What makes a successful deer hunter:

[ironhead]

As a tip for some of you less experienced deer hunters, older guys add your thoughts:
1 CONFIDENCE in your skills and abilities

2 KNOWLEDGE, know what you are after, your terrain, your capabilities

3 PATIENCE, knowledge is a big part of this.

4 PREPARATION, have the best gear you can afford and have it with you ready to use. BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED TO BE THERE, better early than late.

5 FOCUS on what you are doing, dont fall asleep in the stand, truck, against the tree whatever. Go to bed the night before.

MOST IMPORTANTLY
6 SAFE, IDENTIFY YOUR TARGETS AND WHATS BEYOND. Use binoculars if you need a better look.

[RICHARDCatdaddy]

You forgot one,actually getting the deer.

[ironhead]

I didnt mention,,,know what to do with it when you get it either LOL.

[crosscountry2]

Ya i got some trouble with the sleeping one lol. It's usually only for five minutes or so.... it just happens. It gets to be a bad habit.

[chorton]

Set a good example for all to see, you represent all hunters. Treat mother nature with respect and she will reward you in the long run. And take those "yun-uns", they are our future...

[DocHolladay]

Leave the area looking better than it did when you were there... ie- pick up trash on the way out and dont leave any.

[ironhead]

Great input guys,,,keep it up. I know most people dont want to think about it,,,but here goes. We as a group need to try to keep the "sensitivities" of others in our minds when we are transporting game also,,, tongues hanging out and body cavities open and on display do not do the hunting community good either. Non-hunters dont like to see that,,it turns them the other way.

[BuckeyBuckhunter]

Investments
not only time but money
spend time in the woods and with your weapon
know your limits-don't shoot something at 40-50 yards with a bow if you are unsure about the shot

[crosscountry2]

Great input guys,,,keep it up. I know most people dont want to think about it,,,but here goes. We as a group need to try to keep the "sensitivities" of others in our minds when we are transporting game also,,, tongues hanging out and body cavities open and on display do not do the hunting community good either. Non-hunters dont like to see that,,it turns them the other way.

I agree... although We did all that and still got the finger driving down the highway back home.

[ironhead]

LOL some people are just buttheads.

[ironhead]

My aplogies to the mod's for breaking the rule of re-posting old topics ,but i thought i might revive this thread since it is still a relevant topic and could generate new interest and may help some of the new hunters here.

[Brow Tine]

Go early........and Stay Late....

.....everything else can wait

[ironhead]

Ok,,,it has been quite some time since this was up,,,lots of new younger guys have not seen it,,,thought i would revive it. Please put your thoughts in on it.

[Nick Roehl]

Scouting makes a successful deer hunter. Get on the land you can and scout as much as possible. Start by going out with a veteran hunter if you can that will show you the ropes. Looking for sign, knowing what crop fields will produce and when, setting stands, still hunting, cleaning deer, and much more.
Once you get the place down you will want to become proficient with your weapon. Know it inside and out. The same goes with your ammunition. Go to the range and shoot as much as you can to know what you gun and ammo are doing at different ranges.
The list goes on and on, but this is a good place to start.

[cjg]

If you are in the right place long enough, eventually it will be the right time.

It doesn't bother me to not get a deer as long as I know that I did what I could to make it happen. That said, I take 4 weeks off in November, our whole firearms season, and stay at camp until I get lucky. Took me 3 1/2 weeks this year, but out of that I only had about 4 hours of legal hunting time that I wasn't in the woods and 2 of that was helping my friend take care of his deer.