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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: perry f. on December 13, 2011, 12:55:00 PM
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I thought it would be fun to pass on certain things you have learned or that have been passed down to you. There are a lot of people that are out there just getting started, and perhaps this thread will be a useful tool. I'll start it off:
For years I used to rush out of the house and hurry to get into my stand, often spooking game on my way in. I finally realized that I was hunting the minute I got to my hunting area. I started slowing down, and hunted on my way to and from my stand. I started seeing more game and got more shots. I was sitting in a stand once and watched a couple hunters walking back to their truck through a crp field. minutes later 3 deer stood up right next to the two track road the hunters had just walked down. These 3 deer were bedded and let the hunters walk right on past. Keep your eyes peeled and move slowly!
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CORN! :)
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Spend more time looking, less time walking. Figure out escape routes and let the other hunters chase them too you.
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A good hunting area...and keep it quite when you find it...except for a good hunting bud or two.
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The best time to hunt is every chance you get.
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Hunt up in the morning, nap during thermal changes, back down the mountain in the evening. Watch the wind.
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During the rutting period of a particular species spend more time hunting mid-day.
Constantly be touching up broadheads.
When setting stands, pay attention to where the back cover is and shot angle. I've come closer to earth over the past couple years.
Don't take yourself too seriously, and don't judge yourself by what you kill. You've committed to the stickbow so no-one expects much of you anyways!
Pick a spot. Again... PICK A SPOT...yes I'm yelling!
On bad hits...Back out!!!
Stay true to your lethal shot distance.
Wear a safety strap!
Shoot your broadheads before you hunt.
Have fun...even on tough hunts remember the alternative. Appreciate that you are blessed enough to actually be able to do this crazy sport!
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One thing I've found that really helps my old eyes is yellow shooting glasses. You don't notice much difference when you first put them on, but wear them a few minutes then pull them off and you realize how much sharper and clearer everything is when wearing them. Especially helpful on cloudy, overcast days.
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The nose knows. Never under estimate the power of a game animals nose. If you dont get past the nose you wont have to worry about any thing else.
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Go when ever you can. Even chassing rodents and bunnies will make you a better big game hunter. And the nose realy knows like pops said.
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Like Some have said, I f your not sure of your hit, back out and wait. It may not be needed but you will wish you had if it is.
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Remember that it suppose to be fun. When scouting become the deer. You can fool his eyes but the nose knows. Shoot straight and tell the truth.
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If you you think you have it figured out you probably will never be the best hunter you can be! So with that said never stop thinking and learning.
Hunt Hard! Hunt More! Hunt when the weather is the worst! Hunt where no one wants to go! If you do these things you will have the best oppertunity at hand!
Invest in yourself foremost! The best gear means nothing with out skill! Skill comes with time and practice. With all that comes experiance!
Words that come from hunting with a passion.
Scott Teaschner
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Originally posted by Scott Teaschner:
If you you think you have it figured out you probably will never be the best hunter you can be! So with that said never stop thinking and learning.
Hunt Hard! Hunt More! Hunt when the weather is the worst! Hunt where no one wants to go!
Scott Teaschner
Words of wisdom there.
;)
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Pay attention to where the sun sets when putting up a stand for evening hunts.
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When you think it's time to leave your stand/blind.
STAY A LITTLE LONGER.
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Don't believe anything you read and only 1/2 of what you see. Find out for yourself......then you'll know for sure! If there is somewhere you want to hunt, do it. Don't wait....it may never happen. And if your not having fun, your missing something!!
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Hunt the wind.
Don't touch anything without gloves.
Don't get to serious,remember it's suppose to be fun.
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Originally posted by ron w:
Don't believe anything you read and only 1/2 of what you see. Find out for yourself......then you'll know for sure! If there is somewhere you want to hunt, do it. Don't wait....it may never happen. And if your not having fun, your missing something!!
I like what he said.
Also BE MOBILE!!!!!!! Dont lock yourself into a stand position and stay indefinitely. If not seeing deer, go find them and reset a new stand location. Rainy , windy days are great for this.
Have a stand set up for different wind direction..use thermal currents.
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Some good stuff here!!! Try to learn something every time you are in the field. Take a note book and a camera. Take pics of everything - review at home.
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Keep as scent free as possible.
Shoot with your hunting set up all year round.
Try to find places to hunt where there is little to no pressure. Hunting a few non pressured deer is better than hunting a bunch of pressured deer.
Landowners who post their land can be your best hunting asset if you learn to treat them well.
Put on your hunting outfit and go out and clean up a mile or two of road used by hunters who leave trash. YOU will get a good reputation. (Do it when there is a lot of traffic).
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Always practice with what you will be wearing in the field. I learned this the hard way this year.
I like having my binoculars on a harness against my chest for quick use. This set up worked fine for spring bear season but I wasn't thinking of the number of layers I would be wearing during November in Manitoba. I sent an arrow towards a small buck that had responded to my calling and missed by a mile, I almost laughed out loud. After the shot I looked down and realized that my string had hooked my bino harness and actually broke it. I may have still missed without the waredrobe malfunction but the malfunction should never have happened.
Again, always practice with what you will be wearing during your hunt, and don't have anything on you that may interfere with your string.
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Youll kill more elk by using your sence of smell in thik cover. When I smell elk I stop find cover and let out a couple soft mews. most likley you will soon see a elk
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Never leave home with out your license!
Never hunt another state without calling the G&F and asking if you need a Hunters Education/Safety Card! (some have age limits).
Sharpen your moral conscience
Hunt ethically...that way you'll never be looking over your shoulder.
Relax...its all about the memories and not about the bone.
Thank God for Blessing you with a wonderful family and use the first minute of solitude to say a prayer of thanks each time you step into the woods.
Wear wool.
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Hunt harder than everyone else, go into areas that are brutal to get through, you'll find more deer and less hunters........and get there EARLY in the mornings. My success has at least tripled by getting into my stand at least 1.5 hours before first light.
Don't over hunt an area, no matter how good it looks.
Use climbers, hang ons, man made ground blinds, natural hides.....whatever it takes!
Hunt the wind! Don't wear ANY of your hunting gear ANYWHERE but in the woods, not even in your car.
Not needed but i bought an ozone machine to eliminate scent from my clothes, very easy to use between hunts when washing in scent free soap isn't needed and works awesome on wool.
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Be calm and at ease in the woods... no matter what the situation... it's not "Man Against Nature" as some would lead you to believe... be one with nature... be at home.
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SHOT PLACEMENT!!!!!!! SHOT PLACEMENT!!! It all means nothing, If you cant make a good shot!!
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Oh, most important!
When in doubt, quiver out!
No matter how good your first shot was, if you get another, TAKE IT
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Dont eat yellow snow! Dont believe in everything you see Lee and Tiffany do, and work on your woodsmanship everything else will fall into place.
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Hunt and shoot like it will be your last time, and enjoy, for someday it will be. Always have fun. Never talk yourself into settling, many times we go in and say this is good enough, then sure enough the game come from where we know we should of been. Aim small, miss small. when you take that ify shot, means longer tracking job.
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What you eat affects how you smell. And smelling less is always a good thing.
Whitetails in rual contry especially are conditioned to associate (IMO) cologne, scented soaps, eggs and bacon fron the morning fried breakfast, and deodorant with man. Get rid of all that and they still smell you, but the alarm does not go off nearly as loud/soon.
Joshua
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KEEP THE WIND IN YOUR FACE ..... be the best shot you can be ... only take ethical shots
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Pay very good attention to where you last saw the animal after your shot. Take a compass bearing if it's getting dark or if it ran into a field.
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NEVER get in a hurry.
1. rushing to the stand makes you forget stuff.
2.rushing up or down the stand makes you get hurt.
3. rushing a shot makes you miss or wound game.
4.rushing a blood trail makes you jump and lose game.
Put a couple small pieces of reflective tape on your arrows. I put a piece next to the noc and another just below the feathers.I have found a couple deer fast by shining my late ahead and seeing the arrow. Sometimes broken off and three times still in the deer.
I would rather walk 2 miles in the swamp and see deer than walk 200 yards and see nothing.
Practice with your broadheads and a glove if you wear one hunting on your bow hand.
Everything I hunt in the South is ruled by their belly.I will walk days to find good places to hunt. I will not climb unless I expect to see deer close. If I don`t have that kind of confidence its time to walk and scout some more.Chris and I will probably walk 10 miles a week during bow season scouting for a primary feed tree. I usually when hunting the swamp will walk at least 2-3 hours midday for the next days hunt.All the same Oaks and persimmons were there last year but they all feed differently and at different times.Deer will come to a "new" tree dropping as opposed to one thats been dropping a week.
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Let your woodsmanship and instincts tell you what to do, if you have stop and think about it...you're too late!