newell asked:


I am a city slicker. Consequently, I don’t hunt without a GPS, compass, map, food, down bag, and a light bivaoc shelter.
This amounts to a good sized 45 pound day pack. My hunting buddies are rather annoyed by this, and point out we are never more than a couple hours walk from the car. I am terrified of stepping off the road unprepared. Are my fears unfounded?

Fabian

Mitch Johnson asked:


If you are an occasional hunter, did you ever try hunting in group? Hunting with a companion is of great way and it helps you also in your trail and stalking the deer. But it is difficult to find a hunting companion who will be a help rather than a hindrance. This is because unless they work, as a team, the chances of either of them sighting a deer depends more on luck than it does on hunting skill. When hunting with a group that is large enough to cover all probable crossing places, it is not so important for the trailer to stick to his trailing. It is not so important for the trailer to stick to his trailing. You can apply a different type of hunting when in group.

There are several ways in which two hunters may work as a team in deer hunting. They may go into the woods and travel a short distance apart in an effort to stalk feeding or resting deer. If they start a deer, they may separate, with one man on the trail and the other off to one side so that he may sight the deer if it should turn in an effort to evade the trailer. They should keep in touch with each other so that as soon as the deer’s course may be predicted, one of the men can circle and cut in ahead of the deer and intercept it on its expected course. This is where most hunting teams become individual hunters. If the deer fails to show up at the expected place at the expected time, the watcher is apt to start hunting aimlessly instead of trying to intercept the deer at another point or rejoin his companion in order to determine the deer’s new course. If two hunters are able to contact each other occasionally, they may be able to alternate on the trail and may hunt all day without too much fatigue to either.

A large part of my hunting has been done in a farming country where deer were in patches of woods which varied in size from several thousand acres down to practically nothing. When hunting the smaller of these wood patches, one man would start and trail the deer, and his companion would watch the place where the animal could be expected to leave the woods. In this type of hunting, the man who jumps and trails the deer should not try to stalk or to intercept the animal, but should confine his attention to the trail unless he should overtake the deer and have a good chance for a shot.

When the trailer hunts as he would if alone, he is apt to cause the deer to change its course enough so that his companion will have no chance to prevent the animal from reaching another piece of woods and prolonging the hunt. Of course, when hunting with a group that is large enough to cover all probable crossing places, it is not so important for the trailer to stick to his trailing. In such cases it is probably better to organize a “drive” which is a different type of hunting and requires different tactics.

While hunting with one or two companions, it is desirable for them to have a plan and for each man to play his part in that plan until the deer’s actions prove it to be useless and the hunters have a chance to meet and devise another plan. Nothing discourages a trailer more than to follow a trail to the place where a man has been stationed only to find that he is gone.

Two hunters can work as a team in deer hunting. Even though they go separate ways they should keep in touch with each other so that as soon as the deer’s course may be predicted, one of the men can circle and cut in ahead of the deer and intercept it on its expected course. Therefore as a whole you can sum up that there is a need to have good combination between the two of the hunters.



Jasper

Mitch Johnson asked:


We need to identify the future impacts of the extinctions of this precious animal from this earth. There are vested interests of the hunters in the ways to implements the stringent restrictions for the protection of these animals. But there are some costs involves as well in hunting deer that are not always fruitful.

The conditions of the forests play important parts in locating deer. The deer are located in place where the food conditions are best where the forest and open areas meet, and food conditions determine the size of the local herd. The deer can be found in clear forests.

Travel expense is one item that determines the cost of a hunting trip. The man who lives in a state where the deer hunting territory is near his home does not need to pay as much as the man who must travel many miles in order to hunt. I have often shot deer at almost no cost except for my license. I have lived in a farming country where deer were plentiful and easy to find, after I had learned their habits. I have a rifle that I paid nine dollars for (with a box of cartridges thrown in) and I have often killed my deer in an afternoon of hunting. Others have traveled many miles from other states, have stayed at some of the better hunting camps at a cost of more than a hundred dollars a week, and have returned to their homes empty-handed or have paid some poacher up to seventy-five dollars for a deer. The cost of deer hunting can be almost any amount that a man wants to spend. The enjoyment is the same to a real sportsman, regardless of the cost.

In the days of the Indians, the white-tailed deer were found in practically all of what is now the United States east of the Mississippi River as well as in some sections of the west. According to available records, these deer were not concentrated in any one area, but were spread over the entire range. Their actual number was probably less than it is today. The forest conditions at that time were not favorable to large concentrations of deer. They are “edge” or “fringe” dwellers rather than virgin-forest animals. The food conditions are best where the forest and open areas meet, and food conditions determine the size of the local herd.

At one time I was able to spend some time in an area where the forest conditions were practically the same as they were in the days of the Indians. It was an area of virgin timber that had never seen an axe. The deer were around the natural clearings that were made by “burns” and windstorms and I could travel for miles through the untouched areas without seeing as much as a track of the animals.

The clearing of the forests of the United States has made some of the areas nearly ideal for the welfare of deer, while in others, clean cutting and thick settling by men have driven the deer out. Deer are very adaptable to different food and range conditions, but they must have food and shelter in order to survive. In most sections man has done more harm than good.

They have an amazing vitality and are apparently immune to many of the diseases and parasites that are detrimental to most domestic animals. Practically all of their natural enemies have been controlled and man is their most serious menace. With the control of man’s depredations and with their ability to adapt themselves to quite heavily populated agriculture areas, the deer herds have been able to increase to the point where, in some cases, they have become a nuisance because of the damage that they do to agriculture projects. This damage is largely offset by the revenue that their presence brings into such an area by the sportsmen.

Traveling to hunt deer from long distances can be stressful and expensive exercise. But people like me who are living in the farming country can always enjoy the advantage of the plentiful deer to hunt whenever you are ready. There are fewer threats to deer from other animals because of other animals’ slow extinctions, but man has become their greatest threat. And many of us may not be aware that the deer are also immune to many diseases and parasites that are detrimental to most domestic animals. And at the same time they can damage the agricultural crops as well if not kept under control.



Samuel

Mitch Johnson asked:


Hunting the deer nowadays has become a commercial business, where people are hunting the deer to be sold.

Some years ago, there was an out-of-state hunter who came to Maine and hunted for a week, but due to inexperience or bad luck, he failed to bag a deer. For some reason he did not hire a guide. Perhaps lack of money or a desire to hunt on his own was the reason. At any rate, the day before he was to leave he stopped at my place to admire a deer which we had hung the day before. It was not a very good deer, just a small buck.

Still, any deer would look good to a man in his situation. This buck had been wounded and, although it had been tracked until dark, it did not die until sometime in the night. I had tracked it the next morning and by the time I found it, some animal—probably a fox—had eaten the fat that surrounds the base of the tail, so that the tail was missing or detached from the body. This man expressed a wish to purchase the carcass. I was beginning to have conscience pangs at this time and was reluctant to let him have the buck. I pointed out all of the poor features of the animal, even the missing flag. He asked what had happened to it. I explained that it was a young buck and probably never had any tail. I sold him the deer and gave him in detail the tale of the hunt. I will bet that he has been back to Maine for another deer and I hope he has learned enough about the animals so that he has never needed to purchase another deer without a tail.

Speaking of poaching days and incidents. Jacking of deer is one of the easiest methods of bagging one of these animals. There is no sport in it, but poachers use it when there is a ready-made market for deer. Here in the deep woods, it is not so easy as in the more open areas down state. I have put a lot of thought on this problem since I reformed. The Fish and Game Commission and the Legislature have wasted a lot of time in trying to stop this practice by prohibitory means. I do not know why they have never asked a poacher how to prevent the jacking and selling of deer. Almost any of them would say, “If we didn’t have so many willing customers, there would be no object to killing deer for sale.”

This would not solve the problem, and I would **** to see the day when the wardens cracked down on our visiting hunters by investigating every deer shot in Maine. Such an investigation would be impossible, but our wardens are likely to try anything once.

I wish that in the early days of conservation, the law- makers had given serious thought to the control of market hunting instead of outlawing it. It seems to me that a few expert jackets could have been licensed and given permits to sell a certain number of deer to un-successful hunters who failed to bag their game in a lawful manner. Such a system might have worked. But as it is, deer hunting, with all its faults, is still a pretty clean sport. A lot of planning goes into a deer hunt. We guides do much work in making and revising our plans as the occasions occur that the average hunter doesn’t realize.

Control of the market hunting is very important to prevent hunting for illegal purpose. It is important to know by the people not to buy the deer meet from a hunter to prevent the illegal act.



Drew

REMINGTON 270 BOLT ACTION asked:


I’ve got a 270 Remington. Please let me know your opinion.

Kendall

theevillink asked:


My brother is a hunter in Michigan, but just as a hobby/sport. He just got laid off of work, how can he make money hunting?

Forrest

Joanne Keith asked:


If you have just started hunting deer, some tips from more experienced hunters can really help you become what you have dreamed of. Of all the good ones you may hear, the following deer hunting tips are the basic ones for beginners just like you.

* Earlier Can Be Better

It is crucial to understand that there are rules that all hunters should follow at all times. Deer hunting is only suitable for specific periods in a year and in a day. Hunters are not encouraged to play their games at night or at dawn. This common sense rule is aimed at ensuring that no hunter ever comes to harm.

However, this does not mean that you can only show up at a specific hunting time. You can always be at a hunting area early in the morning as long as you do not attempt to shoot any deer before the sun comes up. In fact, this is important that you arrive your area earlier to get yourself familiarized with the environment and position yourself at a favorable spot close to your target.

* Keep Your Hunting Game Until Sunset

Even if you arrive at your hunting area early in the morning, you should not stop hunting until the last rays of the sun are about to disappear. Just like early morning, late afternoons are crucial time to both the deer and the deer hunters. It has been reported that late afternoons are the time when hunters are likely to get good shots and have many options to choose from.

The importance of late afternoons is because the deers have to adjust their eyesight to the changing light at that time. This has made it difficult for the deers to detect you. Besides, the late afternoon is also a time when the deers come out for food and water, so that you will have lots of choices to target.

* Make Yourself Smell Neutral

You are supposed to go hunting. You are not about to go on a date, bar or party. With this in mind, you should just avoid using cologne, soap, perfume, shaving cream and other strongly scented products. These scents will not attract deer. They will instead alert the deer that something does not smell right. You should instead simply have a neutral smell. This is a great way for you to be able to merge with the scents in your surroundings.

* Stay Quiet

The top tip of all that even some beginners instinctively know is to keep quiet at all times. This does not just mean keeping your mouth shut. This also means that you have to ensure that your movements do not create even slight rustles. As you may have seen in the nature channel, deer are very sensitive. They are also quite careful. They can easily hear things and run away at the slightest sound.

The tips included in this article are only the basic ones, but, as deer hunting is probably the most popular form of hunting activity, there are more than enough open sources for you to learn more advanced deer hunting tips. You may even come up with your own tips to share with others after some practice.



Richard

Aaron asked:


I live in Illinois and its a shotgun only deer season, and i know Ohio is, what are some other shotgun deer states? Why are they only shotguns? do they think its not hilly enoogh and the bullet can go too far w/o being stopped by something?
thanks
I know already rifles move much faster, my 243 shoots over 3000 fps, and my shotgun shotos under 2000, i know about guns and everything, i just ddint know excactly what the states claim as to the reasoning of using rifles.

Silas

Brent Vanderstelt asked:


Newaygo Michigan is a small rural community located in West Michigan, just 30 minutes north of Grand Rapids. Newaygo contains 100,000 acres of Manistee National Forest.

You will need to get a Newaygo County map that indicated areas of the Manistee National Forest because, chances of finding a private landowner willing to let you use his land is slim.

Whitetail deer hunting in these parts is as big as the 4th of July celebration as the school systems shut down for the day of and day after rifle season. This is why you will need to hunt the Manistee National Forest, but there are big deer there.

You will need to walk in a little way to get away from the crowds. Be prepared to walk into areas where other hunters are unwilling to go. Go deep and look for the many low areas and swamps.

Seek out some deer runs, these run will generally run just inside a row of trees or brush along ravines, near creek beds, fence lines, etc. Set up your blind about 40 feet from these runs. You do not want your blind right over a run.

At midday, mature whitetail bucks frequently bed down on high ground next to the edge of heavy cover, within hearing distance of moving water. Identify such places in your hunting territory and check them for signs of large single deer beds. During hunting season, approach these bedding spots cautiously from downwind, and be ready for a close-range shot at a deer rising from its bed.

Move slowly when still-hunting for deer. Take a step or two, and study the terrain around you for anything that doesn’t quite fit. If you see deer running away, these are deer that saw you first, a clue that you’re moving too fast. The same is true if you have to look down to place your feet. Plan your steps so that you can keep your eyes up, studying the terrain, when you are in motion.

Take your turkey call along when deer hunting: Deer are often reassured by turkey sounds. An occasional turkey feeding call made between bouts of deer grunts and antler rattling gives nearby deer a sense of confidence that your area is safe. After all, turkeys don’t feed or talk when they feel endangered.

When a buck track turns downwind and begins to move uphill, assume that the buck is going to bed down. He will probably stop at the edge of heavy cover, on a high spot that offers a view of his surroundings and permits him to see and get the scent of anything following on his back trail. To approach his bedding site without being seen or winded, circle away from his track for roughly 100 yards and then move cautiously parallel to the track. Study the terrain ahead carefully and be alert for any shape that does not quite fit.

Use a handheld propane torch to remove the hairs that always stick to a carcass after skinning. First, wipe off as many hairs as possible with a damp cloth. When the carcass is dry to the touch, singe the remaining hairs with the propane flame just long enough to make them disappear. Better table fare will result. The longer you let your deer hang, the better your game will taste.

When deer are being pushed, they head for high ground and thick cover. If there are a lot of hunters in your area, go to a remote place that offers high ground and thick cover and wait for deer to be pushed to you by the activity of other hunters.

It is best to hang tree stands and cut shooting lanes a full month before you plan to hunt. The scent you leave and the disturbance caused by cutting brush can cause mature bucks to avoid a stand site for some time when it is new. After a month, big bucks will be accustomed to the changes you made and will return to their former haunts.

When searching for a place to locate a deer stand, look for ground scrapes. Bucks make ground scrapes on trails that are often used by does and return frequently to check the scrapes for signs that a doe has shown interest by marking it. Locate your stand where you have a clear shot at the scrape, for that is where the buck will go.

Loading the carcasses of big-game animals into your vehicle or boat is much easier if you first remove the lower legs at the knee joint. Not only do the lower legs tend to catch on things, but they also cause the carcass to take up more space than is really necessary.

When you miss a shot at a deer or other game animal, don’t move. Unless your quarry actually sighted or smelled you, the noise of the gun probably caused the animal only momentary alarm. Its initial reaction will be to run for cover and then stop, listen, and watch. If the animal cannot identify the source of the sound, it will usually calm down and return to its natural behavior. Remain still for 20 minutes after missing a shot; then resume hunting. Chances are good that the animal will still be within range.

Dropped antlers in the spring are a sign of where bucks spent time the previous winter. The vicinity in which you find a large dropped antler is also an excellent place to start looking for a big buck late in deer season of the following year. Look in places that offer a food source such as acorns, beechnuts, corn, or apples, close to heavy cover that might offer a quiet hiding place.

When a deer suddenly appears at close range in response to your grunt call or antler rattling doesn’t be afraid to move slowly to pick up and shoulder your gun. Deer coming to calls will usually just stop and stare at you, mistaking your movements for those of the deer they were expecting to see.

When you find antler rubs on trees of more than 4 inches in diameter, you are in a big buck’s territory. Summertime scouting for a concentration of large rubs made last autumn will tell you where to expect a big buck to show up next deer season. If those old rubs are freshened up again in early autumn, the buck is still alive and still using his old turf.

To make a set of effective, comfortable rattling antlers for deer hunting, choose pair, which is of medium thickness with long tines. They make the clearest sounds. Hacksaw off the brow tines, then, use a rasp to smooth away any burrs or ridges that will make the handle section uncomfortable to grip. Drill 1*4-inch holes through the antler bases, and string them on a carrying cord. An annual coat of linseed oil will preserve the resonance and give the antlers a “live” sound.

Deer move little during heavy rains and snowstorms. However, they actively seek the most nutritious food sources the day after a period of stormy weather ends. On the day after a storm breaks, concentrate your hunt wherever trails lead to feeding areas such as oak groves, beech ridges, or cornfields. Does and fawns will be heading out to feed, and bucks are sure to follow.

Take my word here, I take several deer each year, usually with my car, but I get them and I keep my local body shop guy and insurance agent in business.

I also own and manage several hunting cabins in Newaygo called Hess Lake Vacation Rentals. You can view our website at www.hesslakerentals.com.



Roland

CGZ UP asked:


Ok, does any one ever been deer hunting. can you explain what its like to be out in the woods. with white tail deer running in front of you. i’ve never been hunting before and my brothers are taking me. any advice?

Fitzgerald