Tag Page deerhunting

#deerhunting
lolson

Ground blinds changed my hunting game

Last season I was strictly a treestand guy until a buddy convinced me to try his ground blind setup. First sit, I had a mature buck at 15 yards completely oblivious to my presence. That's when I became a believer. Here's why ground blinds have become my go-to hunting method: 1️⃣ Invisible movement - Deer can't see you fidgeting, drawing your bow, or adjusting position like they can in treestands. 2️⃣ Ultimate portability - Move with the deer patterns. No climbing, no heavy stands to haul. 3️⃣ Weather protection - Rain, snow, wind - you're comfortable and focused on hunting instead of surviving. 4️⃣ Scent containment - Your scent stays trapped inside instead of swirling around a tree. 5️⃣ Room to move - Stretch out, shift positions, stay comfortable during long sits. Set them up during pre-season so deer accept them as part of their environment. What's your experience with ground blinds vs treestands? #hunting #HuntingTips #GroundBlind #DeerHunting

Ground blinds changed my hunting game
Manuel Bright

🦌 How I plan my multi-state deer hunts

Two years ago a game warden told me: "I've seen some really nice bucks back where those two creeks meet. Nobody goes back there." That fall I hiked into that exact spot and shot a beautiful 145-inch buck. That's when I knew my multi-state system was working. Here's my tried-and-true approach after a decade of chasing whitetails across state lines: 1️⃣ Research habitat - I use satellite imagery to find public land with good deer habitat and accessible food sources. Farmland borders are gold. 2️⃣ Make the calls - Local biologists and game wardens give you intel you can't get anywhere else. Ask about deer quality, hunting pressure, and access. 3️⃣ Plan your timeline - I leave home late October for 15-20 days, hitting my limited tag state first, then over-the-counter states. 4️⃣ Save money smart - Mom and Pop motels will negotiate weekly rates. I bring frozen meals in a crock pot - hot dinner waiting after long days. 5️⃣ Adapt your gear - North Dakota trees are crooked and small. Montana cottonwoods need ratchet straps. Ask locals about terrain before you go. 6️⃣ Plan for success - Have a solid plan for meat care. I travel with a chest freezer for early kills. What's your biggest multi-state hunting lesson learned? #hunting #DeerHunting #HuntingTips

🦌 How I plan my multi-state deer hunts
paulcarol

How I tell bucks from does in the field?

Two weeks ago I'm glassing a lone deer feeding in my food plot at last light. No antlers visible, slender build - had to be a doe, right? Wrong! Almost made a costly mistake until I noticed that thick neck and blocky head shape. After 20+ years hunting, I've learned you can't just rely on antlers. Here's how I now identify bucks vs does in the field: Key identifiers that never lie: 1️⃣ Head shape - Bucks have flattened, blocky foreheads. Does have rounded heads like a Coke bottle with floppy ears. 2️⃣ Neck and chest - Even shed bucks keep that thick, muscular neck. Does are more graceful and elongated. 3️⃣ Body build - Bucks are squarer and more muscular. Does have that rectangular, streamlined look. 4️⃣ Tarsal glands - Look for dark brown staining on mature bucks' hind legs from rub-urinating during rut. 5️⃣ Behavior - Late season bucks often feed alone, packing on calories after rut. Does travel in family groups. Post-rut bucks feeding solo are often mistaken for does. Don't let a shed buck fool you! What's your go-to method for buck vs doe identification? #hunting #DeerHunting #buckordoe

How I tell bucks from does in the field?
paulcarol

My secret spots that yielded 5 sheds last weekend!

Just got back from a weekend of shed hunting and figured I’d share a few spots that always seem to deliver — but don’t get talked about much. Food plots and bedding areas are obvious, but if you want to start picking up more bone, try looking in these underrated places: 1️⃣ Regrown clear-cuts – Deer hammer woody browse in winter. Clear-cuts from a few years back are full of low vegetation and buds they love. 2️⃣ Swamp or marsh islands – Most folks won’t wade through water, but deer do. They bed on high ground in the middle where they feel safe. 3️⃣ Deadfall timber zones – Downed trees offer cover, block wind, and often grow browse-friendly plants. Great bedding = more chances for sheds. 4️⃣ Deep-woods pockets – Especially in high-pressure areas. If they’ve got food (like red oak acorns) and cover, expect sheds. 5️⃣ CRP/native grass fields – Warm, soft bedding. Grasses insulate well, which is why you’ll often find antlers buried in them. 6️⃣ Natural green sources – Greenbriar and other winter-staying plants are gold. Not every food source is in a field. 7️⃣ Wind-sheltered valleys – Deer conserve energy by staying out of the wind. Ridges and hollows shaped just right make cozy hideouts. 8️⃣ Sanctuary edges – Deer hang just outside of off-limits land. Walk the fence lines — they might drop right on your side. 9️⃣ Travel corridors – Shed along paths between food and bedding. Even brief stops can be enough to drop an antler. 🔟 Feeding stations (if legal) – Keep feeding past the season. Deer remember where to find food and return, often shedding nearby. Anyone else finding success in unusual spots this year? #hunting #shedhunting #deerhunting

My secret spots that yielded 5 sheds last weekend!
lolson

I always do more work in July than hunting season

Just got back from checking my spots and can't stress enough how crucial July prep is. Made the mistake of skipping this a few years back and paid for it all season long. Here's what I'm hitting hard right now: 1️⃣ Food plot check - drought hit my clover hard this year, already replanting before it's too late 2️⃣ Water sources - with temps climbing, deer patterns revolve around water. Found three new seeps I never knew existed 3️⃣ Low-impact scouting - deer aren't spooked yet, perfect time to find those bedding-to-feeding routes and hang stands 4️⃣ Early season setups - ag fields are starting to show which trails get heavy use The beauty of July work is deer barely notice you're there. Come September, you'll know exactly where to be while other hunters are still figuring out the property. What's your biggest July scouting priority this year? #hunting #deerhunting #scouting #huntingprep

I always do more work in July than hunting season