Whitetail Deer Hunting Articles
Winter Scouting
For the deer hunter, winter is a long period of nothing but waiting. The fall hunt is over and there is little activity related to hunting deer, plus it seems like the new season is such a long way off. Around here, winters are tough, so even the fun stuff like getting out and shooting the bow or going to the rifle range is out of reach. There is one thing winter is great for, and it is a way to stay connected to your favorite hobby. Winter is the best time to get out and scout to see what the deer have been doing at your hunting spots.
The Whitetail Deer Hunter's Quiz
Hunting over the years has become a competitive sport and hunters everywhere, young and old, new and seasoned - all vying for the best places to hunt. Many are trying to harvest that big whitetail buck to grace their wall. But as the season gets closer the competitiveness between some hunters can escalate to unhealthy levels. By the end of the season the rivalry and pecking order of the hunting camp has ended by who shot the largest bucks and the oldest does.
Are Coyotes Negatively Impacting Our Deer Herds?
Let's face it, coyotes don't exactly have a great reputation amongst hunters. They've been blamed for everything from the decline of quail and rabbit populations, to lost livestock, and even the occasional missing neighborhood cat or dog. Of course, some of this reputation is deserved, and some of it is probably more lore than fact. Several recent studies, however, have shown that the boom in coyote populations over the last 30 years may be impacting more than just small game, livestock and pet numbers.
Weather's Role in Hunting
Weather conditions play a big role in where animals will be at a particular time of day. Sounds simple doesn't it? Weather conditions force wildlife to develop habit patterns to deal with existing weather. Deer seek relief from summer heat and winter cold that is outside their normal comfort range. During the extreme heat of summer animals take refuge in shaded areas to escape the heat. The animal still experiences heat, but at a lower temperature than if he was standing in direct sunlight. Ambient or prevailing conditions are measured in degrees of thermal heat.
Deer Behavior During the Rut
Big, mature whitetails don't get that way by being dumb. A true trophy deer has figured out where to bed, when to move and when things just "don't seem right." It's as if they develop a sixth sense. There is a brief window of opportunity, however, when his defenses go down and that big buck turns his attention to other matters. To an avid deer hunter, there is no more exciting time of year - it's the whitetail rut. There seems to be a lot of confusion amongst hunters - almost a mystique - about the rut. Maybe that's because so much has been written on the subject.
Hunting Preparations That Help Insure Post-Kill Success
Typical hunters spend months in preparation for that moment when a coveted big game animal is in their sights. Many of these same hunters, however, give little thought to what they will need to do after they have killed a dream animal. That's unfortunate, because what happens after the kill can determine whether a hunt becomes a cherished lifetime memory or a recurring nightmare. The list of potential problems that can occur after an animal is down is nearly limitless.
The Buck Stops at Double Ought
The effectiveness of buckshot in hunting applications is a point of contention within the shooting community. Some swear by it; some swear at it. As with any big game hunting cartridge the effectiveness depends on three variables: energy, penetration and accuracy. Buckshot is designed for close range work... period. 12 gauge 00 buckshot is traditionally loaded in a high brass 2 ¾ inch shell with 9 spherical pellets each weighing about 54 grains. Buckshot is designed to allow the shooter to use the aiming mechanism of a shotgun while providing enough knockdown power to ethically dispatch deer sized game.
South Dakota Deer Hunt: It's Now or Never
As Joel Torrence was growing up on the family farm outside of Aberdeen, South Dakota, he was exposed to the hard work on the family's agricultural holdings and enjoyed the ample hunting opportunities the farmland provides. He began carrying a gun when 12 years old and spent his free time hunting the abundant rabbits and pheasants that lived along the farmland fringe. It wasn't long, however, before the exuberance of youth discovered scouting, which is usually a seasonal adult game, and it became an important part of his year round, daily agenda.
Maximizing Your Hunting Time With Trail Cameras
Over the last five years, probably no other "gadget" has changed the way we scout more than the trail camera. For many of us, running trail cameras is a hobby in itself, bringing a whole new excitement to our deer hunting efforts. Much more than just something to pass time, however, running trail cameras can give you a unique insight into the patterns of deer on your hunting properties and really tip the odds in your favor for harvesting a mature whitetail. Let's take a look at the features to look for when purchasing a trail camera, and how to get the maximum benefit from the camera once you have made your purchase.
Sweat the Small Stuff: Whitetail Hunting Primer-Part 3
This article was originally written without this 3rd installment. I got to thinking about it and thought perhaps another short installment on rifles, optics and sighting in might be helpful as well. I happen to be a certified gun nut. I admit to it and enjoy my interest in rifles to no end. Does a serious and successful deer hunter need to be a gun nut? Well, of course not! But I do think that perhaps some tips from a serious gun person could be a bit helpful, especially for those starting out.
Deer Hunting: Myths, Fallacies & Fantasies - Part 3
I firmly believe in the effectiveness of rattling antlers to attract deer, especially bucks, but I'm often told that rattling only works during the first half of November when the animals are actively rutting because that's when the bucks fight. Wrong on both counts.
Deer Hunting: Myths, Fallacies & Fantasies - Part 2
The scraping behavior of whitetails is one of the most extensively studied and discussed aspects of deer. And often also the most misunderstood. The scrape marks the heart of a buck's territory, a buck makes scrapes to attract does, only whitetailed deer bucks make scrapes, bucks visit scrapes often, the track in a scrape indicates the size of the buck it belongs to and the number of scrapes are a gauge of the buck population in the immediate area.
Deer Hunting: Myths, Fallacies & Fantasies - Part 1
In the course of the past quarter century or so, we've turned our store of deer hunting lore upside down with new knowledge and insights into deer biology and behavior and, in the process we've debunked and discarded many of the old left-over truisms. We no longer determine the age of a deer by counting its tines and we no longer talk about bucks gathering harems of does.
Sweat the Small Stuff: Whitetail Hunting Primer - Part 2
Continuing from the first article that primarily covered how to find the right spot for your deer hunt. If we chose wisely and set up correctly it's simply a matter of time before game will pass by. When it finally does, you have little time to wonder or be surprised. You must simply react and do it as quickly as possible. No, this doesn't mean we jump up, raise our gun and release the safety right now. It does mean we need to formulate a game plan (pun intended) immediately, however. Make sure your movements won't be seen as you ready your rifle and make sure you do not slide your safety off until you know you want to shoot and also you figure it will (the safety) not be heard.
Sweat the Small Stuff: Whitetail Hunting Primer-Part 1
There have been hundreds of books written on the subject of hunting whitetails. In no way am I about to give anyone a thorough lesson that will make you a complete whitetail hunter. After all, I am still learning myself. I have been hunting deer for over 40 years, but must admit to having lost most or all of 12-15 seasons while I was a pilot in the U.S. Army from the late '70s through the late '90s.
Get High on Whitetails
Today, the vast majority of deer hunters take to the trees. So popular is this movement that an entire industry has evolved along with a paradigm shift in how hunters approach the deer woods. Despite the effectiveness of tree stands, some ask if this strategy is creating a new generation of unskilled reactive hunters. More to the point, there are pros and cons to hunting from the trees, but in the end, it's hard to deny its effectiveness. Let's take a look at what it means to get high on whitetails.
Retrieving Game
Thank goodness for snow and a downhill pull! Effortlessly tugging the rope, my toboggan slid as though it were self-propelled. Ankle-deep, the powdery white stuff was a blessing. Fortuitous indeed, I'd brought my sled and it's a good thing. Not long before, I'd been hiding in my blind. Overcast skies kept things dark for a few minutes longer than usual. As daylight finally illuminated my surroundings I heard the welcome sounds of a buck grunting in the trees nearby. This would be my last deer hunt of the season. I'd decided to take the first deer that presented a shot.
Tree Stand Safety
Every year countless hunters fall victim to tree stand accidents. Fall being the operative word, using tree stands can be risky business. Unfortunate but true, no one plans to go airborne, but it happens. I know several individuals myself who have suffered injuries while putting up, sitting in, or taking down stands. The good news is that commercial tree stands have evolved plenty over the past couple decades. Furthermore, by taking a few extra precautions we can avoid, or at very least minimize, the potential for tree stand mishaps.
Field Judging Deer
Some might call it buck fever. In my opinion it was just plain misjudgment. Sure, my heart races the same as the next guy when I get a big buck in my crosshairs, but I've usually got it well under control. No, this particular instance was a result of poor judgment and a split decision. Too many variables and too little time, that's what this one was all about. Had I been afforded another 30 seconds to evaluate the buck's antlers, I'm certain my decision to hit the switch would have been stifled.
When Women Hunt
Sophisticates call them the fairer sex. In so many ways this is truer than most of us guys care to admit. Pride aside, I must concede. Historically dominated by men, hunting is an activity now seeing more women entering the ranks than ever before. Few men will say it, but I've witnessed it firsthand. Many women are more patient, less excitable, and yes, sometimes they even shoot better!