Missouri Department of Conservation

Deer Hunting Tips

Remember, experience can never substitute for any list of hunting tips, so always seek out others who have deer hunted or landowners whose land you may be hunting. Seek mentors. They are invaluable when it comes to the sport and, especially the safety afield that it demands.

But to get you started in the right direction, consider the following information that has been compiled by experienced deer hunters:

• SAFETY. It is always the most important aspect to keep in mind. Firearm safety and stand safety. Nothing matters more. And ALWAYS identify your target as a legal deer before putting your finger on the trigger. Never consider shooting at sounds in the brush.
• Talk to landowner about deer patterns and locations. He probably knows.
• Most successful hunts are from tree stands, either permanent or portable, where deer pass underneath. But know that deer DO look up and can spot you from ground level. Tree stands also allow you to view a larger area. Always, always wear a safety belt or harness while in a tree stand, and never climb into a tree with a loaded gun.
• During the breeding season or the rut (generally between late October through November), deer can be seen most anytime of the day. Other times, morning and evening are the most likely time when you will see their activity.
• Deer are edge creatures. They are often found at the edge of a field or clearing in the woods.
• A deer’s nose is its best defense. Try to position yourself along a deer trail up from the prevailing wind.
• Next are its ears and eyes. Try to remain motionless, especially if you spot an approaching deer.
• Patience is mandatory.
• Snow-covered ground is a deer hunter’s dream because it reveals a deer’s tracks and provides a perfect background of a moving animal.
• Aim broadside. It’s best to shoot a deer when it turns broadside to you. You are more likely to inflict a quick, fatal shot, thus ensuring your harvest and causing less trauma to the deer with a clean kill. The heart is located about 4 to 6 inches behind the left “elbow” of the front leg and where a hunter should aim. This is called the “kill zone.”

Archery Considerations

Bow hunting is one of he fastest growing hunting sports in the last several decades because of the advances in technology, most notably the compound bow. Interestingly, it was developed right here in Missouri. In 1946, less than 100 participated in the first archery hunt while today the number is more than 100,000 with hunters using either compound bows, longbows or recurve bows. Hunters with a medical exemption may use crossbows.

Besides advanced archery equipment, a lot of hunters have taken up bow hunting because:

•      It’s viewed as more of a challenge.

•    The season is divided into two sections and considerably longer (96 days) as compared to the various firearm seasons.
•      The season begins earlier, and there are fewer hunters in the woods.

And while many of the same tips for a firearm hunter can be applied successfully to a bow hunt, there are some that are specific to archery methods.

• A bow hunter’s range is much shorter, generally between 10 and 60 yards. As a result, a bow hunter must be especially skilled in knowing deer patterns and tendencies; then set his stand accordingly. Most deer kills are within 30 yards.
• Scent management. That means eliminating human scent as much as possible as well as reading wind direction prior to a hunt.
• Arm strength. A bow hunter must be able to pull back on a deer while it is relatively close but without straining or making undue motion or sound. Most hunting bows are adjusted to 50 to 70 pounds of pull, meaning the amount (in pounds) to pull the string back 28 inches. Less than a 50-pound pull is not recommended.
• Dead-on accuracy. A shot to the kill zone is much more critical.
• Practice, practice, practice. There are various kinds of archery targets on the market that allow arrows, with both field tips and hunting broadheads, to be retrieved and used over. Use practice arrows with the same weight and length as your hunting arrows. Practice with targets set at varying distances until you can place several arrows to within 6 inches of one another in a bull’s eye.
• Good camouflage. Unlike the regular firearms season, the bow hunter is not required to wear hunter orange. Because proximity to your target will be much shorter, it is essential to wear clothing (camouflage) that allows you to blend into the natural landscape.
• As with a firearm, a bow hunter should never climb a tree into a stand with an arrow in the ready or nocked position…nor should he travel to a hunting spot with his arrow ready to shoot. There have been incidents when a bow hunter has fallen, and been severely injured or bled to death as a result of landing on his broadhead.
• Consult. Just as with a novice firearm hunter, seek out experienced bow hunters for their input and encouragement.