Preseason Deer Hunting Tips: Advice For Your Success

pre season deer hunting tips

Introduction

The last thing you want to do is hunt deer in the summer. In the summertime, it is hot and feels like a sauna.

All you want to do is stay cool.

One way to ease the summer heat is to step outside at night. The cool breeze in the evening will remind you that fall is right around the corner.

When fall comes, deer season comes with it.

I know it is hard to believe, but in the near future, you will be hanging on the side of a tree watching a hot deer trail with your bow in hand.

Maybe you will occupy a hunting blind overlooking a lush food plot as the light fades with your rifle at your side.

Regardless of your choice of weapon and location, you can increase your odds with a little pre-season planning and preparation.

Know Your Property

pre season deer hunting tips

One of the first things you can do to increase your odds is to know your hunting property.

In this technological age, there is no reason to not have an aerial map of your property.

Websites, such as Google Earth and TerraServer, offer up-to-date aerial photographs at the push of a few computer keys.

With your bird’s-eye view, look at your property as a new and unfamiliar area. Many times, prime locations will suddenly stand out to you.

If you are like most of us, your hunting property is bordered by private land.

Summertime is the best time to meet your neighbors and come to an agreement about retrieving wounded game.

Without the landowner’s permission, you cannot legally access their land, even to retrieve a wounded animal.

Ask your neighbors about their season and what plans they might be for the year. Showing interest in their lives can keep you in good graces and help maintain property access.

How To Feed The Deer Herd

Moultrie Pro Hunter Quick-Lock Feeder Kit
As far as feeding your deer herd, you have two modes of preparation.

The first, easiest, and cheapest is simply to fertilize the naturally growing vegetation.

It is easy for hunters to get caught up in the food plot craze, but sometimes, it is more productive to enhance what the deer are already feeding on.

Not to mention, this is perfect for hunters who are on a budget.

If you decide to create food plots, plowing the ground is easier if you kill the natural vegetation first.

June and July are the best months to kill the vegetation, as it is best to plant your plots in August and September.

What you plant should be determined by your location and your soil content. The latest and greatest food plot seed is worthless if it is planted in the wrong soil type.

Whether you plant a food plot or fertilize the natural vegetation, think about supplementing the natural food throughout the year with a deer feeder.

We recommend using the Moultrie Pro Hunter Feeder Kit.

You will need to check your local game laws to determine if you need to remove the feeder before hunting season. The standard supplement for a deer feeder is corn.

There are a number of other substitutes or combinations you can use. Experiment and figure out what works best in your area.

Use A Mineral Lick

If you want to increase antler size and increase the overall health of your deer herd, create a mineral lick.

This is especially important and helpful in areas with low mineral content in the soil. It is never too late to start a mineral lick.

It only takes a few rain showers for the minerals to soak into the soil and establish the lick.

On my hunting property, deer use the mineral licks all year long year.

Just like hunters, deer prefer to use paths of least resistance.

They even use the trails we travel to access our stands. Summertime is the best time to create trails. This gives the deer plenty of time to become accustomed to the habit change.

You can force deer to travel the paths you want by opening up trails that lead to your stand and blocking off trails that do not.

Use High-Quality Game Cameras

SOVACAM Trail Camera,16MP 1080P 2.4' LCD HD Deer Hunting Camera with 46pcs 850nm Low-Glow IR LEDs and 120° PIR Sensors,Up to 0.2s Trigger time,IP 56 Waterproof (Camouflage + 32G SD Card)
If you have not stepped into the 21st century, it is time to set out a few game cameras and find out what is lurking on your property.

I still get amazed each time I check the memory cards in my cameras.

You never know what is frequenting your hunting areas.

Game cameras are a good tool for managing your deer herd by recognizing the deer that need to be harvested and those that do not.

We recommend picking up a camera with 16MP so you can clearly see the animals.

We recommend using SOVACAM Trail Camera 16MP 1080p, which is an incredible 16MP camera with high-resolution photos, .2 second trigger speed, a camouflaged body, and more.

Practice Before The Season Starts

Whatever weapon you plan to hunt with, you must practice throughout the year.

Practice from the positions you will be in while hunting, whether from a ground blind or a tree stand.

Being proficient with your weapon shows your respect for the animal and the other hunters in the woods.

The last thing you want to do is lose a wounded animal due to poor shooting.

Additional Tips

In the heat of the summer, you can quickly become dehydrated before you even realize it.

Entering the woods exposes you to a variety of plants, animals, and insects that can harm you.

Be prepared to encounter ticks, chiggers, snakes, and in some cases, wild hogs or other dangerous game.

Pants and long sleeves will help protect against poisonous plants and some insects, but make sure you carry plenty of insect repellent.

Personally, I never enter the woods without some type of weapon.

You never know when you will encounter a poisonous snake or dangerous game.

Do not forget to take plenty of drinking water.

In the heat of the summer, you can quickly become dehydrated before you even realize it.

Last but not least, always tell someone where you are going and when you will return. Anything can happen, and advising someone of your plans could potentially save your life.

Conclusion

There you have it! A few great preseason deer hunting tips to make sure you are prepared this hunting season.

Make sure you are always prepared – that is the most crucial element.

Do your research, have the necessary tools, and make sure you keep your eyes out for signs of trouble.

We wish you the best of luck.