Making The Most Of Your Trophy Deer Hunting Trips
If you have caught “deer hunting” fever, you’re not alone. You know once you have it, you can’t shake it. The desire to face the challenge that comes with setting out on your deer hunting trips can be matched by very few things.
You look forward to the anticipation of seeing and bagging the deer of a lifetime, the chance to have some bragging rights around the fire, to better yourself from the year before and lets not forget having the chance to share this experience with family or friends while filling the freezer with plenty of venison.
This almost seems like a game, bringing you the excitement you used to get when you were a kid. The only difference is that this particular game requires some practice and preparation to give you the best chance at enjoying your next trip into the woods. True deer hunting enthusiasts all over this country experience this.
If you are one of those hunters that are planning a deer hunting trip here are some of the things that you should consider:
- Do you have enough knowledge?
How can you effectively hunt something that you don’t understand or know at least something about? Read about the type of deer you will be setting out for during your trip. Learn about their habitats, migration patterns, the affect that weather conditions have on them.
Some other considerations should be; where are you planning to hunt on your next trip? Have you scouted the area? Look for scrapes and rubs. Bucks leave rubs on trees and scrapes on the ground as their marks. There is no better thing you can do to increase your success rate for your next trip than understanding the patterns of the deer in the area you plan to hunt.
Make use of topographical maps and input from the land owner or other hunters in the area. You should also get your own boots on the ground. This will give you a first hand view of feeding areas, travel routes and bedding areas.
Consider the food sources in the area your plan to hunt. Are they naturally occurring or do you need to bait? Remember, that baiting is not legal in many states so check the local laws before you set out. Once you have discovered the food sources, plan your tree stand or blind placement. Consider, using multiple stands or blinds to increase your chances of success.
If you are a novice hunter or even perhaps just new to hunting in a particular area, do research and get some valuable tips on the locality. This research can be done online, from the comfort of home in most cases. Each state has websites dedicated to wildlife management; this is a great place to start. Let’s not forget, deer hunting forums and other similar sites. These will allow you to ask very specific questions and get quality answers.
- Bow, firearm and supplies- Are they ready to go?
Preparation of your bow and firearm should be done continually throughout the year. That is a pretty intense statement. What does it mean? Well, avid deer hunters make sure that they get the most out of their deer hunting season. So they plan multiple trips. The first trip is often right near the beginning of the bow hunting season.
One of the most challenging things to do is hunt a deer with a bow. To ensure you have a better chance of success, you must practice. There are a number of things you can do, here are just a few; practice shooting the bow from your tree stand. This will allow you to get used to the flight of the arrow from a downward angle. Consider attending 3-D archery shoots. These are held throughout the year, usually at various hunting clubs in your area. They allow you to shoot at life sized animal targets at varying distances. This will help you to better judge distance to the target.
Similar options present themselves for your firearm of choice. You should practice to ensure that your firearm is properly sighted and you are proficient enough at further distances to make the “kill shot.”
You also need to be sure that you have done regular maintenance on your bow and firearm. Some things to check are; your bow strings, do they need to be replaced? The pins, are they properly aligned? Your rest, is it in good repair and allowing your fletching to pass freely? Is your firearm clean? Do you have the proper ammunition in sufficient quantities for the weapon you are planning to use? Are there any state or local laws regulating these use of your bow or firearm?
Let’s not forget the need to have certain supplies with you. The exact supplies should be dictated by your personal needs as well as the specific area you’re hunting during your trip. Some supplies you should always have with you are food, water, first aid kit, binoculars, compass, maps, signaling mirror, whistle and a knife. Other considerations for rain gear, additional layers of clothing, etc should be entertained depending on the area your hunting and the weather during the hunt.
So again, do your homework; know the area.
Take the time to do some homework and preparation; it will help to make your next deer hunting trip an exciting and worthwhile one.
