Feeding Patterns

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

Ambushing deer on their way to a primary food source is one of the best ways to harvest trophy animals. However, a hunter who understands a deer's feeding pattern during the middle of the day will be more successful year in and year out. Take time to find out what plants the deer feed on during the day and plan to hunt those areas this fall. If left undisturbed the deer will bed right in the middle of these spots. It’s always best to play in front of the deer and getting into these spots before the deer do is essential.

Jim
http://jimcollyer.com/

Early Season Stand Placement

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

 

 

There’s an old saying, "When the velvet comes off, the brains go in." By now the majority of bucks have shed their velvet and are entering the transition period between summer hangouts and the rut.

Bucks who were as predictable as clock work have seemed to vanish. Bachelor groups are now breaking up and the bucks are establishing a pecking order.

Early season hunting is not as productive as it will be when the weather cools and the rut kicks in. Early in the fall, stand placement is critical for success.

This time of year I do most of my hunting in the afternoon. It’s just too easy to spook deer while trying to get to your stand in the early morning. I focus on feed and place my stand between bedding areas and the primary food source.

Big deer like to enter a field on a inside corner and this is an excellent place to place a stand. Mature bucks are always the last to come into a food source. Often the bigger deer don’t show until it is too late to shoot, for that reason, I prefer to place my stand a 100 to 200 back form the inside corner of a food plot.

I like my stands high and 20 feet above the ground works real good at keeping your scent above the deer. Be sure to hunt only when wind direction is favorable. You don’t want your scent blowing towards the trail where the buck will becoming or blowing directly towards deer feeding. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve been busted by my scent drifting down on feeding does.

Jim

http://www.amazon.com/Buck-Naked-Straight-Trophy-Whitetails/dp/1466498234

Stooge Hunting

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

The Three Stooges have impulse control issues.

It’s not that they are stupid, slow, or even dimwitted.  No, the problem with the Stooges is they do whatever comes to mind without any thought of the consequences.  They slap, poke and stumble their way through life. They never consider the outcome of a project, they just do it.

Stooge hunting is much the same. It’s what happens when hunters when hunters do what feels right in the short term without thinking of the alternatives or implications. It’s due to boredom, fear, or lack of focus.

Nearly every hunt gone awry is the result of Stooge hunting. We aren’t thinking of long term success just the satisfaction of immediate impulses. We would do better if we didn’t act like Stooges.

Look at the BIG picture. Short term thinking often leads to dead ends and failed hunts.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

Bucks on Does are Tough Customers

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

 

Most bucks will not leave a doe to respond to calling. Try calling in areas where more than one buck is present or in funnels where the lone buck feels comfortable traveling during daylight hours.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/ 

Get the best ever book on deer hunting now

Dress for Success

Apple Creek Whitetails Photo

 

Invest in hunting clothes that will keep you comfortable. A good camouflage pattern won’t help you if you’re freezing your buns off. I prefer to dress in layers. This way I can remove layers to keep from overheating and add layers when I’m not moving.

Jim

 

http://jimcollyer.com/

 

Get Buck Naked here

Don’t Bet the Farm

Photo courtesy of Apple Creek Whitetails

 

 

If you’ve located a big buck close to a road with plenty of access, don’t bet the farm on him being there when the season opens. You can be sure other hunters have seen him too. While you shouldn’t over look these convenient places, your pre-season scouting should be focused on giving as many options as possible.

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

Get the Book