Join the Challenge of the Wild: Hunt the Gray Ghost – Part 1

How does a man learn whitetail deer hunting if he did not grow up in a hunting culture?

Recently I was thinking about all the times I had conversations with men that never hunted. They would often express how they would like to start hunting “someday.” These thoughts inspired the writing of this series of articles.

I grew up in rural Pennsylvania. In rural Pennsylvania, deer hunting was ingrained in the culture. It had been this way for generations. Hunting whitetail deer was something that was handed down from fathers to sons. My grandfather taught my dad how to hunt. My dad taught me. For years this was something I took for granted.

But now I realize many men would like to start deer hunting but did not grow up in a hunting culture. As a result, they have a difficult time understanding where to start. What they need is a plan.

This reminds me of when I wanted to learn how to blog and write. I did not know enough to ask the right questions. But men that were more experienced provided me a plan to get started. If I followed it and did the work, I could be successful.

This series of articles are written to help men build a plan. I do not claim this is THE PLAN. But I do claim that if you follow these steps, do the research and work I suggest, you have a good chance of successfully hunting whitetail deer.

I have successfully hunted whitetail deer for over 40 years and in over seven states. This has been with both gun and bow. I have harvested many deer utilizing these principles.

Having moved quite a few times, I had to learn different state regulations, find new places to hunt, scout out new areas, determine optimum stand locations, and do the things I write about in this series.

These simple steps are based upon my experience chasing after the gray ghosts of the North American wilderness. This pursuit is challenging, wild, requires mental toughness, patience, and determination to be consistently successful. It involves time in God’s creation and connecting with the wild inside the masculine soul. For these reasons and many more, I love this sport. I am convinced that if you start, you will too.

It is my hope you will join in the chase and the challenge. Enjoy!

Safety

Safety is key. You need to understand that what you are about to do will take a life. The equipment you will be using can take your own life or the lives of those around you. This must be taken seriously. I highly recommend you take a hunters safety course. As far as I know, every state has one of these, and for many, it is a requirement to buying your first hunting license.

Do your internet research to find your state hunting regulations. Understand your state requirements and laws. The hunter’s safety course will cover many things like how to safely handle your weapon. But this course will also cover things specific to hunting and decision making while pursuing your game.

Hunting can be a great experience but make one wrong decision, and your life or someone else’s will be changed forever. Do not begin this journey unless you are willing to learn how to be safe in the wild.

Learn About Your Prey

Do your research and learn everything you can about this incredible animal. If you are like me, the more you understand, the more you will be amazed. You will develop a healthy respect for the deer you pursue.

Food, cover, and water are keys to finding deer. Find all three, and you are likely to see deer. Here are the questions you should be asking.

What do deer eat in the area I plan to hunt? Agricultural areas offer specific food sources like cornfields, soybean fields, and apple/fruit orchards. These will draw deer. Mountains offer different food sources such as acorns and mushrooms.

Deer have preferences. For example, whitetail deer in the mountains of Pennsylvania will pass through groves of red oak acorns to get to the better tasting white oak acorns. You need to know the difference. Research the area you plan to hunt and understand the critical food sources. Understand where they are located. Deer will travel to and from these areas.

What types of cover do deer like? Deer do not like to be exposed. This is especially true with older bucks. When hunting pressure begins to increase, deer move to cover with escape routes. The more pressure, the thicker the cover. I tend to look for areas that have food, water, and dense cover in a relatively small area. Deer go to these areas when the pressure increases. Hunting the outskirts of these areas has served me well over the years.

What signs do whitetail deer leave in the woods? Start with the basics. Understand what deer tracks and deer trails look like. Then learn about buck rubs, buck scrapes, and licking branches. Do your research. Familiarize yourself with what these look like and what they mean. Learn how to tell if they are fresh.

Learn how deer move in mating season (rut) versus outside mating season. In mating season buck movements are dominated by finding does and breeding. Outside mating season they tend to move based upon food and water. If hunting pressure is high this will influence their movement. These are things worth researching to understand what they typically do and when they typically do it.

What senses do deer rely upon most often? Whitetail deer use their sense of smell exceptionally well. This is the number one thing you need to take into account if you are going to get close to deer. Think about covering your scent. There are many products on the market that do this well. But as critical is to think about wind direction and where you expect deer to be.

Consider wind direction when you decide on your stand position versus deer trails. Bowhunters especially need to take this into account. They must get close. Deer will work hard to get downwind of a suspected threat. If they smell something that does not align with the norm, they will not hang around to figure it out.

A whitetail deer has large ears and can hear well. You need to take this into consideration. Think about the clothing you wear and the sound it makes when you move. Today’s deer hunting clothing often takes this into account, but you need to ensure you can be quiet when moving. This also means you need to learn how to walk in the woods without making noise. Avoid branches, dried leaves, loose rocks, etc.

Whitetail deer have decent eyesight though they do not see color. They do notice movement. So your actions need to be slow and smooth. Quick movements often result in seeing a large white tail in all its glory.

Because they do not see color like we do, you can wear bright orange and still get close to deer. The key is to wear patterns that break up your outline. Avoid wearing clothing that is all one color. This makes you stand out amid the many lines in the woods.

These are only a few aspects regarding the characteristics of the whitetail deer. Do your own research. I think you will enjoy learning about them. They are fascinating animals. As you understand, think about how you can use this knowledge to develop hunting strategies. The uneducated hunter will struggle to consistently win against one of the wariest animals in the North American wild. Don’t be that guy! Do your research.

Finding a place to hunt

Public land

Do a search for public hunting land in your state. Be aware that some public lands, such as national forests, may have slightly different regulations. Familiarize yourself with these regulations before hunting there.

When hunting public land, you need to take into consideration that others will be hunting there also. Be mentally prepared for interruptions. One way I have accounted for this is by building in a Plan B and a Plan C. I usually scout out at least three different locations when first hunting public land. That way, if I find others hunting in the area, I have options. I can quickly pick up and move to another location and still have a good day in the woods.

Private Land

Sometimes, you find people that have land and allow you to hunt. This can be a great situation. If you have this opportunity, talk to the landowner and learn as much as you can. He can be your most powerful resource for information. Many times landowners help you get on deer quickly.

Ask him where he sees deer or deer signs. If he does see deer, what time does he see them? Ask him if others have permission to hunt the same land. If so, ask where they have stands so you can avoid them. Ask him where the boundaries of his land are. Also, ask where there are houses or structures are that you need to take into account when hunting and shooting.

I also like to familiarize myself with the land. To do this, I use something like Google Earth or a mapping app that gives me a satellite view. Sometimes landowners allow you to place trail cameras. This can be a great tool in discovering deer patterns and what kind of bucks are moving in the area.

Above all else, respect the landowner. Ask him where he would like you to park. Make sure he is aware of what your vehicle looks like. You want to be sure he knows it is you on his land and not someone that may not have permission to hunt. If you successfully harvest a deer, offer some of the venison to him. Be respectful.

Next Week: Part 2

Next week we will continue with Part 2 of this series, “Join the Challenge of the Wild: Hunt the Gray Ghost.” Upcoming topics in this series will include stands, stand placement, hiking into stands, getting ready on the stand, shot placement, field dressing, and essential equipment.

Also, be sure to visit my “Recommended Equipment” page. I will continue to post more products that can help you get started on your journey and join the chase.

In the meantime, do your research. Learn safety, the characteristics of the whitetail deer, and places to hunt. If you have questions or comments, contact me by clicking “EMAIL” on my main menu bar.

As always I appreciate your visit to Men of Grit!

In your corner,

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”