hey guys this season i am probably going to be going white tail deer hunting for the first time the info that i have is we will be going using shotguns sometime in November when the seasons starts and we will be in a wooded area. i know its limited information but do you guys have any tips or advice?
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
New England Whitetail deer hunting
- Thread starter chabla
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2003
- Messages
- 15,288
Scout the area thoroughly before the hunt to find the trails , feeding and bedding areas.. Practice with the gun ,don't put that off because "ammo is expensive".Know the deer anatomy.You have to hit the vital area [the size of a soccer ball] from any angle.Train yourself to shoot quickly and accurately, they won't wait for you to get ready !!
Rupestris
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2006
- Messages
- 29,943
1, If you're going to be using a shotgun and have your own, get it to the range before the season. Sight it in and try different slugs to see which ones print the best. If its someone Else's SG, see if you can get it to the range for some quality time before heading out to the woods.
2, check in at your states DNR/Fish and Wildlife website to get info on hunting times and restrictions. Read anything there that you feel might be of use on your first deer hunt. Better to be over-informed on the laws than under. Make sure you are clear on your states recommendations on dressing game. Some require that you keep certain parts so they can be checked for disease like CWD or Bovine TB. You may need to leave the "man parts" if its an antlerless or button buck to prove that it isn't a doe as well.
3, Don't take anything white with you. Last thing you need is to do is pull out a handkerchief to blow your nose and be mistaken for a white tail.
4, Follow the 4 rules of firearm safety, be careful and have fun.
And just in case you get lucky, have some game cleaning gloves, and some rope. A plastic bag if you'd like to keep the heart and liver.
This is from the MI DNR: http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/deer_field-dressing.pdf
Chris
2, check in at your states DNR/Fish and Wildlife website to get info on hunting times and restrictions. Read anything there that you feel might be of use on your first deer hunt. Better to be over-informed on the laws than under. Make sure you are clear on your states recommendations on dressing game. Some require that you keep certain parts so they can be checked for disease like CWD or Bovine TB. You may need to leave the "man parts" if its an antlerless or button buck to prove that it isn't a doe as well.
3, Don't take anything white with you. Last thing you need is to do is pull out a handkerchief to blow your nose and be mistaken for a white tail.
4, Follow the 4 rules of firearm safety, be careful and have fun.
And just in case you get lucky, have some game cleaning gloves, and some rope. A plastic bag if you'd like to keep the heart and liver.
This is from the MI DNR: http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/deer_field-dressing.pdf
Chris
Are you on state land or private land? Do you have "A Season" (lottery) or "B Season" tags? What area/zone do you have tags for?
Realistically, in Connecticut, your not going to take a shot further than 75 to 100 yards in a state forest. In fact, chances are it will be 50 or less. Numerically, Connecticut has an overabundance of deer. The fact of the matter is, most of them seem to be on private land (especially in suburban fairfield county). Don't discount smaller plots of land. If you look at the state forest maps, you will notice many small plots outside of the main forest (or in the case of Cocaponset (sp?) one of the larger plots) that are open to hunting, but have little pressure. Those can be very nice places to hunt (make sure you know where the boundries are and where houses are adjoining private land). It would be a good idea to scout in advance. Look for where the deer travel- where there is tracks, scat, and scrapings. Look for where thery nibbled buds on the end of branches. Take notice of whether it is fresh or old (or whether both are present). Remember that deer like laurel and other thick stuff.
I always see a lot more squirrels, turkeys and birds than deer when I'm lookin' for deer. LOL
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2006
- Messages
- 5,525
I hate to sound a bit cruel..but the hunting season starts tomorrow in MA..probubly around the same in CT...if you havnt scouted your spots yet, you are just gonna ruin the area to go out and walk around right now.
Also, you might be walking into someones area..ruining his day, and getting an earful.
I am happy you have decided to hunt, but the preperation for this years hunt began months ago for me...almost last year really.
If you havnt already, take a hunters safety course, and get to the range a few times and fire your shotgun, function and accuracy. Be careful and be sure of your target before firing.
I hope that you are not insulted by my post, its just that bad hunting only makes it tougher on the experienced guys who take great care in thier hunts. If you have any of these bases covered, then thats cool, I didnt mean anything other than to help. Gene
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2002
- Messages
- 7,269
read the trajectory chart on the side of the box.
No, seriously...drop on one ounce slugs is horrific beyound 50 yards, but can be estimated for quality shooting.
Consider 20 guage, as well. Quite a projectile.
Don't be put off by, or become accustomed to recoil flinch. When you hunt, you won't even FEEL the recoil. Practice sessions should be discontinued if you feel yourself reacting to the shot. Trust me, it goes away as you hunt.
Be well and safe.
Kis
No, seriously...drop on one ounce slugs is horrific beyound 50 yards, but can be estimated for quality shooting.
Consider 20 guage, as well. Quite a projectile.
Don't be put off by, or become accustomed to recoil flinch. When you hunt, you won't even FEEL the recoil. Practice sessions should be discontinued if you feel yourself reacting to the shot. Trust me, it goes away as you hunt.
Be well and safe.
Kis
This assumes that you haven't been able to pre-scout your location and don't have a tree stand, so get a toppo map of the area you'll hunt.
Reports state that the average hunter never gets more than 500 yards from their car. If you can get into the woods earlier, use the map and a compass and go in about 1500 yards and find a nice little ravine running between two hills, the odds are good that the deer pushed up by the hunters nearer the road might use this ravine to move out of their area. Sit yourself down at the far end of the ravine and don't move a muscle. If you can, make noise like an ear of corn...
Stitchawl
Reports state that the average hunter never gets more than 500 yards from their car. If you can get into the woods earlier, use the map and a compass and go in about 1500 yards and find a nice little ravine running between two hills, the odds are good that the deer pushed up by the hunters nearer the road might use this ravine to move out of their area. Sit yourself down at the far end of the ravine and don't move a muscle. If you can, make noise like an ear of corn...
Stitchawl
I have CT A Season (Lottery, state land, shotgun) tags. Opening day is
19-28 NOVEMBER. B Season is 29 NOVEMBER through 9 DECEMBER. Private land firearm is 19 NOV through 9 DEC. Archery started 15 SEPTEMBER.
Identify your target, and what's beyond it. When in doubt, don't.
Make sure you have your hunting license and ID when you head into the woods.
Carry your own knife, whistle, compass, flashlight, drag rope, something to munch on and something to drink. If you're in unfamiliar territory, carry a map for that area (you may be able to find map info online). I like to carry a pack of baby wipes for easy cleanup after field dressing a deer.
Good luck with your hunt!
Make sure you have your hunting license and ID when you head into the woods.
Carry your own knife, whistle, compass, flashlight, drag rope, something to munch on and something to drink. If you're in unfamiliar territory, carry a map for that area (you may be able to find map info online). I like to carry a pack of baby wipes for easy cleanup after field dressing a deer.
Good luck with your hunt!
You need to stay as still as possible and pay attention to the wind. You can stay still if youre comfortable. I carry a small [seat size]piece of closed cell foam to sit on and some of those heat packets if its cold. I also keep a 3''-4'' piece of thread tied to the barrel of my rifle for a quick check of wind direction.--If you can identify white oaks, key on those. Deer prefer their acorns.--Good luck--KV