First Time Hunting Video

Ep.21 - Calling all deer from Blaine Anthony on Vimeo.

Deer Hunting in the United States

Deer hunting is the sport of pursuing deer which began as early as 7,000 BC. There are numerous types of deer throughout the world that are hunted.
The deer most sought after in North America, east of the Rocky Mountains, is the white-tailed deer. West of the Rockies, the mule deer is the dominant deer. The most notable differences between the two are the differences in ears, tail, antler shape, and body size.
The mule deer's ears are longer than the ears of a white-tailed deer, and resemble that of a mule. Mule deer have a black-tipped tail which is smaller than that of the white-tailed deer. Buck deer of both species sprout antlers; the antlers of the mule deer branch and rebranch, while white-tailed bucks have one main beam with several tines sprouting from it. White-tailed bucks are usually smaller than mule deer bucks.
There are four common methods of hunting deer: stalking, which consists of following signs and trails of deer; stand hunting, waiting where deer are likely to travel (including tree stands); still hunting; and line drives, which consists of flushing deer toward a line of hunters. Scouting and stalking involves following deer signs. Common signs include rubs, scrapes, and tracks. Scrapes are places where bucks scratch the ground and urinate below low hanging branches on the edge of fields. Bucks do this to mark territory and attract female deer. Deer tracks may tell you the size and age of a deer. Rubs are marks on the trunks and low branches of trees where bucks have rubbed the velvet off their antlers. Another purpose for this action is that it marks territory with a visual signpost.
Another method of deer hunting, although illegal in most states, is dog driving. Dogs are used to drive deer to a place where the hunter can get a shot.
There are also numerous factors that play a role in deer movement, but the one thing that can usually be counted on is the movement of deer 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset when the deer are going to or leaving their feeding ground. The main factors in deer movement are precipitation, wind, hunting pressure, rut, and lunar movement. Deer will stay in their bedding area during stormy weather, and when the storm stops, the deer usually start moving. The deer will move to an area they feel is safe for them; they will also start moving if the storm passed through their feeding period. Most deer feeding occurs in fields of agriculture such as corn and soybeans. Because they don't like to be caught in the open during a storm, the deer tend to move to a more covered area of the feeding ground or leave the ground entirely until the storm ends. The rut, usually a month long period in which bucks mate with does, can last longer or slightly shorter than one month. The rut causes deer to be more active and do things that they would not normally do. The last factor in deer movement is the position of the moon. When the moon is directly overhead deer seem to be more active.
Many different weapons are permitted in various states of the USA during certain times of deer season. These include bows, crossbows, rifles, shotguns, and muzzleloaders.
Archery season usually opens weeks or months before a state or localities gun season and can be permitted for several weeks or months afterwards. Modern compound bows and recurve bows are used, as well as some primitive recurve and longbows by historical enthusiasts when permitted.
Rifles and shotguns are commonly used for hunting deer. Most regions place limits on the minimum caliber or gauge to be used; rimfire rifles and centerfires under .22 caliber are often prohibited due to ethical concerns. Some areas of the United States prohibit rifle hunting altogether; most hunters in these areas use 10, 12, or 20 gauge shotguns with buckshot or slug loads.
Muzzleloader hunting is also a common practice. Modern muzzleloading rifles equipped with synthetic stocks, telescopic and fiber optic sights, in-line ignition systems, advanced bullet designs, and black powder substitutes such as Pyrodex are much more effective than the muskets of generations past. However, many traditionalists still use wood stocked, iron sighted rifles with round lead balls and traditional black powder charges.
Camouflage has been used for many years and while it is very important, it is not essential, especially during gun season when it is required that hunters wear blaze orange clothing when on public land.
There are many different types of deer stands, ladder stands, climbers and stationary blinds. Ladder stands are ladders with a platform on top of them chained to a tree. Climber stands are platforms with a seat that may be carried on your back and then placed usually about 4-8 feet off the ground on a tree. Stationary blinds, built from wood and other materials are meant to be a durable and long-lasting blind either on a stand or on the ground, depending on the terrain. Knives are essential for skinning and field dressing deer. Tags and permits are required to hunt deer legally which helps defray the cost of enforcement and conservation programs.

Deer Hunting Tips

Image via WikipediaIt's that time of year when outdoors men feel a certain giddy longing that they don't feel during the hot summer months. They can feel it coming on stronger like a quickening and can smell it in the crisp clean fall air. It's a feeling like no other. Like a deeply planted seed rooted completely into your soul. And when this feeling comes around. The big game deer hunting season has arrived!
With a childlike enthusiasm you know it's now time to dust off your hunting gear. Sharpen you hunting knives, oil down your deer hunting rifle; test your tree climbing equipment and stock up on hunting supplies such as hunting clothes, deer scents and maybe a new grunt call. But before the opening day of the hunting season arrives and it's time to do the necessary pre hunting rituals that all good experienced hunters always do every year, such as scouting for deer sign, looking for tracks, scrapes, rubs and scant. Finding a good climbing tree stand or ground blind placement can sometimes seam difficult and downright unnerving. You want that perfect spot were you know you will always see the game that you are pursuing. And you want to be able to take the correct actions when the big moment arrives to bag that huge deer of a lifetime. So here are some Supreme Deer Hunting Tips that can help you take that big buck that you have always dreamed of.
Before we begin I would like to tell you a story. A story about myself and why I have written this article. As a young boy I was naturally attracted to nature. My father was really not an outdoorsman. We went fishing at times but never went hunting. As I got older a friend of mine, Bob invited me along with him on a deer hunt. I loved it and I was from that day on, hooked for life! I proceeded to purchase my first deer hunting riffle, a 30.06 Remington. We hunted every single year and he would always harvest a deer. Usually a spike or a four pointer, but I had bigger plans.
I wanted to get those big eight pointers with the nice heavy racks. I proceeded to test every location in every situation I could find. I read and consumed every deer magazines known to man like a mad man. Bob would always say, "Why do read those things? You won't be able to get big dear like in those magazines"! He couldn't have been more wrong. He refused to take pointers from any of my books or magazines. Don't get me wrong, my friend Bob taught me a lot of the basics and good tactics. He was a very good teacher, but at some point I began to get bigger and better bucks than the teacher.
As I read all the magazines and books and I would learn new ideas and strategies. Bob would hunt the open woods and I would hunt the thicker stuff. I started to take nicer and larger bucks each year. And Bob, Well... let's just say, he has a whole garage full of spikes and four pointers on the walls.
Now even though I learned a lot from those hunting magazines. They never really helped me with some critical things. Strategies that I had to and had learned in the field. Like spotting that perfect place to put a stand in any hunting location. Or the perfect way to spot a deer and take the shot without ever losing the game. Let's face it, if you can't find the perfect spot to hunt from, you will never see deer, see enough deer or get consistently close enough to take deer when you're hunting. And if you don't know the correct way to spot, respond and shoot the deer, you are not going to have that huge rack on your wall or venison in the freezer.
I've had to learn that the hard way. By years of trial and error. I have decided to put the best advice I have learned out of all those years, brake them down into a few critical tips and provide them here. They may not seem to be much on the surface. But they may be some of the best tips you may ever find.
Deer Hunting Tips for Ground Blind and Deer Stand Placement
How to Hunt Deer: Stand or Ground Blind Placement
I find that most of my friends like to put there stand right smack in the middle of a nice clear woodlot were they can see far and wide. But I disagree. I consistently bag large bucks where there is some thick brush, a winding overgrown stream or swampy land bordering a nice woodlot. Put your deer stand or ground blind facing the open woods with your back to the brush. Be sure to wear some good quality waterproof hunting boots if you are hunting in or near a swampy area or bog. Old big bucks avoid hunters, live longer and are bigger because they are smart and cautious. They tend to stay in or follow the thicker brush or swamp line before, if at all, going out to the open woods to feed. If you are in the open woods, they may get wind of you or spot you before you get the chance to see them first. By hunting border lines of brush or swampy areas you get the chance of spotting him sneaking through or along the line before he can detect danger or inspect the open woods.
Try to hunt in a bottleneck. There are many different kinds of bottlenecks that you may or may not have noticed. They are everywhere, you just have to look carefully and they will become obvious to you. Here are some examples. A long stretch of thicker brush between two woodlots. A small stream or brook that winds between two swamps, large ponds or through the center of open woods. A small stand of cedar trees or pines in the middle of a woodlot. Or something obvious like a nice stretch of woods between two fields (great for bow hunting).
Hunt Saddles. Saddles are an impression between two high ground levels. Deer tend to travel these saddles to remain hidden and inconspicuous. Some examples are low ground between two ridges. A small indentation or the lowest point in the middle of a ridge. Or something as simple as a small gully on flat lands.
Overlooking Small Streams. This is one of my favorite places to hunt. Deer love to walk along or cross small streams. The vegetation is usually slightly thicker, tastier and abundant to the deer since the water gives the plants more nutrients. If you are big game hunting in the upper states were it may be colder during the first few weeks of deer hunting season you can hear the white-tailed deer cross the stream as the thin ice breaks under there hooves. It sounds like a breaking plate glass window in a small quite library. You can hear it a mile away.
Deer Hunting Tips For Taking the Shot and Spotting Deer
How to Hunt Deer: Spotting Deer and Taking the Shot
Always keep your ears open or uncovered as much as possible. Most of the time I will hear the deer before I can even see them.
Look for movement of the deer instead of the whole deer itself. Rather then glassing the entire woods in one slow sweep it best to stare at a specific target for a minute or two such as a log, a branch, a stick or a rock. Then quickly proceed to the next target and so on until you have scanned the entire line of the woods. Then proceed back. If there is game present you will spot there movement from your peripheral vision. Quite, jerky but fast (with long periods between intervals) with minimal movement on your part is always better (have you noticed that all cautious and wild animals do this?). With this technique, I always see the flicker of an ear, tail or hoof long before I actually can see the whole deer or spot one by slowly glassing.
If you see one or more doe's. Stay put and be patient. Many times there is a buck hot on doe's trial. You may see a buck anywhere from a few second to an hour after the doe's have passed. Even if a buck does not follow. You know you have a great hunting location. If there are doe's in that area then there are always bucks. You may not see him this time, but if you consistently hunt from that location, and see doe's, then I can promise you that you will see the big bucks eventually.
When you see deer and the adrenalin in your system kicks in don't panic or make quick movements. Take a couple of deep breaths. Look to see if it has antlers; DO NOT concentrate on the antlers! Just confirm if they are of legal size for your hunting area and concentrate on your shot placement. If you concentrate on where you are going to shoot the animal you be will less likely to get buck fever ( a symptom of a heavy dose of adrenalin such as uncontrolled shaking or nauseousness ) Don't be the guy on the hunting trip that always says he saw a ten point buck but could not get a shot at the deer. Chances are if he concentrated on the shot placement rather than counting the number of points on the antlers he would have bagged a nice buck instead of having to tell a story about how it got away.
If the deer won't stop you can whistle or grunt loudly (a loud "baaaa" sound like imitating a sheep should work) aim quickly with your deer hunting rifle but don't rush. It's better to shoot accurately rather than wounding or spooking the deer. If you spook or wound the deer, you probably won't see that buck in that area ever again. Make sure to take the safety off. Nothing is worse than having that perfect shot lined up for a huge buck to find the safety is on and then the deer walks away. Then take the shot. If the deer is just browsing wait for the deer to graze with its head down. Squeeze the trigger slowly rather than jerking the trigger. I find that I get my best shot placements when I don't anticipate the moment of the shot. I squeeze slowly and the shot rather than anticipated is unexpected.
After the shot make a mental note of were the deer was standing when hit and the last location seen. This is very important. It will give you an indication of which possible directions to look for the deer. Especially if the blood trail ends and you need to revert to tracking the deer. Always wait at least one half hour after the shot before leaving your blind or stand to approach or track the deer. Be careful when approaching a downed deer or any other game. Always approach from the back side of the animal. Prod with an object such a stick or the end of your rifle before moving or touching. You want to be completely sure the game has died. Once you are sure. Only then should you proceed. Now you can touch and admire the beauty of the deer, check the length of its antlers and field dress the carcass. Although you may feel like crying out with joy, be mindful of other possible hunters in the area. You can celebrate as loud as you want as soon as you get back to your vehicle or camp.