Deer Hunting?

stanley_white

stanley_white

Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Messages
770
Now that my life has stabilized for a bit I am going to do something I've always wanted to do, go deer hunting.

I am all signed up for my hunter's safety classes and I will be going out with some experienced relatives this fall.

However, being such a Type A personality that I think Type A people are lazy I want to some studying on my own.

What is a good book to read to learn about deer hunting?

If this is in the wrong place MODS obviously feel free to move it as necessary. I figured the W&SS gang would have the goods on this subject.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

-Stan
 
Aside from the safety aspects of group hunting, it's going to depend on what method your relatives use and a little bit on the terrain. Do they hunt from a stand? Still hunt? Organize drives?

Do they hunt with rifles, shotguns, bows or black powder? Or a combination of these?

What are the regulations for the area you're hunting?

Hunting the Maine woods is different than hunting Iowa. The terrain can be different. Then again, maybe not...

Just some things to think about. I'd read everything you can about regional hunting. And I'd get out in the woods to scout now.

Happy huntin'
 
One of the best magazines out right now are Deer & Deer hunting, it actually gives you good advice for hunting.....Are you relatives going out and doing some scouting before the season? That would be a good start, looking for sign, rubs, trails that are readily used.....I've already been out twice scouting, and have found what I have mentioned above.....Deer hunting In my opinion, can't be taught from a book, I mean anybody can get a gun and go sit out in a field and wait on the deer, but to go out there and read the signs and find out where their patterns are, you better off to ask questions......that's where your relatives will help out.....jmo.....
 
Also poke around the hunting forums. I don't have any on my work computer here, but I am on a couple of bow hunting sites, and such, and all have some good info.

Doc
 
ratamahatta said:
Deer hunting In my opinion, can't be taught from a book, I mean anybody can get a gun and go sit out in a field and wait on the deer, but to go out there and read the signs and find out where their patterns are, you better off to ask questions......that's where your relatives will help out.....jmo.....
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Agree. You can get some basics but a lot of it depends on the local food sources, terrain and hunting pressure.

For instance for probably my first half of my deer hunting life I always pretty much picked a deer stand and stayed on it and that led to success.

However where I live now the hunting pressure is LOW and I've had all my success walking maybe 30 feet. Stopping for half an hour and walking 30 more feet. I try to be going up over hills slowly and hugging the hillside so deer above can't see me. That way I can slip up on them more.

Also some places you hunt more with your ears and some your eyes.


Another tactic I have used when there was more hunting pressure was use the ATV's to drive deer to you. I had a neighbors son who would never walk to his deer stand EVER. He would always ride an ATV. Also he always started hunting at noon. So in those times I'd come down to my house for lunch and when I'd see him drive up the road I'd grab my gun and run for the bench below the ridge he was driving up the other side of. I snagged several bucks that way, his ATV driving them over the hill.

Also my land heads up on a power line right of way. I own the right of way but only post the part that has no roads. When people used to hunt the right of way a lot there was this one place where the ATV's would run the deer over the ridge to my place. I had a buddy who had a deer stand strategically located to take advantage of the ATV's on the right of way!
 
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probably most important to me in hunting, and teaching folks about it, is breathe control when shooting. Rifle, Shotgun, Center-fire handgun...makes no matter, the control and focus of the shooter as he aims and fires is key.

Practice with whatever tool you are going to use, when the situation arrives, remember you are not hunting for survival, park your ego, set up your sight line, and control your breathing.

You'll be fine.

Be safe.
 
Kismet said:
probably most important to me in hunting, and teaching folks about it, is breathe control when shooting. Rifle, Shotgun, Center-fire handgun...makes no matter, the control and focus of the shooter as he aims and fires is key.

Practice with whatever tool you are going to use, when the situation arrives, remember you are not hunting for survival, park your ego, set up your sight line, and control your breathing.

You'll be fine.

Be safe.
Click to expand...

Words of truth from the Zen Old Woodsman:thumbup:
 
Wow, the best place to learn about hunting is in the field. Always be safe with your weapon. But as for learning how to hunt. Find someone who does it and start there. No amount of time behind a book or PC will account for field time.
 
I have been hunting since I was 6. Trust me, there is a LOT to learn, and reading books and magazines won't help a lot, other than with descriptions and definitions.
What you need is a mentor, some one with experience that can guide you in your learning.
Woods lore, skill in tracking, reading sign, knowing the effects of wind, temperature, humidity, knowing what deer eat, where they bed, where they drink........
Many many things to learn.
 
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