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Give one tip on deer hunting

Loopwing said:
A kill tree does mean kills and not seen. Ask yourself why you haven't gotten shots? I got into saddle hunting because I can hunt every tree I WANT to. Are you getting busted? Deer are walking just out of range? You are seeing them to late into the evening? Everything is fixable, except property borders (that is my problem on a couple properties I hunt). I am also a meat hunter, if I come home to many times without a deer the wife makes comments about watching the kids all day while I hang out in a tree. Dead deer means more hunting days.
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I’m not getting busted. The little buck I missed still had no clue where I was. I started the season with them all out of range and by the time I got closer there was no doe days.
 
Gotcha, sounds like you are learning. Get out there early in the season and put them down before they know they are being hunted.
 
Loopwing said:
Gotcha, sounds like you are learning. Get out there early in the season and put them down before they know they are being hunted.
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It’s been a real learning curve. Going from Georgia lease to mountain public land. I luckily bear hunted with hounds so I know of places to go that have historically had sign. Just allot of hiking.
 
Lowg08 said:
You are good lol. Yea and Nantahala mostly
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Hah well you did say your neighbor's near Biltmore.

My one tip on deer hunting to the general populace is, if you're planning out your week, and you're a newer hunter, dedicate one big chunk of time to hunting, rather than several smaller chunks. I learned a lot quicker with one full day of hunting/scouting a week, rather than trying to pop out after work multiple days.

My one tip for you, specifically, though, is to apply for the permit hunt at DuPont. Permit applications close the end of July I think. If you don't mind hikers being in the general vicinity, DuPont's the easiest bit of public land in WNC to kill a deer on.
 
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Zoa said:
Hah well you did say your neighbor's near Biltmore.

My one tip on deer hunting to the general populace is, if you're planning out your week, and you're a newer hunter, dedicate one big chunk of time to hunting, rather than several smaller chunks. I learned a lot quicker with one full day of hunting/scouting a week, rather that trying to pop out after work multiple days.

My one tip for you, specifically, though, is to apply for the permit hunt at DuPont. Permit applications close the end of July I think. If you don't mind hikers being in the general vicinity, DuPont's the easiest bit of public land in WNC to kill a deer on.
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I’ve bought a permit before. I just had a bad ankle injury which has landed me with new hardware. So I just grabbed an e-bike so I think it’s going to open up some really good things for me
 
Lowg08 said:
The only thing safe is mommas with babies and babies. I’m talking spotted babies.
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Why would you pass up the chance to shoota double???
Shoot the momma first and keep an eye on where the spotted veal chops hops off to, it won't be far if it even moves at all. If you don't have a shot be patient, it'll eventually make it's way back towards momma and if it plays out right you'll be coming home with two that day!
 
slonstdy said:
Why would you pass up the chance to shoota double???
Shoot the momma first and keep an eye on where the spotted veal chops hops off to, it won't be far if it even moves at all. If you don't have a shot be patient, it'll eventually make it's way back towards momma and if it plays out right you'll be coming home with two that day!
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It’ll fit right on the grill too.
 
BuffaloBill said:
It’ll fit right on the grill too.
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slonstdy said:
Why would you pass up the chance to shoota double???
Shoot the momma first and keep an eye on where the spotted veal chops hops off to, it won't be far if it even moves at all. If you don't have a shot be patient, it'll eventually make it's way back towards momma and if it plays out right you'll be coming home with two that day!
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Oh man. I just can’t. I’m kinda softy lol.
 
Lowg08 said:
Oh man. I just can’t. I’m kinda softy lol.
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To each there own. I do basically "pest control" on one farm. It is also the hardest farm I hunt. If the land owner knows I let any deer (but an antlered buck) walk, I don't get to hunt there anymore. You can only shoot anterless deer during the season I hunt that property.
 
Loopwing said:
To each there own. I do basically "pest control" on one farm. It is also the hardest farm I hunt. If the land owner knows I let any deer (but an antlered buck) walk, I don't get to hunt there anymore. You can only shoot anterless deer during the season I hunt that property.
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I guess it’s just a personal thing.
 
And another touchy subject. Mind your scent! Always play the wind, but it also doesn't hurt to spray down with some scent control before you walk in and wear scent controlling clothing. I try to always play the wind, but I have had a lot of deer come in from a direction I was not expecting. You never know if a coyote or other hunter jumped them out of their bed the day before and they are just now making it home. OR, definitely during the rut, deer sometimes just walk around. DON'T just rely on the wind, watch the smoke of a campfire, the wind never stays in one direction.
 
I've killed a pile (100%) of deer on private land. I'm committed to no longer hunting private land (unless the owner really needs me) and I have not been successful on public yet - going on 3yrs now. In SW Va., the one thing I'm seeing and changing this year is you have to get in the woods early season even though it will be hot. (Around here we don't get a cool break until the third or last week of October.) Before the first week of black powder, the hunting pressure really isn't bad, but once that first week of black powder opens, the crowds quickly (like the first weekend) let it be known to the deer find a new area or else. So then it's a whole lot more challenging to find a productive area.
 
Loopwing said:
And another touchy subject. Mind your scent! Always play the wind, but it also doesn't hurt to spray down with some scent control before you walk in and wear scent controlling clothing. I try to always play the wind, but I have had a lot of deer come in from a direction I was not expecting. You never know if a coyote or other hunter jumped them out of their bed the day before and they are just now making it home. OR, definitely during the rut, deer sometimes just walk around. DON'T just rely on the wind, watch the smoke of a campfire, the wind never stays in one direction.
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I’m a firm believer in wind. Also playing when the thermals rise or fall can make or brake. Especially with mountain deer. I found a buck bed while scouting once and I sat in it for a bit. It was rather neat how I could feel wind at my back. See along ways and when the thermals started to rise I had wind at my back, thermal in my face and a good vantage point. Learned allot just sitting
 
Yes, if you can figure out there beds, you can see why they choose them. Normally great vantage points. Can see danger from a really long vantage point. Also, the thermals are crazy, but I wear scent control on top of playing the wind.
 
Spartan said:
Be quiet. Be still.

There's 1,000 great tips for being more successful hunting deer, but that one is #1 in my opinion. Because if you don't do that, then everything else good that you did won't matter much at all.
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^^^^^
This! Back in the dark ages when I started hunting most guys were still using Baker stands. Talk about uncomfortable and dangerous. Once some better options became available my bow hunting success rate went up exponentially. If you are comfortable then you can sit still and motionless. If you can sit still you will see more deer and have opportunities. And this is exactly why I purchased a JX 3 Hybrid, and never looked back.
 
I started archery 40 yrs ago.....never really like gun hunting alot but I do some. Deer are creatures of edge.....and drainages. Find trees on pinches of these will put deer closer right off the bat. Feed trees are great if you keep them from winding you! Like as stated earlier, access quietly.....gun hunting you can sit 200 yds from deer and as long as the deer pass in sight you're ok as well you know, archery means everything is closer usually. So, pinches to put deer in bow range is key. Well, I guess this post was over done.....but it's my tip(s).
 
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