Early Season Tactics 4 Print E-mail


Often on large tracts of private land, where there's low hunting pressure, deer pushed into core areas from adjacent property go right back into their normal routines. Set stands on oak ridges overlooking trails and draws, check field corners and edges, and be sure to have stands set near food sources.

A good game plan for opening-week bowhunting is to get on stand early near a property "peripheral" area or a "funnel" close to a deer-bedding zone, Nick advises, and to stay on stand as late as possible. Bring a day-pack with plenty of food and water, making sure you have the right clothing and accessories to make your stay comfortable.

If you've got to get down and move around, walk at mid-day and do a little slow scouting into the wind. Use binoculars often, says Nick, and get back on stand by early afternoonperhaps a different spot overlooking a feeding area where you've seen deer.

The next day should be a repeat performance, hopefully on different stands, so as not to "over-hunt" a spot, and to help learn what deer are doing at various places on your hunt property.

"Finally," says Nick, "be positive about hunting opening week. Believe you're going to tag a book buck. Sure it can be hot, and bugs can be awful. But it's one of the best times to be in the woods, because big bucks don't yet understand they're being hunted.

"Stay alert. Start hunting early, quit hunting late. Scout, glass, and don't give up. Not ever. It'll pay offbig time!"


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