“What are some things you can do for deer hunting season prep?”

No Days Off with Deer Hunting

There is never really an off-season for deer hunting, you are always figuring out what you need to do for the upcoming season. In this article I will help you figure out some of the stuff that you need to do to get ready for the upcoming season so you aren't rushing to get everything done at the last minute.

There are many things that you can do to get yourself ready for deer season and know what deer to go after. Some of those things are:

• The essentials

• Trail cameras

• Food plots

• Setting up tree stands

Deer Hunting Essentials

Let's start with the essentials. These include:

• Making sure your bow is sighted in and frequently flinging arrows 

• Planning out where you are hunting including states or areas (see our article with resources for finding when hunting seasons start and end by going here.)

• Getting all your hunting gear (especially QuikCamo) together

Sight in Bow

You want to make sure your bow is sighted in at a distance you will be shooting at. And make sure you know how to compensate for your shot if they are closer or further away. The last thing you want is to not have your bow sighted in for a distance you would have deer at then you miss an opportunity at them. Frequently practicing is key. You don't want to be doing target practice on a live animal when you're tired, cold, stiff, etc. Shooting as often as possible so that the shot just comes naturally and from muscle memory of 1000s of arrows shot in the vitals.

Plan Hunting Locations

You also want to plan what states you want to hunt probably about a couple months in advance, so you know what plans you will have when the time comes. Now sometimes I take quick trips to my hunting spots for a weekend, but usually if I'm going to be hunting it for a week I will plan it about a month in advance so I know what I have going on then. While you are planning what states you will be hunting, figure out what area you want to hunt. I prefer field edges rather than woods because I am able to self film better and can blend in using my QuikCamo leafy suit. But you could also want to hunt hardwoods if you know they are bedded near there or near a food source.

Gear Prep

The night before your hunt or a couple days before your hunt you want to gather up all your gear. I can't tell you how many times I am late to the woods because I didn't have my stuff all together ahead of time or when I get all the way to my hunting spot and realize I have forgotten something because I didn't make sure that I had everything together in advance. 

Hunt Prep

Once you find out where you are going to hunt you will need to start preparing for the season. That can be done planting food plots, setting up trail cameras, setting up stands, clearing shooting lanes, or even just clearing a path to where you are hunting. 

Food Plot Prep

If you are going to be hunting in open woods or along a field, you may want to put in a food plot. Food plots can be a big help because they can provide deer food for the winter. They can also help you know where the deer are going to be, because the deer are always going to be at a food source sometime throughout the day whether that be morning, mid day, or in the evening. It will help you pattern them and know when they go to feed.

Trail Cam Prep

Whether you set up a food plot or not the next thing I would do prepping for deer season is setting up a trail camera. Now when doing all your prep work you want to try and be as scent free as possible, so the deer don't get on high alert knowing that a human is in their area. I would set trail cameras up so I know what deer are in the area and where they are traveling to and from. It also helps with finding that target buck that you will be wanting to chase and help you pattern his movements.

Hunting from a Tree Stand Prep

Once I find out where the deer are going I would set up a tree stand so that I can see as much as possible but still be concealed so you don't get spotted. Or you could even hunt from the ground and find a spot you are able to sit and get some clearings to get some shots through.

Once I have where I will be sitting or in a stand I will clear shooting lanes. I would clear probably about 4 shooting lanes, so you have multiple opportunities for shots. You want to have a big enough space where you can get a shot off when you stop them in that opening. But keep in mind you don't want to have the opening too big to where they may be able to see your movement and such.

Always Think Ahead

Another thing you want to do is clear a path to get to your hunting spot. Why I say this is if you are going to hunt in the morning and you walk in there in the dark and didn't clear a path you might not know how to get there. You also may make a bunch of noise in the dark by snagging on briars that you didn't clear out if you didn't clear a path. Clearing a path can also help you get in there super quietly because you can clear away sticks which you would have stepped on. You can also clear away leaves so you won’t sound like you are stepping on potato chips as you are getting to your spot and spooking away all the deer. 

Conclusion

These are just some of the tips and tricks I would do to help get yourself ready for deer season. These things can help you be successful in killing a deer because you will be prepped and ready for the upcoming deer season.

Make sure to check out our Leafy Suits and other Leafy gear to help you be able to stay concealed. Our leafy suits can help you be more successful in the woods by making you blend in to your surroundings so the deer have no clue you are there.

Thanks for reading, looking forward to reading your comments and making improvement as we teach and learn from one another!

Written for QuickCamo by Lucas from Hunting On The Edge on Facebook and @hunting.ontheedge Instagram, Edited by Kyle, owner of QuikCamo