Whitetail hunting is an art, and while suggestions come from every nook and cranny, few carry as much credibility or efficiency. To enhance this experience, guidance is needed to ensure safety while promoting efficiency and better completion chances. The following are the top ten strategies to maximize a whitetail hunt and save in the field.
- Harness the Power of Early Mornings
The best time for whitetail hunting is early morning hours as this is the time they usually are active. Misty dawn is almost perfect, and you can see a lot of movement with deer browsing and grazing. Hunting in these conditions boosts your success ratio as you can increase your visibility of bucks and does alike. Some skilled hunters say that misty conditions make it hard to detect your scent and noise and thus help you to move with less detection.
- Deer Rely on Superior Hearing Over Sight
Whitetail deer lack acute daytime vision but make up for the deficiency with keen hearing. They can detect sounds a mile or more away by identifying crunching leaves, snaps of twigs, or distant gunshots. When hunting, make slow and deliberate movements to make little to no noise. At the point of shot firing, it is always best to assume all the deer within a one- to two-mile radius have been notified of your presence and will disperse into the area.
- Leverage Modern Drone Technologies
Drones have changed the game for hunters. Equipped with a camera, you can survey extensive areas, spot deer from a bird’s-eye view, and track movements without disturbance. Since whitetails hardly appear, using a drone could give you an unrivaled advantage. Fly the drone at a safe height so as not to spook the animals, then use the footage to map your route, knowing where the deer are headed.
- Use Tree Stands Wisely and Safely
Tree stands can remain one of the most armed competent tools within your hunting arsenal, as whitetail deer are not used to looking upwards. Safety has to be first, with most accidents happening while getting in or out of the stand. Invest in quality gear and harnesses, make sure your tree stand is secure, and never rush when making a climb. Elevated positioning puts you out of the line of sight from the deer and, at the same time, provides a better view of what takes place around you.
- Mask Your Scent and Stay Downwind
Besides acute hearing, whitetails also possess an acute sense of smell, which they use to detect their predators from afar. Wash your hunting clothes in scent-free detergent, avoid scented products of any kind, and, most importantly, always check the direction of the wind. Attempt to be downwind of where you think the deer are traveling; even a slight hint of human smell will send them running.
- Keep Yourself Safe with Insect Repellents
Coincidentally, while going deep into the woods, chances of getting diseases from ticks, including Lyme disease and other mosquito-borne illnesses, can be worse for one’s health. Please do not rely on your luck; spray DEET-based repellents on your skin or clothes; choose them unscented so that this will not lead to attracting deer by your scent.
- Odor Eliminator Spray
Scent-free detergent can’t completely prevent it, but human odors can still build up after prolonged exercise. Look to buy odor-eliminating sprays designed for hunting. Spray liberally on your body, clothes, and accessories before heading out, and bring extra to reapply throughout the day. If you hunt from a tree stand, give that a good coating to eliminate any human scent left behind.
- Use Mapping Apps to Scout Your Spot
Technology is a hunter’s closest friend, and with the help of applications like Google Maps or hunting apps like OnX Hunt, you are bound to get the best spots. Employ these to pinpoint locations with suitable landscape features, water, or flora that will attract deer right to you. You are looking for the area to be accessible yet far enough from major roads so that deer will not be spooked by human activity. Plotting in your location beforehand saves time and lets you get settled in for the best advantage over vantage points in deer activity.
- Adopt the Silent Approach
If hunting with a partner, conversations should be kept to a minimum, substituting signals that are handmade in place. Deer have a keen and well-developed hearing; even the most casual conversation can send them running long before they are seen. If necessary, whisper and make sure any hunting partners understand the consideration of silence.
- Be Guarded During the Rut
During the rut, or mating season, bucks are more aggressive and territorial than any other time of year. You will notice the evidence of the rut through “scrapes”, circular areas where bucks have rubbed away the ground – and “rubs”, which are just marks antlers leave on trees. Bucks will be incredibly bold and may charge rather than flee if you infringe upon their territory. Be prepared to retreat quickly, if necessary, as testosterone-driven bucks can be unpredictable and even dangerous.
Squaw Mountain Ranch Offering Whitetail Deer Hunting on 2000 acres.
Where better to put all these tips into practice than at Squaw Mountain Ranch? With more than 2,000 acres of prime whitetail hunting grounds at our guests’ disposal, it is with pride that we offer the ultimate in expertise, opened grounds with first-class support from our professional staff, guiding you along every step to make the deer hunt in Texas nothing less than successful and memorable.
Ready for your ultimate whitetail hunting tour? Call us now at (830) 275-3277 to book a tour or speak with one of our experts about the best hunting trip you will ever take.