Small change that made you a better hunter

[Bourdeau]

I purchased 60 acres of land to build a bow hunters paradise for my children......It's not a large amount of acreage but I use the improvements and studies I'm doing there to take to the surrounding state lands. What an opportunity I have been blessed with to get close with several doe families watching from a distance their feeding, bedding, and breeding habits, not to mention the influx of bucks during the rut. I started with only two does on that property the first year slowly adding food and cover to gradually build toward my goal. In the process I have been inhaling information on whitetail anything at an incredible rate...it lead me here....it lead me to names of people I will never forget both here and on other places on the internet. Because of the small size of my private parcel it lead me back to bow hunting...getting close enough to kill with a bow is what hunting has become for me.... it just seems a more pure form of hunting and you have to be a much better hunter to pull it off! Small parcel big change in hunting tactics.

 

[Silvio]

I purchased 60 acres of land to build a bow hunters paradise for my children......It's not a large amount of acreage but I use the improvements and studies I'm doing there to take to the surrounding state lands. What an opportunity I have been blessed with to get close with several doe families watching from a distance their feeding, bedding, and breeding habits, not to mention the influx of bucks during the rut. I started with only two does on that property the first year slowly adding food and cover to gradually build toward my goal. In the process I have been inhaling information on whitetail anything at an incredible rate...it lead me here....it lead me to names of people I will never forget both here and on other places on the internet. Because of the small size of my private parcel it lead me back to bow hunting...getting close enough to kill with a bow is what hunting has become for me.... it just seems a more pure form of hunting and you have to be a much better hunter to pull it off! Small parcel big change in hunting tactics.

Youbetcha, small properties have big potential... congratulations Enjoy!!!

 

[Deltahuntr]

When I stopped staying up so late around the fire drinking! That allowed me to make more hunts, do more scouting and become a lot more mobile. Basically not being tired and hung over made me pay some attention, realize all the opportunities blown and mistakes I made in the woods during my youth.

 

[NW_Arkansas22]

Honestly, not relying on private land to hunt anymore is what made me a better hunter. Having the ability to go wherever/hunt wherever I wanted to without "hunting someone's spot". Additionally, having much more acreage to hunt different deer groups.

This all relates to being mobile but the majority of people who hunt private land don't have huge parcels to roam without making family/friends mad.

 

[Pawag]

Get over target planet and forcing myself to play the wind

 

[Wasp]

Probably the smaller change with the biggest result was focusing more on the areas I didn't want to go. It's a step beyond "hunt where others don't." We tend as guys to play ourselves up and the competition down.

That's a great point!!

Also I believe that your chances of seeing deer diminish every time you hunt a spot. In my opinion the best chance of seeing a deer in a particular spot is the first time you hunt it. I rarely hunt the same spot more than 2 or 3 times per season. When I committed to this is when I started getting a lot more opportunities at big deer.

 

[sdonx]

Finding the Beast site...then stumbling into this gem of a forum.
Changed the game for me and my hunting buddy.


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[Nutterbuster]

When I stopped staying up so late around the fire drinking! That allowed me to make more hunts, do more scouting and become a lot more mobile. Basically not being tired and hung over made me pay some attention, realize all the opportunities blown and mistakes I made in the woods during my youth.

Yes! I quit caffeine and drastically reduced alcohol consumption. My energy levels have been off the charts!

This past weekend I spent two nights camping and trail riding. I was able to be up at 5am both days with only 5 hours of sleep the first night and about 7 the next.

 

[bj139]

Best small change that became a big result.......Keto.... changing the way I eat and losing 70 lbs was actually easy and resulted in dramatic improvements in my hunting, as well as my life.

You blasphemer!!! How dare you malign the beloved carbs.
I lost 60 lbs myself doing keto and feel less inflammation in my body everywhere. I usually get the anti-keto speeches everytime I mention it like I am a keto vampire. I now try to hide my secret identity. It sure makes tree climbing easier.

 

[sdonx]

You blasphemer!!! How dare you malign the beloved carbs.
I lost 60 lbs myself doing keto and feel less inflammation in my body everywhere. I usually get the anti-keto speeches everytime I mention it like I am a keto vampire. I now try to hide my secret identity. It sure makes tree climbing easier.

Oh yeah I lost 50# on Keto. Also preach it to anyone who will listen.

 

[jbogg]

Years ago I purchased a Tree Lounge deer stand. Heavy as heck, but incredibly comfortable. My deer encounters quadrupled overnight since I was able to extend my time in the stand and more importantly sit motionless for extended periods. Everyone is aware of when a deer busts you and blows, but we have no idea as to how many deer see us fidgeting and silently slip away unseen. All I know is that when I am comfortable enough to sit still for extended periods I see many more deer, which is exactly why I purchased the JX 3 Hybrid. It’s as comfortable as any stand I have ever sat in at a fraction of the weight.

 

[dpierce72]

Spent significantly more time scouting (in season and off season) and learning new spots vs going to the ole 'tried and true' places year-after-year

Bought lightest, quietest, most mobile gear I could get my hands on (and it continually evolves) and learned how to put it up quickly and quietly

 

[elk yinzer]

Killing the youthful "gotta be out there all the time urge" and then embracing the efficiency of clearing the schedule and being out there giving 100% at the right times.

 

[USMC5831]

Silvio & Allegheny Tom, I appreciate the responses to my question.
I’ve been trying to process this, and in my mind buck travel is generally on the leeward side of the ridge.
So we’re assuming that bucks will use the same trails as a normal west / NW wind day, and not travel with the wind in their favor?
So given an east wind one should set up on a windward side, between bedding cover and where he wants to go (doe bedding, food, water etc).
Thanks again!

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Silvio & Allegheny Tom, I appreciate the responses to my question.
I’ve been trying to process this, and in my mind buck travel is generally on the leeward side of the ridge.
So we’re assuming that bucks will use the same trails as a normal west / NW wind day, and not travel with the wind in their favor?
So given an east wind one should set up on a windward side, between bedding cover and where he wants to go (doe bedding, food, water etc).
Thanks again!

Windward sides of ridges an slopes do create more stable wind patterns, which makes them easier to hunt undetected, but they aren't always where the best travel routes are.
IME, bucks like to spend a lot of time in the wind tunnel and eddies on the leeward side.
It gives them the most wind surveillance bang for their buck.
What their eyes can't watch, their nose will detect.
But wind tunnels are hard to not be wind busted.
Ideally (and "ideal" is seldom common in the woods) setting up on eddy seams or where there is a bend in movement patterns puts us just on the edge of these zone where bucks feel safe.
Eddy seams often change throughout the day due to thermals. It is really is difficult to identify and figure out seams. Milkweed is indispensable for wind study.

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[kyler1945]

Realizing I was an adult, and a competent hunter, and taking responsibility of my success. I was so eager to learn and get advice from the good hunters and buddies, I didn’t consider my own capabilities. I still consume a lot of information. But I only add it to my actual hunting techniques in small doses as I vet it. You’re wired to hunt and kill. Getting in touch with that, and taking ownership for it was a big jump for me

 

[ThePreBanMan]

I don't know if it is a small change, but falling onto TheHuntingBeast has done more for me than anything else... I threw my carbon clothing, sprays, pre-set stands, and tinks bottles in the garbage and started hanging racks on the wall.
I'm a Beast convert for sure.

 

[Freepistol]

I stopped hunting 2 hours in on public land. Bigger deer with less work 15 minutes from my car.

 

[Bwhana]

I stopped hunting 2 hours in on public land. Bigger deer with less work 15 minutes from my car.

You're not supposed to share that one, let everyone keep going deep!

John H.