For many eastern whitetail hunters, the primary reason we lose track of the bucks we are chasing in mid-season is simply because their habits have changed. This can be caused by acorn production, hunting pressure, or just because the deer has been doing it for years.
The synopsis of the tactic is simple. You are going to look at a map, pick out a spot and hunt it for one afternoon. You keep jumping spot to spot every day until you figure out where the deer are in your area.
Hunting the whitetail pre-rut can be a roller coaster of activity, full of highs and lows. If you’ve done your homework right this time of year can be some of the best hunting. For the most part the bucks are still executing their normal early season daily activities, but they are also on edge waiting for the first doe to come into estrus.
The best way to stalk big game is by mimicking the patterns of apex predators. Their survival depends on their hunting success. You need to get into that mindset. Think like a predator, but also flip the table and think like the prey. Below are the tactics that will help you become the apex predator in whatever woods you decide to stalk.
Let’s face it, when you hunt long enough you are going to make a bad shot eventually. It happens. The internet is filled with “perfect hunters” that have never let their nerves get the best of them. They will let a 190” buck walk by, because it is quartering towards them at a 3° angle.
Scouting is one of the biggest factors for success, but time is often limited. With this in mind it is crucial to use that time effectively. Below are my top tips on how to do just that. Follow these tips and you will hopefully be heading in to the season feeling confident with a few bucks already in your sights.
Excitement and anticipation grows as you begin to locate more bucks! In some ways the pre-season is as much fun as the actual season. Unfortunately, your hard work and preparation can be in vein if you are make this one common mistake.
The Deer tick, also known as the black-legged tick, has a population concentrated primarily on the east coast, with some presence in Midwestern states. They are infamous for their transmission of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
Homemade mineral is a cheaper alternative than purchasing factory produced supplement. It costs roughly 75 dollars to make 200 lbs. of mineral, which translates to $0.38/ lb. A typical bag of mineral costs the consumer $2.00/ lb. Making your own supplement will provide a $1.62/lb. savings, which can now be spent on other needs.
Scent Control has been a long-disputed topic between sportsman/women. The idea that deer can be influenced by human scent does not sit easy with some folks. But the fact of the matter is that deer can smell at higher levels than humans and they can pick up on unfamiliar smells. Smells that will cause them to turn a different direction or avoid an area all together.
Challenge traditional thinking and push others to do the same. We must dedicate ourselves to hone in on our primal instincts and combine them with new methodologies and technologies to truly master evolution.
When we miss a shot or make a mistake, most of us get that sick feeling in our gut of disappointment. This, for many, is hard to recover from and can be the difference between finding success or continual disappointment.
