Finding Deer

[Kingpuck]

So I'm very new to hunting but have enjoyed the outdoors my entire life. Everyone in my family is more city orientated so this is a process that is up to me to figure out. Have the bow and working on getting it sighted in and consistent groupings. Have run into deer in the woods but more by accident then purpose. The next part I'm trying to figure out is how you go about tracking and what the process is that people have used to find their deer?

Not asking for honey holes or "hot spots". Trying to understand the process and willing to do the grunt work to figure it out. Hoping to do scouting this spring and summer so that things are clearer come September.

Even been hitting the gym so I'm in shape for the long hike and pack out. Just at a loss as to how to find those elusive deer. It's been said that deer have a calendar and know when its time for hunting. Would be nothing sweeter than to fill the freezer with good, healthy, fresh meat.

For those of you who might reply, thank you for the potential pointers and for getting me closer to a deer.

[PolarBear]

First off, which deer are you after, whitetail, blacktail or muleys?  The tactics for the most part can be very different between the species.

[wraithen]

Make sure poop is in the area you wanna hunt. That's about as far as I've gotten myself. Tagged.

[Kingpuck]

not really picky on type of deer. The muleys look much larger so that might a better option as that would give more meat in the end. Not much of a trophy hunter. Would be fun to get a bear tag and see if I could close the deal on one of those as well. So to try and answer your question, probably muleys.

[NWBREW]

As Polarbear stated..."The tactics for the most part can be very different between the species". I do not go about hunting Mule deer the same way as whitetail or Blacktail for that matter. It may make better sense to figure out which one you will hunt and go from there. just my opinion.

[huntnnw]

next you should narrow down the area u want to hunt either public or gaining permission from a landowner. Next go out in the summer and scout the area..watch the deer and what they do. Then decide if you can hang a treestand, a ground blind or if you wanna try and spot and stalk them.

[Turner89]

If you are hunting blacktail.
    I would start by going to state land or private timber land. I like places that are gated, and that dont have permits that can be purchased. Try to find a clearcut that is at least 2 miles back. One that was logged  6 years or earlier. I try to find one that is on very steep ground and has nice 2nd growth bordering it. Walk about 100ft inside the 2nd growth along the perimeter of clearing. You wil find a bunch of different trails, and on them some buck rubs. I walk the whole thing then go back to the best trail I find and set a trail cam.
    I would scout a bunch of clear cuts, and try to find a spot with alot of rubs. Right now is the best time. The visibility through the brush is as good as it's going to be. You will be able to see the tracks & trails alot more clearly. Blacktail trails can be frustrating at times, becuase the trails seem to go no where. You can lose the trail easily especialy through thick ferns. Take your time and try to figure out where they are headed.
    I try to go out at least one day a weekend and walk these trails. I am fortunate, I grew up in the hills. I can be 2 miles behind a gate from my house in a 1/2 hr on my mtn bike.

   

[Bean Counter]

If you.haven't killed a deer yet then I would either pair up with someone who has or try to swing paying a.guide for a season. Check the guides references and be sure you only hire one who is not only good but will be.s upportive of you picking his brain throughout the hunt. Keep us posted on your progress.

[huntnnw]

Being able to hunt with an experienced bow hunter would help a ton

[ICEMAN]

Kingpuck, you are my favorite type of new hunter, guys like you are what will save our sport.

My tips for finding a deer to kill during your season of choice would be to;

I would pick a local area of easily accessible land. Something close so you can affordably get to know the area. Muleys can be hard to hunt as a newbie, since alot of them are migratory in nature....

You are westside I assume as I write this, so I would stick to westside blacktailed deer.

Look for signs of a buck. Tree rubs are your best clue. Game trails indicate alot of deer using an area, this is a good sign (duh  )

Find three or four different areas where you feel different bucks are living in. Keep your options open. Don't invest all your study on one buck, but a handfull.... Some other hunter may be doing the same with some of your deer...

Learn the areas like the back of your hand. You may run into a few of these deer a few times before season.  Nice to back off number one for a while and switch to number two for a bit...don't want to drive them out by constant pressure before  season.

Blacktails do not generally take off for miles when they are gently bumped (not chased...). If you target a specific buck, chances are he is within a mile or so of you as you hunt him.

Hunt slow.

Use quality binoculars every few feet when walking. Look at the horizon of your view. Look back at areas you have passed, the new angle may disclose deer. Look for ears and small features. Do not expect to see a blacktail standing in a position where he is completely viewable from head to toe. You may initially only see an ear tip.

Expect to be busted by his hearing and ability to smell you. Plan on it. Plan around this. Do so by going slow, looking ahead and around at the same thing many times. Look over a hill or timber patch again. Then look at it again. Make your head ache. I have found deer with my binoculars in areas I had already looked at 10 times. A deer bent over feeding which was previously not seen is now seen. A tiny bush had blocked your view, the deer moved two feet forward and is now viewable. This is how to score a blacktail.   Chances are they have already seen you and are frozen in place waiting for you to pass like other hunters do. Don't be the other hunter. What is your rush? Need to get somewhere? Keep asking your self these questions.... Why hurry?


Be ready to stop hunting and start meat care. IMHO, some guys shoot their first and then go "oh crap, what do I do now?" and just wrestle the deer out and take it to a butcher.... Don't be this guy. Study up on gutting, skining, quartering, butchering, meat wrapping etc....you will be glad you did.

Bring a camera!

Good luck on scoring your first deer. You will be very proud, so will we.

[Kingpuck]

Thanks guys. Think I'm getting the idea here. Need to put some dirt on the tires and get up some logging roads over the weekends so that I can get a good idea of how the deer move and what they like. Good to spend time from dawn to dusk seeing how things change when the time of day and weather change. Also thinking it would be good to keep a diary of my observations so that some consciences could be reach throughout the year.

Don't really know anyone with land up in the hills so probably going to have to hunt public land. Having just graduated college a guide will be out of reach financially. After some hard work should be able to close the deal on a deer like the Native Americans used to. Not afraid to get 10+ miles in the backcountry. That is part of the fun. Just have to eat a bit more and workout harder then the next guy. Should be spending more time at Nock Point ensuring the bow gets dialed in. Thanks so much for the advice, I'm getting excited about next year. Hope things in are in line by then.

Can honestly say that hunters are the coolest group of people to know. Makes it all the more fun.

[Camp David]

King Puck (you a hockey guy?)

Nock point is a good start, but learn to tune you own bow...Lots of great books available. Join Kenmore and use the bow hunter course 2X a week. You will learn to shoot well and meet some guys that just might take you under their wing and next thing you know you will have a hunting buddy (s). Remember hunting is a give/take have something to offer and invites will become the norm.

[fillthefreezer]

alot of good blacktail advice coming in but figured i should add, if you hunt blacktail remember, they are the most elusive of all the species and the hardest to tie a tag to a mature buck.


i cant even get a clear trailcam pic of the monster i have hanging around, 3 different pic sets and all blurry, its like sasquatch i swear

[deerhunter_98520]

Kingpuck, you are my favorite type of new hunter, guys like you are what will save our sport.

My tips for finding a deer to kill during your season of choice would be to;

I would pick a local area of easily accessible land. Something close so you can affordably get to know the area. Muleys can be hard to hunt as a newbie, since alot of them are migratory in nature....

You are westside I assume as I write this, so I would stick to westside blacktailed deer.

Look for signs of a buck. Tree rubs are your best clue. Game trails indicate alot of deer using an area, this is a good sign (duh  )

Find three or four different areas where you feel different bucks are living in. Keep your options open. Don't invest all your study on one buck, but a handfull.... Some other hunter may be doing the same with some of your deer...

Learn the areas like the back of your hand. You may run into a few of these deer a few times before season.  Nice to back off number one for a while and switch to number two for a bit...don't want to drive them out by constant pressure before  season.

Blacktails do not generally take off for miles when they are gently bumped (not chased...). If you target a specific buck, chances are he is within a mile or so of you as you hunt him.

Hunt slow.

Use quality binoculars every few feet when walking. Look at the horizon of your view. Look back at areas you have passed, the new angle may disclose deer. Look for ears and small features. Do not expect to see a blacktail standing in a position where he is completely viewable from head to toe. You may initially only see an ear tip.

Expect to be busted by his hearing and ability to smell you. Plan on it. Plan around this. Do so by going slow, looking ahead and around at the same thing many times. Look over a hill or timber patch again. Then look at it again. Make your head ache. I have found deer with my binoculars in areas I had already looked at 10 times. A deer bent over feeding which was previously not seen is now seen. A tiny bush had blocked your view, the deer moved two feet forward and is now viewable. This is how to score a blacktail.   Chances are they have already seen you and are frozen in place waiting for you to pass like other hunters do. Don't be the other hunter. What is your rush? Need to get somewhere? Keep asking your self these questions.... Why hurry?


Be ready to stop hunting and start meat care. IMHO, some guys shoot their first and then go "oh crap, what do I do now?" and just wrestle the deer out and take it to a butcher.... Don't be this guy. Study up on gutting, skining, quartering, butchering, meat wrapping etc....you will be glad you did.

Bring a camera!

Good luck on scoring your first deer. You will be very proud, so will we.

very good advice here...ive killed all my bucks doing this...spend alot of time at your spots glassing in the summer...the bucks/deer will be like fleas on a dog..there everywhere when they in the velvet..youll get to see what type of buck to expect in your area...pay attention to where they are in the clear cut and where they enter and leave...it will pay off for the season.....also walking the clear cuts and finding the well worn beds...the area i hunt the deer bed out in the cuts at night so i focus on the spots where the beds are to glass first thing in the morning...there usually right within 100 yds feeding of that area...also the biggest most mature bucks will be the first to leave the clear cuts and hit the timber for their day beds...so glass timberlines first thing in the morning...just keep a mental picture of the clearcut and the trails/beds going through them...remember theres going to be little hills and brush piles in the cuts for them to hide in/behind...these will be the most elusive deer you will hunt and the hardest trophy to get...if you put in the hard work you say you are going to...you will be rewarded...like said before find another hunter to go with...you have lots of time before next season...its more fun with a friend and alot easier on your back on the pack out...i hunt with my 2 cousins and my dad and i look forward to the memories every year....also go buy blacktail trophy tactics 2 and ready it and read it again...you will learn ALOT and it will help out a ton...boyd iverson knows his stuff

[BurleyDog]

Where do you live?

If your in the Wenatchee area I'll take you out next year and show you what little I know.

Welcome to hunting, its an amazing experience that I am sure you'll love.

I guess my one word of advice is that sometimes it takes years before being successful so focus on the
hunt itself and not the meat.

Let us know!