Deer

We’re told in countless articles and blogs to deer hunt near doe groups as the rut approaches. But the real key to success is to find the right doe group.

One of the best ways to improve your chances for a mature buck as deer season winds down is to eliminate tactical mistakes. More often than not, those mistakes are a matter of neglecting important opportunities, rather than actually committing errors. Avoid these seven common late deer season mistakes, and your chances of scoring should improve dramatically as the last few weeks of deer hunting wind down.

The crowds of deer hunters are gone and the woods are again silent—and that terrain suddenly appears barren to most hunters. You’ve got an unfilled deer tag in your pocket, and you’d like to fill it. The clock is ticking and your hours of opportunity are shrinking. What will you do?

Many deer hunters don’t stay out all day, and that can be a mistake, especially during the rut. If you want to maximize your time in the field, and your chances of tagging a trophy, here are some tips:

When it comes to hunter safety, learn it, preach it, and - most of all - practice it yourself, because it's easy to get overconfident and become careless. Always remain conscious of safety when you head to the woods. 

For deer hunters, the wind can be a source of frustration, especially when it suddenly changes directions. But, the wind can blow some benefits your way as well.

Use the following tips from deer hunting expert, Steve Stoltz, to help you rule the rut.

Every bow season I wait for the perfect wind for my favorite deer stand to arrive, then drop everything and head out. It has to be west or north.