• Trail cameras offer substantial scouting opportunities. Use a mineral lick or salt block during the offseason to bring deer into camera range. Remember to bring an extra memory card and batteries every time you check your cameras. Locate your cameras where they are easily accessible so you don’t over-pressure the deer.
• Most successful hunts are from tree stands, either permanent or portable, with deer passing underneath. Tree stands also allow you to view a larger area. Know that deer do look up and can spot you from ground level. Always, always wear a safety belt or harness while in a tree stand, and never climb into a tree with a loaded gun.
• A bowhunter’s range is much shorter. As a result, a bowhunter must be especially skilled in knowing deer patterns and tendencies, then set his stand accordingly. Most deer kills are within 30 yards.
• Scanning field edges with a good pair of binoculars is a great way to spot a buck slipping into a field or along the edge of a large field.
• Avoid shooting the first buck you see entering a field or passing along a trail if you hope to tag a deer with a good-sized rack. Smaller, younger animals will often move into an area before the larger deer come out to feed — usually just before the end of legal shooting time. Patience is a virtue and it usually pays off.
• Open fields often offer opportunities for long shots. Don’t shoot farther than you are comfortable shooting; stay within your comfortable range. Have enough respect for a mature buck to let him walk if he doesn’t offer a good shot. When you do shoot, pay close attention to a deer’s reaction after taking a shot to determine where it is hit.
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