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 Honycut
Photo credit: John Hafner
Another thing that has changed the way I hunt is studying past trail camera photos. I look at the direction of travel (the deer), dates, temperatures, wind direction, barometric pressure, etc. and see how those things match up to the food sources and bedding areas around that camera location. For daylight photos, I really…
Vanishing Sheds, Acorn Thieves, Fire Forage and More Deer Science New research shared at the 2020 Southeast Deer Study Group meeting held a lot of interesting new knowledge for deer hunters, and especially for deer habitat managers. Here’s a by-the-numbers look at some of the research I found most interesting and useful at the annual…
Conservation In America The Economic Impact of the American Hunter: By: John R. Hackett Since 2008, the number of hunters in the United States of America has averaged 17.35 million people per year. Their money is being spent on licenses, fees, goods, and services. Hunters’ money is also being spent on the taxes the government…
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…
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…
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,…