I have several hunting trips lined up starting in September and lingering until the chilly month of January. From several spots in Pennsylvania (east and west), Maryland, Colorado, and potentially Arkansas or Kentucky (waiting to see which pans out). Tennessee was a potential candidate for a few weeks but it seems a future employer didn't find me as a real catch...their loss. Although Nashville would have been sweet. Anyway, with 50 days until the first arrow being drawn (legally), there is lots of work to be done. Finding a compound bow, scouting and more scouting, lining up babysitters, and potentially buying a long range rifle. Did I mention scouting...because that's the big one and most important.
Scouting, for hunting that is, not the organization of young boys, is the most important aspect of your hunting skills. It can tell you the story of an animals movement, habits, and sexual partners...okay maybe not the last one. The rut though does some crazy things to deer so you never know. Hunting an area because it looks promising is like wagering on a lottery ticket. You have the opportunity to beat the house odds here, but it means doing your homework. First thing, that little thing called the Internet, not the one Al Gore said he invented, pull up google earth and print off some topo photos of your area. Step two, laminate them, yes take the extra time to ensure they survive the season.
Next, hit the hunting grounds, but don't just run in guns blazing. Deer can remember you and your scent for quite a long time. You have to hone in your ninja like skills, perform your scent controls, and bring a few necessary items. Here is a good starting list:
- Your topo maps, a writing device and note pad (write in the books would be a great choice)
- Scent control, rubber boats, clothes treated with carbon or other chemicals, camo of course
- A range finder, brush/tree saw, trail markers, and gloves (you have real work to do)
- Of course your daily bread and drinks to stay energized and hydrated
- A fanny pack or small backpack to carry your gear as well
Parking your vehicle at the lodge or far away from your hunting area. Then start walking. Take notes along the way, if you were truly hunting, how would I access an area so the deer don't hear or see me. Don't rush either, you are recording all animal signs along the way, tracks, feeding locations, trails, areas of cover (for you or the deer). Did I mention, you should do this during mid day hours. Yes, you certainly don't want to come eye to eye with a buck that is on his way to his bed or buffet line. You may get a kick out of seeing that big buck, but take a mental picture, because he will disappear like David Copperfield. Mature bucks are smarter than most humans, so if you edge up on a deer, kneel down (aka hide) or back out.
You brought a range finder and maybe even some bi-nocs. Use them and glass from afar. During morning and evening hours, bust out your spotting scope and watch the feeding areas. You want to understand the big picture, not just your little niche where your stand hangs. Back to your scouting at hand, take notice to those deer signs, like I said, really take notice. Identify the feeding areas and where they bed down. They are going to travel from A to B and back to A. So tracks and pathways should be your first focus. They check for buck signs...yup, scrapes, rubs, licking branches, and larger tracks in the dirt and mud. If you can't tell the difference in tracks then spend some time on google.
As you dwindle down areas to hunt, you have to think about how you actually get a shot or hang your stand, You don't always have to hang a stand in make a shot on an animal. If you have other means of cover than use it. Calculate your wind direction too. Put in your notes, this stand can only be hunted on a Southerly wind. The wind will also dictate how you access your hunting location, if they smell before you even get to your stand than you may have an uneventful sit. Once you think you have an absolute honey hole you have to prepare your hunting location. Do you need to clear pathways to ensure a quiet arrival to your spot, cut down any branches that could hinder your options or cause you a missed shot. Be anal during this time, I missed a huge eight point, because I never cleared a sapling in front me. My arrow was almost in arms reach from me when it stuck into the tree, and I swear it was mocking me until I cut the tree down to remove it.
I can't stress it enough, make sure your shooting lanes are open. It may require you to get up and down from your stand several times until you get it right. One branch can mean a wall hanger, or an empty freezer. So you found a hunting spot, great. Now keep scouting the area, find more options, because your about to play chess with brilliant animals. Only having one play in your book isn't going to cut it here. Work your way all around the area, you have to be able to know where these deer eat, sleep, poop, and their afternoon hobbies. Hang up some trail cameras along those trails or areas of congregation. We are all busy these days, let the camera do some work for you when you aren't there. With some many tools at your disposal these days, it would be stupid not to use them. The deer signs you found may only be from a small buck and not the big guy.
Hopefully I helped you out by giving some tips and best practices. Scout hard, so you aren't guessing or scratching lottery tickets from your stand location. You want to have informed decisions when hunting and be able to say it just wasn't luck. Chili dogs at 5am are never a good idea either, just saying.
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