| Deer are commonly thought of as being | | | | much noise and try and leave little scent in |
| crepuscular animals. This means that they | | | | the area. Hang your stands early and then |
| frequently become active during dawn and dusk | | | | leave the area alone until you plan on |
| and more often than not tend to sleep during | | | | hunting. |
| the middle of the day and late at night. This | | | | |
| is possibly a defense mechanism to enable | | | | Also note that over scouting an area can have |
| digestion and rest during the day when | | | | a negative effect on the wildlife and you may |
| predators are not as active. | | | | end up pushing the deer out of the area, not |
| | | | be seen or heard from during hunting hours. |
| However, some deer do decide to feed during | | | | |
| the middle of the day; this is a quirk in | | | | Try to find any area where clover or rye or |
| that deer's schedule for that particular day | | | | any greens cover the ground. Look in the |
| and more than likely not a repeated event. | | | | surrounding areas to establish trail routes |
| | | | and scrapes; and look for deer tracks to |
| Figure out what food source that the deer | | | | reinforce movement and frequency. |
| will be eating during hunting season and | | | | |
| locate it. Know your terrain, food sources, | | | | A deer loves to sleep where the brush is very |
| bedding areas and funnels. | | | | thick and very dense. Most areas of this |
| | | | nature accompany small pines and swampy areas |
| Scouting before hunting is a must to locate a | | | | where movement by a predator would not go |
| big buck's territory. I prefer to do my | | | | without detection. Hunting in these |
| pre-season scouting immediately after the | | | | conditions is very hard because of limited |
| deer have "rubbed" the velvet from their | | | | vision and the noise that would accompany a |
| antlers. Remember that while rubbing the | | | | hunter stirring around the brush. Hunting in |
| velvet from their antlers, a buck will not | | | | these areas is not suggested because of these |
| attack the larger trees and bushes that he | | | | handicaps; it would be best to wait on the |
| will immediately prior and during the rut; | | | | outskirts of a well used trail and await the |
| however, he will leave evidence on smaller | | | | exit or entrance of the deer from or to his |
| bushes. This activity will tell you where the | | | | feeding spot. |
| deer are and may help you pattern a | | | | |
| particular animal. | | | | An important cycle of a deer's life is its |
| | | | powerful will to mate and it is during this |
| Determine which oak trees have the most | | | | time (also known as the rut) in which the |
| acorns for the upcoming fall by scanning the | | | | deer's senses are dulled and the hunting |
| upper limbs of the trees with binoculars. Set | | | | hopeful now has a slight edge. During this |
| stands near trees with large number of acorns | | | | time of the year the deer will be active a |
| before they ripen and the deer start feeding | | | | significantly larger amount of the time. This |
| in the area. | | | | means that you will have a greater chance of |
| | | | seeing an elusive buck and a much better |
| Start early, at the latest, mid summer. Scout | | | | chance of bagging one. |
| like you're hunting. Be careful. Don't make | | | | |