10 Tips to Make You a Better Deer Hunter

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

Ever since our Paleolithic ancestors discovered that hunting wild animals was a fun way of getting a meal, this age-old practice has evolved into a lucrative sport that drives America’s billion dollar optic industry. However, having the best binoculars for hunting and rifle that money can buy does not always translate to success especially in the deer season. In this article, I will be covering some of the essential tips that can transform you into a master deer hunter.

1. Avoid scented soaps
Do you know why our Paleolithic ancestors were extremely successful big game hunters? Well, it’s because they blended exceptionally well with their forest surroundings. Consider this; a deer has 297 million scent receptors in their nose while we have a meager 5 million scent receptors. Therefore, a deer’s sense of smell is 500 to 1000 times better than yours. Not a fair fight right? Well, to even the playing fields, avoid showering with scented soaps before going deer hunting. Also, keep your hunting clothes tightly sealed in a zip lock back containing leaves, dirt and other forest debris. This will help you mask your human smell.

2. Be very still
Do not make the mistake of scooping large areas of the forest, instead scope small fields first. This way you will be able to know where deer bed. Also, using your watch you can learn how to be still for a specified period. In this way, you will be able to keep still for a longer period.

3. Be on your knees when hunting
Whether you use a bow or a gun on your hunting trip, it is important that you shoot when kneeling down. It is not easy for animals to recognize you when you are kneeling. Thus, in this position you can stalk an animal and fire a shot when the time is right.

4. Do not be in a hurry
One of the biggest mistakes made by novice deer hunters is going the same way a deer has gone. When you identify a deer trail, figure out where the deer is coming from. Then go to the direction that puts downwind, and crosswind as this gets you away from the deer’s line of sight.

5. Use vocalization tech
If you want to attract a deer you can use deer vocalization that gives you the ability to sound just like a deer. When using this technology start small just in case, there is a deer near you. A loud sound can stop a deer. Also, you have to watch for how a deer reacts to your sounds.

6. Don’t make human sounds
There are many sounds that are part of our daily lives that are unnatural to a deer. In this regard, avoid making sounds that do not fit into a deer’s natural surroundings. A good example is a phone ring, coughing, banging of metal equipment. If it is possible, avoid carrying your phone.

7. Ensure your accessories are accessible
Thanks to technology there are many gadgets that you can use to improve your hunting skills. One such gadget is a rangefinder. To make things simple on your end, you store your best rangefinder in a way that it is easy to access when you need it during a hunt.

8. Use a facemask or paint
Since a deer has better eyesight than you, it is able to identify the characteristic contours of your face. Putting on a face mask or face will make it more difficult for a deer to identify you. In this regard, you can hide from a deer.

9. Use camouflaged accessories
Like I have mentioned there are many handy accessories that you can use to improve your hunting. However, these accessories can also make you stand out in the rugged and natural surroundings of a forest. To minimize the risk of being spotted by a deer use accessories with a dull color or that have a color that is similar to a forest’s natural surroundings. Do not use accessories that are shiny as they may reflect light and give you away.

10. Stay healthy
When the deer season comes around you, need to be healthy throughout the season. Therefore, use tick repellant to avoid contracting tick-borne diseases that can be catastrophic to your hunting season.

Daren Rifen is the founder of Binoculars Guru, who is passionate about all things of optics for birding, hunting, and stargazing. Through his website, he would like to share his experiment about the optics and some exciting tips about hunting, birding, and stargazing that he used, which will help you whether you are a beginner or professional outdoor activists.