Tips for first time deer hunter?

Ok, is the shotgun scoped or are you shooting with the iron or bear sights? You need to be able to shoot a 5” group and what ever distance you can maintain that group at is the limit of how far you should take your shot. And not one yard farther. You owe it to the animal and yourself as now a “hunter” to be ethical about your decisions. You don’t have to kill to be a hunter. You’re a better person to pass a questionable shot than to risk wounding an animal.

Another tip is to limit body movement but keep your head on a swivel. Don’t look for a deer. Look for part of a deer. A leg moving, a tail or ear flicking, a brown color that doesn’t look like it belongs.

LISTEN to the woods around you if it’s calm. Listen for steps. Many times it’s a squirrel. But look anyways. And when you look, look with your eyes first. Then move your head.

I don’t know what the temperature will be there this weekend. But dress warm. Many a hunt has been miserable because the person underdressed. Don’t throw on clothes and go outside and walk around and say “Yeah I’m fine. This is enough clothes.” Go outside in those clothes and sit for two hours and don’t do anything. If you’re still warm, you’ve got enough clothes.

I have more tips IF you would like to get specific, feel free to PM me.

One last thing, have fun. Don’t set high expectations. And enjoy the experience as a whole. Hunting isn’t like it is on TV. Many times....it’s better. It’s all about perspective.

Big bore 444 pretty well covered it. Don't break a sweat when walking. Bibs are better than coveralls, they allow you to dress down more easily. Be sure your socks and boots are dry. Finger mitt gloves are nice.
Don't wear cologne. You would be surprised with how many people do.

Weapon correctly zero'd at 100 yards, know where it will hit at 50 yards. Dress in layers for the weather- you will be sitting, so keep that in mind. Get some scent free hunting detergent and wash all the clothes in it you will be wearing- after washing and drying them (no dryer sheets) keep them in a unscented garbage bag separate from everything else until you will wear them. Make sure you can use your gun with the gloves you will be wearing. For my body, I by a bar of scent free hunting soap ($5 at Wal mart) that I use as body soap as well as washing my hair. If you want deodorant, get scent free for hunters (also at wally world). If hunting, I only brush my teeth at night before bed, not in the morning. IMO, a morning yuck mouth is less likely to spook a deer than fresh toothpaste breath. Minimize movement, noise, and odors when in the stand (velcro is NOT your friend) Silence your phone. If you get a shot off, wait at least 15-20 minutes before you look for it (unless it just falls dead at the shot). If you kill one, the real work starts- finding it, getting it out, then dress/skin/quarter/process. Have a plan for this, or if you are hunting with someone experienced, he/she should have a plan. I drag them to the road if by myself- I tie a noose around the neck and wrap the other end of the rope over my shoulder and walk out like big foot. If I have help, I carry a collapsible litter in the truck.
Good luck!

Went hunting this weekend. Found a squirrel, chickadee, and nuthatch. Had a fine time.

Dress feet for the terrain. Walking boots if dry, high neoprene if wet. Expect to get wet. GoreTex is your friend. Waterproof gloves or mitten fold over w/ open trigger finger. A hand muff helps keep hands warm. Three layers is good. Don’t forget a silent seat cushion and a reversible orange/camo hat.

Oh. Remember your license, knife, shoulder-length gloves, and deer drag. And nuts & drink for sustenance.

Because I’m kind of a belt & suspenders guy, I carry quick clot and trauma sponges.

I agree with the above.. but maybe not TOO warm. You are outside after all, in the winter, working on achieving a goal. Be warm enough to not want to quit early but I don’t think you should dress up like the MichelinMan to try to attain “Playstation3 on the couch on a Saturday morning” comfort levels. It makes it harder to handle all your equipment also, and depending on what the land is like, you could build up a sweat walking to the stand in the AM and that will surely lead to being freezing despite all the clothes on. I wear two thin wool shirts (like t shirt thickness, from first lite) and a Cabela’s wool jacket. If it’s below 25 out, I’ll also have on a regular cotton sweatshirt beneath my jacket. Typically a pair of thermals and polyester hunting pants, I don’t run cold on my legs so I might wear two layers of thermals if it’s going to be below 15 degrees all day only.

I remember my first time in a tree stand. All morning long I watched a direction I was certain the deer would come from. You are going to naturally find a clearing/path/deer trail and your brain will automatically make the assumption they will come from there, don’t do that. Keep an eye out everywhere but with as little head movement as possible. The big part about my first morning in a tree stand was that near the end of the hunt, I shouldered my rifle and to my surprise found I couldn’t even aim in that direction! Shooting as a right handed looking off to my right. So I recommend that the first thing you do when in your stand but before you’re sitting still to let the woods settle down, see how (and which hand, you will have to use both) you are going to shoulder and support your rifle (if stand has a rest for your support elbow) for any direction you might shoot in. This way you have a plan if a deer comes in from a direction other than straight ahead of you.

Don’t lod your shotgun until you are sitting in the stand.

Tie off with a harness and tree strap. Even in a ladder stand with a front rail. I utilize a lifeline in a ladder so I am tied off from the moment I step off the ground. Tree stand falls are the number one killer and injury mechanism of hunters, before cardiac arrest in second.

I’ve fallen, and with my harness on, that meant I got 11 stitches on my face instead of a funeral or broken legs and ribs.

When you sight in (and shoot at an animal with) a slug gun, hold down the forearm tight with your support hand. It’s not supposed to be loosely supported like with a rifle. The slug moves a ton slower than a rifle bullet, and the gun begins recoiling before it leaves the barrel. If you hold it loose while sighting in, it will hit several inches low when you are holding it and aiming it at a deer, with a death grip on the forend.

Look at photos of deer target locations particularly for slightly quartering shots. I highly recommend a new hunter not take a quartering shot. Too much that can go wrong. In particular look at photos that describe how you have to aim higher in a tree stand because of the angle.

Learn how to say “Meh” to make a walking deer in a good shot location stop walking. Here’s a serious video and a funny video about that:

(start at 1:30)

I can't help much because I the big game hunting I do is totally different from this type. But I would say you need to be proficient with your firearm and know the point of impact at various distances. You aren't going to be shooting far with a shotgun so a rangefinder seems unnecessary. Slugs start out with a lot of energy but I think they lose it pretty rapidly so be mindful of that. I would also doubt you're going to be able to drive tacks with a slug relative to a rifle.

Also, brush your teeth in the morning. Skipping that part of your morning routine is just gross.

Dress warm, play the wind, stay still and stay out all day. Deer often have a habit of showing up when you least expect them to.

Have fun, be safe and aim small

Scout, scout, and scout some more. Set up a cam if you can. Get an idea of their timing and habits. Know your shot angles and know your distances, that's why scouting is so important. Gun properly sighted in. Dress warm and scent free. Listen and enjoy the sights and sounds of the nature around you. You will learn birds and squirrels are the noisiest little animals on the planet and deer are the quietest 125-200 lbs animals on the planet. Scent will give you away far faster than movement but try to keep movement to minimum. Playing the wind is your best friend. Have fun and good luck!

Oh and all bathroom duties done before you hit the field. I always strip down and even put fresh undies on in the field.

Always be ready the hunt changes in an instant. Slow day next thing you know bam appears the deer. Always be ready

BigBore44 said:

Ok, is the shotgun scoped or are you shooting with the iron or bear sights? You need to be able to shoot a 5” group and what ever distance you can maintain that group at is the limit of how far you should take your shot. And not one yard farther. You owe it to the animal and yourself as now a “hunter” to be ethical about your decisions. You don’t have to kill to be a hunter. You’re a better person to pass a questionable shot than to risk wounding an animal.

Another tip is to limit body movement but keep your head on a swivel. Don’t look for a deer. Look for part of a deer. A leg moving, a tail or ear flicking, a brown color that doesn’t look like it belongs.

LISTEN to the woods around you if it’s calm. Listen for steps. Many times it’s a squirrel. But look anyways. And when you look, look with your eyes first. Then move your head.

I don’t know what the temperature will be there this weekend. But dress warm. Many a hunt has been miserable because the person underdressed. Don’t throw on clothes and go outside and walk around and say “Yeah I’m fine. This is enough clothes.” Go outside in those clothes and sit for two hours and don’t do anything. If you’re still warm, you’ve got enough clothes.

I have more tips IF you would like to get specific, feel free to PM me.

One last thing, have fun. Don’t set high expectations. And enjoy the experience as a whole. Hunting isn’t like it is on TV. Many times....it’s better. It’s all about perspective.

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Buddy, I wanna hunt the deer you hunt! Every group of deer that I've ever had come in are so quiet I don't even hear them until they're directly in front of my blind

I'm not into all the sent management efforts other hunters go through. I look for what direction the prevailing winds will be that day and choose my hunting spot accordingly. If you are upwind from where the deer are you're going to get busted and no amount of sent blockers or fancy soaps will save you. I know others will disagree and there's a multimillion dollar industry that says otherwise, but that's my opinion.

Since your hunting spot is already set you'll have to make the best of it

If you're lucky and that buck comes into shooting range remember to breath, calm yourself and take your time. It won't be easy because you'll have that immediate adrenalin dump called "buck fever". After you shoot watch the direction he takes off in and wait 20 min or so. That will give you a chance to collect yourself. Then climb down and go look for him. Shooting a slug gun should leave a nice blood trail to follow.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

SoonerMedic said:

Buddy, I wanna hunt the deer you hunt! Every group of deer that I've ever had come in are so quiet I don't even hear them until they're directly in front of my blind

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That may be because you’re in a blind. I don’t hunt I from blinds. Reason? I couldn’t hear or see a damn thing. But I also don’t hunt fields. I only hunt timber.

BigBore44 said:

That may be because you’re in a blind. I don’t hunt I from blinds. Reason? I couldn’t hear or see a damn thing. But I also don’t hunt fields. I only hunt timber.

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Me either! I tried blinds but it was just that! Blinding me!! I like hang on stands and climbers so i can see 360 and hear as well. I generally hear the deer 75yards away or so when on leaves or see them away off.

SoonerMedic said:

Buddy, I wanna hunt the deer you hunt! Every group of deer that I've ever had come in are so quiet I don't even hear them until they're directly in front of my blind

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The wind is blowing so hard, they probably jumped 100 yds away and landed in your lap.

As the other guys said take a pie plate or target and draw a circle in the middle, put the shotgun on some sand bags and see how many times you can hit it! If its just a bead on the front of the barrel then id limit shots to about 50yards. If you have actual iron sights or a scope then 100yards should be fine. Id buy a couple different brands of rifled slugs to see what shoots best and stick with 2-3/4'' and make sure they are lead rifled slugs and not sabots. You cannot shoot sabot slugs in a smooth bore. If your interested in a scope you can buy a saddle mount for like $30 and a decent scope for about $100 and this will help tremendously. If you can put say 10 rounds in that pie plate without a hiccup then id say your good to do.

1) Deer anatomy-This is a big one for me! I seen and wounded too many deer! Google pictures of where to shoot the deer and make sure its broadside. I tell all newbies to run the scope vertical crosshair up the front legs and the other halfway across the body like your cutting it in half.
2) Dress for the weather. I backpack extra clothes in and generally walk in with nothing but an under armor long sleeve shirt on and put all the heavy stuff on at the tree or blind in your case. Make sure you have waterproof and insulated boots.
3) If your so lucky to have a deer walk within range I generally just sit and watch for a moment or so to get the adrenaline to calm down. It will slightly fade from say 10 to 5 or 6 but the moment you raise that shotgun it wills spike again. You should sit there and watch the deer for a moment and let everything settle in and the sights settle on the shoulder crease and fire. A lot of first timers see the brown and let a round rip. Make sure its on the side and slightly behind the shoulder. It generally wont drop on the spot so watch where it runs off to and listen closely for a crashing noise. Stay in your blind for at least 30-40min if you don't see it go down and then quietly get down and quietly walk over to where it was standing and look for blood on the leaves or hair. If you come across blood and its frothy then its a good lung hit and it shouldn't be far. If its dark then you may have hit the liver and leave it be for a few hours. If you hit it in the side or the guts then several hours. If you start tracking and it jumps up back off for a few hours and go back out. Just make sure you use toilet paper to mark where first blood was and your trail you tracked.
4) Movement and noise. If the deer has any inkling that your in those woods based on smell or noise it will be on high alert so keep movement to a minimum. I text or play on my phone only after making sure nothing is around! If its an open stand and the deer is close i usually get the shotgun up and shouldered before it gets too close so it doesn't bust me. I always let them get closer so if your sighted in and shooting good at 100yards let it come within 50yards. It may take awhile or maybe frustrating to wait but they will generally come closer and if it doesn't then you get some extra time watching how they behave and didn't take a chance at wounding it.
5) Make sure you follow all MI game laws for hunter safety classes, tags, license and have them and copies on you or in your car!
6) Good sharp knife and a little bone saw and field dress gloves. Watch at least 10 YouTube videos of how to field dress a deer!
7) walking in don't go fast and make sure you have at least a good headlamp and flashlight with extra batteries in your backpack.
8) always make sure someone knows where your at and when you should be back. Have a full cell phone battery and a power stick too.

Pee by your car, not by your stand. Watch your diet for a few days before going hunting; you don’t want to have to fight the urge to defecate or break wind while you are on the stand. Pack some toilet paper anyway though. Murphy’s law.

Sit still. If you must move do it slowly but only after you are sure the deer is not watching you. Move slowly and quietly when their heads are down grazing, not when their heads are up and they are looking around.

Never hunted deer from a stand or with a shotgun. Way different around here.

That being said, always know your limits and the limit of your weapon (whichever has a lower bar obviously).

Be sure to enjoy the experience. Getting PO because you didn't kill something really ruins the whole thing.

Good luck, I wish ya the best!

I know this seems ridiculous, but don't forget a cooler. Tons of people come hunting with me and assume they won't see anything, so they don't forget to bring something to take it home in after the work is done. Trash bags in a car trunk don't generally work well.

Good advise all around, but many new hunters get a major adrenaline rush when they see game. I have a friend who has taken several bears. When I asked what it was like to shoot a bear he gave me this sage advise. "It is just like shooting a gray squirrel." That has stuck in my mind for many years. He is right.

Dont know if you are in the LP or UP, but this time of year expect LP to be freezing at night and 30s to low 40s during the day. UP will be sub freezing all day. Tree stands are great but do not protect you from wind, rain, or snow so wear waterproof and windproof outer garmets and boots. Gloves and a knit hat that covers your ears are important to enjoying your day.

For your shotgun, 100 yards is a long ways with smoothbore. Scopes are great but really not needed most of the time in slug range. I would highly recommend getting either a aet of williams firesights ($40) or a snap on set of fiber optic 3 dot turkey sights ($20). Either one will attach to the rib and give you a good sight picture. Most new guys shooting with just a bead shoot way high due to having their head off the stock when the shoot. That rear sight makes a world of difference!

Pick up a couple 15 packs of slugs and sight in at 25 yards first, then make adjustments at 75. The trajectory will be 2 inches or so high at 50 and 4 to 5 low at 100. So long as you aim for center of chest behind the front leg crease you will be fine a little up or down rather than trying to compensate up/down. These are short range shooters.

If you shoot and the deer just stands there or slowly walks away, shoot again! Two holes is always better than 1 or none if you missed.

Wait at least 15 minutes before you climb down after a shot. 1 to let the animal stop, 2 to calm down so you dont slip. Be sure to unload the gun and lower to the ground with a rope just like you did to get up the tree. Wear a safety harness and be sure to hook up. Let your experienced friends help you track and field dress. Its better to learn than guess.

Have fun, stay warm, hope you get a big one!

Remember a hunter orange vest to wear over your outerwear. Dont worry about camo.

J-Bar said:

Pack some toilet paper anyway though. Murphy’s law.

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Absolutely. Bring TP and you won't have to go, however, If you don't bring TP then be prepared to sacrifice a shirt tail because it will happen. Somehow your colon knows and it doesn't play fair

Swallow two Imodium AD in the morning and you should be good to go as well (but carry TP anyway)
Dress in layers so as the weather warms or cools during the day you can remove/add layers as necessary. Make sure your boots are WELL broken in; the last thing you need is a blister (add moleskin to your kit); bring liquid for hydration

The best way to carry water is in a CamelBak bladder or equivalent. You don't have to fiddle with a bottle or lid, just run the water dispensing line out so you can access it easily. I stick mine in my frame pack when I'm hunting.