Don’t just be a Hunter, be a Predator!
If you intend to be a life taker of Trophy Whitetails, you better start thinking less like a weekend warrior and more like a predator. You cannot expect to hunt 5 or 10 days a year and have all your senses finally tuned to the extent necessary to be consistently successful at harvesting game.
From the beginning of time man has been a hunter and gatherer. Unfortunately, today’s society has molded man into a creature far removed from what we used to be. Most have lost all touch with nature and the feelings that stir in a man soul that drive him to hunt other animals. Our senses have been dulled by generations of life lived outside of the natural environment and dependence on others to provide sustenance.
Here are Some Essential Things you can do to Tune Yourself up for Hunting Season!
- Spend as much time in the woods as you can in the off season.
- Hunt other species of game besides Whitetails.
- When hunting deer, don’t limit your harvest to just bucks, shoot some does!
- Put in as much time on stand as possible each Year.
- Employ other hunting methods such as spot & stalk!
The animals your hunting spend each and every day of life in the woods and everything they do revolves around survival. You will never be able to match their senses but the more time you spend in their environment the more you can close the gap.
Hunt Other Game Species to Sharpen Your Skills!
Hunting other species such as squirrels, hogs and especially turkeys will sharpen you predator skills like nothing else. By the time you get around to chasing Trophy Bucks, you’ll be a lean, mean, deer killin’ machine.
Don't Just Hold Out for a Buck,
Shoot a Doe if Given the Opportunity!
If you have a limited number of days to hunt each year don’t just hold out for a buck, shoot a few does, this is extremely important for a bow hunter. Most anyone can pick up a gun and shoot a deer at 100 yds or more but put a bow in that guy’s hands and see if he can shoot a 5 yr. old doe at 15 yds. that has a couple yearlings she is teaching the skills of survival. You cannot believe the things that can go wrong at that close distance. With her yearlings in tow that deer is just about as hard to kill as animal that walks or breaths, except maybe a coyote. That practice is invaluable, believe me!
Spend as Much Time in the Woods as Possible!
One of my very best hunting companions who shall remain nameless, only gets to hunt deer about 10-12 days a year. Therefore, he is pretty dull when he arrives to hunt the monster bucks that call our Illinois farm home. All of his effort, preparation and anticipation is for this very hunt, but the day he arrives at the farm is his first day in the woods in a year, except maybe a handful of days turkey hunting. Everyone cannot afford the time to spend 50 to 75 days a year hunting but the more you can squeeze out the better your hunting skills will become.
Employ Other Hunting Methods!
Day in and day out more deer hunting is done from a tree stand than by any other method but if you want to sharpen you skills, try doing some spot and stalk. This is a much more difficult method of hunting and will really hone your predator skills like nothing else. Stalking is the ultimate predatory skill. Besides, it is just a matter of time before your presented with circumstances that require just these skills.
If you want to take more trophy deer next season, follow these tips and get outside and put some extra time in the woods prior to your big hunt. I guarantee you, you’ll be more successful for the effort.
Good hunting,
Larry Stephens
