| You've been collecting images from your scouting | | | | for most of the legal hunting hours. Still hunting involves |
| camera throughout the spring and summer months | | | | moving through the woods very slowly, stopping every |
| and now that bow season is only a matter of weeks | | | | couple of steps to watch and listen, and taking care |
| away, it is time to decide which tactics you will use | | | | not to make any unwanted noise. |
| during the season. Obviously, different methods are | | | | If you don't feel that weather conditions are right for |
| more effective at different times of the season, so it is | | | | still hunting, you might want to consider calling. The two |
| not a matter of picking one and sticking with it simply | | | | common methods for calling deer are rattling and |
| for the sake of consistency. Rather, use what works | | | | grunting. Rattling is most effective from pre-rut to |
| for the time of season, weather conditions, etc. | | | | post-rut and when the buck-to-doe ratio is 1 to 3. If the |
| Still hunting, antler rattling, hunting from your stand, | | | | area is hunted heavily or the buck-to-doe ratio is less |
| grunting and driving are all methods that have proven | | | | favorable, then grunting and doe bleating may be |
| successful, and while you may favor one over all the | | | | preferable. Add variety to your calling. There are some |
| others, each has its place in your hunting repertoire. | | | | calls that make two different sounds without any |
| Your task is deciding when the time and conditions are | | | | adjustment. One is made by exhaling into the |
| right for each tactic. | | | | mouthpiece, and the other by inhaling. |
| Most hunters agree that as the season progresses, it | | | | Driving deer is a strategy that varies from group to |
| becomes more difficult to successfully harvest a deer. | | | | group. Groups can range from two to twenty or more |
| For this reason, it is essential to remain flexible and | | | | hunters. Whatever method you choose, knowledge of |
| choose your strategy daily or even hourly. Varying | | | | whitetails, the lay of the land, and the response of the |
| your hunting strategy allows you to take optimum | | | | deer to pressure are all important factors in the |
| advantage by using each when it is most effective | | | | outcome of your hunt. |
| and at the same time, prevents deer from patterning | | | | Probably the most common tactic for avid hunters is |
| your behavior. | | | | the use of a stand. There are many who are |
| One method you might employ is still hunting. This | | | | convinced that this is the ultimate hunting method. Your |
| technique is especially effective in bad weather. On | | | | scent is less easily detected, providing you have taken |
| rainy or windy days, deer tend to bed down or move | | | | proper precautions in hanging your stand and traveling |
| very cautiously, resulting in below average game | | | | to and from it. You are out of the deer's normal line of |
| movement. The same holds true for extremely hot | | | | sight and small movements go undetected. As with all |
| weather. During abnormal heat, deer feed early in the | | | | other methods, knowledge, patience and scouting are |
| morning or late in the evening so they are out of sight | | | | essential if you plan on harvesting that big buck. |