If you want to go from a B grade to an A grade deer hunter, the summer is the time to do it. That errant clumsy noise, less than perfect release on a shot, unprepared nervous feeling as you climb into your stand for the first time in October, can all be cleared up now, well before season. It’s probably the most overlooked timeframe for a whitetail hunter, and for good reason. Turkey season is done, the fishing is hot, and family vacations are pulling us in all directions. I get it.
But think about this, if you focus on deer hunting just 1 month of your summer (which is 1 out of 12), or 8% of your year, and if you can make just that much improvement as a hunter in this overlooked timeframe, that takes you from an 85% (B grade) hunter, to well in the 90’s (A grade hunter). Who wouldn’t want that? The problem is there’s no urgency in summer, there’s no looming deadline, which causes many to get distracted and put off things that could really tighten up the proverbial group. But if you want to be best friend to your future October self, there’s some things you should do right now.
Hundreds of topics could make this list, so I’ll just give some examples that I will be focusing on. Yours will probably be very different as it’s very personal and should be specific to you. The place to start that really sets you up the best is being brutally honest about what hasn’t been working. Even small improvements give big advantages, so figuring out those little tweaks now, makes your time now very valuable.
1. Sharper Shooting
Last year I had some problems crop up with shot anxiety, which has always plagued me, and ignoring this unfortunately led to some questionable shots. Years of shooting at dots on a target and with nothing but a T-shirt on, and in ideal conditions left some weak spots when I had high-stress encounters in hunting situations. It’s just not the same and I’ve had to admit that to myself. So, in an attempt to get that little bit better I’m going away from dots on targets and to real-life 3D targets with no painted spots to aim at. That’s realistic. I also plan on doing my shooting from odd positions, with gear on, and with my body under stress (in between working out), and in more challenging hunt-like conditions. Shooting while kneeling, seated, through brush and twigs, and practicing quick releases as well as letting down and drawing a second time for the shot will all be part of it, making me just that much sharper for the actual hunt – both physically, and mentally.
2. Fitter Food Plots
For private landowners managing the land is an ongoing process. Every year I’ve tried to make improvements to my small backyard kill plot, and this year is no exception. Since I have several close houses, my challenge is having deer feel safe enough to use my plot in daylight. My focus therefore is more and better cover surrounding it to counteract this. I’m adding more trees and miscanthus in strategic spots to increase stem count and make visual and permanent walls. Also, the last few years the plot itself has been mediocre. Turnips have not matured, leaving little draw later in season after my early fall mix has been demolished. Making sure the pH is just right, adding needed fertilizer, and spraying for invasives will hopefully boost my drawing power when it counts, especially when competing with neighbors who shot three bucks during gun season last year.
3. Rejuvenated Relationships
Sometimes the neighbors are a challenge, one that is hard to overcome. I’ve lived in my current house five years now, and don’t know all the peripheral landowners in the neighborhood (those within half a mile or so but not bordering my property). Starting conversions with them about deer hunting, and goals, is a good step toward better hunting. I probably will not throw the idea of having common harvest goals at them yet, but this will hopefully lead to these discussions in the future. If you already have these relationships, bolster them and see about setting neighborhood harvest goals or making yours better now, well before fuzzy antlers start showing in the field. Going at this from an angle of making better hunting for everyone is a win/win that can bring quick benefits.
4. Superior Stands
A few small things that can ruin a season are stands without enough cover (causing you to get picked), stands without adequate shooting lanes, and stands that make noise. Two of these cropped up last year for me. In my backyard plot I placed a new stand in a small oak tree that had incredible cover. I was stoked about this new spot because it was the first time I’d be able to hunt from a stand at the plot, as before I was confined to just hunting from ground blinds due to inadequate trees. The oak turned out to be just big enough, and after precise trimming I felt I had enough holes in the branches to shoot from without exposing myself. The problem was a buck on October 1st proved that my shooting lanes just weren’t large enough to make confident shots. So some June trimming will open those lanes well before season, when changes could be noticed by deer and affect their movement.
I also but place a handful of permanent stands on state land every year in strategic locations. These are cheap stands that I feel safe hunting from but don’t mind losing. I hunt them minimally, never over hunting any one location. Being out all season, however, takes its toll on the metal, and moving parts can get rusted and noisy. Little squeaks and creaks when you shift your weight can literally blow your season out, and I noticed one last season during a hunt. When you notice it on stand during a hunt, it’s often too late. Fixing these now and checking all your stands is important. Consider nylon bushings, threading tape, and replacing nuts and bolts if needed so absolute 0 noise is made. And, if needed, retiring a stand is an option if you just can’t hunt from it safely and extremely quietly.
5. Sophisticated Scouting
Although my scouting has produced well for me over the years, there’s always another level to go. In the summer, when it’s hot and you may not want to be in the woods fighting ticks and mosquitos, this is a great time to pour over maps and refine your system. Identifying just one new spot, or better way to access a current spot, for example, could make the difference. I’m going to focus on finding more fringe areas on public land, as many of my main areas have been getting pounded by hunters the last few years. And yes, I’ll probably do some quick summer scouts with a mosquito net and plenty of permethrin to vet these new spots and prepare for a possible October sit.
Another focus will be trail cams and SD cards. Over the years I’ve had several card fails that have sabotaged my data collecting at the worst possible times, and my goal this year is a 0% failure rate. With multiple brands and ages of cameras, the possibility of file corruption is high. So making sure I pitch all bad SD cards, checking that all cameras work with all cards (or better yet – assigning 2 SD cards to each camera), and having at least twice as many cards as cameras will help me reach this goal. When one picture could determine where and when I hunt that exceptional buck, preventing a fail is a must for me.
6. Fine-Tuned Fitness
Poor physical shape will keep you from opportunities. You have to maintain to continue to be able to do what you have been, and the law of “use it or lose it” is relentlessly at work. Look at fitness like inflation in the economy. In order just to maintain current levels, you have to continually be earning more, and the more lax you’ve become, the more you’ll have to work just to catch up. That means to improve 8% you’ve got to focus more, do more, and work much harder. To keep it simple the three areas I think about are strength, agility, and endurance. If I can maintain or improve these by 8%, I won’t feel the effects of them negatively on my hunting from year to year. Time is a battle we ultimately cannot win, but fitness has to be a focus for longevity. This year my focus will be agility, I’ve found the hardest one to keep once you hit your middle years. Having tight joints and muscles doesn’t mix well with an athletic activity like hunting and is unsafe. So a routine that emphasizes quick, agile movements as well as stretching will be my focus.
These were six actions, which honestly is quite a bit to bite off. Even picking one area is good progress in the right direction. Either way, not overlooking summer is a pivotal decision that you will reap rewards from this October.
HIGH IQ Takeaways:
- What is one thing you can pick to work on this summer to up your game? Write down what it is and put on a calendar when you will do it!
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