Get a head start.
As the end of summer looms, consider getting a jumpstart on whitetail season. During the summer, whitetail are still in their relatively relaxed feeding and bedding patterns, so there's a lot less hunting pressure than later season. Between preseason scouting with trail cameras and picking out a stand location well before the fall, there are a number of strategies that will give you a leg up. Here are a few helpful tips for early season whitetail hunting.
Long before you head out into the field to hunt, you should be out there scouting. Take advantage of technology and use gear like trail cameras and GPS waypoints to help you pinpoint game trails, feeding locations, and bedding areas. Spend some time out there so you know how, where, and when the deer are moving. Get to know their patterns so you can select a location for your stand and get an idea when in the day the hunting will be best.
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Once you have done your scouting and settled on an area in which to hunt, you need to select a spot for your stand. You’ll want a stand location that will afford good sight lines from multiple directions, so you can see the deer coming in well before you need to ready your bow for a shot. You will also want a stand that gives you several good shooting angles. If possible, get your stand up at least several days before you start hunting.
No matter what forage the whitetails are showing a preference for or where they are getting it, they will always need water. During your preseason scouting be sure to take note of water sources in and around your hunting area and, in particular, game trails that lead to or follow along water sources. These are definitely areas to consider when choosing a stand location.
You will also need to make sure that you have clear shooting lanes from your stand. This means you may need to trim some branches or underbrush that would get in the way of an arrow’s flight path. This is also something you should do long before season starts, allowing the deer time to get used to the changes in the area.
Once you’ve selected your stand location, it’s crucial that you have a way to get to it without giving yourself away. This means you’ll need a discreet access trail that will not cross over the game trails you’re hunting. And if you’re hunting in the morning or into the evening, make sure that the trail is visible—or at least findable by you—in the dark, as you may be making your way to or from the stand without the assistance of the sun.
When you’re hunting early season whitetails, the type of hunting you do will dictate the best time of day to go out. If your hunting area is mostly agricultural, afternoons are your best bet because you can take advantage of the deer’s feeding patterns to get a shot. On the other hand, if you hunt in more-forested land, mornings are your better bet, as you can target bucks as they return to their bedding areas after a night of foraging.
Deer will spook and avoid your stand if they detect your scent, so you need to do what you can to cover it. Wear clothes that wick moisture away from your skin. If possible, walk to the stand with no outer layers on, allowing your midlayer to air out and dry. Put on any outer layers once you arrive to the stand. Consider using a product like Scent Killer Gold Clothing Spray to help make yourself invisible.
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In the early season, bigger bucks tend to feed later than younger deer. So, at least in your early days out, hold off and don’t shoot at the first buck you see—a trophy may come along a little later. After a few days in the field, if you don’t see a trophy, get your deer when you can.
If you’re hunting a feeding area, you may want to consider using decoys. Deer will tend to congregate where they see other deer feeding, so if you are able to get your decoys up in a feeding area, whitetails may start heading toward them, allowing you to take a shot on the trail to feeding area.
Early season is a time when deer may be changing their patterns, moving to different food sources as they prepare for the rut, start moving around more as the air cools, or even move less as their winter coats come in but the weather remains warmer. As you hunt, you need to remember that all the information you gleaned during your preseason scouting can and may change. And you need to be prepared to adapt to the changes in order to nab an early season whitetail.
