I'm getting giddy!

A

ALLS London

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My first deer hunt is still about a month away.

I've put about 500 rounds through the rifle in the last month- it's shooting dead on at 50 and 100 yards (I don't expect to get a clear shot past 50 where we're hunting)

Gear is cleaned, knives are sharp, I have a couple of items to pick up still- blaze orange hat (two likely) and some kind of appropriate pants- I'm a jeans or suit kind of guy most of the time, and I understand that blue jumps out at deer.

Still have to wash all my clothes in the scent killer detergent and do final packing, but I'm just STUPID excited about it!

in one paragraph or less- what's your best hunting tip for a new whitetail hunter?
 
have fun you'll allways remeber the first one -thats my #1 tip
On top of that dont shoot yourself in the foot
 
Boomer74 said:
... Remember t-p.
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This is an uber-good tip. Leaves are a bit scratchy this time of year...

ontario said:
Play the wind. If they smell you they are gone.
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Easy to forget when you get in the bush, but very important! There's not much point in walking the bush if you are just pushing them in front of you all the time.

Good luck! Remember also, getting a deer is only half as important as enjoying the hunt itself!
 
And Al, try and wear wool pants for the warmth as it is quiet in the bush. Same with your jacket, coat, blaze orange vest etc. For boots, you should have rubber bottoms, leather uppers with felt liners.

The wind thing is very important, the Indians used small dried puff balls to see which way the wind is blowing when it seems that there is none!

Use your ears if the leaves are dry and make very slow movements, hands, face etc. as deer will pick up the movement and white means danger to them.

Have good warm mitts if cold. Again wool if possible. You are probably hunting in an area where hounds are not used so you will not need to take a running shot, hopefully.

I don't recall if your are going to use a shot gun or a rifle and if the terrain is rolling, or flat and bush.

The advice about staying out for lunch is good! Unless you have blue bird weather, getting cold was always my nemesis. The opening morning can be important too as well as what hunting pressure from other people is there?

There is so much to learn. Remember tho deer can be very sneaky and, staying still if in a bed for a long time if your presence is perceived. Snow on the ground makes it easier as you can spot the deer in a bush much easier. Look for horizontal forms, and deer have excellent ears much better than human.

So have a good safe hunt and I hope that you have an older hunter as a mentor, especially if you bag a deer. Gutting is not hard but nice to have someone showing how. And have a shoelace in your pocket to tie around the anus after cutting around it, to keep the turds in place. And don't cut the bladder!

i guess this is my TG rant for today.

One last thought, tracking a wounded animal in not fun!
 
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Me too.

Leave Friday for moose camp (opens Monday for me) then my bread and butter, the November gun hunt for deer.

Ironically I shot my first deer in blue jeans. It also happens to be the biggest buck ive shot.
 
Hey Alls, where you heading and what kind of terrain is it? Will you be ATVing in or hiking? And how far? Will you be in some type of stand, or roving, or just picking a random spot to sit for the day? What will you be doing for lunch?

This year will be my 4th year hunting. I still remember my first year vividly, and yeah I was real excited too.
 
radpipe said:
Hey Alls, where you heading and what kind of terrain is it? Will you be ATVing in or hiking? And how far? Will you be in some type of stand, or roving, or just picking a random spot to sit for the day? What will you be doing for lunch?

This year will be my 4th year hunting. I still remember my first year vividly, and yeah I was real excited too.
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wmu 85- just North of Goderich. Walking a bit to stands.

The party Im going with likes to go to town for breakfast and camp for lunch
 
I have always liked to bring a bunch of apples out with me to the stand. Crush a few down wind of your stand and take a few to eat up in the stand. I find that eating a few helps cover your breath especially if you had a bunch of booze/smokes the night before. Depending on the weather and if you don't like wearing gloves, I even wipe the core all over my hands to cover the smell on my hands. Then I rub it all over the tree beside me up there before throwing it down on the ground around my tree. The apples on the ground will be an attractant and help cover your smell as well.
 
wind wind wind.... if its at your back your not going to see anything. Have a good sat map handy that clearly shows ways in and out (cut lines, roads, powerlines lines), it will help you get were you want to go whie keeping the wind in your favour.
 
Take your time walking to the stand. Don't get in a rush, I've been lucky a few times heading in to the stand. Walk 50-100 feet stop and listen. If you hear anything find a good spot to hide yourself hopefully with the wind to your faceand wait it out. The deer heard you and hopefully will come to investigate.

Other than that the most important rule of deer camp, HAVE FUN!!!!!
 
All good advice for a rookie deer hunter. Remember to bring a digital camera with you & take lots of pictures. Pictures are the closest thing we get to a time machine :)
 
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