Every hunter knows how fleeting time can feel as you search for the perfect target during hunting season. You only have so many days in the season, and as winter approaches, daylight hours grow shorter and shorter. It can feel like you have no time at all to catch that buck you’ve been trailing. Whether you’re counting the days left in the season or fighting against the clock to catch that buck during legal hours, sometimes finding that big buck you just know is out there takes a little innovative thinking and a lot of tricks.
At TC Outdoors, we pride ourselves on our hunting & gun expertise. As hunters like you, we’ve gathered knowledge and experience gained through many hunting seasons that could just be the trick you need to make yours a success! With our three hunter-tested deer hunting tips, we can guarantee you’ll come home with a hunting trophy you’ll be proud of.
Food is Key
Hunting season often aligns with mating seasons for deer. During this season and in the period after, many deer will be searching for plentiful sources of food to bulk up for the harsh winters. The rut period can lead bucks to lose almost a fourth of their initial body weight, so if they want to make it through winter, they’ll need to eat.
Predictably, this means to find deer, you’ll want to search for the sources of food they frequent. Deer’s diets can vary depending on the environment, and what a deer in the northern climate might feast on could differ entirely from a deer in the south. To give yourself an advantage, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the diets of your local deer, and you’ll have a great idea of where the most active areas might just be.
However, if you’re having trouble finding common grazing areas, we have a tip. We recommend picking up some bait in the form of deer blocks or bags of feed. Leave them out, and eventually, you may just see what we mean when we say, “Food is key!”
Decoys & Pheromones
When you’re tired of trying to find where your target is hiding, it might just be the perfect time to bring them to you. Deer calls, decoys, and deer-attracting pheromones are what you need to draw those stubborn deer out from wherever they’ve taken cover and right into the path of your sight lines. By mimicking the appearance, sounds, and smells of a true deer, it gives the deer population a false sense of security that you can take advantage of for hunting.
A believable decoy can serve as a signal to the local deer population that an area is safe. During mating season especially, these tools can fool doe and buck alike into believing that you or a decoy is one of its kind. While you can use just one of these tools, using multiple types of lures in conjunction is the most effective way to bring deer toward you as it builds a more convincing “illusion” of a real deer.
Scope out the Land
Knowing your hunting grounds is one of the most important advantages you can take into the hunting season. If you’re able to, we recommend mapping both digitally and on foot. Familiarity with the land will allow you to plan out routes to bottleneck an escaping deer, pinpoint areas of high deer traffic to position hunting cams, and track areas where your fellow hunter’s presence might lead to a lower density of deer populations.
Knowing the patterns of your local deer population is key to avoiding hours of waiting that lead to you leaving empty-handed. Your deer population will show signs of their presence! Keep your eyes out for signs they’ve left behind. Scrapes and rubs will be some of the most apparent signs of buck presence. Track, droppings, and disturbed ground where a deer has made their beds are other good indicators. Keep your eyes open, and don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path. You may just discover a hidden gem.
A Bonus Tip from Us
As your hunting headquarters, we can’t help but suggest one of our favorite hunting tips for finding a stubborn buck: Stocking up on gear at a trusted sporting goods store! Hunting season is only as good as you make it, and there’s no better way to improve your chance than with quality hunting supplies. From hunting accessories, your favorite rifles for sale, or extra ammunition to ensure you’re ready when you’ve lined up the perfect shot, we’ve got it all.
As hunters and gun enthusiasts, TC Outdoors is dedicated to providing our customers with everything they need to make their hunting trips a success. Come by our store to browse our stock, and we promise you’ll find exactly what you need.