subject: Deer Hunting Techniques For Beginners [print this page] Several different techniques are used by deer hunters to effectively harvest deer. The techniques utilized are typically chosen based upon personal choice or a decision based upon matching the best technique to a given situation. In some states these methods of hunting can also be a result of special regulations or laws. Below are three different popular deer hunting methods.
Spot and stalk is a technique that involves a hunter spotting a deer and then stalking the animal to within a comfortable range of a chosen weapon such as bow or gun. This can be a very effective technique in terrain that allows long distance spotting. Binoculars or spotting scopes are typically used by hunters to search for deer in the distance. Stalking the whitetail deer is an art form in itself as these animals have very keen senses of smell and vision. By stalking a deer from downwind deer hunters can most often avoid being detected from smell. The deer's vision sense though is not so easily avoided. While camouflage apparel will help it is critical for the hunter to use existing cover for concealment. This technique can be used by bow and gun hunters.
Driving deer is a deer hunting technique used most often by gun hunters. With a large group of hunters a number of hunters will be pushers and the remaining hunters are referred to as standers. The standers are positioned in escape routes that the deer take when startled from the pushers of the group walking through the woods. This method can be very effective for larger groups of deer hunters. Blaze orange is critical when this form of deer hunting is employed as the pushers are most often walking directly towards the standers.
Still hunting is a technique in which the hunter simply waits for the deer to come to them. This is a very popular technique in which the hunter is most often located in a tree stand to avoid the keen senses of a deer detecting them. This technique is most often used by bow hunters and gun hunters who are not part of a group and hunting on their own. Scouting is critical for the success of this hunting technique as simply sitting in any given location does not put the odds of seeing a deer in the hunters favor. Most often the best areas are located on trails between a feeding area and bedding area. This type of hunting should used when deer are the most active such as sunrise and sunset or during weather conditions that encourage the most movement.
