Dad, SUNDAY THE BEST DAY OF THE WEEK!
Throughout my childhood, Sunday’s were always my favourite day of the week, especially during the fall. Prior to hunting season Dad would often take us down gravel roads outside of the city to go “deer watching.” I never really understood why this was one of our hobbies, but it was like we were playing a big game of hide and seek so I was always happy to tag along. We would sit still and quietly hide out in the truck while glassing through fields, waiting for movement. Dad always spotted them first, and no matter how hard I try he still beats me to it almost every single time. If we had to remain at home on Sunday you can bet there was an outdoor channel on the television. We always watched hunting episodes together as a family. Deer hunting brought us closer together. Although the only active hunter in our house at the time was Dad, the way he shared his passion with us made us respect and enjoy the lifestyle too. We were always so proud of him when he brought home wild game and provided for our family.
STEPS IN GETTING OUTDOORS
Curious about becoming a hunter, in 2008 I decided to enroll in the hunter education course. It would be a challenge full of new experiences and best of all I would get to spend time in the outdoors with my Dad. I had doubts about personally harvesting an animal and how I would feel about it. There was uncertainty, but I knew the only way to find out was to try it for myself. Pursuing White-tailed deer was my main interest, but my very first hunt was actually for grouse. I loved walking around through the forest, surrounded by the sounds and smells of nature. Time felt as if it was standing still, my mind was clear, and I was ready. Dad spotted the first one (as always) and I let him take the shot so I could observe how it was done. Within a few minutes a second grouse appeared within range. I took aim, turned off the safety, let out a deep breath, and lightly squeezed the trigger. To my surprise I actually connected with my first attempt! I will never forget that day; it was the day my journey into hunting truly began.
GREAT MEMORIES
Reflecting on the past ten years it’s been full of early mornings, long cold days, and true tests of diligence and patience. Fortunately, I am surrounded with many mentors who helped me to learn and grow as a hunter. One of the most important things I’ve taken in is predicting how deer transition through their habitat as the season changes. Deer populations located in the thick backwoods move very differently from groups that reside near open fields. Most of my experiences to date have been in heavily wooded areas. Prime time, in my opinion, is between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm in these habitats, or right before sunset. We also began hunting tree lines and edges of open fields over the past two years, with early mornings and evenings proving to have the best action. Another important component is recognizing what the deer are eating and when, as well as where they rest and when. Always be aware of your surroundings and try to find clues; scrapes, rubs, trails, droppings, chewed branches, and fresh deer tracks.
Take everything into consideration and try to predict their movements when deciding where to set up your blind or stand. Try to put the odds in your favor.
Placing trail cameras is essential, it gives you time and date stamps, providing another tool to help you in your decisions. Sometimes you are able to pattern deer movements solely from reviewing your cameras.
MORE KEYS TO SUCCESS
Another key to success is practicing and being able to recognize your abilities. Since I was young I’ve wanted to engage in archery, and this past year I finally made it a reality. We set up a ground blind and a tree stand to practise from too. There are so many variables I want to be as prepared as possible before I try for my first archery White-tailed deer. Another tradition we have is to set up all of our ground blinds, apply a scent eliminator spray and let them air out for a week or so to get rid of any smells they may have absorbed while in storage. We do the same with our boots, chairs, and backpacks. Using a scent eliminator hunting detergent, we wash all our apparel and hang it out on the line to dry for at least a week. By implementing these routines of preparation, I truly believe it has attributed to my overall success out in the woods. I’ve been able to come within a few feet of many animals without them smelling me, including a wolf…but I will save that story for another time! For the past decade hunting has been a large part of my everyday life and I am so thankful to be able to share my passion for the outdoors with you.