Looking for Tips.

WinchesterStevens

WinchesterStevens

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Vernon, BC
I know this has probably been covered a hundred times already, but I'm asking again anyway, sorry. I'm looking for a few tips on hunting mulies and whitetails here in BC. I've hunted moose back east before, but there's no big science to it, find some sign, follow the track and scout around it and before too long you'll usually strike meat. The Deer on the other hand seem to have me at their mercy, been skunked two years in a row. I'm not using any special tactics, or treating my clothes, is this really necessary or is it personal preference? I think I may have found the perfect honey hole (LOTS of sign at a river crossing, hopefully no one else frequents there), I want to make sure I keep this place "deer friendly". Assuming I do plug my buck here, how far should I haul my deer before dumping the gut pile? Like I said, newbie questions I know, but getting tired of finding new ways to justify buying a license and tags to the wife every year. LOL

Feel free to throw in any tips or comments you feel necessary. Thanks guys.
 
My infallible advice.

1. Hunt where there are deer.
2. Learn to see deer in the country you are hunting them. This is harder to do than most people think. Deer are not huge, so look for "parts" of deer. A mule deer's white butt is the most often first spotted part for me. Ear shapes are probably the second.
3. Ignore scent control gimmicks, and learn to hunt so you manage your scent "shadow". You cannot fool a deer's nose with masking or soap, but you can keep your scent from going where they are.
4. Use binoculars lots, even in the bush.
5. Learn to call deer. If they are not already dodging hunters all day so their behavior is relatively normal, white tail bucks will absolutely come to calls and rattling. We have called mule deer with predator calls. Even pure curiosity works.
6. Move slowly. No....... slower than that.
7. Hunt where there are deer.
8. Ignore the gut pile issue. Local scavengers will have it cleaned up before morning.

I'm not sure I mentioned the most important tip I can give you. Hunt where there are deer. ;)
 
hunt two-five year old cut blocks that have good green growth after a big change in the weather. Say it has been dry and warm and it changes to a cold front....hunt the cold front or vice versa...lots of movement with a change.

pre scout some blocks for sign..primarily just tracks and knipped of brush and green growth. hunt these blocks that have sign.


mulies like to feed on the green as long as it lasts and will chase it....many of the blocks are seeded in alfalfa and clover.

hunt mid elevation....the breaking off areas to winter and rutting type range.

As well the doe groups usually have last years yearlings hanging around and they tend to be the least sly....so if you find a series of blocs with alot of sign and a few does it will usually have a spike or forkhorn hanging around.

hunt on foot with short jaunts rather than death marches.......just peak into corners that cannot be seen from the road...walk skid trails along block edges and glass from vantage points.

hunt the blocs in prime time.
 
Are you out looking around now??? If not, get out there, your hunting season has started now, just dont carry a gun or shoot them if you do. Come fall you will know their habits and where they are, the rest will come into place when you can actually shoot one. You will get good practice at your woodsmanship while at it. Works in Sask, prob will work in BC.
 
Don't worry about the gutpile, where I come from critters get gutted where they fell, and the pile gets left there for other critters to enjoy. One way of saying thanks I guess.
 
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Are you meat hunting? Horn Hunting? The bucks will tend to stay in batchelor groups untill late fall when they start looking for does. Last buck I shot was out of a small group hanging around a larger herd of flatheads. Watched them for two days and took 2 bucks when we were able to get within range. Either way the does were there also. RRAL22 is right hunt where the deer are!
 
Big Game said:
Are you meat hunting? Horn Hunting? The bucks will tend to stay in batchelor groups untill late fall when they start looking for does. Last buck I shot was out of a small group hanging around a larger herd of flatheads. Watched them for two days and took 2 bucks when we were able to get within range. Either way the does were there also. RRAL22 is right hunt where the deer are!
Click to expand...

Meat hunting for now, I'll save the horn hunting for after the kids move out (they do move out right?)
 
So there IS hope then! Good to hear! Not that I'm in a hurry or anything, they're still pre-teen, but I would like to avoid having to move into a 50+ community or condo to keep them out. LOL
 
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