Deer Hunting Mistakes Guaranteed to Ruin the Rut
October 16, 2021
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Bowhunting is the art of using a bow to hunt animals instead of a gun. Bowhunting is not only fun but also an adventurous method of hunting wild game. Traditionally dominated by men, women are also increasingly venturing into bow hunting. The New York Times states that the number of women hunting for the first time has increased by over 30% over the last 15 years. To be successful in bow hunting, you need to sharpen your skills.
Below are some bow hunting tips for deer hunting season.
1. Stay Near Water
During the early hunting season, temperatures are usually warmer. As a result of high temperatures, deer will need water to stay cool. Consequently, the deer will spend most of the time near rivers and other water points. Putting your hunting standpoint near the water is thus a good idea. You will easily pattern the movement of deer. The deer will be moving between feeding areas, bedding places and water points. Then you narrow down to find the areas that have the highest deer activity.
2. Make Best Use of Your Ears
The mating season among deer can present the most opportune moment for bow hunting. The bucks will be searching and competing for females. The contests, grunts and chases will be intense. As a result, the rutting season is noisy. With all those sounds ringing in the air, locating bucks in search of females is easy. Therefore, you can easily plan your approach to hunting the deer. You can either stalk the bucks or settle on a good spot for the afternoon sit. You then patiently wait to take your shot.
3. Hunt in Spots with Abundant Food
During the onset of winter, food becomes scarce in the wild as grass withers under the snow. The deer are thus restricted into small havens with enough food. Consequently, it’s easier to monitor the activity of deer within their narrow range. You can entice the deer from miles away into fields having cover crops. More importantly, the pathways they use are visible on the snow-covered ground. You can then set yourself up along the most frequented routes. If luck is on your side, you can spring a surprise attack.
4. Master the Scent Control
The deer are always looking out and smelling for any imminent danger. Any slight sense of unusual smell will scare the deer away. Therefore, it is a good idea to stay free of any scent on hunting day. Besides, you should mind the direction of the wind. Approach the spot where deer are located from downwind to avoid your scent being blown into the deer.
5. Master the Art of Slyness
Due to their consistent pattern, deer can easily spot unusual happenings. In addition, the pressured state from hunting raises the alertness of the deer. Therefore, you must be cautious, especially towards late-season hunts. In your scouting, you could use trail cameras. By doing so, you will maintain low-pressure scouting, thereby preventing deer from abandoning the territory. Eventually, you will have gathered enough information from your findings. You can then carry out your expeditions and lay your ambush in readiness for an attack.
Final Thoughts
A bow has a short range compared to a riffle. Therefore, you will need to close the gap before taking your shot. The above deer hunting tips are aimed at improving the success of bowhunting. Ultimately, proper camouflage and patience will enable you to get close enough to the deer.
