Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Whitetail deer communicate through glandular scent.  When bucks and does find a hanging vine, they often rub their forehead and eyes and even lick branches to announce their presence and establish their dominance in the herd.  Although these activities peak during the rut, deer will scent-communicate year-round.

Why Deer Like Hanging Branches

If you watch whitetail deer videos (and who doesn’t) you’ll notice various manufacturers establishing trail cameras near licking branches, hanging vines, or stubby saplings which deer will rub with their head and face.  These may be natural materials, but odds are the person establishing the camera site set the stage with a hanging vine or rubbing branch.

All-in-One Kit

The Wildlife Research Golden Rope kit contains three ropes so that you can set up multiple attractant sites.  Also included are four ounces of Rope concentrate that you will use as an attractant.  The container acts as a scent pail so that you hang the rope, soak the end in attractant, and then close the lid so that you can freshen the rope throughout the season.

Don’t Wait for the Rut

The beauty of the “rope trick” is the ability to attract deer year-round.  You want to know which bucks survived the hunting season and the winter. Are does with fawns in early summer or do you have a coyote problem?  Unlike baited sites, Golden Rope won’t attract black bears and may not be considered “baiting.”

Where to Hang Out?

If your whitetail deer season is still open, re-scout your deer property and you may be amazed to find fresh scrapes.  Traditional scrape sites are ideal spots to hang a Golden Rope.  Once the snow melts, scrapes will be nearly as evident as in late fall which makes late winter/early spring the perfect time to pick a spot, hang a rope and post a camera.  Check out all the great scent attractants and elimination products at Wildlife Research Center by clicking here.

I’ve been a fan of Excalibur Crossbows for many years, and their performance never disappoints. I jinxed myself as I approached the shooting booth at last week’s ATA Show.  “I’ve shot Robin Hoods at the two previous shows, and I’d like to make it three,” I said in my atypical, boastful voice.  A representative was quick to hand me the new REVX decked out in Mossy Oak Country DNA, and I put an arrow in the target.  The lighted nock made an easy aiming point for my second shaft.  “I think you hit the nock, but your streak ends at two,” he laughed.

Everything but Wheels

The REVX does not have wheels or cams but has all the other features that hunters and shooters want including a ChargerX Crank that nests into the stock, R.E.D.S. Suppressors, a built-in sound deadening system, and a handy quiver.  Weighing just seven pounds, it launches arrows up to 400 fps using 16.5-inch, 350-grain shafts.  This bow is incredibly accurate.  I picked up this crossbow, shot two arrows from the off-hand position and had the nocks touch.  That’s a testament to ease of operation and dependable performance.

MAG AIR- Basics on Steroids

Excalibur took the best aspects of their line and put them into a basic package called Mag Air for 2024.  This bow is light, as in under five pounds, yet points well and very easy to handle.  Arrow speed is a modest 305 fps, yet I took five African animals, including a huge kudu bull with a similar bow that launched at 305 fps.  It cocks easily with a rope, or you can opt for a crank system.  If you want a basic bow that’s fun to shoot and great for whitetail deer, this is your unit.

Twin Strike Tac2

Excalibur is the only hunting crossbow I’m aware of that loads two arrows at once.  This unique set-up allows for a near instantaneous second shot as opposed to other bows that require re-cocking and reloading.  Clad in Mossy Oak Break-Up Country, the Twin Strike Tac2 features a Tact-100 Illuminated scope, Charger EXT Crank allowing the bow to be cocked and relaxed, a four-arrow quiver, and 16.5-inch Quill arrows.

Dependable Performance

Grizz Montoya, an old friend, called last year saying he wanted to take his daughter on our African safari.  “I’d like her to use a crossbow.  What do you suggest? he asked.  “An Excalibur,” was my instant response.  “And I have one you can borrow.”  This AXE model has been on three safaris and many local hunts.  I got an extra set of limbs and a bowstring, “just in case” but have never needed them.  It disassembles easily and travels in a suitcase.  It shoots shorter arrows with flat nocks, so you can’t load it incorrectly.  I use 150-grain heads for an increased FOC and have never lost an animal.  Montoya’s daughter took a kudu bull and a Nyala, each with one arrow, an impressive performance for someone who had never previously shot a crossbow.   For the full line of Excalibur crossbows, click here.

Bear Archery introduced three new bows at the 2024 ATA Show with the “Persist” at the head of the class.  The Persist launches at an arrow speed of 340 fps and features two draw weight options, 45-60 and 55-70, so this bow has a wide range of applications.  Axle-to-axle, it’s just 31 inches long and has adjustable draw lengths of 26-30 inches, so it’s a bow you can grow into or master from the first shot.

Mid-Range Bows-

The MSRP for the Persist is $1249.99, but if you are looking for a mid-range priced bow, consider the New Whitetail MAXX that shoots up to 339 fps and has let-off adjustments from 75% to 90%.  MSRP for this bow is $599.99, and the RTH (Ready to Hunt) package is just $100 more.  The Alaskan XT has similar features, an axle-to-axle length of 33 inches, and a let-off of 80%.  It’s priced at $559.99 and $659.99 in the RTH version.

Ultra-Quiet Release-

I can no longer handle the heavy pull of a hunting bow and was delighted to have my assistant, Zackary help out.  He tested each bow, and I photographed as he released.  All three Bear models were amazingly quiet.  Zackary shoots the Bear brand, so he was very excited to test each one.  Normally, he shoots at 60 pounds of draw weight, but when the bows were cranked up to 70 pounds, he could retain his draw and form.  We both gave the new Bear line high marks.  To see all of what’s new for Bear in 2024, click here.

Before the Pandemic, when elk licenses were possible to draw, I bought an Idaho tag with my eye on a promising chunk of public land.  I knew I would need plenty of penetration to kill an elk with a crossbow, possibly at a longer range.  With these needs in mind, I opted for a Barnett Hyper Ghost 425 that launched smaller diameter .204-inch arrows for greater penetration.  My gear resulted in a complete bull pass-through at 50 yards and a great 6X6 on the ground.

Hyper Raptor has Even More Improvements.

This Barnett flagship bow launches arrows up to 410 fps with bone-crushing kinetic energy of 142 pounds- that’s 50 pounds more than required to hunt Cape buffalo in South Africa.  Best of all, it is designed to shoot those same.204 Hyper Flight arrows that zipped through my big bull elk at maximum range.

Halo Riser Flight

Aside from a cool-looking and ultra-concealing camouflage finish, the Hyper Raptor is built with a Halo Riser Design, which eliminates crossed cables and cable lean, giving the limbs extra stability and consistency.  Despite the power and lethality of this bow, it weighs just a tad over seven pounds and narrows to seven inches when fully cocked.

Rope Cocking Saves Bundles

A tiny red bubble is built next to the cocking groove.  When engaged, this dot makes a small click to tell you that the cocking rope is engaged and keeps the rope from popping out.  If you believe in keeping gear simple, you can appreciate the knowledge that you don’t need a machine or a bunch of moving parts to cock this bow.  Plus, by cocking the bow manually, you save $1000, maybe two, over premium brands with similar features.

Normally, a crossbow pistol isn’t high on a hunter’s interest list, however, as a young woman demonstrated the unique design of the Ballista Bat pistol, my interest peaked.  Portability is always an issue with a crossbow and this one featured a unique stock that went from zero to shoulder length in a flash.

Ultra-Compact

This small pistol-style crossbow shoots a 13″inch arrow at a speed of 330 feet per second and is a legitimate hunting or bowfishing device.  Thanks to the compact design, it’s a great way to introduce youngsters to shooting or just have fun.

One-of-a-Kind Cocking

This bow has a unique cocking system that cocks the bow and then retracts into the handle.  As you can see, this young woman could cock the bow with ease thanks to a sturdy built-in foot stirrup and a pull weight of just 40 pounds.

Total Innovation

The crossbow pistol isn’t the only item in the Ballista line.  Another model offers reverse limbs with a 5-bolt magazine for repeated shooting.  Holly Cow, a crossbow/AR combination.  The top-of-the-line bow is called the Megabat Reverse and shoots arrows up to 420 feet per seconds, so this is no toy.  One of the main goals of the Archery Trade Association (ATA) show is to introduce new products and this one certainly checks that box.

Visit the Ballista website by checking here.

Stopping an arrow or bolt from today’s super swift bows takes plenty of constriction, and the folks at Morrell Targets emphasized that point with a show-stopping presentation of the new target mascot, Boa.  This post will conclude with a 60-second interview of the young woman and the snake, but first, the target and its capabilities.

Boa Compression Target

With arrow speeds nearly half the speed of sound, a very scarry thought, target materials are challenged not only to stop speedy shafts but to do so without arrow damage during the retrieval process.  Turning a target on its end and pulling like a sword from a stone is a common practice.  With foam materials, the friction is so great from fast arrows that it actually melts the foam, making the bond between arrow and target extra difficult to break.

Next Gen Targeting

The new Boa is built with an internal wooden frame for maximum support encasing high density foam.  The target is covered with high durability Gridlock Nylon Facing to provide longevity and easy arrow removal.  The wooden frame allows for the tremendous compression (Like the snake) needed to harness blazing speed and not destroy the arrow during removal.  The BOA comes with a tote carrying handle and features high visibility bullseyes for field points, only.

High Roller on Display

If a yellow snake encircling a young woman didn’t stop traffic at the ATA Show, then the giant High Roller target with 10-foot arrows certainly did.  I’ve used this small target in mountain camps, and it quickly pays for itself in arrows saved.  Even though I often hunt with bows that manually de-cock, I like to take a practice shot at the end of each day to assure that rough travel hasn’t influenced arrow strike.

3-D Too

The same foam, arrow-stopping technology of the High Roller targets becomes a 3-D whitetail deer in these realistic models with thick chests to absorb plenty of practice.  Called the “Transformer Buck” the main target core decouples, and the rope handle makes the target easy to move and set up. Personally, I wish that Morrell would include a smallish “Y-horn” so that I could double this target as a buck decoy.  For the full line of Morrell Targets, click here.

The show floor of the 2024 ATA Show looked like a big city skyline with elevated, enclosed blinds in seemingly every direction.  Millennium is among the leaders in this booming hunting trend and, for 2024, offers a wide variety of surprisingly affordable options.  I had a wooden shooting house blind built five years ago, primarily to accommodate my grandchildren, and have learned that they are effective and can greatly improve your time and enjoyment outdoors.

Large Roomy Spaces

The Magnum 6×6 Buck Hut was one of the largest shooting houses displayed at the show and has room enough for families or filming where one person operates a camera and the other does the shooting.  Large vertical windows allow for 360-degree shooting with rifle, compound, or crossbow.  Each window covering is constructed so that it can be partially opened keeping the inside dark for maximum concealment.  The fabric cover is water-resistant in a camel color that blends with many environments.

Shooting Houses offer Staying Power

The Millennium Buck Hut is designed for a single shooter and can transform “un-huntable” weather into a solo safari.  Your body is a heating device and when you sit in an enclosed area, your natural body heat will warm a small space.  When the wind blows, the snow falls, or a cold misty rain covers the deer woods, you can be on-stand every minute of shooting light.  The longer you remain in the hunt, the “luckier” you become.

The Power of Patience

The shooting house concept has many advantages over a regular tree stand.  First, you can sit in a comfortable chair out of the elements and observe nature as it plays out in front of you.  If you get sleepy, you can nap without risking your life as in a regular tree stand.  You can hunt with companions or family and talk softly about approaching game.  As you see on this Nexcam Axis chair, you can use a video arm or tripod to rest your shot or video camera.  A shooting house blind will allow you to spend more time in the woods, a key ingredient to enhanced success.

Longevity and Forethought

Buying a shooting house blind or tree stand is exciting and it’s easy to become so enthused that you create extra work by not planning ahead.  I was “that guy” who lugged a big box into his favorite hunting spot, tore it open and soon played hide-and-seek in the leaves with bolts and nuts.  Whichever product you buy, watch a YouTube video or two about the construction.  Open the box in your garage or over a hard surface and assemble as much as you can in good light so that you are sure it’s properly assembled.  Have your friends help you set it up and always think safety-first.  I’ve been using Millennium stands for many years and have found that they are well build and effective.  Check out their complete line at www.Millenniumtreestands.com

Hundreds of vendors and manufacturers gathered at the Archery Trade Association annual exhibition in St. Louis, Missouri to see the newest in archery and hunting gear.  The show ends today and Bowhunting.Net is there in force seeking out those products that will make you a more successful hunter and shooter.  In the next two weeks we will highlight individual products in depth that you will want to explore in the coming months.

TenPoint TRX 515 and TX 440

The Advantage of the ATA Show is the ability to test products on the showroom floor.  TenPoint had their product display and test range just inside the showroom floor, so let’s start there.  I’m holding the TX 440, one of TenPoint’s premier products for 2024.  This compact bow is just 28 inches long and weights just 7.2 pounds, making it perfect for a variety of hunting and shooting situations.  The ZERO-Trac barrel is part of a “rail-less” system for increased accuracy.

Innovative Design

The TRX 515 is the fastest production crossbow on the planet to my knowledge and engineered to much more than an upgrade from last year’s model.  The feel of the bow is solid, thanks to a picatinny rail that is anchored at both ends and braced for an absolute rigid construction.  New TenPoint models feature Trigger Tech triggers, my favorite on any crossbow.  When I shot the TRX 515, I could literally feel the power release.

Hunting Ease Personified

Along with the Trigger Tech improvement, TenPoint engineered an AR-Style safety so that you can keep your hand on the grip and operate the safety with your trigger finger.  So often, the moment of truth lasts literally “a moment” and the ability to switch the bow into fire-mode in an instant can be a deal changer.  To see video and all the specs of these new bows, click here.

Made in America Products

Jay Leichty, the owner of Grim Reaper broadheads is standing on the show floor at this writing and spent all three days at his booth.  Jay is spearheading a movement to organize manufacturers of products totally made in America.  Grim Reaper broadheads are not only made in America but designed, engineered, and in some cases made at Leichty’s hand.

I frequently hunt with a crossbow in rifle deer seasons.  This means two things, first, I must wear orange and secondly, it’s often very cold.  I’ve been using Kuiu gear for the past two years and I was really excited to see the new down offerings that even work when wet.  Normally, water is the Kryptonite of down, but Kuiu has developed a method to keep you super warm.

Super Down Burner Parka-

This super down parka is designed for maximum warmth and will keep you warm in the coldest of elements, whether doing an all-day sit in Saskatchewan during the rut or ice fishing without the icehouse.  This parka is designed to handle the worst of weather and contain maximum body heat.

Super Down LT

As the name implies, this lighter line of down jackets and pants is designed as an under layer, yet still packs plenty of warmth.  It comes with a full hood, ideal for capturing every degree of body heat.  Shown in green, above, this line comes in the full camouflage pattern line.  Check out the full line of jackets, pants, and sleeping bags here. Kuiu has done their homework on down products.  This short video reveals the secrets of buying down garments.

How to Buy Down Clothing Video

Bowhunting Bears fills the bill if you’re looking for that adrenaline rush! Knowing that what you’re hunting can hunt you always makes things a little edgy, especially with a primitive weapon. I’ve had many “hands-on” experiences with brown and black bears, and things can go south on the count of one if you don’t have a backup plan. Years ago, one of my buddies and I came up with a saying after being stranded off the coast of Alaska for six days. “Adventure begins when plans go bad.” On a recent bear hunt in Canada, things went south quickly on the first night. This is when being prepared matters.

After tying down our coolers and camo tubs, my buddy, Tim, set the GPS for Vermilion Bay, Canada. We hit the road for a two-day drive, arrived at camp midafternoon the following day, and immediately unpacked our food, weapons, and gear. I’ve learned over the years to have things packed so that it’s easy to find when you’re anxious to head to the stand. Once we got everything unloaded, we were called to the outfitter’s cabin to sign in and for important instructions before the hunt.

Each stand setup is different and requires one of the guides to take you to your location before hunting. There are wolves in this area, and you could be left standing in the pitch-black, waiting for your ride for an hour or more, so the more you know about your stand location, the better. Things look different after dark, and when the sun goes down far from the nearest town, you might as well be blind.

The first evening, I arrived at my stand about six hours before dark. I heard a constant humming sound within minutes of setting up my camera arm. Bees. I hate them more than Indiana Jones hated snakes. Two days later, while tracking a bear, I ended up stepping into a ground nest of bees and getting stung almost a dozen times. Just a couple of years prior, one of my closest friends was tearing down a tree stand when he accidentally stepped in a ground nest of hornets. Unfortunately, he was stung so many times that he went into anaphylactic shock within a couple of minutes and passed away before he could be taken to the hospital. Like I said, adventure begins when plans go wrong, so you’d better have a plan in case of emergencies.

The Outdoorsmans is proud to introduce the new Boulder 30 backpack. This American-made backpack is durable and perfect for the tree stand bowhunter or saddle hunter.  The inside of the bag features multiple zippered pouches that can keep gear organized and easy to find while in the tree. It even has a sleeve designed to carry a 17-inch laptop or other device like a tablet or card reader so the hunter can check their card reader while in the stand.
The outside of the bag features a quick-access front pouch, gear pocket, and an elastic pouch on either side that can be used for a water bottle or a tripod, along with standard, buckle-style tripod stays. You’ll find a pass-through for a hydration bladder hose near the top handle.
This compact, lightweight backpack is perfect for the bowhunter on the go who wants a backpack that can hold a lot of gadgets and gear but isn’t big and bulky.

To learn more about the Outdoorsmans and all their top-notch American made backpacks, visit www.outdoorsmans.com.

MSRP- $279.99
Media Contact:
Tracy Breen
231-853-5060

The Archery Trade Association will hold it’s annual trade show in St. Louis Missouri this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Bowhunting.Net will be there to cover all of the latest gear, yet here’s a quick look at what is sure to be a standout: The Mathews “Lift”.

The BHN website needs someone who can tell a story and post great pictures.  Byers does both.

Byers is the author of a leading crossbow book.

His Photography illustrates adventures and techniques.

A former school principal, he loves children and promotes their involvement.

Plus, He Has a Hot Wife

Byers Has Been an Outdoor Writer for 30 years.

He Knows the Rocky Mountains as Well as the Back 40.

Adventure Travel and Exciting Hunts are a Specialty.

He Loves DYI Hunting

He’s an Award-Winning Journalist and Photographer

He Hunts Spring and Fall

He’s a Member of the “Hood.”

Africa?  Been there and Done That 25 Times with Amazing Animals

Welcome, Joe.  We Can’t Wait to Share Your Adventures, like, a DYI Crossbow Elk in Idaho.

From Deer and Deerhunting Hotline.

Late-season hunting can be an endurance contest.  Braving winter’s wrath can be a challenge made nearly unbearable if your feet are cold.  Here’s a plan to keep you and your toes toasty on a stand.  I hunted this year with an eager young man in excellent shape.  I dropped him at a mountain saddle an hour before daylight on opening day.  He willingly hiked a quarter mile uphill to his tree stand, where he hoped to bag an early morning buck.  “After an hour, my feet were freezing,” he said later.  “I couldn’t stand it and had someone pick me up.”

Perspiration is a Foot-Freezer

I’ve hunted several times with this young man who is an animal in the mountains.  He’s in excellent shape, yet perspiration was his Achilles’ heel, if you will excuse the pun.  He wore his expensive Western boots, but the brand wouldn’t matter because his climb up the mountain caused his feet to sweat, and his damp socks soon failed to insulate.  Unless your feet are dry, they quickly feel cold.

Pack a Pair of Dry Socks

I believe that our young hunter would have been fine if he had packed a pair of warm, dry socks in his pack and changed them when he reached his stand.  Better yet, wear a light pair of cotton sock for less insulation when walking and then change to a warm pair before climbing into his stand.  I’ve found that allowing my boots to be cold helps as well.  When traveling to a hunting spot in a vehicle, never run the heater on your boots as you build perspiration before you get there.  In short, dry feet will feel much warmer because your insulating socks will be more effective.

Air Insulates

When I first began hunting, I thought that wearing two pairs of socks was better insulation than one.  Logical, right?  However, as I squeezed my feet into my standard size boots, the socks were so compressed that they lost most of their insulation properties.  Today, I wear rubber insulated boots two sizes larger than my shoe size.  In this way, I can wear very thick socks which maintain their loft and maximize insulation.  I’ve experimented with “hand warmer” brands for the bottom of the feet.  They work, but you will generate perspiration so be sure your brand last as long as the hunt.

Insulate the Insulation

I remember the first time that I put my hand on a “Heat Seat,” one of the first insulating pillows designed for hunters to sit on.  The insulating material inside the product reflected the heat from my hand and it felt “warm” even though it was creating no heat on its own.  Later, I carried a piece of carpet padding to place under my feet.  Especially in snow, I unfolded the two-foot square piece of insulation and rested my feet on it, completely eliminating the heat loss by snow.  This heat barrier can be anything from a piece of cardboard to a foam insulation.

Bruce Ryan Has Tips For Bowhunting In Snow

Late-season deer seek food and shelter; a standing cornfield is one of the best protein sources.  Normally, the crop has gone the way of Tony the Tiger and has been processed for human or animal food.  However, heavy rain can prevent the harvest because farmers can’t use the heavy equipment needed to pick the crop.  By January, the corn stalks lose some concealment characteristics, yet the high protein ears are still standing.

Evening over Morning

Most hunting experts recommend afternoon and evening hunts in late season for several reasons.  First, deer are likely to be in a food source at dawn and approaching in the dark can spook game and contaminate the area with scent.  Secondly, weather conditions are usually harsh making it difficult to remain still and focused.  Finally, deer seem to be more active in afternoon and evening as your trail cameras may show.  Plus, by entering in early afternoon, you can scout fresh deer sign and tweak you game plan to match recent deer movements.

Narrow the Field

Hunting a cornfield is like fishing a lake.  Certain spots are better than others and you want to analyze deer movements based on tracks, corn waste on the ground, and lingering rut activity.  The primary rut may be over in your area, yet mature bucks will still be searching for any does that didn’t breed in the first estrous cycle and yearlings that will breed for the first time in January.

Dream hunts become a reality by taking action.  Want to hunt out West, bag a big hog in the South, or tackle a new whitetail property for a Kentucky velvet buck like this one by Stan Potts?  All these hunts are within your budget and capability, but you must begin the process, now.  The COVID pandemic forced a lot of people to try hunting because other recreational options were closed.  They loved it, surprise, surprise, and created greater competition for select hunting licenses, the kind we dream about.

Ready, Fire, Aim

This phrase was a marketing strategy for IBM and has great relevance when changing dream hunts into solid plans.  Nike would say “Just Do It, ” essentially the same concept.  Before working out all the details of a dream hunt, just decide to do it.  Once you have made that difficult decision, the path to completing that goal will suddenly become clearer.  You will find ways to raise the money, adjust your work calendar, and get tags for the animal you want to hunt.

Include Your Friends

Many years ago, I convinced my father to hunt mule deer in Colorado.  That led to our first elk hunt with more than a dozen to follow.  It was a cheap, DYI, adventure but we included several of his friends who were serious blue-collar hunters.  Although the hunt lasted only a few days, we discussed, debated, and dreamed about it for the entire year.  Once we learned the section of national forest, we hunted, our success soared.  Several of that group, I saw once a year, yet our dedication to the team was profound and every hunt was one we couldn’t wait to repeat.

Attend Sporting Shows

Once you have narrowed the choice of dream hunts, organize your group and attend a sporting show, like the NRA Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg Pennsylvania.  I once shared a campfire with a stranger in the Outback of Australia.  As we got to know each other, I asked how he found this hunt with the answer, “The Harrisburg Show.”  You will see numerous posts from the NRA GAOS in coming weeks, but it and others are the ideal way to meet an outfitter in person, ask the tough questions, and nail down a dream plan.

Happy New Year!  The bulk of the traditional deer season has passed, yet there are still plenty of opportunities to score.  Many people like to begin the New Year with a hike, and that’s the perfect activity to boost your chances for success, this year or next.  Most Eastern state archery seasons extend into January and some early February.  Rather than just watching football, why not re-scout your favorite deer woods?

Many Fawns Breed in January

I live on the East Coast and in my area, about 60 percent of female fawns breed at this time.  Generally, once a whitetail yearling female reaches 60 pounds, it is mature enough to come into estrous and any buck in the area will be searching for the source of that scent.  If you haven’t been in your deer hunting area for a while, you may be surprised to find fresh scrapes and rubs, a sign that there is at least one active buck in the area.

Focus on Food

Deer will focus their activity on food and shelter as winter’s cold challenges their existence.  If you had a heavy acorn crop, there will still be mast in the leaves and the same trees that produced in mid-fall will be visited again.  With snow cover, deer will paw the ground to reach fall mast making these locations easy to identify. Standing corn is a magnet for deer and often bad weather forces farmers to delay the harvest.  Once picked, cornfields contain waste grain that will quickly draw deer.

Consider Baiting Where Legal

Baiting can be very effective in late season but also has its downside.  If you hunt in a CWD zone, bringing deer together can increase the likelihood of this disease transmission, the reason it’s outlawed in some areas.  If you or your neighbors still have pumpkins, deer will eat them but you must bust the pumpkins to allow access to the seeds.  Once deer learn to eat pumpkins, they will eat the outer layer as well.

Reposition a Camera

If you are exploring new territory on your scouting trip, carry a motion sensor camera with you.  If you find an area of high deer traffic, post the camera and consider trees nearby or spots to place a ground blind.  Winter winds frequently flow from the North and West so keep the prevailing wind in mind as you consider a new hunting location.