Deer Hunting Tips and Tricks from the Experts

Use Scents to Attract Deer

In many states, hunters can use artificial scents to their advantage. Some of the most popular products include buck scents and estrous-doe scents from brands like Tink's. While attracting deer may be easiest during the rut, BuckVentures' Jeff Danker recommends using deer scents at any time of the year. According to this expert, it's a great way to:

• Assess big bucks in your area
• Start mock scrapes in strategic locations
• Create a setup that works in your favor – even when you're not there

Deer scents are available in single bottles of liquid or gel shots, as well as solid scent products. Some hunters also use deer scent kits with droppers and diffusers for easy dispersion.

Have a Calling Strategy

A successful hunter puts a well-crafted calling strategy into play. Deer use a variety of sounds to communicate with each other and you can use their language to your benefit. Types of deer calls include:

• Grunt: This is the sound a buck makes to showcase his dominance over a doe or another buck. Use it to attract a buck in the mood for a challenger.
• Snort-wheeze: Rarely used by bucks, this is another sound that signifies dominance.
• Rattle: When 2 bucks are fighting, they create rattle sounds. Use this one to make a dominant buck in the area feel challenged and come toward you.
• Bleat: This is the sound a doe or fawn makes and is used to attract bucks or other does.

Choose a Tree Stand Location Early in the Season

Before each hunting season, take stock of your property. This is the time to hang your treestands and check in on the ones that are already there. BuckVentures' Danny McVay recommends the following for your treestand prep checklist:

• Make sure your equipment is secure
• Create a clear shooting path between the branches
• Remove some of the underbrush to carve a clear route to the stand
• Establish easy-to-reach places to hang your hunting gear

Pick the Right Hunting Stand

If you're in the market for a new perch, there are several models to choose from. Hunting stands keep you high off the ground, keeping you out of your target's line of sight and providing a broader view of the landscape. From this vantage point, it's much easier to spot a buck before it sees you. The four major types of hunting stands include:

• Climbing stands
• Ladder stands
• Hang-on stands
• Tri- and quad-pods

While most of the stands listed above are treestands, the last type is freestanding. Depending on your environment and personal preference, one may stand out as the ideal one for you.

Disguise Your Treestand

After you've found the right treestand, it's time to disguise it. Just as important as concealing yourself, this step helps ensure your equipment doesn't deter deer. Try to imagine what you're going to look like to the animal while you're up there.

How You Will Get to Your Stand's Location?

You've scouted the perfect tree and cover, but how will you get up there without alerting wildlife? The successful hunter can get in and out without being seen, heard or smelled. Savage Outdoors' Mike Stroff offers some helpful tips for treestand placement.

Don’t Forget About Hunting Blinds

Hunting blinds can be just as effective as a treestand. As explained by Jeff Dankers with BuckVentures, different hunting locations suit different circumstances. Knowing which one to use can help you make your best shot. Dankers shares his recommendations:

• Deer calling: If you're using a deer call to lure in bucks, a treestand can help make those sounds carry naturally.
• Fields and feeders: Hunting blinds work well near fields, feeders and other locations.
• First-time hunters: Ground blinds are also great for parents teaching youngsters how to hunt.

Always Be Aware of the Wind

While setting up, pay attention to wind direction. Many scents and scent eliminators are on the market today, but it's going to be tough to mask your odor if the wind isn't on your side no matter what you use. Staying downwind – in your stand or blind and on the way to these locations – helps ensure the deer won't sense your presence first.

Bring the Right Optics

As part of your gear, the right optics can make all the difference. Most hunting optics boasts fog, scratch and moisture resistance. These and other durability features help ensure your equipment can withstand the outdoors. Straight from Mike Stroff with Savage Outdoors, these are the deer optics to consider:

Binoculars

Binoculars make it easier to scope out an area from a distance. Many hunting binoculars gather light efficiently, helping you see in dimly lit conditions when deer are most likely to be active.

Range Finders

Range finders are used to calculate the distance between you and your target with a high degree of accuracy. Whether you use a bow or firearm, a range finder helps you make quick, informed decisions.

Riflescopes

Sighting in your target is quick and easy thanks to a riflescope. Look for models with coated lenses for crisp, clear visibility in unpredictable settings.

Of Course, Choose Your Weapon Wisely

Hunters today have a host of weapons to choose from. And for the most part, it's all about user preference. From bow to shotgun, the right tool can enhance your experience. Here are the most common types of hunting weapons:

Recurve Bow

Compound Bow

Composed of cables, pulleys and cams, compound bows are easier to draw and hold because they don’t require as much energy as other bows. They use a bow sight and shoot with a high degree of accuracy, yielding quick, clean kills. The design of a compound bow is distinct and complex; however, this bow is much easier to control and tends to have better accuracy.

Crossbow

Crossbows have greater firing range capabilities than a traditional longbow. With a style that combines the bow and firearm, the crossbow is simple to shoot. It also eliminates the risk of being caught while drawing your bow – all you have to do is pull the trigger. Compared to other bows, the crossbow requires its shooters to have very little experience to have decent accuracy.

Rifle

Rifles are long guns that fire a single projectile. From deer to other types of big game, rifles come in a variety of calibers to suit the target. Popular calibers for white-tail deer hunting include:

• .30-06
• .30/30
• .270
• 7mm
• .308

Shotgun

Ideal for shorter ranges, shotguns shoot multiple projectiles from a single cartridge called a shell. Shotguns are a great option for deer hunting! Common gauges for shotguns include 10, 16, 20, and 28 gauge. One important thing to understand about this type of gun is that smaller gauge numbers have the larger barrel interior.

Where To Shoot A Deer

What to Do After the Kill

Once you've shot a deer, the hunt isn't over. You'll have to track it down if it wasn't mortally wounded. When you've located the animal, here are your next steps:

Field Dressing Your Deer

Field dressing is the process of removing the internal organs from the body cavity. This allows the body to cool faster and makes it easier to get it back to your cabin. Field care products are available to help make this task go smoothly. This process is also easier with help from a friend.

Drag Your Deer Out of the Woods

When you're finished field dressing the animal, it's time to drag it out of the woods. For a buck, you can simply grab onto an antler. But for a doe, wrap a rope around its neck and then start dragging. To help make this task easier, some hunters load the deer onto a sled first.

Process Your Deer

When it comes to butchering a deer, there are two options: you can either process the animal yourself or take it to a professional who can do it for you. If you're a beginner, have an experienced hunter show you how to do it the first time around.

Enjoy the Adventure

Using these deer hunting tips for beginners and seasoned hunters, it's time to start planning. Academy Sports + Outdoors is your one-stop shop for hunting equipment and apparel. Find everything you need online or visit an Academy near you for in-person guidance.