Deer Hunting Tips
Click on the links below to learn more about deer hunting with our deer hunting with articles featuring tips and tricks from experienced deer hunters:
Shooting your bow with all your hunting gear on.
Matthew Eastman discusses the importance of practicing with your bow while wearing all hunting clothes.
Attracting deer to your hunting property using water sources
If your hunting area that has shown good promise all summer long suddenly stops showing deer activity and deer sighting are down, it may be that the deer are seeking a water source.
Hunting by the moon phase: Have Your Best Deer Hunting Season Ever
It's true, you can enjoy the victory of a successful hunt by following the phases of the moon. This fascinating article explains how you can accurately predict when deer and other wildlife are the most active. Every season, millions of hunters take to the woods with renewed enthusiasm and vigor. Unfortunately, many come away empty handed, returning day after day to face similar results. It's every hunter's biggest dilemma, but some have found the perfect solution, and that is hunting by moon phase.
Tracking Wounded Whitetail Deer
Ethical hunters should always do their best to deliver a clean lethal shot that ends the life of game quickly. We should "pass up" shots that are less than sure. There are occasions however when our best intentions require us to track game. Out of respect for the wildlife we hunt, we should make every effort possible to find the game we have shot. From the moment we raise our hunting weapon of choice the tracking process begins. When the arrow is released or the trigger is pulled pay close attention to every detail. Watch the deer carefully after the shot and study it's reactions, a grazing shot, rib shot, heart or lung shot can make the deer jump and run off at full speed. A gut shot deer often holds it's tail down and hunches it's back as it leaves the scene. A deer that has been shot in the gut or paunch is usually the most difficult to recover. Wait 2-3 hours before trailing a deer you believe was gut shot. Always follow up on any deer you take a shot at. Never make the assumption that you missed completely.
Planting Food Plots for Deer
More and more hunters and land owners are adding food plots to their land as a way to help attract and grow bigger deer. If you are thinking of putting in a food plot on your property check out this great article by pro staff member Mathew Eastman- Creating Food Plots For Deer Hunting. The article contains great information to get you started.
Scents to use deer hunting
A trip to your local sporting goods store to purchase deer scents can be a confusing ordeal. One of the questions I most often receive from hunters is "What type of scent should I use for deer hunting?" The answer to that question often depends on who you ask and the time of year you are hunting deer. Let's get started by looking at the different types of scents and when to use them.
Post Rut Deer Hunting
Hunting deer after the rut can be challenging and rewarding. Pro Staff member Matt Eastman shares his tips for post rut deer hunting success.
Whitetail Hunting In The Rain
When it starts to rain many hunters pack up and head home but for those hunters that stick it out deer hunting in the rain can be very productive.
Whitetail Deer Facts
Be the hit of your next coctail party with these intresting facts about the whitetail deer.
Using A Tracking Stick To Track Deer
Kim Cabrera discusses how to create and use a tracking stick to track animals people and even deer.
How To Choose A Deer Hunting Guide Or Outfitter-
Most guide services and outfitters are very reputable. They know the area and can get you access to private land and the best hunting opportunities. A little research can make your next guided hunt much more enjoyable.
Become A Better Deer Hunter- Deer Biology
You may not need to know what species and class the deer belongs to but some of the information on this page will help you become a better deer hunter by giving you in site into the deer's physical characteristics. Whitetail biology studies have identified up to 30 different subspecies of whitetail deer across North and Central America, and 8 subspecies in South America. The whitetail deer's body weight will vary depending on the region. Typically a whitetail deer in the north will have more body weight and increased body size from it's southern counterparts. These changes in size are believed to be influenced by colder climates of the northern hemisphere. Typically the further north a hunter travels the bigger the physical characteristics of the deer get. In northern climates deer have been known to reach over 300 lbs.
Whitetail Deer Taxonomy
The deer is a member of the order called Ungulates. The Ungulates are animals with hooves. There are over 200 different hoofed animals in this order. Deer belong to the Artiodacty species (Animals with two toes as opposed Perrisodactyls species of single toed animals such as the rhino or horse) also included in this species are the moose, elk, sheep, goats, antelope and cattle. The deer belong to the Cervidae family of ungulates. All deer in the Cervidae family posses one specific characteristic they all have antlers with the exception of the Chinese Water Deer. The whitetail deer is a member of the Subfamily Odocoilinae. Also in this subfamily are some other popular North American Game animals including the Caribou, Moose, Elk, Mule Deer and Roe Deer.
Rumination- Deer Digestion
Deer have 4 stomachs that allow a large quantity of foods to be eaten and processed. When the deer eats the food enters the first chamber of it's stomach where micro-organisms begin to ferment and break down the cellulose of plants. Deer will often regurgitate food and re chew it to help digest the food. This is often known as chewing the cud. When the food has been broken down so that it is small enough the food will pass on to the rest of the chambers of the stomach where the foods nutrients are actually absorbed and the waste is pushed out the intestines by the deer. This unique design allows deer to quickly browse and store food and then return to a safe area such as a bedding area to chew the cud. Rumination also helps the deer get the maximum amount of nutrition from their food. This is especially important during the winter months were deer are forced to eat less desirable browse.
Deer Mating (The Rut Explained by Science)
The rut or matting season for whitetail deer occurs in the fall. The actually time varies depending on the geographical location of the deer but whitetail deer go through three distinct phases of rut:
Pre rut- The Pre rut begins in late summer or early fall. During pre-rut bucks will begin to mark and establish their territory by rubbing pre-orbital glands located in his forehead on trees and branches and making scrapes on deer trails by pawing at the ground and licking over-hanging branches and limbs. Bucks will spar with each other to establish dominance and control territories. Much of the sparing done during pre-rut consists of shoving and pushing to see which deer is the strongest. More serious fights tend to occur during the actual rut. During the pre rut bucks will set up scrape lines (a series of scrapes across his territory made by pawing at the ground and then peeing in the fresh dirt)
Full rut - During the full rut does are in full estrus and ready to bread. bucks will typically follow does during this time and afterwards move on looking for other does to breed. The full rut usually lasts for around two weeks. During the rut bucks will check their scrape lines for signs that a doe in heat has visited his territory. When a doe becomes close to estrus cycle the doe will often visit a scrape and urinate in it telling the buck she is close to being ready to breed. When the buck finds a doe that is ready to breed he will stay with that doe breeding her multiple times. Experienced hunters know that this is often the best time to harvest a big buck as they will often move during the day and ignore it's usual cautious nature.
Post rut- During post rut most does have been bread and hormone levels in bucks start to return to normal. Some does that have not been bread will come back into heat during this portion of the rut. Bucks also need to eat allot during this time to replenish body weight lost during the rut. Hunting during post rut can also be very effective as bucks are often off their normal patterns.
Whitetail deer are polygamous. It is not uncommon for dominate bucks to mate with multiple does over the course of the rut. During the rut a dominate whitetail buck will stay with a receptive doe until she is no longer receptive then the buck will search out another doe.
Whitetail Antlers- The Rack
Unlike horns on cattle which are permanent male deer loose and re grow their antlers every year. In the whitetail deer family only bucks over 1 year old have horns. Each year shortly after the rut bucks loose their antlers and then immediately begin to re grow new antlers. As the antlers grow they are covered in a soft hairy skin called velvet. The velvet supplies blood to the growing antlers and protects and feeds them. Once the antlers reach full size the velvet begins to die off and the bucks rub it off the hard horn on trees and brush. In addition to removing the velvet from their new antlers buck rubs also help to strengthen the neck for the upcoming rut. Antler growth in a deer is largely dependent on the age of the deer, genetics, and diet. As a deer matures it will typically grow more tines and eventually max out and then become smaller year after year as the deer ages. In a whitetail buck the antlers typically reach optimal development around 5 to 6 years of age. A whitetail bucks main antler beam curves forward without dividing or branching. A mule deer bucks major antler beam, on the other hand, grows upward with a dichotomous (dividing or branching) fork.
Whitetail Deer Fawns
Does are typically bread during the fall and are pregnant during the winter giving birth to their fawns at the beginning of the spring. Does produce milk for the young fawns when they are first born. Does typically will give birth in thick brush or high grass stands. Does stand while the fawn is actually delivered. Once a fawn is born the female will lick the fawn clean in order to help hide scent from predators. Does also eat the after birth. It is believe that this helps cut down the scent for predators and provides some nutrients to the new mother. Fawns can stand a few minutes after being born and can walk only a few hours after birth. With in a few days the whitetail fawn can run short distances.
During the first few days of a fawns life the fawn remains hidden in thick brush or tall grass while the mother goes off to feed returning every few hours to feed the fawn. When hiding young fawns will remain motionless in a small ball. Fawns have very little scent when first born. Whitetail fawns are born with white spots that usually disappear after 2-3 months. These spots provide camouflage in tall grass and dense cover. After about 2 weeks the fawn is able to begin to eat some green plants. Weaning begins at 6 months of age. Fawns are capable of being independent around 6-8 weeks but will usually stay with their mother until they have another fawn. The whitetail deer reaches sexual maturity around 12 months of age and the does will often be mated at around 18 months.
Deer Ageing
Whitetail deer can live to as old as 11 or 12 year but most deer never reach that age. If deer are not harvested by predators or hunters often a deer's teeth will wear out at about ten years of age causing the deer to starve to death. Most deer don't live past 3 years of age.
Deer Habitat
It is not uncommon for a whitetail deer to live out most of it's life in a 1 square mile area. Deer habitat depends allot on the food, water and shelter supply and size will vary depending on the availably of these elements. During the rut bucks will travel beyond this range looking for does to breed. Deer will remain in the same area as long as there is food, water and cover unless they are forced from the area by humans or pressure from predators.
Learn more about the skeleton whitetail deer
Deer Hunting Glossary of Terms
Definitions of commonly used deer hunting terms:.
Abomasum- the fourth, or digesting, chamber of the stomach of a cud-chewing animal, like the whitetail deer
Albino Deer- A deer that is lacking in color or has a white coat.
Antler- the branched, annually shed, bony growth on the head of any animal of the deer family. This bony growth is what causes hunters to get up before dawn and sit in a tree for hours defining cold, hunger and bugs.
Bawl- A sound made by a deer that has been injured or scared. It is similar to a yell or shriek that a human would make.
Beam- The main branch of a antler from which tines grown on a white tail deer. This is also known as the main beam.
Bedding Area- A area were deer often rest. Bedding areas are often surrounded by thick cover but allow the deer to see and hear approaching danger. Whitetail bedding areas are often found close to feeding areas.
Blacktail Deer- a mule deer, esp. the subspecies (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) found from N Calaifornia to Alaska
Bleat- A sound made by does and fawns. Does bleat in social situations, as a contact call with fawns, to express distress or occasionally to let a buck know the doe's location. Fawns produce a bleat to keep in contact with does or as a call for help.
Boone & Crockett Club- a club that created a standardized way to score deer racks and maintains a list or record book of big game records. Boone & Crockett records rifle harvests
Browsing- Deer eat by quickly moving through the woods and chewing plants just enough to swallow them. The deer then returns to a safe area and chews the cud for further digestion. This type of eating is called browsing
Browtine- The first fork of the antler on a deer.
Buck- A male deer. Male deer or bucks grow antlers every year and then loose them after the matting season or rut.
Bull- A Male Elk is referred to as a Bull Elk. Elk are a close realtive to the whitetail deer although much large in size.
Calling- The act of calling for deer is to imitate sounds deer make in order to attract them to your area. Calling tactics include grunts, bleats, rattling, snort wheeze and more.
Coniferous Tree- Any gymnospermous tree or shrub bearing cones. Coniferous trees keep their needles during the winter and deer often use these trees for cover and food sources during the winter. These trees are also known as pine trees.
Cover Scent- A scent used to cover or hide human scent while hunting for deer and other big game animals.
Deer Decoy- A plastic replicate of a deer used to lure other deer into shooting range. Decoys are often used during the rut to get bucks in close enough to shoot at.
Deer Yard- A small area of land that attracts a large number of deer during winter months. These areas are usually attractive to deer because of the shelter and proximity of food sources.
DNR- Department of Natural Resources- A state agency in charge of wildlife management and hunting
Dominant Buck - A male deer that establishes a territory and right to breed does in that territory by fighting and intimidation of smaller mail deer. Dominant bucks are usually the largest deer in the area.
Drop Tine- An antler point or tine that grows straight down from the main beam on the antlers of a mature whitetail deer.
Estrus Doe- When a doe is in heat, typically a 2-4 day period of time when that doe is cabalbe of breading and will let a buck bread her.
Fawn- A newborn or baby deer. When baby deer are born the usually have white spots on them to help the hide in thick vegetation.
Pre-orbital glands- Gland in the forehead of deer used to leave scent on branches and twigs rubbed by the deer.
Grunt- A low pitched vocal call made by a buck to indicate aggression toward another buck
Herbivore- Any animal including the deer which eats only plant materials
Home Range- The area in which a deer spends it's entire life which is thought to be less then a few square miles as long as food, water and shelter is available in that range.
Interdigital Gland- a scent gland located between a deer's hooves that leaves a scent trail for other deer as that deer walks
Lick- A branch above a scrape that is often licked and scent market by a gland in the forehead as a way for deer to communicate during the rut or mating season.
Metatarsal gland- A small scent gland on a deer that is located on the outside of each hind leg just above the dew claw.
Mule Deer- A brownish-gray deer (Odocoileus hemionus) of western North America, having long mule like ears, large branching antlers in the male, and a black-tipped tail. Mule deer will often be large in body mass the whitetail deer.
Non typical rack- A term referring to antlers on at deer that are not symmetrical and have often have points growing off other points on the antlers
Odocoileus Virginianus- The official scientific name of the whitetail deer
Pope and Young- A standardized way of scoring and recording animals harvested by hunters for comparison purposes. Pope and Young records bow harvests.
Pre-rut- a period prior to the actual mating season or rut when bucks begin to establish territories and dominance in preparation for the rut.
Rattling- A buck calling technique were horns are rattled together by a hunter simulating two buck fitting in hope of attracting the attention of a another buck and luring that buck into shooting range.
Reticulum- The second chamber of a deer's stomach that holds partially chewed food
Rub- When a buck rubs or scrapes trees and branches with its antlers to mark territory and display dominance
Rumen- The first chamber of a deer's stomach that "washes" the browse a deer consumes with microorganisms designed to break down food
Ruminants- animals characteristically having a stomach divided into four compartments and chewing a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food.
Scouting- Spending time in the woods looking for deer sign and areas to hunt during deer season
Scrape- Ground that is pawed up by a buck and then urinated in. A scrape is used to communicate with other deer and does let bucks know they are ready to breed by urinating in a scrape.
Sitka Blacktail - A sub species of the blacktail deer found in British Columbia and Alaska.
Snort- A loud puff of air forced through the nostrils of a deer to sound an alarm to other deer
Tapetum- An area in the pigmented layer of the choroid coat of the eye in whitetail, which has an iridescent or metallic luster and helps to make the eye visible in the dark The tapetum is the part that glows or shines when you shine a bright light on a deer at night
Tarsal gland- A gland located on the inside of the deer's hind leg. This gland consists of a patch of elongated hairs underlain by an area of large sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands secrete a fatty lipid that adheres to the hairs of the tarsal gland. This area gives off a strong, musky odor. This odor is the result of urine being deposited on these glands and mixed with lipids during a behavior known as rub-urination. Deer use this gland to recognize other individuals in the herd and to give information relative to their sex, social status, and reproductive condition.
Tend- When a buck stays close to a female during mating season waiting for the female to come into estrus so that buck can breed the doe
Typical Rack- Deer antlers with points growing only off the front sides of the main beam
Venison- Meat from a deer is called venison.