| I found a product that is fantastic to use. It's a body
deodorizer. You shower with it and it eliminates any scent produced
from sweating. It somehow doesn't allow the chemical reaction which
occurs when you sweat, to happen. You still sweat, of course, but
there is no odor. This enhances any masking scent you might use and
greatly increases it's function. I for one will only use a natural
scent. Such as that are produced by a doe that is in the estros
cycle. They are more expensive, but worth it. I guess cover-up scents
are practical and add a slight advantage when used properly. I do not
reccommend using, lets say, an apple scent when there isn't an orchard
around for miles. Deer are not stupid,(all the time), and I believe
if all of a sudden they get a big whiff of apple in an area that had
never had apples before. This would only confuse or alarm them. This
is only my opinion, of course. Some people believe the exact opposite.
Also, what about your rifle or shotgun you are using? Most
gun cleaning solvents and oils stink. I found a solution. It's a gun
masking lubricant. It comes in pine and cedar. There is a bore cleaner
and a plain lubricant available. They both work great. They are a lit-
tle expensive also, but worth it.
As far as my hunting clothes go, I first wash them in either
the deoderizer, which I mentioned before, or just plain old baking
soda. Then I air dry them outside for a couple of days. I will then
put them in a box with pine boughs or cedar chips, you know, something
natural. Seal it up until I need them. Sounds like alot of trouble,
but when you are after whitetails you need all the extra help you can
get. These are just a few of the things I do to increase my chances.
Hope they help out. I'll gladly take any other tips I can get!
Good luck in the field!
Bob Allore
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| Tips you say,ok let me start out by given some tips that i have
learned over the years myself, because as i'm sure you all have said
that what you read from these hunting books(rags) only give a broad
view and mostly from the west,ive often read articles that were
good and i'm sure the author was correct but many times these guys
hunt out west were they can not only see great distances but have
the money to hire a guide to show them not only where the deer are
but take them by the hand over a ridge and say(theres a nice buck
shoot)also i see some great pictures by lenord lee rue but there
mostly from areas such as texas or other western states that a good
telephoto lens will capture deer from just about anywhere he sets
it up.ever notice very few hunting shows or pictures come out of
the northeast,i belive this is because it takes to much time and
effort to see a deer in these parts as compared to the west,i am
not saying that the west is a hunters haven but i belive it is a
LITTLE more easy to see deer.Here in the northeast and i'm talking
Maine,N.H.,VT.,MASS.its a little different from what i read.the
following tips are all things ive learned from hunting maine and
new hampshire and i hope they will help the readers of this file.
Oh one more thing,i'm not putting you western hunters down but for
anyone who has never hunted maine,nh,vt let me just say we have
more wilderness than you might think,not as much as the west but
if you have never been here you would have to see it to belive it.
Now lets get going,
Scouting: a lot of hunters scout a month before the deer season
starts, but to tell you the truth this is the wrong time to scout,the
proper time, is after the season in,DEC,JAN, when the snow is on
the ground and the full rut is now happening.this time of year will
show you,(because of the snow)like reading a book on where the deer
are feeding and where they go during the day,this we found out one
year after the season where they went and the following year resulted
in two fine deer on opening day and also a new area that lasted
3 years.you see all summer and early fall the deer were hanging
in one certain area but once the pressure was on them they changed
areas and only left tracks the new area was three(3)miles thru the
woods from where they hung all summer,it was kind of a refuge for
them.I still scout a month before but try this for next year.the
way we found the area was after the season when it snowed try to
find a set of tracks and follow we did and jumped about 14 deer
thought i was at the city zoo.
WIND DIRECTION:wind direction is often stated and should be a
concern,but here in the northeast the wind blows in four different
directions, either all the time or every 30 seconds,so yes be concerned
but don;t over do it as it is mostly a waste of time,the biggest
concern i have found is Movement,movement will give you away in
a heartbeat,ive had many,many deer stand there and look right at
me sniffing but as long as i did not blink an eye 90% of the time
they thought i was a tree,the other 10% oh well what can i say.but
as to wind and scents be concerned but remember movement is #1.
STILL HUNTING:still hunting as we know is deer hunting on the
move(walking)how do you walk up on a deer when the woods are dry
and its like walking on potato chips(YOU DONT)what you do is take
a stand.but if the conditions are right like after a rain you can
do it,but remember PATIENCE is the key.while still hunting you must
remember to walk like a deer(how the hell do you do that)have you
ever watched deer really watched them,they take 2 to 3 steps stop
look listen,so you do the same 2 - 3 steps but always plan your
move ,get to a tree or bush before you stop and never look down
alway look into the woods as farrrrr as you can see and look behind
every bush,tree,rock,branch,stump,before you move and don't look
for the whole deer lok for parts.This method has worked for me more
than once.
SITTING: stand hunting has got to be the most boring hunting method
there is, but its also the most sucessful.always try to take a stand
behind a tree or in a spruce or hemlock always try to conceal yourself
and clear all leaves and sticks from beneath your feet so as you
can move and turn if need be,also always make sure you have at least
two or three clear shooting lanes,and keep your movement down to
a min.and if you should see a deer use that tree for a rifle prop
to create a more steady shot.
GUNS:i am not going to recommend a rifle for deer in this notes
file because you know why.what i will say is that dont think of
that quick second shot,the first shot is the most important and
should be taken with great concern,always place that shot and squezzze
that trigger,youll know by reading the animals signs if you hit
him or not and if you should hit him and he runs off take your time
dont push him you'll find em closer than you think.all the deer
ive taken was one shot.havent bought any ammo for 10 years.
All the above methods are my own opinion and true life accounts
of how i have hunted and taken deer mainly in New Hampshire.I do
belive if anyone applys some of this to his or her hunting tactics
your chances for deer success will increase.
GOOD HUNTING,
RICK.....
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| re:.3
While I agree 100% with alot of the things you have said, I have
to disagree with a couple of points.
In the northeast I hunt (VT,NH,MA) the FULL rut is on in November,
not DEC/JAN, while there is some breeding still going on then, it
is mostly only the does which havn't been serviced during the main
rut in Nov. As you know, does are only in heat less than a day,
which is why bucks are constantly on the move for a piece of ass
during the November timeframe.
Also regarding scouting, yes it is true that scouting after the
season is the best time, but not because of feeding patterns. Basically
you scout after the season to see which bucks have made it through
the season. When the snow flies, and in our parts we had plenty
last year, feeding patterns change drastically. Deer tend to yard
up, and its not uncommon for them to run in herds. I hunt very
aggresively in Vt, and the rifle season ends the weekend after
thanksgiving, DEC/JAN scouting would buy me nothing, as the deer
are feeding on anything they can find, and have all yarded up, any
scouting then would be a waste of time as the season ends before
December, and feeding hasn't changed drastically, other then deer
seemingly disappearing during the season. Come the time when hunters
are invading the woods, I think its safe to say that the deer are
gonna head for the thickest shit they can find, and sit tight till
the coast is clear... hunting these areas is probably your best
bet.
Another is scent/wind direction.... this is by far the most important
factor, not movement. You can sit tight all day long in the woods
and not move a muscle, but if your smelling up the whole place and
the air currents are moving that scent around, you can bet your
not gonna see anything. Wind direction tends to change alot in these
parts, but you have to plan accordingly. Being up in a tree is one
way to keep deer from smelling you to a minimum.
So while you had some very good points, these were the ones i disagree
with.
Fra
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| I think that that different hunting tactics must be applied in
different areas and states. If you hunt in Mass, unless you have
some private land, there are soooooooo many hunters in unposted
land in the Berkshires and other popular spots that still hunting
is probably the way to go. Let someone else push a buck into your
stand, rather than you pushing one into soebody else, unless it's
a party thing..... (can't 'drive' in MA). In Maine there is a whole
lot more open wilderness, so tracking, moving might be a better
method in some areas.
I am an experienced hunter, but don't pretend to be very suceessful,
as I am still looking for my first buck, and I have been hunting
for about 12 years. (Not ABOUT 12 years, it is 12 years). Well...
I LOVE the outdoors, and am still happy just to be able to get the
chance at a deer.
Smitty
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