Deer Hunting 101: Staying Undetected

Today’s topic of discussion will center on the essential elements of staying undetected by deer when hunting. I would like to first state that although different environments call for varying methods. However, the basics are all the same. In order to begin this assessment it is a good idea to identify the problem at hand. The problem is that the whitetail deer has an extremely keen sense of eyesight and smell. Okay, with that said, our ideal situation is hunt these animals without being detected. So from here on we will address tactics under three different categories – sight, hearing, and smell.

How To Hunt Deer Without Being Seen

1. Select The Best Camo Pattern

Obviously you will need some camouflage. To be even more precise, it is even better to go with a camo pattern that matches the surroundings of your hunting location. Consider the time of year you will be hunting, such as the color of the leaves, and whether or not it will being snowing during your hunts.

2. Minimize Movement

No matter how efficient you are at holding still as a hunter, you will more than likely make a few movements while out in the field. Whether its itching your nose or moving your head to scan the area, some movement Is necessary. With that said, it is important to pay attention to the manner in which these movements are made. I usually hold as still as possible, while slowly scanning the area around me.

3. Understand Deer Sign Language

Imagine this scenario, a few deer come out, should you hold still or continue to scan? In order to do the right things out in the field, it is vital to understand deer sign language. That’s what I call it, you can call it whatever you want. When a deer is nervous, it will show. They can act like they are going to eat something and then pop their heads back up to try to catch a hunter moving. This is a pretty instinctive tactic on their part and is actually very effective. Many hunters will go ahead and move when the deer lowers it’s head, and then bam, the deer pull the trick and you are spotted. One good deer hunting 101 tactic is to watch for the flicker of their tails. When a deer flickers its tail, it usually means that everything is cool. In other words, they think that everything is safe and will continue to do what they were doing. Whenever I bow hunt, I always assess the situation for the proper time to stand and draw. If I can, I usually want a deer that intends to feed in the area to actually spend a few minutes feeding before I draw. This sort of lets the deer get acclimated to the area and therefore increases the chances that I will be able to draw undetected. Note that during the beginning of bow season, deer will flicker their tails a lot more because of bugs.

4. Wear A Face Mask

If you want to increase the chances of going undetected, it is a good idea to wear a face mask. Netted masks are a good idea for the hot months. If you can stand the heat, this is a good idea. It just minimizes a few movements and helps to break up the hunters outline and make it harder for deer to spot you.

5. Thermacell Insect Repellant

Using a thermacell is a good idea to help minimize movements made during the hunt. Folks, we have all been there, it is really hard to hunt when the mosquitoes are hovering all over you. This deer hunting insect repellant helps to create a bubble or shield around a hunter and help to keep those pesky insects away. I know they help me decrease movements made on the hunt by not having to shoo insects away.

6. How to Hide A Treestand

Okay, now we have come to the subject of treestands. By simply sitting in a treestand, the hunter gains a great advantage. Being above a deer’s normal level of sight can help to prevent deer from spotting a hunter. Being in a elevated position also allows the hunter to see more of the area, which is another hunting 101 tip. A few more tips include using foliage and limbs to hide a tree stand. If there is a small tree next to me, then I usually try to find a way to tie to my stand. I take a rope or string to pull the tree and leaves next to my stand which helps to keep me hidden. A few other methods for doing this are to use artificial tree limbs or a camo drape.

How To Eliminate Odors

1. Use scent elimination products such as scent away.
These will help to keep deer from detecting out smells. A pretty basic 101 tip, but it does help.

2. Carbon activated clothing and boots
Some people use shoes and clothing by companies such as scent shield that absorb human odors and thus decrease the chance of being detected by the whitetail deer.

3. Hunt The Wind
Pretty basic tip here, but it is always better to hunt with the wind in your face and have the deer come from in front of you.

4. Approach stand from opposite direction that the deer enter from.
This is not always possible, but in some situations it really helps. Try approaching a stand from behind and with food sources and trails that are in front of the stand. This is another basic deer hunting tip. The idea is to not walk all over the hunting area, or at least the areas where you think that the deer will be walking through. The idea is to not increase the likelihood of having a deer smell where you walked in.

5. Don’t Park Your Vehicle Close To The Stand
Now, I understand that this is not always possible. Some people cannot, or do not want to walk a decent distance to their stand. If I am hunting an area where I think the deer are close, such as near a bedding area or something like that, then how much sense does it make to drive within a hundred yards of the stand, shut the door, get all your gear, and then walk to the stand? Deer are not overly educated, so why give them the advantage? As a hunter who really enjoys the sport, I like to put the advantage on my side or put the odds in my favor. I guess it is the predatory instinct of a hunter, Now if you are just out there to get away from the job or house, then this may not matter, but it does have some logic to it. Think about this: the majority of the year, the woods are predominately quiet right? So, when all the hunters come rolling in during the fall, then within a few days they are going to start changing their patterns. Studies have shown this to be true. An example of this would be to tag a deer with a collar or gps tracking device – which has been done before by wildlife biologists or DNR officers. They monitor patterns during the off season and pay attention to what the deer do when hunting season comes around. I do know that a big buck, for instance, will develop patterns or trails that they take. When they are bumped out of an area, the usually make adjustments to those patterns. This is just a survival instinct, but I have paid attention for long enough to find some truth in it.

How to Keep Deer From Hearing You

1. Use silent clothing
Before you buy a piece of camouflage, check out its texture and see how much noise it makes when manipulated. This will give you a good idea of what noise will be made when moving in the stand.

2. Cough Silencers

These work, but take a little bit of practice.