Prime October Buck
Welcome to the Hunting Guide, we’ve done our best to create one of the best and most comprehensive hunting guides around!
This was done with both the relatively new hunter as well as the more experienced huntsman in mind, so there should be plenty of tips and tricks even for the seasoned old timers.
You probably already have a location in mind for the hunting season, but in case you don’t, check out this page about GUIDED HUNTS here.
If you are heading out to a new area or have not visited your hunting ground last season you should visit it at least once to get a sense of your surroundings.
Take a walk around and get familiar with the landmarks, note water courses, fence lines and any buildings in the area. Another thing to note are sounds – does a farmer run milking machinery or other equipment regularly in the area? Knowing your hunting ground well will enable you to move around with confidence and significantly more skill, as you can make use of higher ground or thicker cover for example when needed.
If you are using TRAIL CAMERAS to locate bucks, check out this article on their use here.
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You also need to ensure that your gear is in good condition. Make sure you give your archery equipment or firearm a good service, and really check it out thoroughly before heading to the woods. Once you have all of your hunting gear packed and ready, it’s time to head out and start looking for where the deer are likely to be.
For a list of recommended HUNTING GEAR that you should have with you, both for safety and to make your life easier check out the gear section of the hunting guide here.
There are really three main, popular styles of hunting – tracking on foot, setting up stands or blinds and guided hunts.
Both of the first styles your going out alone, and they require the same initial scouting and searching. Begin by looking for trails and pathways that deer frequently use. If there is a main water source nearby this can be a great place to start, as you can look for natural pinch points or obvious routes around objects. It can take some time finding a good trail, but once found you can then follow it carefully and discover feeding or bedding areas or the herds preferred drinking spot.
For in-depth tips on FINDING DEER, check out these tips here.
If you choose to use a hunting guide and go on a guided hunt, check out this article on finding a good guide and what to expect when HIRING A HUNTING GUIDE here.
Check the Finding Deer article if this is what you normally see!
If you’re hunting outside of the rutting season, the above method will be your main way of finding the bucks. Look for fresh droppings around the trail to get a sense of how recently it was used and the size of the deer using it.
If you’re hunting during the rutting season then your life is a little easier as you have many more signs to look for. Search the ground for scrape marks as well as antler felt attached to branches or on the floor.
For more information about THE RUT and why it’s probably the best time to hunt deer, check out this article here.
Once you’ve found an area that you’re sure bucks are visiting, it’s time to set up your stand or blind if you’re using them.
For some great tips on choosing where to place your STANDS AND BLINDS check out this section of the hunting guide here.
For the most part, now you wait. If you’re tracking you can continue scouting and searching for bucks, although either way you can use some great techniques to bring the bucks to you.
It’s well worth reading these two articles on RATTLING and CALLING, as we explain the right way to use both techniques. Click on either of the words to be taken to that section of the hunting guide.
A common problem that most of us have is that when a big mature buck finally wanders into view, and wanders just a little closer
Get rid of Buck Fever for good, and breathe easy when this beast wanders into view...
into range, by then our hands are trembling with buck fever so much we risk messing up our shot!
Check out this article on how to get rid of BUCK FEVER for good here.
Even if you do manage to stay calm and composed, how are you sure that the buck standing in front of you is the right size and age to be eligible for harvest? Many landowners and almost all outfitters impose heavy fines for shooting young bucks, or bucks that are otherwise off-limits.
For a fool-proof method of telling the age of a buck even at a distance, check out this HOW OLD IS MY BUCK? section of the hunting guide here.
For some more great strategies and tips, feel free to browse the articles on this site and also sign up for my free 10 part mini-course on how to find and take down Trophy Class Bucks.
