The Whitetail is the most widespread deer in the world. Scientists recognize 30 subspecies of Whitetail in North and Central America, with another 8 in South America. It is estimated that over 11 million hunters set out each fall in search of Whitetail, making them the most sought after game in the U.S. Whitetail Deer usually inhabit small home range, but are forced to migrate during harsh winter climates. Whitetail have been known to migrate over 50 miles in search of better conditions to feed, bed, and breed.
The lifespan of a whitetail is 11 to 12 years (17 to 20 years in captivity). But most free-roaming deer never live that long; they are hit by cars, succumb to disease, killed by predators or shot by hunters. In heavily hunted areas, many bucks live only 1½ or 2 ½ years. Deer grow to about 6 feet long and stand 3 to 4 feet high. They are reddish or grayish in color, depending on their habitat and the time of year. The weight of whitetails varies, from 100 to more than 300 pounds.
Deer Hunting Basics
Know Thy Enemy
Deer have evolved with an arsenal of tools designed to avoid predators, this includes deer hunters; they spend most of their time trying to detect danger, making them extremely difficult to surprise. Deer have incredible eyesight that allows them to survey an entire area with a slight turn of their head. Although they are believed to be colorblind and have horrible depth perception, it is believed that they can see ultraviolet light. Deer can also see at night virtually as well as they can see during the day.
One of their best defenses against predators is their superb hearing. Deer are able to rotate their ears in order to hone in on the direction of a sound. Able to hear higher frequency noises than humans, deer flicking their ears also seems to alert other deer. A deer’s nose is an amazingly sensitive instrument. It has about 40 times more scent receptors than human olfactory systems, and researchers believe deer are more than 4,000 times as sensitive to odors than people are. Oh, and before I forget, deer can also run at speeds of 40mph and jump as high as 8 feet. Successful deer hunting begins with knowing how your prey operates.
Deer Hunting
There are two types of deer hunting: stand hunting, and still hunting. Stand hunting involves camping out in a blind, and waiting for the deer to come to you while still hunting involves going after the deer. Studies have shown a more successful deer hunting ratio with stand hunting. Good hunters do most of the legwork of deer hunting before the season even begins. Scouting areas, looking for signs of deer, and mapping out their patters, is the most beneficial way to back a buck while deer hunting. Look for deer scat, tracks, and rubs to get an idea of where they’ve been and where they’re heading. The best time to scout deer is right after a snowfall.
When setting up, place your stand downwind of a deer trail or an intersection of deer trails or simply lean up against a tree. Distance will depend on your weaponry, but it is always important to remember to have a clear view and rid your area of leaves and twigs so that you don’t make an unexpected noise. Blinds are also effective as they allow deer hunters to spot the deer better, but do take more time to set up.
Wait
This is arguably the most important part of deer hunting, the ability to sit absolutely motionless must be a discipline that deer hunters learn. Many people pass the time by reading a book, observing nature, or entering a state that resembles sleep. When the time comes to strike, don’t let the adrenaline dictate your movements, but remain calm and make your actions even more deliberate. Deer hunting is all about timing, raise your weapon when the deer is distracted, and aim for an area just behind the deer’s shoulder and a few inches up. Large amounts of target practice should give you confidence to take the perfect shot. Often, deer hunting allows you one opportunity, so make sure it counts.
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