Prepping for my first deer hunt....tips welcome!

sphen

sphen

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Ok guys, getting ready to go out on my first deer hunt, it will be with bow from the ground....why make it easy right? I'm not entirely new to hunting but it's been 20+ years since I've done much in the woods. I'm a relatively last minute tag along on this trip so I don't know the terrain and won't have a stand to use. Not ideal but with the only other option being not going at all, I've really got nothing to lose. So just wondering what you're thinking and if anyone has any tips? My plan is essentially to get out as early as possible and try and find a half decent place to hole up, hopefully near some bottle neck or identified path. I'm hoping to bring a small chair and find either a small stand of cedars or some brush to sort of sink into. I'll bring some pruners and little saw to try and make myself a small natural blind. From there I guess I'll just hope the wind stays in my favour and see how my luck holds out.

My two buddies who have more experience than me are both going to be "walking" but I don't have as much experience in moving silently through the woods or in stalking deer so I was thinking as a newbie I'd probably be better of with sitting still in a viable spot.

Any tips or suggestions from you more experienced guys?

Quick question, we're going out on this coming Saturday (15th), do I need hunter orange? It's bow only as far as I can tell (WMU 53A) so no hunter orange right? I've been looking but there is so much information I'm getting overloaded now and am second guessing things.

Thanks guys, any tips in general are also appreciated, as I mentioned this is my first time out in over 20 years (back when I was a teenager) so suggestions are welcome. I'll be shopping on Wednesday to pick up the last few items that I don't have handy so anything that comes up that I didn't think of I can pick up then.

Ultimately win lose or draw on this I'm going to be happy just to be back in the woods for the day. Thanks for the help!
 
I am a newbie hunter as well , started almost on my own no family hunts. I am doing similar thing because I don't own land to put a tree stand on! A tip i recieved which i will pass along, take some small branches off a fur tree, pine or "Christmas" tree, and rub it ALL over you, this will create a natural scent that the deer are use to. You can store your clothes in a bin with some branches to really soak the smell in. Also if you put the branches on you, your more like a small shrub or tree as it breaks up your pattern. Your hardest moment beside's shooting the deer will be controlling your breathing, the deer is at the same height as you it can hear your breathing if its heavy and if you breathe heavy it may be able to smell your breathe depending on wind. Good luck to you!
 
Hide in the shadows, keep downwind of any trail (20 yds or so) be silent, minimize your movements and keep the wind in your favour. Percentage wise, the first hour of daylight and last 1/2 hr of legal light are most productive.
Make sure you take the time to take it all in and enjoy the time in the bush, because pulling the trigger is just part of the hunt
Best of luck
 
Move with the wind in your face, wear high rubber boots, wear camo if you have it, otherwise wear neutral colours... Hunter orange is NOT required during a "bows only" season... be cautious of the scent that you leave behind on the ground and in touching brush etc... since you are scouting and hunting at the same time, when you come upon a good deer trail, stay a few yards down wind and follow it until it intersects another trail or until you find a good location to sit and wait and watch on the down wind side. Bring a small folding stool so that you can sit motionless for longer periods of time, bring small pruning shears, so that you can cleanup small branches that might get in the way of drawing and shooting your bow and/or interfere with your arrow inflight between you and where you expect to see the deer. Make sure that you stay in the shadows and have a good backdrop of brush to breakup your outline. Sit quietly and still... and be prepared to get your bow into shooting position quietly... only draw your bow when the deer is moving or looking away, and preferrably both... or has its vision obstructed behind a tree or bush. Stay calm and pick an exact spot to aim on the animal... half way up the body and a couple inches behind the back edge of the front leg. Only shoot when the deers body posture leaves the heart/lung area exposed. Good luck.
 
If there is a open gun season for deer or moose in 53A when you are hunting you need orange. I would wear orange anyways because there are people hunting black bears in that zone. Stay off the trails a little bit and keep your movements slow, quiet, and methodical. Movement is what will alert the deer to your presence. Walk a little ways quietly then stop, scan, and listen. When you are scanning have your bow ready to draw, if you get in to a snap shooting situation. Bring a map/compass/GPS so you don't get lost. Also bring some food, water, and TP in a ziplock bag - that way you come home with all your socks and shirt sleeves LOL. If you find what looks to be a good area, sit on it for a while and see what happens. Good luck!
 
Thanks guys, some good advice, it looks like one of my buddies may go in early to set up some stands and may set one up for me, but it's hit or miss so there is no telling. I appreciate the help, feel free to dish out more tips for us novices!

Arclight said:
If there is a open gun season for deer or moose in 53A when you are hunting you need orange. I would wear orange anyways because there are people hunting black bears in that zone. Stay off the trails a little bit and keep your movements slow, quiet, and methodical. Movement is what will alert the deer to your presence. Walk a little ways quietly then stop, scan, and listen. When you are scanning have your bow ready to draw, if you get in to a snap shooting situation. Bring a map/compass/GPS so you don't get lost. Also bring some food, water, and TP in a ziplock bag - that way you come home with all your socks and shirt sleeves LOL. If you find what looks to be a good area, sit on it for a while and see what happens. Good luck!
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Agreed, So many seasons and conditions to try and track out but I think you are correct, 53A has the bear hunt open at that time so orange it is. It may be bow only for the deer but with possible guys out for bear I'll don the orange!
 
I've done a lot of crown camping and put myself through university tree planting for 4 summers...I've used pretty everything you can imagine to replace TP at some point or other! TP is one thing I never leave home without, I work in Toronto and still pack TP with me to this day!
 
Never ever go hunting without TP. It is not nice to have your wife loose her sh&$t when you some home with a shirt missing a sleeve...
 
The two most important... Always be aware of the wind and keep it to your face as much as possible, and minimize movement.
Everything after that is gravy.

For the gravy...
Try and pick a spot off of a run that gives some natural cover with clear shooting lanes. You don't want stray branches and twigs changing your flight path.
Ideally find a spot around the distance where you are most confident with your shots.
If you can't get out early to set up your cover, don't overdo it. Too much change will make them much more cautious.
Be aware of the ground you are on and your stool/chair feet. Feet with a small surface area and soft ground will cause you to sink and your chair to shift, possibly when you are shifting weight getting ready to shoot. I actually screwed chunks of wood to my chair feet because of this happening once.
If you do get out early, bring back a bag of leaves, twigs, needles, etc... and keep your clothes in the bag with them.
Be patient and try to control your adrenaline. The first time you have one wander into range your adrenaline is going to fire up and you are likely going to want to rush a shot. It's just another set of rings on a backstop.
If you hit one, keep calm and don't move. Sit, wait, watch.
TP...TP...TP...
 
Take all the change, keys, ect out of your pockets. Deer have ears that can pick up HBO. ANY metallic noises will get you busted, spare rounds, zippers, rifle straps, knives....

Jump up down when your ready to go. If you hear anything jingle, wrap it up in tissue or leave it behind. Spare rounds are best kept in a belt-holder style ammo case with separate slot for each bullet. It should always be on your person.
 
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