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