How and Where to Scout For Elk

Advice for Elk Hunters
Photography by Bill Kinney

Elk are one of those trophy hunts that I would recommend not missing out on!  An elk tag can sometimes be a little tricky to draw, but if you are lucky enough to have one start preparing now for one of the greatest North American hunts of your life!

Assuming you have an idea of the area in which you are hunting, begin scouting as soon as possible.  Hunting begins around September time, but scouting can start as early as you want it too, and we recommend EARLY.  Early August is a good time to begin because the thing about elk, and most animals for that matter, is that they are a creatures of habit.  They get used to using the same path, traveling to the same grazing area, and even the time of day and year that they do it.  So, start early so that you can begin to understand what it is you are hunting, that way by the time hunting season comes around you will know exactly what it is you are attempting to do and what you are looking for.

My First Bear Hunt

Great bear hunt!
 From Bill Kinney Photography

It began when we got there and the guide started briefing us on where we'd be hunting, how the movement was, all the important stuff that just gets you jittery and wanting to just get out there already!  Alas, by the time I did get to sit in the stand, it was a little different than I had imagined...

The Advantages of Planting Food Plots

Why it is advantageous to plant food plots.Photo by Bill Kinney Photography

Why would you want a food plot?

Great question!  We were hoping you'd ask, because a food plot has many, many advantages.  They are also a lot simpler than you'd think, plus they can be a ton of fun!

Wind as a Hunting Factor

Regardless of where or what you are hunting, the wind must ALWAYS be taken into account.
Photo by Bill Kinney Photography

Do you ever take wind into account when hunting?  You may realize it's there, but what you may not realize is that it is extremely important to regularly take wind speed and direction into account whenever you go out to hunt.  A small, but very vital task, could mean the difference between success or failure.

Following Blood Trails: A Few Tips

Massive body on this buck!  Taken in Wisconsin on a cold fall morning.
Bill Kinney Photography

Hunting is a multiple step process.  You have to find the animal, stalk it, shoot it, track it, process it, then finally eat it. Shooting the animal is only part of it, and being able to actually get the animal once you've shot it is one of the most important parts in harvesting your kill.

Bear Hunting Safety

Bill Kinney Photography

Bear is one of the great North American trophy hunting animals, they are also one of the most dangerous.  Take precautions when hunting bear to have an enjoyable hunt!

Depending on where you are hunting you can bait bear making it even more dangerous for the hunter.
In most western states it is illegal, but in some Midwestern areas, like Wisconsin and Minnesota, they allow it.  This can be very dangerous for a hunter, because you can almost certainly expect there to be bear in the area.  They know there is a food source there and they use it often.  If around the area at dusk or dawn be especially weary and listen for bear, the most dangerous moment can be when you scare a bear in close range.

How to Call in a Turkeys Using Their Vocalizations

Calling in Turkeys by Learning Their VocalizationsPhoto by Bill Kinney Photography

Turkey hunting isn't for every hunter.  You seem to either love it, or you could care less.  For you, hunting for turkeys may be a transition period, giving you something to do so you don't go crazy waiting for deer hunting season to start again.  However, for those of you turkey nuts, you know how exciting it is to call in a big gobbler!

Unfortunately, many hunters are unsuccessful on the turkey hunt.  This is because they try and wait it out like a deer hunt thinking, eventually, the turkeys will just show up.  Well, some times they do, but knowing how to call them in will shed a whole new light on turkey hunting, reduce the wait time, and maybe even bag you a turkey!

Part of the thrill of turkey hunting is not only scouting for birds, but calling them in.  It takes stealth and hard work to fool a turkey, and when you are successful, it makes the hunt even more rewarding!   For those of you already turkey fanatics, you know what I'm talking about, and for those of you thinking you might want to give it a try, here is how to properly call in a turkey.

Preventing Other Hunters from Taking Advantage of You

Bill Kinney Photography

Hunting is a great sport for people of any age, gender, etc.  Anyone may take advantage of what hunting has to offer, whether that be the thrill of the hunt, meat on the table, or just getting in touch with the outdoors.   It really depends on the person.  The main thing though is that everyone has fun and gets something out of it.  Hunting can be a great experience, but carelessness and a bad hunt can really turn the tides. When hunting your biggest foe isn't actually your prey, but yourself.  To prevent a great experience from going bad be mindful that you are not the only one out there.  Though it may seem like nothing but you and the outdoors, there are other hunters out there who can bring down your day.  Know how to deal with other hunters and protect yourself from some common hunting problems for a more enjoyable and successful hunt.

Understanding a Deer's Senses: How Well Can Deer See?

Bill Kinney Photography

In order to get your prey you need to understand it right?  Here is a little more insight into a deer's sight.

Sight
Deer have a good sense of sight, but compared to other hunting animals such as turkeys, it is not their most dependable sense.  Studies into how well a deer can actually see have found that deer have less rods in their eyes than a human does making them partly color blind.  They also have poor day time vision and see colors in the red spectrum, such as a hunting vest, as more of a grey color.  This is why hunters wear orange vests, because to a deer it is not anymore noticeable than the color of a pile of leaves.  Something to keep in mind, however,  is that to a deer that solid grey patch and is more noticeable when moving.  Therefore, if you can, find an orange vest with a camo pattern to make you further blend in to your surroundings.

Another problem hunter's have is underestimating a deer's sight...or overestimating it.  More than one hunter has made the mistake of, thinking they were spotted, they began to make their move too soon.  Maybe they thought it would be their only chance or they just got too excited, but if a deer hears you, pinpoints you, and stares directly at you, the best thing you can do is sit completely still and pretend you are a tree.  At that point the deer is accessing you, it wants to make sure that you are not a threat.  It is trying to decide if you are a predator or part of that tree you are sitting in.  If you start moving right then, the deer is going to know and make a run for it.  It is essential that you understand exactly what the deer is seeing and know what it is doing so that you don't miss an opportunity.  Camouflage is one of your most important tools when on a hunt and knowing how a deer's eyes perceive you is important in understanding what you should include in your hunting wardrobe.

What recent studies have brought to light is that deer have better night vision than humans and can perhaps see better in the UV lighting spectrum.  This is equivalent to what we see in a room with a black light.  Humans have a filter on their eyes so they do not have this type of perception, but deer may be more alert to bright colors such as those found in our clothing.  To some hunters this could be perceived as a problem.  The reason is because some clothing and laundry detergents are treated with a color brightener which would technically enhance the color of the clothing in a deer's eyes, making the wearer "glow" in a sense.  Luckily this vision is primarily enhanced in low lighting such as dusk and dawn and not noticed in the daytime.   It may be wise to look into laundry detergents that do not have color enhancers.  This doesn't mean you need to go crazy about your laundry detergent and fabric dyes.  Keep in mind that hunters have for years been wearing the same clothing, went out in the same situation and found success.

It should be kept in mind that, although these studies provide good evidence towards the likelihood of deer having such sight, the studies are not completely conclusive.   Whether or not deer have such acute seeing senses, it seems to rely more on the technique and skill of the hunter than just the color of his vest.

Do you have the problem of always being spotted when in your stand?  Does it seem to occur more frequently to you than others?  Or at certain times of day?

Understanding a Deer's Senses:  How Well Can Deer Hear? >

How to Decide Where to Place Your Tree Stand

Bill Kinney Photography

Tree stand placement is crucial to a deer hunt. The wrong placement could result in you missing a shot or not seeing any deer at all. Your stand is where you will be scouting, watching, and shooting from, therefore it is essential to learn how to decide where to place your tree stand.

First you need to decide where it is you plan on hunting. Once you have permission, ask if the owner has an aerial map or view of the property.  If hunting on public land, you can often go online and find detailed information. If you are still having trouble acquiring some imaging, go to a source such as google maps and find the area you plan on hunting. Print this out for reference, you may wish to make multiple copies in the case you decide to draw out paths and such onto your map.

Understanding a Deer's Senses: How Well Can Deer Hear?

Bill Kinney Photography

When hunting deer, the main problem most hunters have is not finding the deer, but outsmarting them.  The senses of wild animals are not necessarily better than ours, they are simply more developed.  Wild animals must rely on their senses for survival and actively pay attention to their surroundings.  Sometimes it can be difficult for a hunter to become accustomed to this level of stealth, but understanding a deer's senses is essential to a successful hunt.

Hearing

A deer's hearing is relatively good.  They have wide, cup shaped ears that are maneuverable and perfect for pinpointing small sounds, which can be a dead giveaway for the careless hunter.  However, this is simply for the careless, because a deer's hearing is actually not as acute as we are led to believe.  A study was conducted to understand just how well a deer could hear and, after collecting all the data, the researchers realized that a deer's hearing is actually not much better than a humans.  They can hear at a higher frequency, but a hunter claiming that the deer heard them click their safety from across the field is a little far fetched.  Instead, what was found was that a deer's ears, because of their build, are a great tool for pinpointing noises and picking out unfamiliar sounds.  It is not necessarily that a deer can hear better, but has trained its ears to pick up noises that are unnatural and could be a danger to the animal.  Usually if a deer hears an unfamiliar noise it will quickly hold its head high and swivel its ears searching for more sounds.  When it feels it is safe it will continue on as normal and dismiss the noise.  If not, it will give a warning snort and run to safety, flagging its tail as a warning sign to others.  Normally why a hunter is caught is because once they have perhaps been heard and the deer looks directly at them, the hunter will either move or look unnatural and spook the deer.  This is why it is essential to blend into your surroundings and train yourself to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Whether or Not to Use Scent Block

Bill Kinney Photography

A big question hunters always ask is whether or not they should use a scent block.  Does it help?  What kind?  Where?  When?  How often?  It isn't an exact science, which is why many are still undecided.

Scent block can work in a number of ways.  Its goal is to cover up the "human" scent that animals with very sensitive noses can recognize or to give the hunter an animal type of smell.  Either method is a good idea, but is it really worth it in the long run?  Does it have any impact on the hunt?

Hunting Tips: Reading Material

Bill Kinney Photography

Sitting in a hunting stand can be very exciting while waiting for deer and other animals.  Sometimes you are so excited that you jump at every falling leaf and breaking branch.  Just be careful not to shoot your gun at the first squirrel that sneaks up behind you!  Otherwise all the deer might be scared away... there goes one ruined hunt. This is a common first time hunter type syndrome when your heart races and adrenaline pumps so much you don't realize three hours have gone by.  In most cases though sitting for hours in a tree stand can get kind of boring.  You need some sort of distraction or else all that wiggling around is just going to alert the trees of your position.

First off, you need to remember that finding some source of tree stand entertainment is very important for the hunter.   You will probably be moving around, looking for deer, and eventually one of those legs is going to fall asleep. The longer you sit, the more likely you are to be pinned.  With all of these factors you are bound to start moving, but a source of entertainment will keep you occupied and maybe even a little less noticeable.

The most important resource you have while waiting for an animal to come along is your hearing so it is important to find something to do that is quiet, but still lets you listen.  For example, headphones aren't a great idea because you can't hear the deer, but a book would be quiet and let you keep your ears open.   Because a noise will be the first signal you have that a deer is walking up the path, it is imperative you pay attention!  Gun hunting can be a different story though.  With a bow you may be shooting from a few feet away while with a gun you can be shooting from across the field, so you also have to be on the lookout, because you won't be listening for the deer from that distance.

Hunting Tips: Hand Warmers

Have you ever been out hunting and realized you can't feel your fingers and toes?  It happens to the best, but the problem is that some of us missed that perfect shot because our fingers were too cold to feel the trigger!  Now that's a problem.

What can we do about this?  First off, you need to get some nice gloves.  These may be something you don't want to splurge on, but the mobility of your fingers is very important when out hunting.  As with all clothing, you need to think in terms of layers.  Have a thinner pair of moisture wicking gloves so you can move your fingers around and zip up your jacket.  On top of those have a nice thick, water resistant pair to keep your hands dry and warm.  One major thing you want to avoid is getting your hands wet, that is one of the quickest ways to lose the feeling in those digits!  A nicer pair of gloves should also go further up your wrist, preferably under your coat sleeve, and have a nice Velcro strap.  This will ensure snow and wind don't make their way to your skin.

Hunting Tips: Layers

Bill Kinney Photography

Everyone knows that no matter where you are the weather is completely unpredictable.  You can check the weekly weather forecast daily and, although it told you that the next four weeks were supposed to be perfect and sunny, that day you go out to the hunting stand it is going to start raining.  If you are smart you have water resistant clothing, but that still won't protect you when it begins to sleet.  Basically the golden rule here is to never trust the weather.  Be prepared for anything and assume the worst.  Knowing what you're in for can make a hunting trip that much more enjoyable and can lead to success!!

The most important thing to remember when getting ready to go out is layers!  Whether you're at the edge of a Midwest cornfield waiting on deer or the side of a mountain chasing elk, layers are you're key to success.