I have noticed a lot of new guys lately on here... Lets help them out. If you could go back and tell yourself some advice when you first started hunting that you know now what would it be? If it was me it would be You can never get out and get set up in your spot too early... the earlier the better the latter you go the more likely you are to spook somthing and never even know it... If you get in there early enough and spook somthing better chance they could come back. Just my opinion.
Lots of new Guys on here new to hunting.
- Thread starter C1295
- Start date
Sight in your weapon and practice, practice practice! Lots of lost deer this year.
I have noticed that... I have noticed a lot of people saying they made a good shot and then come back and change it. We all do it and if you haven't you will... but you cant practice enough. Some people think you just point a gun and pull the trigger and it should drop. Another thing to add to Timberjacks... don't shoot and go straight after it be patient and wait.
TWRA is getting to ready to launch an adult mentoring program for new hunters. I just read that in an email from our Hunter Education director. I will be signing up.
Heck I would like a mentor one of these days you older guys aren't going to be here... and your knowledge will be lost.... Younger guys myself included need to be like sponges and learn all you can. I have hunted my whole life but I learn everyday....
You can't outsmart a deer's nose or beat the wind. Scent control gimmicks are a waste of money.
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Amen and i will add dont waste your money of fake deer pee and fancy high dollar bullets
UTGrad
Well-Known Member
Sit still and be quiet
UTGrad
Well-Known Member
Although I don't believe you can eliminate your scent, I do believe you can reduce it a level that doesn't immediately cause a deer to blow and bolt when they get down wind. I'm pretty good about scent free showers, detergents and storing clothes. I've watched numerous mature does with fawns get in my scent stream and start trying to find me but not running off completely alarmed.
I must add... you watch these guys on TV and YouTube that Stalk hunt.... that's easier said then done I bet there is maybe a handful of guys in here that have actually been successful doing that around here... especially on public land your just gonna piss other hunters off and get yourself killed... do your home work scout the off season as much as possible find some one on here to go with learn.... Like @UTGrad said Sit still and be quiet... that's your best bet.
I think it reduces the smell and makes them think your farther away then you actually are.
losthunter
Well-Known Member
Companies that cater to hunters are designed to seperate you from your money. Took me a few years to learn that.
It doesn't matter what camo you have..... what brand is on your rifle...... they all have the same purpose and are made for that purpose.
Sight in your scoped rifle! I'm amazed at how many folks buy a new rifle and have a scope mounted on it at the store and think they are ready to go shoot deer. Not so, you have to actually shoot it at a Target and adjust that scope!
I had a boy I go to church with go with me one day.... he is I think 22 good kid... he bought a crossbow and I asked him how's it shot he said Idk haven't shot it. AS HES SITTING IN A BLIND WAITING TO KILL A DEER.
Patience, if you want to see or kill a decent buck, don't consistently shoot the first deer you see.
1. scout, scout, and scout some more.
2. Enjoy your time out there. Some of my best hunts ended with me killing a thermos of coffee and nothing more.
3. Make mistakes, but learn from them.
4. Try to bribe Ski into sharing GPS coordinates haha. Jk on that last one.
2. Enjoy your time out there. Some of my best hunts ended with me killing a thermos of coffee and nothing more.
3. Make mistakes, but learn from them.
4. Try to bribe Ski into sharing GPS coordinates haha. Jk on that last one.
If you kill all your Does before the Rut the Bucks are gonna go were the Does are
Squeeze your shot and follow through. Pay attention after the shot. Watch the deers reaction.
OR..... the other side of the coin, shoot the first buck you see because you may not see another one for the rest of the season. And that is a truthful statement.
Wolverine72
Well-Known Member
Don't let anyone fool you. Boresightong gets you on paper. I missed 2 deer my first year muzzleloading cause the guy who boresighted told me I was "good to go". He must of assumed I knew he meant good to go to the range.
One of the deer was an awesome buck I missed from 30 yards off the ground i got lucky and called in with a grunt call. The other was a doe from the ground at 40 yards. Those were in 2008. I remember like yesterday. Funny thing happened. I sighted it in and boom... shot 5 deer that season. 2009.
A good hunting buddy asked me if I sighted in the mzl. I looked at him funny told him no, the guy who boresighted it told me I was "good to go". Then he looked at me and smiled... I was such a novice I had no idea. It was my first gun with a sight. I was not using the common sense God gave me.
Agree with the others... understand and play the wind. Sometimes deer come from where you least expect, and you gotta know where your scent is going. I too clean my stuff to be as scent free as possible, but its impossible to be 100% scent free.
Shoot what makes you happy. If you always wait for the stud deer to show up you may give in altogether. I've shot my share of spikes and forkies and I remember being so jacked up excited I could not control my emotions. That kept me wanting more. Today, I'm more selective but I still get the shakes when a "small" buck walk under me in range. I have fun taking pics and videos.
Have a blast and always remember to follow 10 commandments of gun safety.
Always wear a safety harness in a tree
One of the deer was an awesome buck I missed from 30 yards off the ground i got lucky and called in with a grunt call. The other was a doe from the ground at 40 yards. Those were in 2008. I remember like yesterday. Funny thing happened. I sighted it in and boom... shot 5 deer that season. 2009.
A good hunting buddy asked me if I sighted in the mzl. I looked at him funny told him no, the guy who boresighted it told me I was "good to go". Then he looked at me and smiled... I was such a novice I had no idea. It was my first gun with a sight. I was not using the common sense God gave me.
Agree with the others... understand and play the wind. Sometimes deer come from where you least expect, and you gotta know where your scent is going. I too clean my stuff to be as scent free as possible, but its impossible to be 100% scent free.
Shoot what makes you happy. If you always wait for the stud deer to show up you may give in altogether. I've shot my share of spikes and forkies and I remember being so jacked up excited I could not control my emotions. That kept me wanting more. Today, I'm more selective but I still get the shakes when a "small" buck walk under me in range. I have fun taking pics and videos.
Have a blast and always remember to follow 10 commandments of gun safety.
Always wear a safety harness in a tree
Don't just sight your rifle in at 100 yards and think you're good. Practice at all ranges you potentially will shoot at. If you change ammo, do it again.
2nd the previous posts about hunting the wind, and sitting still.
Lastly, enjoy it. It's just as much about spending time with friends and family as it is about harvesting an animal. One of my favorite things is butchering anything we got, cause we're drinking beer, telling lies, and making fun of each other while cutting up the meat and splitting it up to share.
2nd the previous posts about hunting the wind, and sitting still.
Lastly, enjoy it. It's just as much about spending time with friends and family as it is about harvesting an animal. One of my favorite things is butchering anything we got, cause we're drinking beer, telling lies, and making fun of each other while cutting up the meat and splitting it up to share.
mjwendorf
Well-Known Member
Don't get wrapped up in the trophy hunting crap. Shot what makes YOU happy. Enjoy all the little things about being out in the great outdoors.
Can you post the info, or message me with it
Make sure you use your HECS clothing so your electrical signature isn't detectable to the deer.
Also, don't fall for hunting gimmicks.
Also, don't fall for hunting gimmicks.
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
A few things. Shoot your gun or bow and be familiar with it and make sure it's dialed in. Patience, play the wind the best you can, if you can find a mentor it can really help you learn. You don't have to be in the tree an hour before daylight waste of time imo. You can't learn without doing it and messing up, don't be afraid to make mistakes.
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She wants it just as much as you do!! Oh wait... nevermind. That's something else... 
But don't come strolling through public land right at daylight... messing up everyone elses hunt.
