Bow Hunting Deer Tips

Bow hunting has been around as far back as prehistoric times or recorded history, and it is no wonder.  Unlike using a shotgun, bow hunting is an art form.  Many hunters love the excitement of tracking their prey. 

There are many advantages to bow hunting.  For one, the bow hunting season is longer.  The deer aren't warned of your presence with the loud sound of gunfire, and bow hunting is far safer and more challenging than hunting with gunfire.

Perhaps some of the following bow hunting deer tips will help you to more successful in your deer bow hunting.

Deer Bow Hunting Tips for the First Time Hunters

Are you new to bow hunting?  If so, there are a few things you should do before heading out for the first time.

·       First, you must research what the laws are for bow hunting where you plan to hunt.  You need to know what kind of prey you can legally take. 

·       Even if you aren't required by law to take an educational course, you should consider taking a bow hunting course.  A bow hunting course will inform you of the safety measures you need to follow when using your bow.  In addition, a course will also introduce you to the various parts of your bow, how to use the crossbow and arrows, how to ethically hunt, and safety measures as well.

Know the Species of Your Deer Prey

Five main categories of deer species currently identified include the White Tailed Deer, Mule Deer, Elk, and Caribou.

White Tailed Deer

Having a large population, the White Tailed Deer is frequently hunted.  They are native to the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico and South America.  This type deer can be described as a medium sized.  They have antlers that are pointy, but their identifying characteristic is the white coloring on the underside of their tails.  Older males develop white patches under their bellies and necks as well.

Mule Deer

Also having a large population, the Mule Deer is a species known to be hunted in many areas.  These deer are distributed throughout the world, but they are indigenous to western North America.  They can be found in the region west of the Missouri River or the Rocky Mountain region of North America.  Their name is based on their large ears that are quite similar to the ears of a mule.  Their size is considered to be small or medium and is dependent upon their region.  Two white areas are their identifying characteristics.  One is around their behind and the other is on their face extending from under their eyes to the mouth.

Caribou Deer

Caribou or Reindeer are large types of deer that are hunted in Alaska, Greenland and Quebec.  Their hooves make them uniquely suited to these areas since their design allows them to walk on top of soft ground or snow.  Perhaps the reason for their survival in cold regions is the fact that their hooves also make it possible for them to dig in snow for food below.  Both sexes of these deer actually grow antlers.

Moose

When it comes to size, no other deer can compare with the Moose. 

They have been found to weigh as much as 1,500 pounds, and some living in areas of Alaska weigh closer to 1,800 pounds.  In height, they can grow to a height more than 8 feet tall.  In spite of their large size, they are able to move rather quickly.  They can be found in North America, Canada, New England, Alaska, Latvia, Scandinavia, Russia and Estonia. 

Elk

One of the largest species of deer are the Elk.  They are also known to be the biggest land mammal in North America and Eastern Asia and are native to both.  During the rut, males use ritualized mating behaviors.  These include antler wrestling, posturing, and bugling which is a loud series of noises made by the elk.  Their habitat is in the forest and the forest-edge.

Bow Hunting Deer Tips of Today’s Modern World

#1: Become Knowledgeable about Deer and Hunting Strategies

The best way to be a successful hunter is to know as much as possible about the animal you are hunting.  For instance, if you are hunting whitetail deer, you can become knowledgeable about them by reading books such as Mapping TrophyBucks or Strategies for Whitetail Deer Hunting.  You will have an advantage if you know how the deer will behave in various situations and what they are thinking.  You can also learn successful strategies from other hunters as well. 

#2: Embrace Google Earth

For a birds’ eye view of where you plan to hunt, you can use Google Earth.  You'll be able to zoom highly detailed images that will help in picking the best strategic spots for your tree stand.  By zooming in, deer trails can easily be seen.  There's no better way to scout than on your computer by using Google Earth. 

#3: It's Never Too Soon to Scout Your Spots

If you wait till just before the deer season starts to do your scouting, the result may very well be that you and other hunters will simply put the deer on alert. 

You should be sure to start your scouting at least by August.  You can glass fields and put up trail cams on your hunting spot perimeter.  When you have the deer located, it's time to move in and relocate your cameras at your tree stand sight.  Get the cards from your cameras around two weeks before the season.  These card pictures will show you the best spot to hunt.

#4: Use Tarsal Gland Attractant

The best attractant we have used is without a doubt the tarsal gland scent.  Two days ago, my son spotted as many as nine deer walk right past him during an evening walk.  What attracted them?  They were trying to get to a mock scrape that he sprayed with tarsal juice.  Read our tarsal gland page to learn more about it. 

#5: Grunt Calling

Grunt calling will trigger the curiosity of deer and put them at ease.  Grunts can be a form of sound communication of deer while other grunts can be more challenging such as the meeting of two dominant bucks.  Some grunts may simply signal a deer is in a breeding mood.

#6: Be Informed about Bow Hunting Equipment

Two great places to find information on bow hunting equipment are “Hunting Geeks” and "Bow Hunting Info".   You will find information about the newest bow, stabilizer, release, target, arrows, broad head, bow sights, tree stands, modern compound hunting bows and more.

#7: Antler Rattling Bow Hunting Deer Tips

·       Begin a sequence by tickling the antlers.  You don't want to spook the bucks, and not much volume is needed on calm mornings or evenings.  However, on windy, blustery days be sure to up the volume sufficiently.  Don't be afraid to go nuts.  You're duplicating the rage of two large bucks. 

·       Use rattling on tracts with a good-doe-to-buck ratio.  If the doe-to-buck ratio is roughly 1-to-1, rattling will bring the best results.  It's not a good idea to use rattling on tracts where there is a high doe-to-buck ratio due to the lack of competition for breeding. 

·       Rattling should be done close to the ground.  Realistic rattling can only be done on the ground.  Guess why?  Whitetails don't climb trees.  If you're up in a tree stand, you can dangle a pair of antlers from a camo rope. 

·       Add a Buck Decoy to Your Site.  A deer decoy may be a help in luring in bucks and preventing spooking them. 

Conclusion

Knowing the deer bow hunting laws, the five main deer species and where they can be found, the bow parts and how to use both the crossbow and arrows, the ethics of hunting and safety measures will certainly help you to be a successful deer hunter.  However, the best help of all we can offer you are the bow hunting deer tips.  In addition to the tips we have offered you above, you can also find twelve tips for bow hunting the rut at Grand View Outdoors.