Deer

How Off-Season Deer Hunting with a Camera Can Help Next Hunting Season

If you enjoy deer hunting like I do, wildlife photography can be a way of extending the deer season all-year long.

I guarantee that taking a good still photo or quality video of a deer is just as challenging as actually shooting them. You’ll also get to practice a lot of the same tactics you use during the regular season.

Start Scouting for Next Deer Season Now (video)

The best time to start scouting for next deer season is immediately after the previous season ends.

It’s a perfect opportunity to find and explore the dense thickets that bucks call home without fear of spooking them. All the signs of rubs and leftover scrapes from the rut are easily found. Main and secondary trails are also clearly marked.

Ask an Unlikely Expert to Locate Big Bucks

If a big buck is what you’re after, remember that they tend to shy away from popular, well-defined trails and the attention they bring. Instead, look for natural routes to hunt deer like funnels and breaks in the topography where a wise old buck can come and go with ease.

How Many Deer Have Walked Right Under Your Nose? (video)

It seems ridiculous that such a large animal is able to appear and disappear in the woods at a moment’s notice, but whitetails are notorious for vanishing like ghosts.

Have you ever wondered how many deer walk right by your deer stand without you blinking an eye? (We won’t even include the ones missed during a quick afternoon nap.)

Hunt Small Creeks for Big Bucks

Streams and creeks allow bucks to quench their thirst while finding cooler temperatures and thick cover. This makes them terrific early season hotspots—ones that are neglected by many deer hunters.

Creeks act as natural funnels for buck travel which gives you the perfect opportunity to set up along them.  Determining how deer are using the water source will allow you to place your stand accordingly.