How to hunt deer for beginners is the first question every novice hunter seeks the answer. The first time a hunter picks up a rifle, he dreams of hunting the beautiful doe-eyed deer. Dreams do not need hard work. However, putting a deer trophy on your wall requires knowledge and strategies.
When it comes to hunting innocent forest creatures, they disappear in seconds. This article covers everything you need to comprehend about deer hunting, from tips to techniques and deer hunting gear.
Types of Deers Hunters Love to Chase
The innocent antler creature has large families scattered in the forest. You may find tons of deer types, but the prominent two families are Capreolinae and Cervinae.
These two families are subdivided into many other branches. The most important is only four.
- Caribou
- Mule Deer
- White-Tailed Deer
- Moose
How to Go Hunting For The First Time?
You have decided that deer hunting is in your cards, but you are clueless about what comes next. Deer hunting involves many factors that are crucial for an effective hunt.
The first step is to make a hunting list and prevent any “Oh I forgot” scenario. Deer hunt is not an hour or two venture; it takes a whole day or sometimes more than a day. You can follow this simple checklist strategy for a successful hunt.
- Hunting Equipment
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Essentials
Hunting Equipment
The first thing on the hunting gear list is the equipment. The list includes everything you need for your deer hunt. You can subdivide the category for your convenience into optics or tree stands. The essential hunting equipment includes
- Rifle (you can also use a compound bow
- Binoculars
- Range finders
- Scope and Tools for repairing or adjusting the scope
- Ammo
- Knife (hunting or field dressing kit)
- Calls
- Shooting tripod or bipod
These are the basics you need for your hunting venture. Anything extra will only make your task easy but are not necessary.
Clothing
Clothing depends on the season you are planning to hunt. Each season has its special clothing and accessories.
Winter: If you are planning to hunt in the snow, then layer yourself with clothes. You will need hand warmers for a firm grip, thick bibs, clothing, a face mask, rain gear, and insulated boots.
Summer or Rainy: you don’t have to layer yourself with extra clothing. You will need a camo cap, rain gear, and shooting gloves.
Accessories
When learning how to deer hunt, accessories are the main factor. You add as much as you want, but here is the list of mandatory accessories, which include;
- Game Cameras
- Scent Killers and Cover Scents
- Deer Lures
- Hunting BackPack
- Tent and tree stand
- Ground blind chair
- Compass
- Lights and license holder
Apart from the mandatory accessories, you can also take a flashlight and medical kit. You can pack anything you think would come in handy but do not overburden.
Essentials
The hunting essentials consist of hygiene, a place for rest, and nourishment. The hunts usually go for a day or more, and some essentials are a must to pack. The sample list includes
- Sleeping bag
- Shower kit
- Socks (you never know when your socks get wet)
- Extra water
- First aid kit
- Bug repellent
Best Place to Go Hunting Trips For Beginners
Your backpack is ready; you are fully clothed for a hunting trip, now the question is where to hunt. There are two kinds of lands for deer hunting one is public, and the other is private.
Let’s elaborate on both grounds to have a clear understanding.
Public Lands
Public land is challenging when it comes to deer hunting, but the results are much sweeter. Public territories fall under federal, state, or locally-owned categories.
The states often manage unlimited acres of land owned by citizens. However, the government allows people to hunt deers on these lands. States mostly control forests and wildlife. In comparison, there are locally owned lands for deer hunting.
There are hunting agencies that help you to find public lands. Locally owned lands are not popular, and only professional hunters know about them. But these lands are heaven to hunt.
Private Lands
Private land hunting comes with only two options: lease or buying the land. Usually, hunters are not fans of leasing hunting land as it’s too expensive. However, owning your hunting land has its perks but requires finances as well.
Buying your land is a one-time expense, but you can spend days hunting. You have to maintain the ground to prevent the deer population from getting extinct.
The Best Time to Hunt Deers
Hunting deers doesn’t mean you will find these wild creatures all year roaming in the jungle. September or the beginning of October is usually the earliest for deer hunting. Most of the states allow people for bow hunting from September 15th. Hunting for beginner California starts from august 15th.
It’s recommended to check with the local hunting agency of your area for a full weapons date.
Deer Hunting Tips And Strategies
Deer hunting requires some experience strategies for a successful venture. Spending days trying to hunt deers and ending with nothing is a waste of time and resources. You need to have proper knowledge about the hunting techniques and strategies to end with a trophy.
Deer Hunting Techniques
Deer hunting consists of two standard methods: “stand hunting” and the other is “still hunting.”
What is stand hunting and still hunting?
Stand hunting is precise as you are thinking it’s the waiting game while sitting or standing. The choice is all yours; you can wait in a ground blind or tree stand.
On the contrary, still hunting is the opposite of its name. The technique is more like sneaking up to your prey. It’s usually referred to as stalking.
Verified Strategies To Track Deer For Hunt
When it comes to strategies, deer hunting tricks secrets are the most useful. Tracking a deer is a significant component of hunting. You have to consider two factors.
- Thoroughly learn deer patterns prior to open season.
- Explore the hunt area and gather all the information.
These two are the significant factors that are crucial for a successful hunt. If you learn the patterns of the buck weeks before the season starts, there is a possibility that you will find your prey where expected.
However, older deers are unpredictable and cautious, but “knowledge is power” in this situation. Certain things could prove helpful in your hunt. The list includes trails, tracks, beds scrapes, dropping, and rubs.
How to Rifle Hunt Deer First Time
When asked about the key factor for how to hunt deer for beginners, the answer is patience. It could be days before spotting a single deer and more for a perfect shooting position. Hunter’sHunter’s techniques and strategies vary from one hunter to another.
You have to wait with patience for the deer to approach your position. Before shooting the deer, make sure the breed you are shooting is the legal one. Some states have speculation about shooting big anglers deer.
If the deer is legal and starts directing your way or in a good shooting position, aims your weapon. The three lethal spots of the deer are the head, neck, and behind the front leg.
Things to Consider After Shooting
You have successfully shot your prey; what next?
The initial thing to keep in mind is not to rush towards the buck. You may spook the deer driving the creature to the adrenaline rush. As a result, you will have to trail the blood of your prey for some miles.
When you find the almost dead deer, examine whether it is breathing or not. A pink foam appearing from the mouth is an indication that its lungs have been penetrated. It’s a sign that it will be dead soon. If it’s still breathing gets to a safe shooting distance and aims for its heart or brain.
Don’t act as some macho man and try to slit the wounded animal’s throat. An animal frightened, wounded with an antler on the head, could be lethal.
The last step of deer hunting is gutting the animal. You can take the dead animal to an area where gutting is easier. If you don’t have motorized access, you have to start dressing the dead animal into easy-to-carry pieces.
Final Words
The best deer hunting tips and strategies are learned on the field and with time. The more you learn, your chances of success increase in the hunting field. However, this guide for how to hunt deer for beginners is an excellent start for a successful experience.
Experienced hunters advise the novice to learn from other’s experiences and often read to know something new. Your knowledge is the most incredible power while hunting the buck. The more you know about your prey, the better your possibilities of taking it down.
Be aware of the regulation of the state you are hunting. Your safety, along with your group members, should be your first concern.
