Manuel Bright+FollowMy 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 #TrailCameras582Share
lolson+FollowGround Blinds are the Most Overlooked Tool I OwnUsed to be all about tree saddles until I tried taking my buddy hunting. Two guys fumbling around with saddles in trees? Total nightmare - loud, unsafe, and we bailed early. That evening I grabbed my ground blind instead. Set up in minutes, hunted comfortably until dark, and my buddy got hooked on hunting. Now I'm back to using ground blinds regularly: 1️⃣ Perfect for hunting with others - especially beginners 2️⃣ Complete concealment - deer think it's just another bush 3️⃣ Super mobile - wind shifts? Move in minutes 4️⃣ Weather protection - beats freezing your butt off in a tree Tree stands have their place, but ground blinds solve a lot of problems I didn't realize I had. Anyone else rediscover ground blinds after years of elevated hunting? #hunting #HuntingTips #GroundBlind #DeerHunting268Share
bushjill+Followgrowing up a rifle hunter, but learning to love the shotgunGrowing up in West Texas, rifle hunting was all I knew — long shots, open country, and skittish deer. But my dad’s stories of thick Alabama woods, shotgun hunts, and deer dogs always stuck with me. Years later, public land hunts forced me to trade my rifle for a shotgun… and honestly, I started to love it. It made me rethink everything I knew about deer hunting. Anyone else grow up one way and switch later on? What pushed you to try something different — location, regulation, or just curiosity? #hunting #shotgunhunting #riflehunting #deerhunting358Share
paulcarol+FollowFound my buck using just my nose 👃One of my most memorable recoveries happened years ago during mule deer season. I took a shot right at last light—looked like a solid hit—but the buck disappeared into thick sagebrush just below the ridge. By the time I got down, it was pitch black. No blood trail, no flashlight strong enough to cut through the dark. So, I dropped to all fours and used my nose. Sure enough, I caught that unmistakable buck scent and followed it straight to him—he’d gone maybe 50 feet. Smelling my way to a deer wasn’t something I ever thought I’d do, but it worked. Anyone else ever used scent to recover one in the dark? #hunting #trackingtips #deerhunting #huntinghacks1515Share
bushjill+FollowEver seen a black deer in the wild? I hear the black deer are incredibly rare, making up less than 1% of the population. If you ever saw one in your sights—would you take the shot or just watch in awe? #hunting #blackdeer #deerhunting24511Share
tyler79+FollowWhy .300 Win Mag is overkill for deerKeep seeing this question pop up everywhere, so figured I'd share what I've learned over the years. Truth is, the best deer caliber is whatever you can shoot accurately with good bullet construction. Most states require .243 minimum, which is perfect starting point - .243 Win or 6mm Creedmoor will drop deer cleanly. Want less recoil? 6.5 Creedmoor and .25/06 are sweet spots. Classic .308, .30/06, and 7mm-08 never disappoint either. Unless you're in grizzly country, skip the .300 Win Mag - your shoulder will thank you. What's everyone running this season? #hunting #deerhunting #huntingcaliber #huntingtips70109Share
lolson+FollowI always do more work in July than hunting seasonJust got back from checking my spots and can't stress enough how crucial July prep is. Made the mistake of skipping this a few years back and paid for it all season long. Here's what I'm hitting hard right now: 1️⃣ Food plot check - drought hit my clover hard this year, already replanting before it's too late 2️⃣ Water sources - with temps climbing, deer patterns revolve around water. Found three new seeps I never knew existed 3️⃣ Low-impact scouting - deer aren't spooked yet, perfect time to find those bedding-to-feeding routes and hang stands 4️⃣ Early season setups - ag fields are starting to show which trails get heavy use The beauty of July work is deer barely notice you're there. Come September, you'll know exactly where to be while other hunters are still figuring out the property. What's your biggest July scouting priority this year? #hunting #deerhunting #scouting #huntingprep101Share
paulcarol+FollowFiguring out deer feeding times, so I get more big bucksBack when I first started hunting, I’d just pick a stand, sit tight at dawn and dusk, and hope for the best. Sometimes it worked, but most days were dead quiet. A few seasons back, an old-timer told me to stop hunting time and start hunting patterns. That’s when I started paying attention to deer feeding cycles — and it completely changed the game. Here’s what I’ve learned that actually works: 1️⃣ Feeding #1 (sunrise) – Happens close to bedding. Think browse, woody plants, acorns. 2️⃣ Feeding #2 (late morning) – Still nearby but a little less active. 3️⃣ Feeding #3 (about an hour before sunset) – This is prime time. They venture farther, often toward food plots or feeders. Skip worrying about nighttime movement — they’ll go wherever. But if you can understand and even shape those daytime feedings, you’ll start to predict movement and place stands way more effectively. Anyone else track feeding patterns? Curious if your experiences match up — especially in different regions. #hunting #deerhunting #huntingstrategy #huntingtips94Share
Manuel Bright+FollowDon’t Buy Your Dream Deer Hunting Farm Too SoonAlmost bought my "dream farm" right out of the gate - 160 acres of prime whitetail country. Thank God the deal fell through. Here's the brutal truth about hunting land: Don't start with your dream property. Start with the stepping stones. I learned to look for value others miss: 🏞️ Rundown pastures with good soil that can become food plots 🌲 Undervalued timber the seller doesn't recognize 📍 Good hunting areas with fixable problems (old cabins, no food plots) The snowball method works: Buy undervalued → improve → sell → roll profits into bigger property → repeat After 4-5 transactions over several years, I finally had enough equity to consider that dream farm. The key? Being willing to sell each property to fund the next step up. That 20-acre starter tract taught me more about land value than any book ever could. Sometimes the best lessons come from what you almost bought wrong. Anyone else learn this lesson the hard way? #Hunting #HuntingLand #LandInvestment #DeerHunting1011Share
paulcarol+Followold-school hunting still worksBeen thinking about how much hunting has changed for some folks—and how little it’s changed for me. I don’t use trail cams or fancy food plots, and I’m fine not knowing what’s out there until I’m in the stand. I’ve planted a few natural draws like hazelnut and persimmon, but mostly I just keep my shots sharp, watch the wind, and keep my gear scent-free. Some years I tag a buck, some years just a doe, but I usually get meat in the freezer. Anyone else prefer the old-school, low-tech way of hunting over all the gadgets? #hunting #deerhunting #huntinglife #outdoors386Share
