Deer Hunting

Two of the most common species and frequently hunted are elk and mule deer. However, as closely related members of the deer family, it can sometimes be confusing which is which. 

Though hopefully not while we’re hunting, almost all of us at one point or another have had the privilege of being stomped at by a whitetail deer.

You use bait to fish, why not to hunt deer? Okay, so maybe baiting deer is a bit more complicated, both practically and legally, but with the right approach, it…

Even if you’re not hunting deer, any wildlife enthusiast or person with deer on their property can benefit from knowing what deer droppings mean.

Yes, deer can smell. In fact, they’re great at it. Their long noses are a lot better at picking up the scent particles in the air with a whopping 297 million olfactory receptors while humans have a dinky five million.

Deer terminology can be confusing, but it’s actually important when it comes to scoring antlers for trophy hunting and herd management.

Not only does having a working knowledge of deer anatomy help you to hunt more successfully, but it’s also crucial in allowing you to hunt more ethically and efficiently.

Believe it or not, a deer’s head is not the only place you can find antlers. Since they shed every year, many people have started taking to the woods to look for this wonder of nature that has inspired us for thousands of years. If you’d like to start hunting for shed antlers, there are eight main places you should look as well as some tips and tricks to follow to increase your chances of success.

Unlike horns, tusks and other growths, antlers fall out and regrow each year in a dramatic and rapid cycle.

Rubs and scrapes are two of the most useful whitetail deer markings for hunters. Unfortunately, they’re also two of the most confused terms in the hunting community with some hunters mistakenly thinking they’re the same thing.

As one of the most impressive structures in the animal kingdom, antlers don’t exactly have a simple growth pattern. Consequently, asking when they grow is a more complicated question than it might seem.

Antler Velvet… where does it come from and where does it go? The process of deer shedding velvet is widely misunderstood but very important if you want to understand the antler growth cycle and get the most out of your bucks.

Not all deer have antlers, but in some species the females as well as the males grow them.

Antlers are the defining feature of whitetail deer, symbols of power and virility that have attracted hunters for millennia.

In a tree-stand, there are a lot of factors that change how you have to aim and which shots are likely to be successful.

Every hunter should hang their deer meat for at least a day or two if they plan to eat it. Hanging greatly improves the texture and tenderness of the meat due to the biochemical processes that happen after the animal dies.

There are four main ways to mount your trophy and number of poses. Choosing the right one is more than decoration—it’s commemoration.

Stalking, sometimes called spot-and-stalk hunting, is challenging and requires more conscious strategizing.

Just like human beings, whitetail deer behavior is dependent on the weather. To put it simply, deer move when the weather changes.

When it comes to hunting whitetail deer, the early bird gets the worm. You shouldn’t wait for the peak rut in November. Instead, start hunting in the pre-rut when you start to feel the first bite of fall crispness.

Mature bucks have their own way of announcing who they are: their scrapes. A tell-tale sign of the rut, you’ll find these scrapes under trees, marking the territory of the local bucks. 

Deer are fast animals. They have to be to escape the many predators in their environment like cougars, bears and, of course, humans.

It’s essential to field dress your deer as soon as you’ve killed it. This process involves removing the internal organs of the animal in order to preserve the meat and keep it until you can get it home or to a processor. This can seem intimidating at first, but if you follow these tips and 15 detailed steps, you’ll find it’s a simple and fun part of the hunt that helps you get the most out of your kill.

To understand where to shoot a deer when bowhunting, you first have to understand which vital organs you should hit to kill the animal quickly and painlessly.

The wise hunter never stops learning. In fact, it’s your greatest advantage.

Understanding the deer’s internal clock is essential to a successful hunt. Knowing when the deer are likely to move and when they’re bedded down so you can move to your stand is critical.

Deer are quite vocal animals, and they express themselves with a variety of noises that all mean different things, from warnings to sweet talk.

When it comes to sounds, few animals can compete with the majesty of the elk. Whether you want to learn the elk language so you can call them on the hunt, or you just want to get more acquainted with the beauty of elk calls, it’s a complex and nuanced topic. Take the time to familiarize yourself with all the different sounds, which elk make them and why. It’s a rewarding subject.

Getting into such a storied sport can seem overwhelming, but any bowhunter will tell you it’s more than worth it. It can be a lot easier to get started if you know all the different parts of the process. Take it step by step and before you know it, you’ll have antlers on your wall and venison in the freezer.

It pays to be prepared in life. In hunting, doubly so. As a bowhunter, there are specific things you should make sure to do before you head out, and there are specific things you should make sure to pack.

Perfect weather isn’t always in the cards and you’ll need to venture out hunting in less than perfect conditions, most likely the rain. But, is hunting while it’s raining even worth it?

Did you know there are actually numerous different species of deer located all across the United States and even the world. The different types present different obstacles and require different strategies to hunt.