Stories and Articles    -    Authored by Jason

Top 10 steps for whitetail archery success  

 I wanted to share what I feel as being the top 10 archery steps while whitetail deer hunting. 

1. Be proficient with your bow. This includes being able to correctly range your distances.

This should be obvious.  But it’s amazing how many archers don’t practice enough.  The actual distance you need to be proficient will vary depending on your specific hunting circumstances.  For me, hunting in extremely open terrain in the Midwest, I can’t imagine not being proficient out to at least 40 yards.  Of course on shots of that distance, I will only shoot on a near perfect broadside shot at an un-spooked deer.  I won’t take a quartering away or moving shot at that type of distance.  The good news is that you hold the key to this one, practice and know your range.  Being proficient with your bow is not only vital to your success; it’s the ethical thing to do. 

2. Do your scouting/homework

Make sure to take plenty of time to scout.  For example if I’m still hunting late season, I’ll probably scout 75% of the time and hunt only 25%.  This goes for early season as well, I spend a good percentage scouting and looking for sign.  I believe that deer are WAY easier to pattern early and late in the year when there focus is food sources. 

3. Be scent free

If you aren’t scent free, you may not even get a shot opportunity and may be sending any mature deer in your area packing for the next zip code.  I shower using scent free soaps, use scent free deodorants and wash all of my clothes using scent free detergents along with spraying down with scent blocker. 

4. Hunt or scout as much as possible

You can’t bag a buck if you’re sitting on your duff watching TV.  Spend as much time as you can out in the field hunting or scouting. 

5. Use quality equipment

Make sure you have faith in your equipment, and that means using high quality gear.  As an example, I now use Muzzy broadheads because of some performance issues I had early in my archery career with a lesser known manufacturer.  Make sure everything is properly setup and tuned, boradheads should be razor sharp etc. 

6. Have multiple stands and play the wind

There will be times when you’ll be tempted to hunt your favorite stands in less than ideal wind and weather conditions.  Don’t do it, you could burn that stand.  That’s why it’s important to have multiple options available.   

7. Don’t get caught up hunting your favorite stand – spread the love

Make sure you are not hunting the same stand all the time.  Think of it like this - no matter how hard we try being scent free etc., every time we enter the field walking out to the stand, scouting, etc. we leave a ‘footprint’.  The more ‘footprints’ we leave, the greater the chance we will alert deer in the area of our presence. Sometimes that change of pace can pay big dividends. However, it is important to try and keep hunting the same general areas year after year as much as possible so that you can learn the deer movements.

8. Hunt during all phases – not just the peak rut

Some of my most productive hunts have been in the early and late season.  Sure, statistically your chances of getting a monster increase during the magical days of the peak rut.  But there is still great hunting during the other phases. 

9. Hunt in an area with good genetics and where deer have a chance to grow to maturity

If you want a wall hanger, your chances increase greatly if you’re hunting an area that has good genetics and the cover to allow deer to grow to maturity.  Taper your expectations to what you can reasonably expect from the area you are hunting. 

10. Use the gadgets (decoys, rattle horns, calls, etc.)

Make sure to have some tricks up your sleeve.  I never head out to my stand without at least a grunt call, rattle bag and a bleat call.  Don’t over do it, but I like to hit one or more of my calls every 30 minutes or so, depending on the time of the year.  For example, if it’s pre-rut I’ll make sure to go through plenty of rattling sequences. 

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Of course this isn’t a complete list of all things that are important to success in the field.  It would be hard to list everything that factors into success in just 10 simple steps.  However, if you follow the top ten I have just outlined, you will undoubtedly increase your odds.