Deer hunting tid-bits

[Jeremy Pitts]

Just looking for some interesting stories and advice regarding deer hunting. I don't bow hunt yet....may get into it next year. Have arthritis in my hands so I will be able to hunt with a x-bow in Louisiana. I have tried bleat calls, grunts.....what are peoples take on this? I stopped a deer in its tracks last year with a bleat can....but calling one in....ain't been able to!

[corey delph]

kevin that a little deer compared to mine but it stil a nice one i dont have its head i dint have enoug money to get t mounted

[kevin]

Of course out of the tree you have full advantage of deer, scent is traveling high so they don't detect you, scent is everything to a deer. Once detected you've pretty well blown your cover unless he's in full rut. As randy says with the bleats, works well most of the year, rattling and grunts work well during the the rut
Ground hunting for deer, scent means everything, eyes are so keen on movement as well, all experianced hunters would say the same thing.
Though every area hunted is different in many ways, sure I could give you a few of my long stories but not sure if would want to here them.
I've hunted most of my life and really enjoy it.
I'm fortunate enough to hunt 3 different species of deer where I live and each one has its own characistics and habits.
My 2007 blacktail was taken using the bleat with grunts in november, I called in 4 bucks that morning and finally got him at 11:30 in the morning he was 40 feet away when I took him, 3 mile drag back to the truck and I was done for the day. Early in october I went out with my son whitetail hunting and he stopped a 8 point at 60 feet the same trip I had a 5 point elk at 23 feet away and didn't even know I was there tell I whistled at him then he had to look up at me out of my tree lounge still didn't spook because I didn't move and he couldn't smell me. Of course from a tree you have a greater advantage, but from the ground there's a few precautions you can take to improve your chances pm me for a few more pointers that I'm sure will help you.
Good luck in the upcoming year

[Jeremy Pitts]

I have learned a lot at a very fast rate mentoring under my father-in-law and others at the lease I joined full time this year. My fatal mistake was the Monday after Thanksgiving....was sitting in a tripod on one of my popnlaw's secondary plots. A doe walked out on me to my right around 655am...she was coming out of a hardwood bottom going into a pine thicket....I figured good they are moving AND she was headed down a trail that ends at a feeder straight ahead of me. I was figuring she may get a buck to follow her(it was during rut) if there was one in the pines...I got ready for a shot straight ahead and i will be damned if a HUGE 8 pt did not walk out of the hardwoods about 2 mins after her. I had to get moved and managed to get a buck fever shot off and missed him badly....I was hoping that I hit him in the neck and it went thru...I got down but saw no blood. I figured great, everything around knows I am here. My father in law was in a stand about 1 mile away and he said the second shot came 4 mins after the first...the second came when a big doe and a yearling came out of the pines and heading to the hardwoods (opposite of the direction of the first doe and 8 pt)...I decided if she stops, I am dropping her...she did and I did...and she had not even hit the ground when the same 8 pt BUSTED out of the woods behind her and hit the hardwood bottom fast...needless to say I was PO'd...even more when I got down and found out she was a HOT doe...he had just got done having his way with her. I learned a lot that day. What to do and what NOT to do. Hey, it's okay though....I have his # for next year.

[Randy Watkins]

I have taken way more than my share of deer during the 35 years that I have been hunting. I do not use any scents, I just hunt very high in my tree lounge. Bleat calls work well to get the attention of a deer but around the rut is the best time to use grunt calls and rattling horns. If you hunt during the rut enough and experience a buck chasing a doe you will find out real quick that it is very difficult to get a buck to pay you attention. I have yelled and even hit my flash light on the side of my stand to get the attention of a buck. You will learn with experience when to use devices and when to just sit quietly and wait for the big boy to make a mistake.