Did you hear about the Millville monster?
For years, locals in the state of Maine had been spotting as a deer that they referred to as the Millville monster. The large buck had a unique and instantly noticeable rack, with at least 18 points.
Resident, Ben Thibodeau, was looking for a new hobby and decided to make it his mission to tag the Millville monster. After 3 intense years, Ben’s dream became a reality. He was able to shoot and tag the impressive 250-pound deer.
Ben’s success came from his willingness to learn about deer hunting tips for beginners. The knowledge he learned, coupled with his ability to be patient, helped him have an incredible first deer experience.
Are you ready to tag your own trophy deer? Read on to learn about the most important tips for novice deer hunters.
Deer Hunting Tips for Beginners
You can hunt like a professional even if you’re a deer hunting newbie when you have the right guidance from expert sportsmen. Deer hunting tips for beginners, use the same principles that experienced hunters rely on. While deer hunting isn’t easy, with the right preparation, even a novice hunter will be able to have a superb deer hunting experience.
1. License and Certification
Unfortunately, the world doesn’t allow for you to simply grab your gun, and go out into nature to find your catch. Instead, all hunters must pass specific safety certification classes and obtain their license before their first hunting expedition.
The state you live in will determine the type of certification you have to have as well as your licensing requirements. We suggest that you visit your state’s natural resources website, and sign up for a hunter safety course to get certified.
2. Keep Your License on You
The moment you get your license, you should find a safe place to store it on your person during the hunt. It’s always a good idea to have your license with you whenever you’re out on your hunt, no matter what time of day it is.
Next, you need to make sure that you understand the regulations that exist in the state you live in. Every state will have its own rules and regulations when it comes to hunting.
For example, certain states are draw states. If you live in a draw state, you have to specifically tell the state where you’ll be hunting, but before embarking on your hunt.
3. Know Your Equipment
Next, when it comes to deer hunting tips for beginners, you have to take into account the type of weapon you’re using. Will you be using a bow and arrow or a gun?
When it comes to hunting, you must be familiar with your weaponry. To find quality equipment, we suggest using Aero Precision. You should feel comfortable in your skills as a sportsman for whatever type of weapon you’re choosing to hunt with.
Next, you should also become familiar with any tree stands you plan on using. Take the time to practice setting it up before you leave for your hunt. Go ahead and set your tree stand up at a low height.
As you become more comfortable with it, you can adjust the height. Every approved tree stand will always have a safety harness, and you must wear it whenever using the stand.
4. What to Wear
Since you won’t have the ability to know exactly what the weather will be if you have to prepare for all situations. During your hunt, you’ll be doing a lot of walking. You’ll also be spending many hours sitting and waiting.
Make sure you’re prepared for changes in mother as you go through these long waiting periods. If it’s going to be hot outside, you’ll want to have a light long sleeve shirt. The light long sleeve shirt will be able to absorb sweat but won’t leave you cold if the temperature goes down.
5. Learn Wind Directions
Next, you’ll want to make sure you know the wind. Hunters who can determine where the wind is blowing have an immediate advantage in the woods. The wind can be the number one giveaway for animals that you’re on a hunt.
However, when you know how to hunt with the land properly, you can blend into your surroundings much better. In addition to knowing the way the wind is blowing, you’ll also want to use products that hide your scent.
Laundry detergent, body wash, shampoo, and soap are great ways to block your natural body odor. You can also buy bottles of sprays that are specially made for hunters who need to block their scent.
6. Only Bring What’s Necessary
Remember, you’ll be walking a lot during your hunt. Since you have to carry everything with you, a well’s packed backpack can be a lifesaver. If you overstocked your backpack, you’ll be wearing yourself down, making the hunt and experience miserable.
Dehydration can ruin even the most well thought out hunt. When your body doesn’t have enough water, your energy levels and ability to focus will suffer.
Having extra water and sports drinks will help guarantee that you can stay hydrated during the entire hunt. The food you bring will need to be can’t friendly, that doesn’t require cooking.
Protein bars, nuts, and other dry snacks are the best way to keep your energy up without adding too much weight to your backpack. Finally, you’ll have to make sure you have a knife and zip ties so you can tag your game.
7. Timing Is Everything
Certain times are better for hunting than others. We find that hunting in the last three hours of daylight tends to be a great time for successful hunting.
However, keep in mind that deer are clever and it’s hard to predict what they’re going to do. You may find that the area you’re living in, has a different sweet spot when it comes to ideal hunting times.
Since this will be one of your first hunting trips, keep track of the different times of day that you’re out in the field hunting. Notice when you saw the deer activity, and where you were when you saw it.
8. Scouting for Deer
When you scout for deer, it’s much different than scouting for any other game animal. We suggest that you scout for deer from a distance.
Try using glass deer with binoculars, and position yourself on a roadway, or tractor path. As you wait, begin looking for any deer movement.
If you’re not having success in the last three hours of the day, switch to early morning times. Early morning and late evenings or two of the best times to start scouting for deer since these are the times of day they are the most active.
9. Seize the Moment
Once you’ve done everything right, and the deer is approaching, will you know what to do? While this may seem like a simple answer, many new hunters fall into the trap of trying to catch a trophy buck.
While waiting to shoot until the right deer comes along may sound like a good idea, it’s also a great way to go home empty-handed. Remember, your goal is to learn from the hunting experience and tag your first steer.
10. Legal vs Illegal Deers
Any legal deer that comes across your path, is a good deer to shoot. Once you’re able to determine if the animal is legal, don’t hold back. To determine if you’re allowed to shoot the deer, you’ll have to know your state’s regulations.
Certain states have antler restrictions or require you to shoot an antler list your first. If you’re unsure of the regulations of your area, call your local game and fish department.
11. Shooting Tips
Once you’re sure the deer is legal, and you decided to shoot, start focusing on the animal’s vitals. Stop looking at the antlers, and stop looking at your surroundings. Instead, put all of your focus on the vitals of the deer.
Wait for the vitals to be clear of any vegetation. Once you have a clear shot of the vitals, pull the trigger. You should be targeting the area right above and behind the front shoulder.
If you need to stop a walking deer to get a clear shot, you can whistle or granted them. Finally, if you’re confident that you had a good shot, but the deer don’t fall, wait. Give the deer about an hour or two to lie down before approaching.
Arm Yourself With Knowledge
The more you know about deer hunting tips for beginners, the better your hunting experience can be. Taking the time to become fit milieu with your weapon, and scouting the area, will set you up for a successful hunting expedition.
We also find, that the more time you spend investing to prepare for your trip, the more you’ll be able to appreciate the rewards. After all, hunting is more than just shooting deer, it’s an art.
Are you ready to learn more hunting tips for beginners? Check out the rest of the site!
