Tag Page deerhunting

#deerhunting
paulcarol

My secret spots that yielded 5 sheds last weekend!

Just got back from a weekend of shed hunting and figured I’d share a few spots that always seem to deliver — but don’t get talked about much. Food plots and bedding areas are obvious, but if you want to start picking up more bone, try looking in these underrated places: 1️⃣ Regrown clear-cuts – Deer hammer woody browse in winter. Clear-cuts from a few years back are full of low vegetation and buds they love. 2️⃣ Swamp or marsh islands – Most folks won’t wade through water, but deer do. They bed on high ground in the middle where they feel safe. 3️⃣ Deadfall timber zones – Downed trees offer cover, block wind, and often grow browse-friendly plants. Great bedding = more chances for sheds. 4️⃣ Deep-woods pockets – Especially in high-pressure areas. If they’ve got food (like red oak acorns) and cover, expect sheds. 5️⃣ CRP/native grass fields – Warm, soft bedding. Grasses insulate well, which is why you’ll often find antlers buried in them. 6️⃣ Natural green sources – Greenbriar and other winter-staying plants are gold. Not every food source is in a field. 7️⃣ Wind-sheltered valleys – Deer conserve energy by staying out of the wind. Ridges and hollows shaped just right make cozy hideouts. 8️⃣ Sanctuary edges – Deer hang just outside of off-limits land. Walk the fence lines — they might drop right on your side. 9️⃣ Travel corridors – Shed along paths between food and bedding. Even brief stops can be enough to drop an antler. 🔟 Feeding stations (if legal) – Keep feeding past the season. Deer remember where to find food and return, often shedding nearby. Anyone else finding success in unusual spots this year? #hunting #shedhunting #deerhunting

My secret spots that yielded 5 sheds last weekend!
lolson

Ground blinds changed my hunting game

Last season I was strictly a treestand guy until a buddy convinced me to try his ground blind setup. First sit, I had a mature buck at 15 yards completely oblivious to my presence. That's when I became a believer. Here's why ground blinds have become my go-to hunting method: 1️⃣ Invisible movement - Deer can't see you fidgeting, drawing your bow, or adjusting position like they can in treestands. 2️⃣ Ultimate portability - Move with the deer patterns. No climbing, no heavy stands to haul. 3️⃣ Weather protection - Rain, snow, wind - you're comfortable and focused on hunting instead of surviving. 4️⃣ Scent containment - Your scent stays trapped inside instead of swirling around a tree. 5️⃣ Room to move - Stretch out, shift positions, stay comfortable during long sits. Set them up during pre-season so deer accept them as part of their environment. What's your experience with ground blinds vs treestands? #hunting #HuntingTips #GroundBlind #DeerHunting

Ground blinds changed my hunting game
Manuel Bright

🦌 How I plan my multi-state deer hunts

Two years ago a game warden told me: "I've seen some really nice bucks back where those two creeks meet. Nobody goes back there." That fall I hiked into that exact spot and shot a beautiful 145-inch buck. That's when I knew my multi-state system was working. Here's my tried-and-true approach after a decade of chasing whitetails across state lines: 1️⃣ Research habitat - I use satellite imagery to find public land with good deer habitat and accessible food sources. Farmland borders are gold. 2️⃣ Make the calls - Local biologists and game wardens give you intel you can't get anywhere else. Ask about deer quality, hunting pressure, and access. 3️⃣ Plan your timeline - I leave home late October for 15-20 days, hitting my limited tag state first, then over-the-counter states. 4️⃣ Save money smart - Mom and Pop motels will negotiate weekly rates. I bring frozen meals in a crock pot - hot dinner waiting after long days. 5️⃣ Adapt your gear - North Dakota trees are crooked and small. Montana cottonwoods need ratchet straps. Ask locals about terrain before you go. 6️⃣ Plan for success - Have a solid plan for meat care. I travel with a chest freezer for early kills. What's your biggest multi-state hunting lesson learned? #hunting #DeerHunting #HuntingTips

🦌 How I plan my multi-state deer hunts
paulcarol

How I tell bucks from does in the field?

Two weeks ago I'm glassing a lone deer feeding in my food plot at last light. No antlers visible, slender build - had to be a doe, right? Wrong! Almost made a costly mistake until I noticed that thick neck and blocky head shape. After 20+ years hunting, I've learned you can't just rely on antlers. Here's how I now identify bucks vs does in the field: Key identifiers that never lie: 1️⃣ Head shape - Bucks have flattened, blocky foreheads. Does have rounded heads like a Coke bottle with floppy ears. 2️⃣ Neck and chest - Even shed bucks keep that thick, muscular neck. Does are more graceful and elongated. 3️⃣ Body build - Bucks are squarer and more muscular. Does have that rectangular, streamlined look. 4️⃣ Tarsal glands - Look for dark brown staining on mature bucks' hind legs from rub-urinating during rut. 5️⃣ Behavior - Late season bucks often feed alone, packing on calories after rut. Does travel in family groups. Post-rut bucks feeding solo are often mistaken for does. Don't let a shed buck fool you! What's your go-to method for buck vs doe identification? #hunting #DeerHunting #buckordoe

How I tell bucks from does in the field?
Manuel Bright

My biggest buck came from this scrape tip 🦌

Been studying rubs and scrapes for years and they're basically GPS coordinates for where to set up. Here's what I've learned about using them effectively: 1️⃣ Size matters - Larger, higher rubs and big scrapes usually mean mature bucks are using them 2️⃣ Position downwind - Set your stand downwind from active scrape lines for optimal scent management 3️⃣ Trail cam gold - Scrapes get visited year-round but peak activity is fall, mostly at night 4️⃣ Post-rain visits - Bucks often return after rain to "freshen up" scrapes where scent washed away The scrape-to-trail-cam combo has been incredible for taking inventory of what's actually in the area. Multiple deer use the same spots, so you get a full picture of the local population. Anyone else had luck dialing in patterns this way? #hunting #DeerHunting #HuntingTips #TrailCameras

My biggest buck came from this scrape tip 🦌