It is that time of year here in the Northeast when men and boys (and some of the ladies) pile into SUV’s and pick-ups and head up into the woods in search of that trophy buck or doe for the freezer. I’ll admit to being one of them, and I guess with my over active imagination and love of tradition I get giddy every year.
For me the excitement begins with the yearly trek down to the shooting range to get my trusty “thuddy-thuddy” (.30-30 Lever Action) rifle sited in. My cousin and I usually do this early on a Sunday morning. Waiting in line to get in with our coffee and rolls has become as much of a tradition as deer hunting itself. An hour or two spent at the range, with the noise and the smell of gun powder, is a guilty pleasure of mine. This is usually the first time since my rifle got put away in the winter that I get to lay eyes on it. Just getting it out of the safe brings back a flood of memories. Every scratch and nick on it is a testament to time spent in the woods in pursuit of game.
I love getting into the cabin and getting the wood stove lit to drive the chill out of the air. The first cup of hot coffee as we unload the truck is always welcome. The banter between men who are comfortable with each other is awesome. The rules are usually pretty loose too, a friend of my Dad’s put it well when I was a young hunter, “fart, belch, curse, walk around in your underwear.” It is nice to have a little over the top testosterone for a few days. Up at the cabin is where I first had a few to many beers with my Dad around. I was greeted in the morning by my father straddling me on the bed and jumping up and down yelling, “Get up Junior! Did you drink to much last night!” It is one of those memories that will stay with me forever! His blue boxers are seared into my brain!
The bacon and eggs, lasagnas, back straps out of freshly killed deer, and grilled cheese sandwiches made with mayo are as much a part of being “up deer hunting” as the actual hunting. Sitting around the table and re-telling the stories of past hunts or talking about the days events, the conversation is always memorable. The “young guys” cleaning up and doing the dishes while the older guys get to go and claim their spots on the couch reminds me of a pack of wolves and their pecking order.
Now I’m four paragraphs in and I haven’t even mentioned the hunt yet? As much as I love the hunt and being in the woods I’m a sucker for the traditions. Getting together with Fathers and sons, Uncles, cousins, and old friends is what truly keeps me going back into those northern woods and mountains. Remembering those who have gone before us makes me wish my own young son was old enough to dress in hunter orange and take into the woods. But I won’t wish that hard for as much as I want him to join us I’m not ready to start taking my place on the couch with the graybeards (even though my own hunting beard has a touch more gray in then I like these days).
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After writing the title for my article, I realized just how funny it really was. Trust me, there was no pun intended there at all. Anyway, if you’re reading this article, then my guess is that you’re interested in deer hunting and that you’d actually like to learn a few things that will help you to come home with something instead of empty handed like you probably usually do. Well, fear not. I’m going to share three of my favorite deer hunting tips that will make your life a lot easier when out there.
Probably the most important tip of all is to find out where the deer will be getting their food from. The reason this is important is obvious. This is where they’re going to be hanging out for the most part. So, you want to find trees with tons of acorns, areas that have a lot of clover and or rye coverings, and of course most of all, you want to look for any trails that you can find. Follow these trails yourself and see where they lead to. More often than not, they will lead you right to your deer.
Okay, as far as actually hunting your deer, you first want to make sure you wear camouflaged clothing. Green that blends in with the surroundings is best, but gray or brown will work almost as well. The key is making sure that it is almost impossible for the deer to see you. This will give you a huge advantage over the deer.
Aside from your clothing, you want to make sure that when you’re waiting for the deer to arrive that you remain absolutely still. When I say absolutely, I mean it. The slightest noise is going to scare the deer away. Now, the problem with doing this, aside from the fact that it’s not easy, is that you are very likely to doze off. This can not only keep you from bagging the little fellow but put you in a lot of danger as well. Trust me, you DON’T want to fall asleep while hunting deer.
I realize that these are pretty basic if you’ve been doing this for a while, but for those just starting out, these are some of the more common mistakes that hunters make. In my signature you’ll find a review of a great guide on hunting deer. I think you will find it most helpful.
The purpose of these deer hunting tips is to help you find that perfect location for a tree stand so you’ll have a successful hunt.