5 Reasons You’re Bad At Deer Hunting

Deer hunting can be a fulfilling sport that provides food and controls deer populations. That being said, hunting is a difficult and time-consuming hobby. Lacking in basic knowledge of how deer eat, sleep, and think is what separates great deer hunters from the bad. Here are five reasons you are bad at deer hunting.

1. You’re Hunting In The Wrong Area

To be successful in deer hunting there actually need to be deer at your location. Looking for common signs of a deer population is an important first step. Keep an eye out for hoof prints, bedding and feeding areas, including deer droppings. These are all signs you are in a deer hotspot. Knowledge of where to find deer ensures you won’t be wasting your time. Also, if you are hunting on unfamiliar land speak with locals. They will know where the good hunting grounds are and may point you in the right direction.

 

2. Improper Use Of Trail Cameras

Trail cams are great for understanding deer patterns and population in a potential hunting area. Choosing where to place your trail cam can lead you that 10 point buck you want to mount. Once the desired trail is located placement of the trail cam comes next. The ideal placement of a trail cam is in between the bedding and feeding areas.

The height of the camera is important to note as well. Setting the camera 7 to 10 feet up the face of a tree is optimal. This gives you a perfect angle to identify individual deer and their physical characteristics. Identifying new deer gives you a better idea of population size.  Having this information will help you determine which site will be best to set up camp.

 

3. Your Hunting Lanes Are Not Clear

So, you found the perfect spot to set up and hunt, but, you can’t see anything. This poses several problems. If you can not line up a perfect shot you may miss the mark. This poses ethical issues if the animal is to suffer due to poor marksmanship. If you miss the shot all together you may lose track of the deer. It is also important not to trim too much foliage. You may lose the ability to hidden if you go crazy with a weed whacker. Keep changing seasons in mind as you begin to trim. What and how you trim in the spring will have an effect on foliage in the fall.

 

4. You’re Not Blending With The Environment

Nothing makes a deer more apprehensive than a potential predator in its territory. Staying out of sight is a good place to start. Placement of your tree stand should be well thought out before you settle in and wait. The height and angle are important aspects when trying to blend with foliage. To determine the best set up put on your deer hoofs for a moment. Walk the trail and be the deer. Can you easily spot your tree stand? If yes, reposition it. Dressing the part helps as well. Camouflaged clothing will help with being unseen amongst the trees. Another aspect to keep in mind is the smell. Staying downwind of deer will keep your scent stay undetected, but this is not always an option. There are also many scent eliminators on the market to mask human scent.

 

5. You Don’t Know How To Change With The Seasons

All animals alter their behaviors as the seasons change and deer are no different. Knowing when and where to hunt during deer season will optimize your success. Peek deer hunting occurs in mid-November. This point in time is known as the “rut.” This is when female deer are in heat causing bucks to break from their normal patterns. They will begin walking around during the day searching for mates. With a large amount of male deer walking around at any time of the day — you will find a target in no time. While the rut is the best time to hunt deer it does not mean the time leading up to, or after, is a waste. Adapting and changing with your prey will increase your success.

If you adopt these 5 techniques and put them into practice you will have a freezer full of meat in no time.