Many of the lands I hunt — both private and public — are hunted by other people. So I don’t just scout to find deer sign. I scour the land in search of evidence of other hunters, too. Whether it’s treestands, leftover boot tracks, or remains from a kill as seen in the photo above,

Some of the rut sign from last season is still visible, especially rubs. Getting out in the field and walking properties you plan to hunt will reveal rub lines and isolated rubs. Marking these on your aerial map will show you how deer move about the lands you hunt, too. Source Credit: RealTree.com By: Josh

Similar to the previous slide, mapping trails, bedding areas, food sources, watering holes and other land features on aerial maps can help to paint a better picture of the land you hunt. It’ll show you how deer use a property, rather than just thinking you know. I’ve learned that from experience. Using this process has

Learn The Land It’s also very important to not only improve the land but to learn it, too. During the post-season, I always get out and walk the properties I plan to hunt the following season. You wouldn’t believe the things I learn — both how the land lays and how deer use it —

No Off Season – Improve The Land There are countless ways to improve the land for the deer we love to hunt. Whether that’s by providing additional food sources, additional bedding cover, or adding a water source, everything helps. Do what you can even if it’s on a small scale. It’ll help both the deer

The off-season is the best time to trim shooting lanes. Right now the leaves haven’t budded out throughout most of the country. You can still sit in a stand right now and see what the shooting lanes will be like this fall when the leaves drop again. In my experience, it’s better to trim lanes

Tree Stand Maintenance Get ready to learn more about tree stand maintenance.  Tree Stands are just like everything else — they break. Fixing them is an option if the problem isn’t significant. Throw it away if the stand is a safety hazard. It isn’t worth an injury or death to hunt from an unsafe perch.

Take Down & Rehang Tree Stands Deer hunting is a year-round endeavor now. There are countless things to do even after deer seasons close for the year — little tasks here and there that need to be done in order to ensure success for next season. Not only that, but they’re fun too. The great thing

Tree Stand Accidents: Can We Stop The Insanity? Can we stop the insanity? Can we just get through one deer season without a family having to bury a loved one who fell from their deer stand? Yes, deer hunting is our passion, but is it worth risking permanent injury or death? The vast majority of deer hunting