I have gotten my bow out and started practicing maybe this will be the year I finally get that Pope and Young buck. I noticed some of the corn has already been planted here in Kansas ans is already coming up. I am so pumped up about getting after these big bucks in Kansas this year. I have been seeing a lot of whitetails on my way to work in the morning. I have even seen a few big bucks that already are growing their antlers.

I found a cool website that I think you might like it is called WildCast.tv they have some great videos and a forum so check it out I think you will like it.

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• May 9, 2010 -- Favorite Deer Hunting Big Bucks Video (4)
• April 25, 2010 -- Things That Will Improve Your Deer Hunting Property For Big Bucks (4)
• April 4, 2010 -- Time To Prepare Your Deer Hunting Food Plots For Big Bucks (0)
• March 20, 2010 -- Shed Hunting Producing Some Nice Whitetail Sheds (1)
• March 13, 2010 -- Headed To Deer Hunting Property To Look For Big Bucks Sheds (1)
• January 9, 2010 -- Sun Goes Down On Another Year Deer Hunting In Kansas (1)
• December 20, 2009 -- Big Whitetail Bucks Hit By Cars Every Year And My Last Chance Deer Hunting This Season (6)
• December 7, 2009 -- Deer Hunting And Some Coyote Hunting In My Sunday Best (2)
• December 1, 2009 -- Deer Hunting Big Bucks Bottom Of The Seventh (0)
• November 22, 2009 -- Deer Hunting Heats Up In November Big Bucks Down In Georgia (1)

Planting food plots will improve deer hunting for big bucks.

There are some things you can do to improve your deer hunting on your property for those big bucks.  If you own or lease your property there are some things that you can do to improve your property quite a bit. Here is a list of things you can do to improve your deer hunting property for big bucks.

Supplemental feeding can improve your deer herd and help those big bucks grow bigger antlers.

1.Buck to doe ratio -Herd management. One to one buck to doe ratio is ideal. One to three is okay. Decrease your buck harvest and increase your doe harvest, depending on the ratio of your herd. Let your yearling bucks grow don’t shoot them. Let them grow to three and a half years old at least, with five and a half being better. Implement size restrictions on bucks. By setting a width and number of points restriction. Some clubs have restrictions of eight points or better or as wide as its ears.

2.Food Plots- If you ask me food plots is high on the list of things you can do to improve your hunting property for big bucks. Whitetails eat five to eight pounds of food every day for each one hundred pounds of body weight. Food plots give quality nutrition at the times of year when the whitetails need it the most. During the spring when the does are fawn bearing, during antler growth, and during the harsh cold months of winter when food is hard to find. Providing good food sources will definitely help the overall well being of your deer herd.

3.Control burn- Every year around February or March we do a control burn on our hunting property. We plow multiple fire breaks and clean the brush out from around all our deer stands, and we wait for the conditions to be right and then do the burn. We have to obtain a permit before we are able to burn. You always need to make sure you have the proper permits when burning. Every state may have different requirements so be sure to check with the proper authorities in the state where you are planning on burning.

4.Plant shrubs and trees- A few of the popular trees and shrubs are saw tooth oak, wild plum, crab apple, persimmon, honeysuckle, Hawthorne, dogwood, apple, pecan.

5.Supplemental feeding-High protein is good for antler growth. During the winter supplemental feeding can help deer survive the cold winter.Feeders are a great place to set up trail cameras. You can see whitetails up close and watch them grow.

You can improve your property by doing these five things.

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• June 13, 2010 -- Trail Camera At The Top Of My Deer Hunting Checklist (0)
• May 9, 2010 -- Favorite Deer Hunting Big Bucks Video (4)
• April 4, 2010 -- Time To Prepare Your Deer Hunting Food Plots For Big Bucks (0)
• March 20, 2010 -- Shed Hunting Producing Some Nice Whitetail Sheds (1)
• March 13, 2010 -- Headed To Deer Hunting Property To Look For Big Bucks Sheds (1)
• January 9, 2010 -- Sun Goes Down On Another Year Deer Hunting In Kansas (1)
• December 20, 2009 -- Big Whitetail Bucks Hit By Cars Every Year And My Last Chance Deer Hunting This Season (6)
• December 7, 2009 -- Deer Hunting And Some Coyote Hunting In My Sunday Best (2)
• December 1, 2009 -- Deer Hunting Big Bucks Bottom Of The Seventh (0)
• November 22, 2009 -- Deer Hunting Heats Up In November Big Bucks Down In Georgia (1)

Hunt trails leading to and from food plots for late season success.

Learning the whitetails feeding habits can help you figure out where to set up to get a shot at one of the big bucks after the rut is over and food becomes critical for the deer to survive the harsh winter.

I like to look for trails leading to and from food plots or crops and set up down wind of these trails. I like to get close to what I believe is the bedding area, but not too close that I let the deer know that I am there. That is why it is important to make sure the wind is in your favor and be as quiet as possible to avoid being busted by the whitetails.

Yesterday was the last day of rifle season here in Kansas. But I still plan on doing some serious deer hunting.

Locate food sources for great late season deer hunting.

I haven’t been able to harvest a whitetail this deer season but I’m not giving up just yet. I plan on setting up on the trails that I have found leading to the corn fields where I am deer hunting. If you have food plots on your property just find the trails leading to and from them and get close to the bedding area in the transition area. The big bucks can lose up to 30 percent of their body weight during the rut. So once the rut is over they start feeding like crazy to replace the fat they lost to get ready for the tough winter months ahead. If your property doesn’t have food plots or crops look for acorns or grasses, if the frost has taken it’s toll on the grasses and the acorns are gone the whitetails turn to browsing on maple, red and white oak, cedar, sumac, basswood, apple.

It may be late deer season, but that doesn’t mean it is over yet. If you are having a tough time harvesting a big deer like me, don’t give up just yet.

It only takes one hunt to make a great season, if things haven’t worked out for you this year the way you had hoped, don’t let it get you down. The main thing is to keep trying and be persistent. Persistence pays off, hard work pays off. I have a friend that harvested the biggest buck of his life many years ago on the last evening on the last day of the season. It was New Years day and I had already given up on getting a trophy whitetail that year but he hadn’t, he was in his stand right before dark on the last day of the season and just before dark he shot the biggest whitetail of his 55 years of hunting. So even if the rut is over and my chances don’t look too good I’m not giving up just yet. I look at it like each time I go and don’t see anything the better my chances get at harvesting that buck of a lifetime. And food sources are going to be the way I plan on getting that monster.

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• 5

By watching food sources during the summer you can figure out the deer feeding patterns.

Big bucks increase their body weight quite a bit during the summer months into October. You can use binoculars or a spotting scope during the summer months to watch deer feeding. It is important not to disturb the deer so using a spotting scope is a great way to monitor the deer feeding without them ever knowing you are there. By monitoring the food sources during the summer you will be prepared to pick a great spot to get that trophy whitetail once it is time to go deer hunting.

Figuring out deer feeding patterns during the summer months will help you find great locations for deer hunting.

In my opinion the deer prefer acorns over any other food source. I know there are people who disagree with me but that is my opinion. So around late July or early August it is a good idea to start looking for acorns and if you have acorns dropping in a funnel area that should be a hot spot for whitetail activity.

If you have corn on your property the whitetail activity probably won’t be heavy in the corn until it starts to mature in late September or early October.

Glassing fields can reveal great places to hunt once bow season rolls around. You want to locates fields where there is lush food sources available ( such as clover and alfalfa) and field edges with thick cover nearby are a great place to look.

Another great place to scout is where there are fruit trees or an orchard. Whitetails just love the sweet taste of apples, pears, persimmons, etc. You want to look for trails leading to the trees and setup on the downwind side. If hunting an orchard it is best to setup near the trees bearing the most fruit or even better on the trails leading to it. Look for trees with the most fruit on the ground with the most droppings.

By focusing on areas that have food water and cover and glassing these areas during the summer you will be able to choose great stand locations and increase your odds of harvesting a trophy a trophy whitetail this upcoming season.

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• July 14, 2010 -- Sweet! Deer Hunting Behind The House (4)
• June 13, 2010 -- Trail Camera At The Top Of My Deer Hunting Checklist (0)
• May 25, 2010 -- Diversify Your Deer Hunting Property For Trophy Whitetails (0)
• May 9, 2010 -- Favorite Deer Hunting Big Bucks Video (4)
• April 25, 2010 -- Things That Will Improve Your Deer Hunting Property For Big Bucks (4)
• April 14, 2010 -- The John Breen Buck And Shed Hunting (1)
• April 4, 2010 -- Time To Prepare Your Deer Hunting Food Plots For Big Bucks (0)
• March 20, 2010 -- Shed Hunting Producing Some Nice Whitetail Sheds (1)
• March 13, 2010 -- Headed To Deer Hunting Property To Look For Big Bucks Sheds (1)
• January 18, 2010 -- 15 Year Old Takes Giant Missouri Buck Deer Hunting With Bow (6)

If you want to improve your deer hunting doing these five things will help your property tremendously.

If you lease or own your land there are some things that you can do to improve your deer hunting tremendously. Here is a list of 5 things you can do to improve your deer hunting property.

1.Food Plots- In my book having food plots is the number one thing you can do to improve your hunting property for big bucks. Whitetails eat five to eight pounds of food every day for each one hundred pounds of body weight.

One of the best ways to improve your deer hunting property is to add food plots.

Food plots provide quality nutrition at the times of year when the deer need it the most. During fawn bearing, antler growth, and winter when food is scarce. Providing good nutrition will improve the overall well being of your deer herd.

2.Control burn- Every year around February or March we control burn our hunting property. We plow fire breaks and clean the brush out from around our deer stands, then we wait for the conditions to be right and then burn. We have to obtain a permit to be able to burn. You need to make sure you have the proper permit when burning. Each state may have different requirements so be sure to check with the proper authorities in your location.

3.Plant trees and shrubs- Some of the popular trees and shrubs are saw tooth oak, wild plum, crab apple, persimmon, honeysuckle, Hawthorne, dogwood, apple, pecan.

4.Supplemental feeding-High protein is very good for antler growth. During the winter supplemental feeding can help deer survive the harsh winter. We have three feeders on our hunting property. They are a great place to set up trail cameras. You can see that trophy buck up close and watch him grow. We’ve had a nice 150 class buck on camera for several years. He has outsmarted us so far though.

5.Managing the herd-Buck to doe ratio is important. With a one to one being ideal. One to three is acceptable. Increase your doe harvest and decrease your buck harvest depending on the ratio of your herd. Protect your yearling bucks. Let bucks grow to three and a half years old at least, with five and a half being preferred. Impose size restrictions on bucks. Set a width and number of points restriction. A lot of clubs have restrictions of as wide as its ears and eight points or better.

You can really improve your hunting property by doing these five things. If you hunt public land then you don’t have to worry about this stuff. In some states the public land is being managed very well to ensure a healthy deer herd. With some really nice bucks being harvested.

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• April 4, 2010 -- Time To Prepare Your Deer Hunting Food Plots For Big Bucks (0)
• March 16, 2009 -- Deer Hunting Food Plots And Finding Sheds (3)
• March 4, 2009 -- Start Preparing For Spring Food Plots For Deer Hunting (0)
• December 11, 2008 -- Deer Hunting Food Plots For Big Bucks Whitetail Rut All But Over I Think (3)
• July 14, 2010 -- Sweet! Deer Hunting Behind The House (4)
• June 13, 2010 -- Trail Camera At The Top Of My Deer Hunting Checklist (0)
• May 25, 2010 -- Diversify Your Deer Hunting Property For Trophy Whitetails (0)
• May 9, 2010 -- Favorite Deer Hunting Big Bucks Video (4)
• April 25, 2010 -- Things That Will Improve Your Deer Hunting Property For Big Bucks (4)
• April 14, 2010 -- The John Breen Buck And Shed Hunting (1)

When deer hunting especially during the rut "hunt where the does are".

Last year was my first time deer hunting in Illinois and it was a trip that I will never forget. I look back on it and at first glance it all seemed so easy, but the more I think about it it was a tough week of deer hunting. The last day of  the hunt the four of us had not harvested a mature buck and we were all mentally and physically exhausted. Deer hunting and scouting hard all week in unseasonably warm temperatures had worn us down. But to all of our credit we hunted hard all week. I remember thinking about each spot I had scouted and trying to figure out the best place to score on a trophy buck. And something my buddy kept telling me kept popping into my head, he said “hunt where the does are”. I knew this, but kept hunting the fresh rubs and scrapes which are great places to hunt, but there was a place on a trail that I used to walk back into the hardwoods to a spot where there were some big fresh rubs and scrapes were where I was hunting, but at this one place each time I was walking through there I saw 1 or more does. So on the last hunt of our trip I’m walking back down the same trail at about 5:30 am with my red lens on my flashlight and once again right in the same spot where I had seen does every time, I walked up on two mature does, they didn’t appear to be spooked at all they just slowly walked off. So I start down the trail to the spot deeper in the woods where the fresh rubs and scrapes I had been hunting were and the light bulb in my head went off, my buddy kept telling me “hunt where the does are”. So I made a u-turn and went right back where I had seen the does every time I had walked through there, and immediately shined my light looking for a tree to get up in my portable and the very first tree I shined my light on right on the trail was perfect. So I put my portable on the tree and up I went. Now it was hard to decide not to hunt the fresh scrapes and rubs but I decided to do like my buddy had said and “hunt where the does are”. I got settled in and watched the sun slowly rise. A cold front had moved in the night before and it was about 32 degrees  and the big bucks had to be near going into full rut. I was pumped, and about 6:50 I decided to do a little rattling and grunted and bleated a few times, then I waited a few minutes and repeated the calling. Then I sat back and anxiously waited. Then I saw horns coming towards me about 75 yards away and I did a grunt and it was like he was on a string. The trophy buck came in to about 30 yards and I was able to put a great double lung shot on the brute and watched him walk about 15 yards and lay down and expire. I had just harvested my first big buck with a bow. And I did just like my buddy Mac had said “hunt where the does are”. It was hard to not hunt where all the big fresh buck sign was but by hunting where the does were I was able to get a big trophy whitetail bow hunting in Illinois.

So when deer season rolls around and you can’t decide where to hunt, especially during the rut just “hunt where the does are”. You will increase your odds of harvesting that once in a lifetime trophy buck.

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• July 14, 2010 -- Sweet! Deer Hunting Behind The House (4)
• June 13, 2010 -- Trail Camera At The Top Of My Deer Hunting Checklist (0)
• May 25, 2010 -- Diversify Your Deer Hunting Property For Trophy Whitetails (0)
• May 9, 2010 -- Favorite Deer Hunting Big Bucks Video (4)
• April 25, 2010 -- Things That Will Improve Your Deer Hunting Property For Big Bucks (4)
• April 14, 2010 -- The John Breen Buck And Shed Hunting (1)
• April 4, 2010 -- Time To Prepare Your Deer Hunting Food Plots For Big Bucks (0)
• March 20, 2010 -- Shed Hunting Producing Some Nice Whitetail Sheds (1)
• March 13, 2010 -- Headed To Deer Hunting Property To Look For Big Bucks Sheds (1)
• January 18, 2010 -- 15 Year Old Takes Giant Missouri Buck Deer Hunting With Bow (6)

A trail camera is a handy scouting tool.

Deer season will be here before you know it and a trail camera can be a great way to learn so much valuable information for your upcoming deer season. Some of the best places to setup a trail camera are on food plots or feeders or trails leading to and from them. Having the advantage of putting out several trail cameras can tell you a lot about your deer hunting property. Feeding patterns such as time of day and preferred food choice are some of great information trail cameras can tell you. Also the overall health and deer population of the deer herd using your property.  How many bucks and what age they are and size? Are they shooters, management bucks, or do they need to get older? You have just got to love having trail cameras to help get all of this great information on your hunting areas. They can also tell you a lot about the predators lurking around your deer hunting property. We have had quite a few bobcats and coyotes and they can have an impact on the deer herd if they get to poulated. We think we even saw a black panther roaming around on our deer hunting property. I sure would like to get some pictures of it. They are really neat looking.

Trails cameras can give you valuable information on your deer hunting property.

Have you gotten any good photos of trophy bucks on your property yet? They should be getting bigger everyday! It’s always fun to watch the big bucks grow each year. We have had a huge monster buck on camera for several years now and it is going to be interesting to see what he does this year. He is at the point where we think he might start regressing or even die from old age. He is such a smart mature trophy whitetail and is just absolutely beautiful. He has been the stud on our property for several years now and it will be interesting to see what happens with him this year. I respect him so much he is just a truly awesome creature.

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• June 13, 2010 -- Trail Camera At The Top Of My Deer Hunting Checklist (0)
• July 8, 2009 -- Scout Your Deer Hunting Property Smart With A Hunting Map (2)
• March 25, 2009 -- New Trail Camera: Moultrie Game Spy Great New Deer Hunting Tool (1)

Scent Control is very important when deer hunting.

Although I know hunters who smoke and don’t pay any attention to the wind or scent control and they have taken several nice big deer. But you know how the saying goes, a blind squirrel gets a nut every once and a while or something of that nature. I just believe if you are serious about deer hunting and harvesting mature trophy bucks on a consistent basis you must pay attention to wind direction and scent control.

There are many good products on the market to help you with scent control.

There is one noise that makes a hunter cringe when in the woods (other than a nearby gun shot) a deer blowing at you is a bad feeling. Although no matter how hard you try to control your scent sometimes it is damn near impossible to keep deer from smelling you when deer hunting. Especially if the wind direction is shifting. Even if it is shifting I feel much more confident if I take a few steps to control my scent. I wanted to list a few things that I do to keep my scent at a minimum.

1. The first thing I do is wash my hunting clothes in some type of liquid clothing wash for hunters. I like the way the  autumn blend smells.
2. Store your clothes and boots in scent proof bags and maybe throw in a few pine needles or scent wafers or some plain old baking soda.
3. Take a shower before going hunting using a scent eliminator soap
4. Use a scent away anti-perspirant deodorant. I like the Hunters Specialties brand.
5. Keep your boots in a scent bag until you arrive at your hunting property and are fixing to go hunting. Don’t ever pump gas in your hunting boots.
6. Use scent eliminator spray and cover scents
7. Pay attention to wind direction and use it to your advantage
8. Don’t smoke or dip while hunting. This one is a hard one for me, I do dip in the woods even though I know I should not.
9. Wear light clothing when walking to your stand to avoid sweating and put on more layers once you are at your stand or in your stand.
10. If the wind shifts and is not to your advantage you will be better off to change stand locations. This is a tough one it can be a tough call to get up and leave a location once you are in the stand but if you are serious about harvesting mature trophy bucks you must pay attention to wind direction.

By paying attention to wind direction and doing your best to control your scent you can put the odds in your favor for a mature trophy buck.

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• July 14, 2010 -- Sweet! Deer Hunting Behind The House (4)
• June 13, 2010 -- Trail Camera At The Top Of My Deer Hunting Checklist (0)
• May 25, 2010 -- Diversify Your Deer Hunting Property For Trophy Whitetails (0)
• May 9, 2010 -- Favorite Deer Hunting Big Bucks Video (4)
• April 25, 2010 -- Things That Will Improve Your Deer Hunting Property For Big Bucks (4)
• April 14, 2010 -- The John Breen Buck And Shed Hunting (1)
• April 4, 2010 -- Time To Prepare Your Deer Hunting Food Plots For Big Bucks (0)
• March 20, 2010 -- Shed Hunting Producing Some Nice Whitetail Sheds (1)
• March 13, 2010 -- Headed To Deer Hunting Property To Look For Big Bucks Sheds (1)
• January 18, 2010 -- 15 Year Old Takes Giant Missouri Buck Deer Hunting With Bow (6)

Cleaning your deer rifle thoroughly is important.

It is important to make sure your deer rifle is clean. It is easy to use your deer rifle all deer season and then put it away for the off season and forget about it. It is important to store it nice and clean to prevent rust. And when deer season rolls around you will have a nice clean rifle and be ready to do some serious deer hunting. I saw a article I wanted to share with you so when it’s time to go deer hunting next year you will be ready.

Cleaning A Gun Safely

To make sure a firearm is performing to its specifications the owner must make sure the gun is clean. Most problems pistols, shotguns, and rifles encounter are due to dirty bores and actions. Gun Powder is fairly corrosive and can cause damage to your firearm if not taken care of regularly. Below you find some good tips on cleaning your gun safely to help insure your firearm is working properly.

SAFETY FIRST

Make sure you are about to clean an empty pistol or rifle! Remove magazine clips and any ammunition in the chamber. Be absolutely sure the weapon is unloaded! It never hurts to check more than once. BE SURE YOUR GUN IS UNLOADED!

DON’T DISASSEMBLE TOO FAR

Read the owner’s manual of your gun and go only as far as they recommend. If you don’t have an owner’s manual you most likely can download one from the manufacturer’s web site usually at no cost. As a rule you should only need to disassemble as far as to reach the major components that need cleaning that powder and residue will build up due to normal use. Typically the bore, chamber and bolt or action.

EXAMINE THE FIREARM AS YOU BREAK IT DOWN

It’s a good idea to inspect all the parts in the firearm as it’s down for warn components due to normal wear and tare of the gun. You should also check for hair-line cracks, rust and signs of too much wear. If you find anything like this you should take the firearm to a professional gun smith for repairs.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLEANING YOUR GUN

REMEMBER: CHECK THE CHAMBER FOR ROUNDS BEFORE YOU START!

1.Clean your gun from the breach end if at all possible. If you can’t clean from this end be sure you don’t “push” any debris down into the action of the gun. Be sure to use a muzzle guard to protect the muzzle “tip” from scratches or nicks. If you damage this part of the gun you will loose a lot of accuracy in your shooting.

2. Be sure you use the proper patch holder for the caliber of your weapon. Soak the patch with a factory approved solvent or copper cutter.

3. Run the patch down the barrel to saturate the bore. Remove the dirty patch at the other end of the barrel. If you pull the patch back through the barrel it can fowl the barrel with debris you just pushed out. Let the solvent “stew” a couple of minutes to break up any stubborn lead or carbon that may have built up.

4. Pull the “empty” rod back out of the barrel, then attach the proper brush to the rod. Soak the brush with solvent and run it up and down the barrel 4 or 5 times to scrub the bore. Replace a patch on the rod and soaked in solvent and run it down the barrel with a new patch each time until the patch goes through free of any discoloration. Run a “dry” patch through to remove any remaining solvent. Check the bore for any debris and if necessary clean again.

5. Apply a few drops of quality gun oil to a new patch and run it through the barrel to leave a LIGHT film of oil inside the barrel. This will go a long way to prevent rust during storage.

6. With a nylon gun brush saturated in solvent brush away any powder that has not been burnt or debris away from the action. After the action is clean use a gun oil to LIGHTLY coat all surfaces and moving parts. Do not use too much lubricant because the action may become sticky and hinder the weapon from operating properly. A light coat is all that is needed to prevent rust and help in increasing the life of the weapon.

7.Reassemble the gun making sure you wipe any areas you have touch with your hands with a cloth lightly oiled or a silicone fabric. The acid on your hands from sweat can do a lot of damage to the steal as well as remove any marks you have deposited while handling. It will also have a “new” look to it when you are finished.

REMEMBER TO CHECK THE BORE FOR ANY OBSTRUSTIONS BEFORE YOU FIRE THE GUN!!!

Have fun and be safe.

Billy Willis
www.lonestarholsters.com

By: Billy Willis

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• 5

The earlier you start scouting your deer hunting property the better your odds will be harvesting one of those smart big bucks.

Those big bucks can be tough to figure out once the pressure is on so why not figure them out when the pressure is not on? The earlier you get out and scout the better your chances being successful deer hunting trophy bucks. I need all the help I can get when it comes to figuring out those big bucks on our hunting property. I saw this article I wanted to share with you.

Bowhunting Whitetails: Scout Now, Score Early

The temperatures in summer are hot and humid. Biting bugs swarm. Clothes stick. Sweat beads. Why would bowhunting whitetails be on your mind, you ask? Well, if you’re like me, hunting whitetails with archery gear is a way of life. And, part of my living depends on the discussion of hunting. So, bear with me and before long, you just may find yourself daydreaming of thick-racked bucks and the heart-pounding magic of a crisp fall morning.

The turn of the seasons sparks a desire in many bowhunters to head for the nearest hills in search of the elusive whitetail. As the heat of summer surrenders its stranglehold on the deer woods, whitetail bucks become highly visible creatures. A short drive down any country road during the month of August should produce the sighting of at least one decent set of antlers. The trouble is finding that set of antlers after the bow season opens. Therein lies the dilemma of bowhunting early-season whitetails. Let’s take a look at a few tactics that can increase your chances of scoring.

Many hunters make the mistake of tromping blindly through prime whitetail habitat in search of the ultimate stand site. Whitetails are extremely sensitive to human intrusion, making it very difficult to conceal one’s movements. This is especially true of big bucks. If not careful, you will unwittingly announce your future intentions to the resident deer herd. And, once a mature whitetail feels threatened, he will move to a totally different locale or become primarily nocturnal. I don’t have to tell you what that will do to your odds of arrowing such an animal. Then, what’s the answer, you ask?

That’s simple. Get yourself a good set of high-quality binoculars or a spotting scope and do your scouting from a safe distance. Crop fields should be your main focus at this time. Lush rows of alfalfa, soybeans and corn draw deer for miles. But before making a mad dash to the nearest “Back 40,” take heed of a few ground rules. Keep disturbance to a minimum. Set up in a row of trees or along a brushy fence line to screen your silhouette. Also, be sure to keep the wind direction in mind when investigating an area of interest. Always set up with the wind in your face, or downwind, so not to contaminate the area with human scent. A few afternoons spent along a verdant field edge should prove beneficial when pinpointing a location for your stand.

By careful and persistent observation, you will begin to learn the travel behavior of several bucks. Once you have established the daily routine of each buck, you will be able to plan a strategy. Start your reconnaissance by skirting the edges of fields during midday. Look for trails that receive a high amount of traffic if you are interested in tagging smaller deer. A large set of tracks found along a less-noticeable trail normally indicates that a trophy buck is frequenting the area. A sharp eye and a basic sense of deer behavior can lead you to these types of trails. Concentrate your efforts in a location that will afford the best chance of taking the class of animal you desire.

There are other low-impact methods of scouting that can produce results as well. Incorporating topographical maps, aerial photographs and computer-mapping programs into your scouting repertoire can lead you to areas that you otherwise might overlook.

Feeding Trails and Funnels

Setting a stand along a trail linking a bedding area to a crop field or other food source can be deadly in the first few days of the early archery season. In fact, the very first week of the season is usually an opportune time to arrow a cruising animal. During the latter stages of summer and into early fall, big bucks routinely travel between these two areas.

If you are interested in seeing a lot of deer around your stand, find a “funnel.” This is any type of natural or man-made structure that consistently forces deer to move through the same section of woods. The operative word here is “forces.” Deer become susceptible to death by broadhead whenever their movement is restricted to a certain part of the woods. It can be as simple as noticing a missing or broken strand of barbed wire where deer cross a fence from one piece of property to another. Or, it can be a fallen tree that forces movement to one side of the trail or the other.

Man also plays a significant role in the creation of funnels. Development is a common cause of funnel production. A new home, road or drainage ditch are all factors that can alter deer movement in some way or another. Basically, deer are lazy by nature. They will seek out the path of least resistance when traveling through an area. Keying on these habits can spell early-season success.

Here’s the Rub

If you set your sights on a buster buck, it would be in your best interest to locate as many fresh rubs as possible. Only antlered animals make rubs, and usually the bigger the rub, the bigger the deer. No other type of sign is more conclusive that a buck is visiting your stand site than a rub.

Locating fresh rubs isn’t as difficult as you might think. The edges of crop fields are a good bet. Deer that visit a field at night will usually leave a rub on the edge of the woods when exiting the field in the morning. Rubs typically face the direction of travel. The best scenario is finding several rubs along a trail system. Several trees will be clearly marked and will receive similar damage if the same buck is doing the majority of the rubbing. This is a relatively easy way of keeping tabs on an individual buck. Set your stand within 15 to 20 yards of the rub line and on the downwind side of the trail.

Observation Stands

If all of your attempts at locating deer fail during the open season, I suggest choosing another effective method of scouting — placing a stand in a promising area simply to observe deer movement. You can opt to exchange your bow and arrows with a set of binoculars and a notebook for spotting and documenting your findings. If the spot looks promising, bring your bow just in case. Remember you are on a serious fact-finding mission, so exercise as much caution as you normally would practice when bowhunting active stand sites. Take a shower, sneak into the stand location, only hunt when the wind is favorable, wear rubber-bottomed boots, etc. You do not want to alert the deer to your intentions.

It should only take a few sittings to record and identify the travel habits of the deer in the immediate area. Be sure to choose a location where visibility is unobstructed. You need to be able to see a great distance in order to cover as much ground as possible. Pay close attention to how and where the deer move when passing through the area. Your observations will assist you in future stand placement.

Summary

OK, I’ll admit it. Getting fired-up about scouring the countryside in search of deer sign when the season is a few months away is difficult. It’s even worse when the thought of staying at home in front of the television in air-conditioned comfort enters your mind. But, no one ever said bowhunting was easy. So remember, in order to achieve success at bowhunting early-season whitetails, you will have to put in your time long before the season opens.

By: Steve Peters

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Steve Peters is the founder and President of the United Outfitters Association: www.unitedoutfittersassociation.com You can find out more information on selecting a quality hunting outfitter by going to www.unitedoutfittersassociation.com If you are looking for a guided or outfitted hunt be sure to check out FORAHUNT.com at: www.forahunt.com

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• July 14, 2010 -- Sweet! Deer Hunting Behind The House (4)
• June 13, 2010 -- Trail Camera At The Top Of My Deer Hunting Checklist (0)
• May 25, 2010 -- Diversify Your Deer Hunting Property For Trophy Whitetails (0)
• May 9, 2010 -- Favorite Deer Hunting Big Bucks Video (4)
• April 25, 2010 -- Things That Will Improve Your Deer Hunting Property For Big Bucks (4)
• April 14, 2010 -- The John Breen Buck And Shed Hunting (1)
• April 4, 2010 -- Time To Prepare Your Deer Hunting Food Plots For Big Bucks (0)
• March 20, 2010 -- Shed Hunting Producing Some Nice Whitetail Sheds (1)
• March 13, 2010 -- Headed To Deer Hunting Property To Look For Big Bucks Sheds (1)
• January 18, 2010 -- 15 Year Old Takes Giant Missouri Buck Deer Hunting With Bow (6)

Good optics make a big difference when deer hunting.

I have always liked Bushnell when I’m deer hunting. It is very important to have good optics when deer hunting. It is especially important to have good optics during the periods where lighting is low. Good optics will let you see those big bucks when other optics just don’t work well. Having good optics could mean the difference between getting a chance at one of those big bucks of a lifetime and not even seeing him at all. I need all the help I can get at improving my odds at harvesting big bucks, and good optics help tremendously.

You need good optics to be able to see big bucks in low lighting conditions.

Advice On Finding Hunting Binoculars

If you are a hunter, you have to have binoculars. Though your eyes may be good and your aim may be wonderful, there are still times when these come in very handy. You may be able to see what is nearby, but wouldn’t it be great to see what might be coming your way long before it comes into the range of normal eye site? My father is a hunter, and he won’t go out into the woods without his hunting binoculars. Last year I bought him a new pair for Christmas because he had had the same pair forever, and he said he really appreciated the new and improved brand that we bought for him.

You can buy hunting binoculars in all types of strength. Some magnify only 20 times, and some go much higher. It depends on where you hunt and what type of game you usually are looking for while out. If you hunt in an area that has a lot of hills and deep forest, you might not need something that is very strong, however, that is up to you. If you hunt in wide open spaces, you definitely want something that is super strong so you can see as far as you need to see.

They also make hunting binoculars that have a feature to keep them steady. If you have ever tried to look at something that is a long ways away by looking through hunting binoculars, you know that things can be quite shaky no matter how steady you try to hold them. There are some that come with protection from this type of shaking. They aren’t perfect, but they can help you stay steady when you are searching far off into the distance.

You can find hunting binoculars in outdoor and sports stores, and you can also find them online. Though you can’t try them out online, you may find better prices that way. You could even go to a store and see what you like, and then see if you can find a better price online. A good set of hunting binoculars is going to be expensive, so taking some time to find the best brand for the best price is always a great idea. Just be sure to find a company that has a return policy if you order online just incase they arrive broken or you don’t get the model you ordered.

By: Peter Curtis

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Peter Curtis is a keen hunter and loves writing about it too. More information about Hunting equipment or the more general Hunting and Fishing Articles www.huntingfishingonline.com

Deer Hunting Big Bucks

• June 13, 2010 -- Trail Camera At The Top Of My Deer Hunting Checklist (0)
• May 9, 2010 -- Favorite Deer Hunting Big Bucks Video (4)
• April 25, 2010 -- Things That Will Improve Your Deer Hunting Property For Big Bucks (4)
• April 4, 2010 -- Time To Prepare Your Deer Hunting Food Plots For Big Bucks (0)
• March 20, 2010 -- Shed Hunting Producing Some Nice Whitetail Sheds (1)
• March 13, 2010 -- Headed To Deer Hunting Property To Look For Big Bucks Sheds (1)
• January 9, 2010 -- Sun Goes Down On Another Year Deer Hunting In Kansas (1)
• December 20, 2009 -- Big Whitetail Bucks Hit By Cars Every Year And My Last Chance Deer Hunting This Season (6)
• December 7, 2009 -- Deer Hunting And Some Coyote Hunting In My Sunday Best (2)
• December 1, 2009 -- Deer Hunting Big Bucks Bottom Of The Seventh (0)