What Deer Eat- Whitetail Food Plot Management Is The Key
Every trophy deer hunting enthusiast has the dream of owning a cabin in the heart of deer country. Not only is it their desire to have the opportunity at a fair chase trophy whitetail, but it is living and being a part of the beauty that is the great outdoors.
There is a certain serenity about waking up everyday with a view of majestic snow covered mountain peaks capping off soft forests on the floor below. Mixed in those soft evergreens and sprinkled throughout the hardwoods are native hay meadows with pristine streams running throughout. This is an almost picture perfect scene.
Unfortunately, all trophy deer hunting enthusiasts do not have this exact scene available to them on their property, but owners can help to develop the perfect trophy whitetail hunting conditions by planting whitetail food plots to aid in year round deer nutrition.
For these enthusiasts looking to manage their property and whitetail population, understanding what deer eat and planting deer food plots with those forage items is a great way to supplement the whitetail diet. Properly managed food plots provides excellent year round nutritional possibilities for the whitetails and of course great hunting opportunities in the fall. Food plots may vary depending upon several factors including region of the country, soil, climate and irrigation. However, some mixture of soybeans, corn, clover and chicory will provide great additional nutrition for the indigenous whitetail population.
This spawns the question posed by every hunting enthusiast who looks to plant food plots to entice whitetails to their property; “What do I plant to attract deer to my property during hunting season?” Unfortunately there is no one answer to this question. However, deer forage manufacturers such as Evolved Harvest, Whitetail Institute of North America, Hunters Specialties, Tecomate Wildlife Systems and Wildgame Innovations provide new products for whitetail nutrition every year. There are numerous products, each designed to grow in different climates, weather and soil conditions. There are even products available which do not need to be planted in tilled soil. However, these products all have some commonalities in the forage they produce. Most contain clover, brassica, chicory and grains.
All hunting enthusiast don’t necessarily have access to the variety of equipment necessary to cultivate the land and manage these food plots. With this thought in mind, it should be noted that most food plots can be managed with an ATV and a few attachments. These items will give the deer enthusiast the ability to plant a good sized food plot in an afternoons worth of work.
Here is a list of the items needed to prepare and plant these food plots:
1. ATV or side-by-side utility vehicle
2. Field and brush mover
3. Forage mix
4. Hand held or tow behind spreader
5. Disc or drag behind harrow attachment
6. Roller or cultipacker attachment
The following is a simple four step process for preparing these food plots:
1. Clear the Area- Clear the plot of brush and grass with the field or brush mower. Most of these mowers come in a self propelled design or a tow behind attachment. If you have thick growth in an area, you may need to do a controlled burn.
2. Prepare the Ground- Turn the ground with the disc or harrow attachment. This will prepare the soil to accept your choice of forage.
3. Spread the Seed- Make sure that your choice of seed is capable of sustained growth in the climate in which you live. Be sure to plant ample seed. Doing this before a good rainfall will jump start the food growth.
4. Cover the Seed- Cover the seed with the cultipacker or roller attachment. This will push the seed into the ground where it will be ready to soak up the pending rain.
Utilizing the land you have and planting whitetail food plots will help the deer hunting enthusiast to fulfill his/ her dream of having and hunting prime trophy deer hunting property. Good property and herd management is essential to developing these prime hunting opportunities.
If you are looking for DIY food plot information, click here for the most comprehensive information available. This information speaks to all areas of the United States and is compiled by a deer management specialist.
To discover the top 5 producers of deer forage, check out this video:
How To Use A Deer Scouting Camera
Technology can be a great thing. For the trophy deer hunter this can be especially true when it comes to technological innovations made by the manufacturers of deer scouting cameras. These scouting cameras alone, can be the single greatest item in the deer hunters arsenal. Sure it can be a lot of fun to put these cameras out and get a picture or two of a big buck, but think about the possibilities.
This technology gives the average hunter the chance to pattern the deer on the land he/she hunts. What exactly does this mean? This means that not only can the hunter see exactly what deer on the property, but is able to observe how the deer reacts under varying circumstances such as temperature, weather, etc.
Hunters choosing to utilize this awesome technology should plan to make this a year round activity. By doing so, this provides the hunter with the maximum amount of information about the deer inhabiting the woods you plan to hunt. To ensure that the use of these cameras is indeed effective, plan to place these deer cameras at various points around the hunting property. Consider placement in areas such a trails, food plots, feeders, scrapes & rubs, water sources; the options are almost endless. Over the course of a year the hunter will be able to see when the bucks begin to grow their antlers, when they shed their velvet, when they lose their antlers and much more. If you own or lease your hunting property the use of these cameras becomes a valuable part of the overall deer management strategy.
First, there is a myriad of choices in scouting/ trail cameras. The list of manufacturers and price points are as long as the list of options available on each camera. The cameras can also be purchased in many retail outlets, providing the hunter the opportunity to compare options and settle on the trail camera best suited for their particular situation. Some of the major players in the scouting camera game are Bushnell, Moultrie and Cuddeback.
In an attempt to help you determine the best scouting camera for your particular hunting or management situation, it is useful to understand some of the basic workings of a typical digital deer scouting camera. Scouting cameras are attached to an object such as a tree. These cameras then take pictures or video when the camera detects motion in its field of view. This motion can be standard motion, detected using conventional technology; some cameras employ the use of heat sensors and infrared beam technology. So, when heat is detected or something breaks the IR beam, the camera takes a picture or begins recording video.
All scouting cameras utilize either a built-in flash or infrared LED lights for obtaining images in low light or night situations. All scouting cameras also provide a date/ time stamp on each picture or video to assist with providing the hunter with an array of information about the patterns of the deer in the area. Most cameras provide the hunter with the option for adding an additional memory card from which they can retrieve their pictures. This allows the hunter to remove the card and review the pictures on their computer or TV. There are even brands of scouting cameras which provide a wireless signal which can then be viewed on either the hunters cell phone or computer. This style of trail camera also comes with a monthly fee to a normal cell provider such as AT&T or Verizon to allow access to the photos from a remote location. The added benefit to this style is the hunter only needs to intrude to the property once to install the camera.
The greatest difference in digital trail camera technology is the picture quality available. Photos generally range from 3-8 megapixels. This allows the ability to enlarge the photo a bit before it becomes to blurry to make out any detail. Keys to keep in mind include the fact that the higher the megapixel rating, the more storage space each photo or video takes up on the memory card.
Lastly, digital trail cameras require power to operate. The size of the battery differs, most take between 4-8 AA size batteries. Manufacturers have made great strides with increasing the battery life; most now lasting up to six months in many cases. Some manufacturers also offer a recharging option. The hunter can utilize rechargeable batteries and place a solar attachment to the camera, thus ensuring continual power to the camera.
This is just the tip of the iceberg as to the information the hunter can gather from the use of trail scouting cameras. These cameras are relatively inexpensive and the prices seem to drop every year. If you are not using these wonderful devices you are missing out on a lot of fun and some very valuable scouting information. I speak more about the use of trail cameras in my ebook, Trophy Deer Hunting Secrets. Also, some of the greatest selection of trail cameras I have found is available at Bass Pro Shops. I have included links to both of these to help you on your quest for locating the best scouting camera for you.
For more information about scouting cameras watch this video:
Calling Deer: Fact or Fiction?
There are many methods, tips and tactics available to hunt trophy deer. There is still hunting, spot and stalk, driving, tree stand hunting, ground blind hunting and so on and so on. Each hunter has his/her preference; they know what works best for them and what works best in the area that they hunt. The techniques will often change depending upon the area of the country that you hunt, that only makes sense. Deer are effected by their surroundings. The tactics used in the deep woods of Maine may vary in the plains of Nebraska. However, one thing always seems to be part of a hunters bag of tricks. You guessed it, calling deer.
Any hunter who has spent time in the woods during hunting season has learned that the more realistic you are when you mimic the sound of a deer the better your chances are of bagging that trophy buck. That’s right, the better you are at sounding like a deer the more likely you are to bring a trophy into your location. Bring the buck to your location instead of going to his. This technique has been used by hunters for decades.
The popularity of calling deer has increased in recent years mostly due to all the mass media received by various hunting show on television channels like the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsmans Channel. Not to mention that manufacturers of the various deer calls understand this as well, thus they have spent and continue to spend, untold dollars to bring the latest and greatest in deer calling technology to the hunter.
There are many sounds a hunter can master to help bag a buck. There are grunts, rattling, doe calling and fawn bleating just to name a few. With all these choices in a hunters arsenal, the question becomes, why not call? Breaking down some of the calling will help you to understand when to use it for maximum results.
Rattling is supposed to imitate the sound of a knock down drag out fight between two bucks vying for the affection of a doe in estrus. So why would this sound attract a big ol buck? Most likely because he is looking to defend his home turf, if you would. He believes that there are two other bucks moving in to find some action with his doe.
Rattling is pretty specific to the rut. Most mature bucks would not even waste the energy to engage in any mid-summer activity with the younger bucks, but get his hormones raging like they are during the rut and the sound of clashing antlers gets him running in your direction.
Grunting can be a very effective deer call. Deer will vocalize throughout the year. So, using a grunt call will often entice a buck to check things out if he thinks there is a stranger in the area. Most humans are incapable of correctly reproducing the sound of deer grunt, so manufacturers are more than happy to produce many items for the hunters use. Most grunt tubes are developed through research between scientist and the manufacturers. The science and technology is combined to develop grunt calls that are very realistic and easy for the hunter to use. The key to using a grunt call properly is controlling the amount of air you send through the tube. Send to much air and you will vibrate the reed too quickly, blow lightly and get a deep throaty tone; that’s the one which will do the trick. It should be noted that, using a combination of grunting and rattling during the rut is an extremely effective means for bringing in a mature buck.
As a buck gets closer to the rut he will surely keep a close eye on his harem of does. What does this have to do with deer calling you ask? Because, using a fawn bleat can be an effective call to bring a doe. Still not sure how this works? Well, a fawn bleat plays on the maternal aspect of the doe. So when you use this call you will be pulling at the primal heartstrings of a doe looking to come to the aid of a fawn. When the doe comes in to check out the noise, no doubt the buck isn’t far behind. The key with the fawn bleat is to make it sound as natural as possible. Start by calling for about 10 seconds or so. Stop for about 20 seconds, then start again for 10 seconds. Continue this pattern for about 1 minute. When you’re done, wait for about 15 minutes or so to start again.
Some final tips for calling deer. Remember, when you are in the woods calling deer, you do not know where the deer are going to come from. So be sure that you are well camouflaged, in a tree stand, ground blind or against a large tree with ground cover. Wearing hunting camo will help to ensure that you are not seen. When deer come to investigate the sound, if they are bedding, they will look in the direction of the sound first, then they will get to their feet to investigate further.
When it comes to calling deer the answer to the question is; why not call. You have nothing to lose. You aren’t going to scare them and you will get them to come in and investigate, so why not call? Be prepared and keep your eyes and ears open, this will give you the advantage on your next trophy deer hunt.
For my top 3 picks for deer calls, check out this video:
Selecting A Top Rated Rifle Scope
Hunters spend a lot of time researching and a lot of money purchasing the best rifle to enhance their trophy deer hunting experience. They will even expend a great amount of effort to find the proper ammunition for the chamber; going so far as loading their own ammo to ensure quality and precision. Then, they make an unthinkable choice, they select a cheap or improper scope for this great equipment.
If you are going to take all the time and care necessary to fuel your passion for hunting, why would you set yourself up for less than optimal results by purchasing a cheap scope. Today’s hunters should demand a top rated rifle scope. Hunters want a rifle scope which can do the job at a reasonable price.
How do you select the best rifle scope to suit your needs? The answer to that depends on a few factors. The type of shooting you are doing, the type of rifle you are using and your own personal preferences. This article will highlight the basic information about rifle scopes and tailor that information to meet your deer hunting needs. Let’s start by understanding how a rifle scope works and breaking down its basic anatomy.
Scopes magnify images by bending light through a series of lenses located inside the tube. Tubes are measured in either 30mm or 1 inch. The lenses located in the tube allow the hunter’s eye to be on the same optic plane as the target.
This brings us to the eye piece which contains the ocular lens. This is the lens that is closest to the hunter’s eye. This lens is housed in a part of the scope called the eye bell. The distance your eye is from the ocular lens is called the eye relief. This distance is important, especially when shooting a large caliber or magnum rifle due to the recoil. The further your eye is from the scope, the less likely you are to get a black eye from a well placed shot. Cross hairs, dots or other markers are also built in to help the hunter reference the center of his/ her field of view.
Field of view (FOV) is measured in feet at 100 yards. This is the total area you see through your scope, left to right at that distance. The higher the magnification, the smaller the FOV and the less eye relief. The lower the magnification, the greater the FOV and eye relief increases.
All scopes offer some amount of magnification. There are fixed and variable power scopes. The magnification power of a scope is listed as the first number(s) in the scopes description. For example, 4x50mm; this is a fixed power scope with 4 times magnification power. Another example would be 3-9x40mm; this is a variable power scope with adjustable magnification which is 3-9 times that of the naked eye by adjusting the setting on the power ring. When the hunter manipulates the setting on the power ring he/ she is moving the distance the internal lenses (located in the tube) are from the objective lens. This changes the amount of light coming through the scope, thus magnifying the target.
Windage and elevation adjustments can be made by each turn or “click” you make on each of the respective rings. These changes are measured in “minute of angle.” So for each click the hunter makes on the adjustment rings, he/ she changes the aim point at 100 yards.
The scope lens located closest to the target is called the objective lens. This is housed in the objective bell. The size of these lenses are expressed in millimeters and are the second number in the scopes description. For example, 4x40mm; the objective lens is 40mm. The size of the objective lens helps to establish the amount of light which is allowed into the scope.
Lenses coatings help to eliminate stray light entering the scope, help to determine image brightness, color and contrast. Waterproofing and fogproofing are determined by how the lenses are sealed in the scope. Many are sealed with O-rings, but some are Nitrogen purged. Both waterproofing and fogproofing become important when hunting conditions turn harsh.
A last note for basic understanding of a rifle scopes is the term parallax. This is not an easy concept to understand, but try to think of it as when your eye moves off the center of the site picture, it appears as though the reticles are moving (even though the scope has not moved). This is an indication that it is out of focus. It should be noted that parallax increases with higher magnifications.
To determine the best rifle scope for your trophy deer hunting, you need to know if you are shooting a rim-fire or center-fire rifle. A fixed power scope is generally a good choice when using a rim-fire rifle. The only reason to challenge this determination is if the hunter is planning to do variable range hunting. If this is the case, then a variable power scope is the best choice.
For hunting deer a scope with 3-9x is more than enough to get the job done in most cases. The power is low enough that you have an expanded FOV for the closer shots, yet it provides 9x magnification for those shots at longer distances. Most deer hunters find themselves in the shooting range of 100-150 yards. Having a scope with a 3-9x capability will fit the bill and will still allow for the instances when you find your shot stretching out to 300 yards.
When deciding on a particular brand of scope, the hunter should do some research. There are many manufacturers out there such as Burris, TruGlo and Trijicon just to name a few. Visit their websites, read the customer reviews and visit your local hunting pro shops. These local professionals can be a valuable source of information when it comes to determining a brand of scope.
Lastly, realize that when selecting the best rifle scope, this is definitely an area where you get what you pay for. Regardless of the manufacturer, a hunter cannot expect a $100 scope to perform as well as a $600 scope. That being said, it also does not make sense to put a $1600 scope on a $500 rifle. Most deer hunters can find a scope to fit all their needs for between $200-$800.
A good rule of thumb for selecting a top rated rifle scope is to find one you believe will fit your needs and purchase a scope which is one step above it. You will never feel bad about purchasing a scope which is better than you need, but you will feel bad if the scope you buy doesn’t meet your needs.
