Post by: ZagHunter on October 30, 2018, 11:00:25 PM
I currently live in the Tacoma area and would be more than happy to buy someone a beer or lunch if they’d be wiling to let me pick their brain.
Not trying to avoid or skip the work that it takes to become a successful hunter…just trying to put myself in a better position to learn.
Thanks.
Post by: Sandberm on October 31, 2018, 04:27:18 AM
What got me my deer was knowing the land I was hunting backwards and forwards. I know every square inch of it and where the deer come and go. So my advice is to hunt land you know. Get out every weekend and walk it till you do. Realistically that means hunting within a couple hours of where you live, not driving 6 hrs across the state.
Post by: JeffRaines on October 31, 2018, 04:43:14 AM
"but don’t think I’m being as efficient as I could be with my time and money." That is the one thing that sucks about not having a mentor of some sort, and something that often goes through my head when I'm hunting. I was fortunate enough to make a few friends through this site and it has been a huge help.
Biggest thing you can do is put yourself in the field as often as possible. Thats how I learned(and am still learning) to hunt deer. Encounters lead to experience, so try to have as many as possible. When you get home, analyze each one. See what you could've done differently. Figure out why you failed.
Like someone else also mentioned, I'd spend time closer to home vs. driving across the state to start with. You'll learn faster if you can do it every weekend or weekdays after work.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. I'm not nearly as experienced as some on this site(who will likely chime in), but I'm more than happy to share what I know... and I'll be honest if its something I don't haha.
Post by: Billy74 on October 31, 2018, 05:48:39 AM
Marking sign on a gps and keeping a log of that then keep doing that every time you go out. After a few trips in the area look to see if there are any patterns as to how the deer are using the area.
I’m year 2 of hunting am hunting the same general spot. This will be my first year hunting the late season so I’m excited to see how that’s different.
And just keeping at it. Have fun and get out as much as possible even when not hunting.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: HereDuckyDucky on October 31, 2018, 06:03:15 AM
RW
PS I'm in Tukwila and would be happy to bs over a drink.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 31, 2018, 06:51:37 AM
It’s a sport/hobby, if you look at it from a money point, forget it.
More often than not it’s cheaper to buy meat than hunt it.😉
Post by: ZagHunter on October 31, 2018, 07:56:43 AM
Post by: mburrows on October 31, 2018, 08:02:53 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on October 31, 2018, 09:20:54 AM
1. Buy the best binoculars you can afford. A low end rifle and scope won't limit you nearly as much as low end binoculars.
2. Assuming you aren't stand hunting, slow down. When you are hunting whitetails, 100 yards per hour is not too slow. Learn to grid everything out with your binocs. Spend lots of time glassing and looking from one position, use the binocs to penetrate the woods. Your objective is to see deer before they see you.
3. Scent control is king. Not sprays and the like, but keeping the breeze in your face is paramount. You might get a pass from the deer on sound or movement, but it's game over when they smell you. Scent rises in the morning and falls in the evening as a general rule (as temperatures increase and decrease), so you want to be moving downhill in the morning and uphill in the afternoon.
4. Scout preseason. Locate feeding areas and bedding areas. Stay out of bedding areas when hunting.
Post by: WSU on October 31, 2018, 09:23:37 AM
Post by: fishnfur on October 31, 2018, 10:36:10 AM
My best advice: Watch your wind. Only backyard bucks put up with human stench. Others:
1. Hunt where game is plentiful. The odds go up.
2. Hunt fresh sign. Scouting is very important. Pay attention to and look for fresh sign while you hunt. Fresh rubs are like a flashing light in the woods saying hunt here!
3. For beginners, I think the most common mistake (beyond getting winded) is moving too fast. Deer are programmed to see movement. Noise and movement together will make them move or hide. Otherwise, you're basically hoping for a lucky buck to come into you that didn't hear or see you moving. Sit more than stand. Stand more than move. As Jakeland aptly said it last year, move "slug slow". Look at everything twice before moving again.
4. Learn to see deer. They spend something like 70% of the day bedded. Look low. Glass through the brush to see what is on the other side. Watch hunting shows. It is a great opportunity to see many deer in many environments. Burn those images into your mind so that your brain recognizes it when you see it in the field. Deer are good at hiding. You have to develop your brain to be able to imagine a whole deer out of the bits and pieces that are visible to you in the woods. If you don't make the connection, you walk right by.
5. Listen. Deer make noise when they move. Don't ignore sounds you hear. Instead, question what made the noise and investigate.
6. Be a predator. Act like a house cat pursuing a little bird. Stay hidden, move slow, be quiet. Use camo.
Keep hammering away at it. It is hard sometimes, easy others. You'll get better with experience. Have fun and enjoy the time in the woods.
Post by: Cervus on October 31, 2018, 12:12:50 PM
The single biggest thing that's helped me stalk deer: a bottle of wind-indicator powder. Best $5 you'll ever spend.
Keep at it and good luck!
Post by: slowhand on October 31, 2018, 12:25:47 PM
Post by: ZagHunter on October 31, 2018, 09:07:02 PM
Where and how are you hunting?
Thanks everyone. Can’t tell you how helpful this is.
WSU, I’ve been hunting 124...mostly out of a blind. I have family that lives in Spokane and am hoping to move there in a year or two. The situation isn’t ideal now, but I think it makes sense since I see myself being in the area long-term.