New to gun hunting- white-tail tips? plus a falconry photo! :)

[SimoneBird]

Hi all, I am new to gun hunting/big game hunting although I have been hunting rabbits with a hawk for 17 years as I am a falconer  I went out last year during late modern near Sullivan Lake. Got off the roads and did a lot of hiking and sitting but never saw a single deer. I'm going to try for late muzzleloader white-tail this time and just wondering if anyone has any tips or units they would suggest. I have been trying to do a lot of research but there seems to be less info on white-tails. Not looking for anyone's specific spots of course but just looking for tips as a new deer hunter. It was really fun getting out in the woods last year but hoping to actually see some deer this season  Here's a photo of my hawk with a snowshoe hare from a couple years ago just for fun! We started hunting snowshoes a few years ago in addition to cottontails and it's a blast.

[Hilltop123]

Welcome to the forum! Cool pic! We have a few hunters from that area, if I was closer I'd trade info for a tag along to watch your bird work. Plus this will bump you back to the top, of recent topics.

[Special T]

Very cool! I am fortunate enough to have gone hunting with my buddy whom had a Goss Hawk. It was a hoot. He had 2 trained jack russels that would stir up the rabbits and quail in the sage.  Falconers are the most dedicated sportsmen to their craft. welcome and please share more pictures and stories of your adventures.

[boneaddict]

Welcome    and Happy Thanksgiving!

Very cool!   I hope to hear more about it and what a great first post.

[carpsniperg2]

Welcome to the site and super cool pic!!!! Look forward to lots

[outdooraddict]

can you please get us some pics and stories of your falconry andventures, that sounds awesome.  id imagine it take a lot of work and practice?  what all do you hunt with the bird

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Not looking for anyone's specific spots of course but just looking for tips as a new deer hunter.

First of all, welcome and that’s a *censored* hawk!  So, muzzy for whitetail has great seasons with less hunters and more rut and post rut opportunities. Target thick cover as sometimes bucks will be locked up on a doe during late November. Also, hunt near food sources since bucks need to get back some calorie intake post rut. Try to pattern them if you have a time or a trail camera. Find scrapes and rubs and still hunt down wind of that line. Good luck man!

[SimoneBird]

Hey all, thanks for the warm welcome! Falconry is definitely a lot of work and dedication and no days off, really. I mostly hunt cottontails and snowshoes with my red-tailed hawk but I have also hunted with all the accipiters- sharp-shinned, cooper's hawk and goshawk. Those birds are usually better at catching game birds than a red-tail and I've taken ducks, pheasants and quail with them. Right now mostly just hunting the red-tail. I have two JRT x beagles that are rabbit dogs- they help flush rabbits for the hawks.

Hoping to find some white-tails for muzzleloader this coming week but we'll see. It's fun to just get out. Last year I put up trail cams, did some scouting, etc but only got some does on camera in the middle of the night. I did find some rubs and scraps last year as well but never saw anything- I assumed they had all gone nocturnal but maybe I should have actually focused on that area more since there was fresh sign... perhaps I'll go there again this year.

Here's another photo. I should probably move my falconry thread somewhere else though after this!

[Special T]

Hey all, thanks for the warm welcome! Falconry is definitely a lot of work and dedication and no days off, really. I mostly hunt cottontails and snowshoes with my red-tailed hawk but I have also hunted with all the accipiters- sharp-shinned, cooper's hawk and goshawk. Those birds are usually better at catching game birds than a red-tail and I've taken ducks, pheasants and quail with them. Right now mostly just hunting the red-tail. I have two JRT x beagles that are rabbit dogs- they help flush rabbits for the hawks.

Hoping to find some white-tails for muzzleloader this coming week but we'll see. It's fun to just get out. Last year I put up trail cams, did some scouting, etc but only got some does on camera in the middle of the night. I did find some rubs and scraps last year as well but never saw anything- I assumed they had all gone nocturnal but maybe I should have actually focused on that area more since there was fresh sign... perhaps I'll go there again this year.

Here's another photo. I should probably move my falconry thread somewhere else though after this!

You should make a personal thread about your falconry exploits in the Small game board.   https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/board,6.0.html as you know there there are not a lot of falconers.

[sjhgraysage]

Cool pics!!
I do falcon hood work for Pineo Falconry, we make hoods to fit birds from the size of Merlin Falcons up to big female Gyrfalcons and female Redtail hawks.

[lamrith]

Great picts!  I considered taking up Falconry many years ago, a Family friend was one in CA and man o man the time commitment is no joke!  Good on your for going it for that long!

Great looking redtail you have there!

[Goshawk]

Cool pics!!
I do falcon hood work for Pineo Falconry, we make hoods to fit birds from the size of Merlin Falcons up to big female Gyrfalcons and female Redtail hawks.

My kids and I used to make traps and jesses for Northwoods for Brad in the early 90's.  Always enjoyed the RTH. Flew Prairies, Merlin, Coops, Gos, Merlin, HH, GHO, manned an injured Bald Eagle for a rehabber in Olympia for public education.  One of those was enough for me! Took a good PVC sleeve to keep her from doing damage to my arm. 

Thanks for posting your pics!

[pianoman9701]

Those pics are awesome. Welcome to the forum. 

[Buckhunter24]

It took me a few years before I started seeing whitetail regularly while hunting. I grew hunting blacktail and had a fair bit of success hiking and hunting. So thats what I started doing with whitetail and only.ever saw white flags heading away from me at mach speed. I now only sit and wait. Get a ground.blind or a tree stand and post it up in an area with deer sign. It took me a while to learn the patience necessary, an hour was tough at first now I can do 5 or 6 hours pretty easy. Its amazing how many deer move around during the day if you are just sitting and not hiking. Mornings good, but the last hour of the day is the best in my experience.

[SimoneBird]

Thanks all for the warm welcome and deer tips! I'll do a post of my latest snowshoe hare hunt over in small game now