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How To/Pro-Tips

Reading the Rubs

Rubs are the first form of true buck sign to appear and many hunters consider them the most important. It used to be thought bucks rubbed trees to rid themselves of velvet and to strengthen neck muscles for breeding battles. Bucks may do some "recreational" rubbing but this activity's more important focus is sign posting.

The buck's forehead contains subcutaneous glands that leave his personal signature on rubbed trees. What the buck is doing is posting his core area, general territory and travel corridors with his unique odor.
A buck's rubs are mostly intended for other bucks but does will also investigate them. The size of the rub is of limited value in determining his size. Small bucks seldom rub large trees, but bigger bucks will rub anything. Don't be fooled by a big rub on a really large tree. These are usually found where the territories of two or three bucks overlap and every buck in the area will drop by and rub.

The Blind Bag

One of the best duck hunting accessories is a properly designed "blind bag." This is where you carry most of your waterfowling accessories.
It absolutely should be in camouflage and be waterproof. It should also be fairly large. Since waterfowling is a "sit and wait" deal you don't have to carry the bag while actually hunting. However, you should consider how long and hard the trek to your blind is because you will be carrying the bag and your gun that far.
I've settled this problem by having two bags. One is large so I can carry lots of gear to easily accessible blinds. The other is small for the tough treks. Taking the smaller bag means I have to be more discriminating about what I think is absolutely essential for that morning's shooting.
A good blind bag should have several separate pockets and maybe a compartmentalized interior, like a camera bag. That way your don't have to dig through every thing to find the item you want.

Select Several Stand Sites

Smart deer hunters pick several stand sites either to hunt an individual buck or to hunt in different areas.

The individual buck will soon figure out that someone is out to get him. If you hunt from the same location all the time, he will simply avoid that one area. Pick several areas that he frequents and divide your hunting time among them.

It's also good to have several different hunting areas with several alternative stand sites in each area. This works on the same principle as hunting the individual buck from several locations in his home range. By mixing up your hunting locations, you might mix up the deer.

Select different stand sites that can be hunted in various wind and weather conditions. Also consider other factors, including thermals, the lay off the land and sun direction when selecting a stand site. At the minimum have a morning and afternoon site so that the rising or setting sun isn't in your eyes.

Getting Your Stands In Shape

Start early to get your hunting stands ready for the season. If you hunt from permanent stands, visit them now to make needed repairs. A tree swaying in the wind will loosen nails. Check for rotted timber. If your shooting lanes need trimming up, do it now and drag the cut brush out of the area.

The same goes for the semi-permanent ladder or tripod type stands. If you are going to move them, do it not and cut new shooting lanes. All of this activity creates considerable disturbance in your hunting area and you want it done and over with well before deer season.

For your portable stands check for rusted nuts and bolts at all critical support areas. If any are frozen by rust, using strong-smelling penetrating agents now allows the scent to dissipate before hunting season. The same goes for any lubricants that might be necessary to prevent the stand from creaking and squeaking while you are on it.

Getting To Your Stand

The best stand site in the world isn't worth much if you can't find it in the dark on opening day. After you have chosen your stand location or several locations, plan how to get there while causing the least disturbance possible.

Any brush you touch holds your scent and most non-rubber, stitched boots "seep" human scent. You leave a scent trail to and from your stand each time you use it. Consider clearing a path through the brush to your stand. This cuts down on your scent trail and you make less noise going in.
All rubber or rubber-bottomed pac boots are a bit hot, particularly early in the season, but they hold in human scent. Using foot pads or drag rags with either a cover scent or an appropriate lure scent is a good idea.

Mark your trails well. Nothing louses up your hunt like missing your stand site by a few feet in the dark and having to stumble around your hunting area looking for it.

 
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