don't let the screen name fool you spikes are made of bone too  Semper Fidelis! The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. - Thomas Jefferson
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#1991395 - 07/12/10 08:25 PM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: Tomahawk]
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redcorn
4 Point
Registered: 09/07/06
Posts: 252
Loc: Chattanooga, TN.
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whatever you do, have fun and try not to overthink things. Hunting should not feel like a competition between you and the animal, so don't be frustrated when you make mistakes. You will find that deer are better than you most of the time, and that's true for beginners and experienced hunters.
Don't get discouraged when you see or hear about the successes of others--your time will come, but the journey to get there is what defines you as a hunter. You may become a successful hunter before you ever even kill anything; I spent countless hours in the woods before i ever loosed an arrow or pulled a trigger; but in that time I developed respect and admiration for the animal, and learned something from every encounter.
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#1991458 - 07/12/10 08:55 PM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: Winchester]
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KSbuck
4 Point
Registered: 09/22/06
Posts: 338
Loc: West TN
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Unless you just like to walk, the worse thing that you can do is just start walking. It can be aggrevating, not to mention tiresome.
This has to be the worst single piece of advice I have ever saw given here. Kratos, if you have a given area (tract of property) that you plan to hunt regularly, there is nothing that will make you more succesful than knowing every inch of it like your back yard. Topos and aerials are priceless for new areas and places where you dont have the time to get to know the entire area, especially if its simply too big to walk, but burning boot leather and becoming familiar with the areas you plan to hunt have absolutely no equal, and nothing will help you more when trying to understand how the deer will use the terrain on your property.
Absolutely agree...terrible advice from BH. The best hunters are the best woodsman and the only way to develop that is time in the woods walking and learning. But just like you I haven't won Big Buck/Free Membership awards either.
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#1991727 - 07/12/10 10:21 PM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: KSbuck]
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RKenney
10 Point
Registered: 03/15/08
Posts: 3633
Loc: Maury Co.
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Online
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Walking slow and observing yes. Hiking and not taking it in..no.
I used to know someone who wanted me to go scouting with him on
some new property. As soon as we got out of the truck and got
into the woods, he took off in a nearly fast walk not even
looking at anything. After awhile, I said slow down a minute. He
looked at me and said "what's up". I said I thought we were going
to scout out this property, not go hiking.
He stared at me for a few seconds and then it hit him.
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#1992628 - 07/13/10 12:57 PM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: RKenney]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25247
Loc: TN
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Walking slow and observing yes. Hiking and not taking it in..no.
I used to know someone who wanted me to go scouting with him on
some new property. As soon as we got out of the truck and got
into the woods, he took off in a nearly fast walk not even
looking at anything. After awhile, I said slow down a minute. He
looked at me and said "what's up". I said I thought we were going
to scout out this property, not go hiking.
He stared at me for a few seconds and then it hit him.
Exactly right RK, your there to become intimately familiar with the area, paying strict attention to every feature and detail of the land, small things like breaklines and subtle edges, things most maps wont show you, only being there reveals the small secrets that make a difference. Maps are a must for getting started and speed scouting an area, especially where time is limited or you want to look at a very large area. Anytime however that you have the luxury of learning a particular area right down to every pine cone, you will learn things about how/why deer use certain areas the way they do, and lots of times you will know what they will do before they do it, which is paramount in being consistently succesful, especially on older and even more importantly pressured deer!
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#1992969 - 07/13/10 05:24 PM
Re: Deer Hunting Tips
[Re: Winchester]
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redblood
16 Point
Registered: 01/22/06
Posts: 10190
Loc: Lewisburg
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Carry a native american tracker with you if you can
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