How To Track Deer After The Shot

Do you hunt deer? Do you know how to properly track deer after it is shot?  Would you like to know how to track the deer after it is shot? In this article, we discuss the steps to track the deer after it is shot.

1. Do Nothing Right Away

After the deer is hit, resist the adrenaline rush to climb down from your treestand or your ground blind and take off after it. 

Only come down quickly if you see the deer lying lifeless on the ground for 10 minutes. Instead, do nothing for about 30 minutes. Relive the scene.  Playback where it stood before it was hit. Remember the last place you spotted it.

Going after it too soon will only cause the deer to move farther away and increase the likelihood that you never find it. 

2. Deer Initial Reaction

It is very important that you pay attention to the initial reaction of the deer after it is shot. How it reacts can give you

some clues as to where it was hit and the severity of the shot. Additionally, be prepared to quickly take another shot if it is needed. 

3. Study The Blood

Studying the color and quantity of the blood can give you a lot of information about where it was hit and the severity of the shot. If you want to learn more about how to track deer after the shot, then click this link.

4. Find The Blood Trail

If you memorized the spot where you hit the deer, you can quickly find the initial spot and start looking for any signs of blood. 

Many times, you will not see any signs of blood. Don't give up, just continue to look carefully. Look at the vegetation and trees close by as sometimes the deer will brush against the branches or vegetation. Remember the direction it ran and slowly follow the steps. You will, at some point, find blood signs that you can start the search. 

5. Track The Blood Trail

After locating the blood, you should start tracking it. There are many items you can use to help map out the blood trail such as orange tape, surveyor's tape, or toilet tissue.

6. Be Patient & Methodical

Tracking a deer involves a lot of patience and meticulous search. Slowly find and follow the blood trail and you will eventually locate the deer.

7. Involve Others

Most of the time, you will have hunting buddies and they will get involved in helping you locate the deer if it proves to be a difficult and complicated search.

8. Tracking Dogs

The last resort will be to use dogs to help you track down the deer. They don't have to be tracking dogs. Dogs have a very good sense of smell and instinctively will follow a scent.

Conclusion

How to track deer after it is shot involves a meticulous and methodical process to find the deer. In this article, we discussed the steps to take to track the deer. If you would like to learn more about hunting deer, then click this link.

How To Hunt Deer On Public Land

 

Do you hunt deer? Do you want to learn how to hunt deer on public land? Hunting deer on public land has its own unique challenges. In this article, we discuss how to successfully hunt deer on public land.

1. E- Scouting

It is always a good idea to research the public land before you put a foot on the land. Use Google Earth or hunting apps like onX to get a good idea of the landscape and habitats by studying satellite images or topographic maps. Look for areas of cover, hard-to-access areas, travel funnels, areas close to roads, water sources, fallow fields, marshes, transition lines, access points, crops, cedar thickets, pine plantings, hardwoods, and drainages.

You can gather a lot of information from studying the images of these areas on the land. Additionally, study the images to determine possible areas where hunting pressure might exist and potential sanctuaries for whitetail deer. Also, look for any private land nearby that maybe escape routes and sanctuaries for deer.

2. Talk To The Authorities

After you have studied the satellite images and pinpointed possible areas of interest for hunting whitetail deer, you should talk to the local authorities. It could be the area manager or wildlife biologist. Find the department of natural resource website and find the contact information for that person.

When you finally talk with the local authority, ask detailed questions from your research that demonstrate that you have done research about the public land. Ask about where there is the most hunting pressure during the hunting season, food sources, hard-to-access areas, overlooked areas, private lands adjacent to the public land that can serve as sanctuaries, specific locations, information about the deer on the land, etc.

You will get a lot of valuable information from the wildlife professional that would have taken you years to acquire. My advice is to record the conversation instead of trying to take notes while talking; don't make that mistake.

3. Boots On The Ground

After e-scouting and talking with the wildlife biologist or area manager from the department of natural resources, you want to get on the public land and physically scout it with the information from the e-scouting and chat with the local authority. This is a visit to confirm all of your findings.

The visits you make to the public land will help you get to know the landscape, identify the locations you found from the satellite images, confirm information from the area manager, etc. This time spent on the public land will improve your chances of success when the hunting season begins.

4. Follow The Rules

Many public lands have rules and regulations. The wildlife biologist or area manager might bring this up when you talk with them. Learn the rules and regulations and follow them. Most of these rules concern hunting methods, bag limits, season dates, legal weapons, antler restrictions, methods of access, permits, etc. 

Often you can find the rules on the website of the public land, in its printed booklet, or on their mobile app. It is also a good idea to keep a copy in your vehicle or on you when you hunt the land. If you want to learn more about how to hunt deer on public land, then click this link.

5. Well-Known Spots

Don't make the mistake many hunters make. Avoid the well-known hunting areas. If you are aware of these areas, then just know that many other hunters are also aware of them and planning to set up their stands there. Even the deer will be aware of the hunting pressure and move to areas that give them more protection. When you arrive at public land, don't park where every other hunter will park in the parking spots.

Instead, using the map of the public land, try to drive around the public land and mark on the map where you find hunters have parked their vehicles. Mark areas of the public land where you didn't see any cars parked and find a way to park and quickly walk in a take a look around for any human activity. Look for areas off the beaten path that are often overlooked.

6. Hard To Access Areas

From the research, you did with satellite images and topographic maps, try to find hard-to-reach areas. It may be areas with very rough terrain, ravines, large hills, lakes, areas cut off by a river, creek, swampy land, very thick vegetation, or property boundaries. 

If you can locate hard-to-access areas for human beings, those just might be the areas whitetail deer will move to as sanctuaries when the hunting pressure increases during the start of the hunting season. Find areas that are hard to access that other hunters are simply not willing to go to.

7. Weekday Hunt

If you can hunt during the week, chances are you may not run into many hunters and also come across deer. The hunting pressure gets intense on the weekends as more people hunt on the weekends when they are free. 

This hunting pressure makes the deer move away during the start of the weekend and up to the beginning of the week. If you can hunt on Tuesday to Thursday, you just might have more success as the hunting pressure may have subsided and allowed deer to come out when they sense the danger is not high.

8. Trail Cameras

Set up trail cameras to collect information. I know what you may be thinking, but it is well worth it to set up trail cameras on public lands if it is not against the rules and regulations. You can use metal lock boxes and cables to reduce the risk of theft.

You can also minimize the risk by only placing the trail cameras in those areas you discovered that are well off the well-known areas. Additionally, you can also place them during the week and take them down at the start of the weekend like on Friday morning.

Conclusion

Many hunters believe that it is not worth it to hunt deer on public land because of the amount of hunting pressure that is present during the hunting season. 

While it is true that there is an increase in hunting pressure during the hunting season, there are still pockets of public land that can be very productive to hunt for deer. In this article, we discuss how to hunt deer on public land. If you want to learn more about hunting, then click this link.

How To Hunt Deer At Night

Do you hunt deer during the daytime? Do you want to hunt deer at night? Hunting deer at night is similar to hunting deer during the daytime but it is slightly different. 

Additionally, you will have to find out if it is allowed in your state. In this article, we discuss how to hunt deer at night to help you take down more deer during the night.

1. State's Law

Hunting deer at night is rewarding but is also very dangerous. It poses a high danger to others who may be hunting or in the area you are hunting deer in night. Additionally, hunting deer or other animals at night may not be ethical with the methods or equipment you use. 

Hence, not all states allow hunting at night. The first thing you need to do before you hunt deer at night is to find out if it is legal in the state you want to hunt in. You can research it online at this website.

2. Scout the Area

Before you go night hunting, it is always good to scout the area. You can use Google Earth or hunting apps like HuntStand or onX to locate food sources, possible travel routes, water sources, bedding areas, transition lines, funnels, and access points to monitor the deer movement. Deer are nocturnal and you will gather more information about their movement and behavior during the night.

You can set up trail cameras to collect information about deer at night. Learn their movements and behaviors in the area and track them for quite some time before the hunting season begins. Deer have a set of routines they carry out day and night. 

They will continue with those routines in that area if they are not interrupted. Learn their routines and find a way to set up in a position to take advantage of their night routines.

3. Scent Control

Whether you hunt deer at night or during the day, one of the important things to pay attention to is controlling your human scent. Deer have a very good sense of smell. Along with their good eyesight, their sense of smell also helps them avoid predators and danger.

A couple of days before you go hunting, "de-scent" all of the clothing you will wear, of it. Spray them with a scent killer and store them in a scent-proof bag. Use scent-free bathing soap on the morning before the night that you are going to hunt. Use a scent-free towel and get dressed in scent-free sweat pants, socks, and a t-shirt.

Do not wear your hunting boots while driving to the hunting area. Instead, wear rubber clogs when driving and getting your gear out of the car. All of these precautions may sound too much, but it works.

4. Camouflage Clothing

These may be beaten-down words but you must wear the appropriate clothing for hunting. From scouting the area, you should have a pretty good idea of the area. Wear the right camouflage clothing that will conceal you in that area. Safety should also be taken seriously and wear any safety color to identify you to other hunters that might be hunting at night in that area.

5. Hunting Buddy

It is better to have a hunting buddy when you go deer hunting at night. For safety reasons, you will be better off with a hunting companion when hunting deer at night. It is also very important that the two of you stay together when hunting at night and don't get separated or one partner goes missing. There are dangers from wild animals as well as from other people. If you would like to learn more about how to hunt deer at night, then click this link.

6. Sit Still & Be Quiet

Deer have a sense of hearing and big bucks have the ability to pick up high-frequency sounds miles away. It is very important that you remain quiet all the time you are deer hunting at night. Make sure your cell phone volume is off or the cell phone is off. 

If deer pick up noise in the vicinity of where you are located, it may take many hours before they come near that area. They will only come that way again after they are convinced that the danger is no longer present.

7. Dress Warmly

You will need to dress warmly to protect yourself from the cold weather by maintaining your average body temperature. Avoid wearing any cotton as it absorbs moisture and it would be difficult for you to stay warm if it rains. Instead, wear synthetic or wool fabric that will retain the heat and prevent moisture absorption. 

Dressing in layers will help keep you warm. Additionally, it must be stated once again, that all of the clothing you will wear must be scent-free for best hunting results.

8. Hunting Over Bait

Setting up a bait pile and positioning yourself with a clear line of sight to the bait pile is one way to deer hunt at night. You can also set up bait a couple of yards from the bait pile and lead the bait back to the bait pile. This method has been used effectively by many hunters but many mature bucks have come to be wary of bait piles.

They usually stay far away from the bait pile and observe the area for weeks, and maybe months for any human activity before making any movement toward the bait pile. Always verify if it is legal to set up a bait pile to hunt deer at night.

9. Predator Calls

Predator calls can be used to deer hunt at night but it is not being widely used. Using predator calls will take away the "no noise" aspect of hunting in the night. Some bucks may be wary of the calls if they don't hear calls during the night on a regular basis. This is where your scouting findings can be helpful. 

If you scouted the area and heard calls from deer and remembered the times you heard them, then you can use predator calls, but it is not widely used for hunting deer at night.

Conclusion

Deer hunting at night has become popular in the last few decades. Not many states allow hunting deer at night but there are a few that do. It is exciting and rewarding as it is dangerous. Hunting deer at night is similar to deer hunting during the daytime except you have to factor in the darkness and plan for it. 

In this article, we discuss how to hunt deer at night to help beginners and more experienced deer hunters be more successful when they hunt deer at night. If you would like to learn more about hunting deer, then click here.

4 Tips To Sight In A Scope

 Do you know how to properly sight in a scope? Would you like to learn the steps on how to sight in  scope? In this article,  we share the steps on how to sight in a scope.

1. Mount the Base

Install the mounting base of the scope to the rifle.

2. Attach The Rings

Attach the rings to the base. Make sure that the rings are aligned with the mounting system. Then mount the scope onto the rings and tighten the screws. Don't overtighten the screws as this can damage the scope.

3. Mount The Scope

Align the scope with the mounting base. Look through the scope and verify that the crosshairs are lined up with the mounting base.

Once the scope is aligned, then attach it to the mounting base. If you would like to learn more about how to sight in a scope, then click this link.

4. Adjust The Eye Relief

Adjust the eye relief. Eye relief is the distance between your eye and the scope. Adjust the eye relief by looking through the scope and moving it forward or backward until you get a clear view. Eye relief affects accuracy, therefore it is crucial that you get it right.

Conclusion

How to sight in a scope is not a difficult process. It just involves a series of steps to get it done. You must sight in the scope correctly as it affects the accuracy. In this article, we discuss the steps to sight in a scope. If you would like to learn more about hunting scopes, then visit www.thehuntingterrain.com.

5 Factors To Consider When Buying Hip Waders

 Do you want to buy hip waders? Do you know what to look for when buying hip wader? In this article, we discuss the factors to consider when buying hip waders.

1. Durability

Always choose durable hip waders for the rigors of hunting and fishing. Most hip waders are made of neoprene, rubber, nylon, or polyester. Always read the label to get an idea about the construction of the hip wader.

2. Comfortability

You want to be comfortable in the hip wader. Most hip waders have neoprene or Thinsulate material in the boot to keep you warm and dry.

Many are designed with adjustable straps to adjust your height. Additionally, many are also designed with anti-slip soles for traction on muddy or slippery surfaces.  

3. Lightweight

Most hip waders are made of lightweight PVC material that renders them lightweight and durable. You want to be mobile and not be hampered by the weight of the hip wader. If you would like to learn about the best hip waders on the market today, then click this link.

4. Waterproof

Most hip waders are designed to be waterproof. When buying hip waders, you want a 100% waterproof hip wader as you hunt in wet and dry conditions.

5. Safety

Safety is a very important factor when hunting. The hip wader you buy should provide you with the best safety in the field. Many are designed with non-slip soles with thickened PVC for safety in the water. Additionally, lighter materials and adjustable belts help with balance control. Moreover, the boots are designed to provide better balance and traction on muddy or slippery surfaces.

Conclusion

Hip waders are important if you will hunt in wet conditions near creeks, streams, ponds, and rivers. In this article, we discuss factors to consider when buying hip waders. If you would like to learn more about hip waders, then visit.thehuntingterrain.com.

7 Steps To Tan A Deer Hide

 Do you hunt deer? Do you want to learn how to tan a deer hide? In this article, we discuss the steps to tan a deer hide.

1. Fleshing The Hide

The first thing you want to do is to remove all of the remaining flesh, fat, muscle, and membrane using a scraping tool. Keeping the deer hide in the refrigerator the day before you do the fleshing process is a good idea. The refrigerator hardens the meat and fat making it easier to remove.

Place the hide on a scraping beam or other surface. You want to be very careful as you do this to avoid piercing it. Work every area of the skin including the edges. Carefully scrape all excess material from the skin. For a very good tanning job of the skin, it must be completely cleaned of flesh, fat, muscles, etc.

2. Salt The Deer Hide

After thoroughly fleshing the hide, you want to completely cover the deer hide with non-iodized salt. The salt absorbs all of the fluids out of the hide. This is called curing the hide. A quarter-to-half-inch layer of salt is a good measurement to go by. 

Make sure every inch of the hide is completely covered with salt. Keep it covered with salt for a day. That will give the salt the time needed to dry off all fluids.

3. Soak The Hide In Water

Pickling the hide kills any bacteria left on it. Pickling the hide prepares the hide for tanning. Add about five gallons of water to a container. Then add two quarts of non-iodized salt to the water and stir the mixture. You can then add the pickling acid.

If you don’t have a pickling acid, you can make your own pickle solution by adding equal parts of distilled white vinegar and water plus two pounds of salt per gallon of solution. Immerse the deer hide in the pickle solution for three days. Regularly stir the solution during the three days.

4.  Neutralize The Hide

After the three days, make a solution with four to five gallons of water and two cups of baking soda. Immerse the hide in this solution for 30 to forty minutes. This neutralizes the acid wash.

Then neutralize the skin by soaking it in a solution made from four gallons of water 
mixed with two cups of baking soda for up to forty minutes. Rinse in clean 
water and towel dry.

5. Dry The Hide

After the time has passed, remove the hide from the neutralizing solution and dry it with towels.

6. Apply Tanning Oil

With the skin laying flat on a surface, apply tanning oil to every part of the skin. The tanning oil prevents it from cracking or drying out. Don’t be economical with the tanning oil. Make sure the skin is well-oiled. Leave it with the tanning oil overnight.

On the next day, you want to fill a container with five gallons of water. Immerse the skin in the water to rinse off any excess oil. This will in no way hinder the tanned hide. Dry the hide with towels and lay it flat on a surface to stretch and work every inch of it. Working the hide will keep it soft as it dries.

7. Working The Hide

The hide may be stiff and may need to be worked. You can use the back of a chair or any object to break the stiff fibers of the hide to make it pliable and soft. The longer you work the hide, the softer and pliable it becomes. Work every part of the hide until it becomes soft to your liking. After you get it to the desired softness, you will have completed tanning the deer hide.

Conclusion

How to tan a deer hide is not a difficult process. In fact, there are many different ways people tan a deer hide using a variety of natural or processed products. In this article, we discussed the steps to tan a deer hide. If you would like to learn more about how to tan a deer hide, then click this link.

12 Tips To Sight In A Compound Bow

 Do you know how to properly sight in a compound bow? Would you like to learn the steps on how to sight in a compound bow?  In this article, we share the steps on how to sight in a compound bow.

A. The Paper Target Method

1. Unstrung Bow

Make sure that your bow is unstrung.

2. Setting Up Your Target

Set up your target so that it is at a distance of 20 yards. If you do not have a 20-yard range, you can use the 30-yard mark on a standard archery target.

3. Position Yourself

Take your stance so that you are perpendicular to the target, with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Draw the string back to your anchor point, making sure that the arrow is lined up with the center of the bow.

4. Release The Arrow

Take a deep breath and slowly release the arrow. Try to keep your hand steady as you release the string. If your arrow hits the target, congratulations! You have successfully sighted in your compound bow.

5. Armguard

You will also need an armguard to protect your forearm from the string, as well as a finger tab or glove to protect your fingers. You will also need a target and arrows.

B. The 3-Dot Method

1. Shooting An Arrow

Start by shooting an arrow at a target 20 yards away.

2. High Shot

If the shot is high, move the top dot down.

3. Low Shot

If the shot is low, move the bottom dot up.

4. Shot To The Right

If the shot is to the right, move the right dot to the left.

5. Shot To The Left

Lastly, if the shot is to the left, move the left dot to the right.

6. Shoot Another Arrow

After making the necessary adjustments, shoot another arrow at the target.

7. Repeat Process

Repeat this process until you are satisfied with your accuracy.

Conclusion

Sighting in a compound bow is not difficult, you just have to follow a series of steps to properly sight it in. In this article, we shared the steps to sight in a compound bow. If you would like to learn more about how to sight in a compound bow, then click this link.