Hunting

Many deer hunters say that they have too many does on their property, but do they really know?  And if they do have too many, do they have an idea of what the excess is?  Most likely not.

Most hunters rely on what they see in the field as an indicator of the population density and buck to doe ratios.  While this is better than nothing, it isn’t much better (than nothing).

With the advent of the trail camera as a scouting tool, it is easier than ever to count your deer.  Trail cameras can be there when you are not, which includes getting glimpses of that gnarly, monster buck you never even knew was on your property, as well as all the other bucks that are more active when the moon is out and the sun is sleeping.

This article will show you how to use HuntersClub.com’s W.I.S.E. to quickly import the data that your trail camera has captured and analyze it.  You will be able to determine deer density (acres per deer), acres per buck, acres per doe, buck to doe ratio, and fawn to doe ratio on your property.  It will even tell you how many does you need to harvest to meet a set buck to doe ratio. 

NOTE: All calculations by W.I.S.E. are based on the latest research done by leading white-tailed deer experts.

 

Why should I care how many deer I have?

If you care about the quality of the deer on your property, you must have a pretty good grasp on the quantity.  Deer density is a key variable in many of the decisions you make as a quality deer manager.  

For example, if you have too many deer for the carrying capacity, you may need to increase your harvest, increase the natural resources, or a combination, depending on the situation. 

 

What is the best deer density for my property?

There are a lot of variables that determine the optimal deer density for a property, but 20-30 acres per deer is a relatively safe goal to start out with.   That number will fluctuate, depending on your location's resources and many other variables, and will actually fluctuate across all four seasons.  

Kip Adams, a Director of Education and Outreach for QDMA, and certified wildlife biologist, wrote a fantastic article in QDMA’s Quality Whitetails magazine for August/September 2010.  The title is “What’s the Best Deer Density?” and it goes in depth about this subject.   I highly encourage you to read it.

Read the rest of the article on HuntersClub.com

 

Hunting as an essential necessity of survival faded decades, quite possibly centuries ago in America. For a majority of hunters, the “sport” of hunting is just that—a sport. For some it is the only way they provide food for their families. But for most, myself included, it is purely an obsession providing memories, building character, and providing our families with wonderful and healthy food.

Slow down. Embrace the quiet and the challenge of hunting. Hunt like a child again. Ignore the noise and constant pressure, and start to enjoy hunting and the outdoors again.

A person only has so many years to hunt. Cherish them. Share them with others. Be free and go hunt with a peaceful mind and renewed spirit

Before I start this article, I would like to thank my Uncle Karl for giving me some of his time for this interview, and this great opportunity.

AF- "Thank you Uncle Karl for giving me some time to ask you some questions, you ready?"

KM- "No problem son, and I'm ready."

AF- "People have been wondering what you have been up to. What have you been doing the last 5 years or so?"

KM-"Well mostly spending time with the family, they've  made a tremendous sacrifice while the years I was playing, so now it's time for me to chase them around with their activities, and spending more time with my wife, who sadly I have to say is a Boise St. Alumni. Doing that stuff been also doing business, dealerships and development, but my passion hunting, fishing, and friends keeps me busy also."

AF- "What was it like to be away from your hometown for those 19 or 20 years?"

KM-"Well being momma's boy, being around my mom all the time. Then all of a sudden being drafted by Utah, It was, at the beginning kind of scary because it was really the first time me being away from home for a long time. On the flip-side of it. It made me grow up as a man. It let me start to pave my own way, but I had to learn on the fly and to have people telling me, well you should have done this or this. It's just I had to try by fire and become a man and do something about it."

AF- "Describe growing up in the south and your love for fishing and hunting growing up?"

KM-"Growing up in the south you know is the south, you have a mix culture you have people on different views on race and religion, but for the most part, I tell people all the time. You just get into your elements and your zone and don't get caught up with all the things. We people are so quick now to get caught up in the negative of life instead of positive things."

Growing up in the south gave me a great deal of respect when I left here on learning how to deal with people. Not material things, not skin color, but who we are as people."

"My passion for hunting and fishing that's where it started, we couldn't afford certain things, so we would get our cane poles did some baits, got the 22's and went squirrel hunting, but we ate everything we got, but that passion has only grown since I've been able to play basketball and visit a lot of other places."

The main thing about people now is, everybody wants to say. Why do you hunt? Why do you fish? I say I grew up doing it. Just because I became somebody in their eyes I still have that passion for what I love to do. And I try to do them as much as I can." 

AF-"What was you favorite hunt of your life so far?"

KM- "I would probably say my favorite hunt of my life, it's ironic it happened in Utah, you know you gotta be a hunter to understand this but if you take the grand slam of sheep, which is the stone, rocky, desert and dall sheep. That would be the equivalent to an NBA Title, a World Series ring, or a Super Bowl ring. That's the equivalent in the hunting world."

"So saying that to say this. My favorite hunt is right above the Y down by Provo right above BYU football stadium, that's where I completed my slam. Low in behold about 10 to 12 years earlier they were supposed to release the bighorn sheep right there, and that's when KJ was either 5 or 6 and he was with me when they released them, and that would be my absolute favorite because it's like all the cold days on the mountain, all the not getting anything that makes it a challenge."

"You know some people look at hunters sometimes Adam and think that these blood thirsty people want to kill every animal, but you will be amazed how many times I have went to get an animal and never got it. I went to Canada 3 times for my stone sheep. They are not just tied up out there and say okay here I am come get me, but to complete the slam in Utah it was pretty awesome."

AF- "I know and the family knows you will be going to Africa this summer. What animals are you hunting? How many? How long you going to be there?"

KM- "Well probably going to be there 14-16 days. I'm going to be hunting 40 different species, but the animal I'm most excited to hunt from a personal standpoint is a cape buffalo. There's a guy I use to really hunt up with in Canada, and he was a guide up there and he got killed by a cape buffalo by freak accident, and that's the animal I'm most excited about hunting from a personal standpoint."

"My dream has always been a big cat a lion or a leopard. I also want to get a warthog cause they are the ugliest creature walking on the face of the earth."

AF-"What is the toughest animal you have ever hunted?"

KM- A Goat hunt and that happend to be in Utah. Goat hunting is my toughest. You know you're sitting there and you see a white speck about 3 to 4 miles on the side of a cliff a human cannot walk on and that's where they are at, and you have to start from the bottom and go to the top and then you get to the top and then the goat goes down and then goes onto another cliff, so the goat would be my toughest, sheep would be my second."

AF-"What is your Favorite animal to hunt?"

KM-"My favorite animal to hunt is elk, and I hunt them down by Fish Lake in Utah. If I could hunt any animal for the rest of my life, I would love to hunt elk."

AF-"Ever got chased by an animal? And how was it?"

Karl-" I'm not going to call it chased, but kinda got charged by a mountain grizzly in Canada. It was freaky ,scary but see Adam here's the thing about it. I'm not trying to show anybody how brave I am."

"I realize when I'm out there hunting animals on their terms and on their turf. I just happen to have a weapon, but if truth be known and we were just out there and they had weapons like their claws and teeth, I would be at the bottom of the food chain. When it was coming you can't flinch Adam you got to just remain calm and pull the trigger."

AF- "What guns you bringing?"

KM- "A 416 and a 300 win magnum."

AF-"We look around the house— where you going to put all these animals?"

KM- "Don't worry about it son, I know what I'm going to do, and after this hunt in Africa Adam I'm going to stop hunting. I will be done. I will not hunt another animal for the rest of my life....I'm just lying to you."

AF-"How does basketball compare to hunting?"

KM- "Well basketball your making something happen and your forcing the issue to make stuff happen. Hunting is patience; your waiting for something to happen. If you go out hunting and you are on 100,000 acres you got to have some luck, but the skill would be taking the shot. Everybody says you have to have skill, it's actually just a lot of luck and patience but it's effort, you have to put effort into it."

AF- "How much patience did you have when you first started hunting?"

KM-"None!, I went and thought they would all come my way or in the direction towards me. They didn't! So I would just get in the truck and go home."

AF- "Lets get into the basketball side of the interview. What does it feel like to be a hall of famer? And do you consider yourself the best PF ever?"

Karl- "Well I have never considered myself the greatest power forward. I've always said no one would out work me. I never thought I was the best. But I didn't think anyone out worked me in the offseason or during the season or when the game started.

"Being a hall of famer is like being chosen by the coaches in the All-Star game, it's nice for the fans, because you can vote for any player, but when you get to the hall of fame, all your peers. I'm talking about guys that played the game before me and a whole lot longer then me, think your worthy it's an honor. My thing with the hall of fame is I'm going to try not to shed a tear because it is one of those things, I didn't choose being a hall of famer."

"I just went out and tried to do my job on and off the floor. To get there that's like the top of the top. No matter what anybody says if they liked you or didn't like you, they cannot take away you being a hall of famer."

Being able to play a lot of years, being able to be blessed with some talent, but a mindset to work hard and hard determination and then get there it feels great. I want to say theres only 30-50 players in the hall of fame, now lets add that up if you take 2 guys for every year it's just going to be 80. So to be one of those guys it's an honor."

" The crazy thing is to have two hall of famers 5 miles apart from each other is amazing. Willis Reed, was born in Bernice, LA 5 miles away from where I was born in Summerfield. He played 20 years before I played. And Willis Reed will be inducting me into the hall of fame."

AF- "Who was your favorite player to play against? And who was the best player you ever saw besides MJ?"

KM- "Well you say MJ is the best player you have ever seen. I didn't say that. I don't consider him the best player I've ever seen.Tt's debatable that it could be Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell. The best teammate/player I ever played with was John Stockton."

"The players I looked forward to playing against the most was Buck Williams and Maurice Lucas. They were the PF of that era and I was just coming into that era. To be able to play against those guys, learning some stuff from those guys as a rookie  meant a lot."

AF- "What's your opinion on the NBA today? The Contracts? And the new Collective Bargaining Agreement?"

KM- "I've kinda stayed out of the loop on that, but I have a group of players I don't mind watching but it's a different era it's just like anything else, cars change, clothes change, gadgets change, and the NBA has as well."

"Is that good or bad for the NBA? I don't know. But we talking about the players that are supposively going crazy. These days to me it's the commentators that I can't stand, because they don't know anything they are talking about so I just mute them."

AF- "Do you think college basketball and the NCAA has it right with letting kids leave after their freshmen year?"

KM-"No."

AF- "Is it smart for kids to just go overseas for one year then join the league?"

KM- "Well we always want to look at the success Adam of the players that made it. The Garnetts', Kobes', LeBrons' and so on. The thing is— lets look at all the one's that if they would have stayed 2 years or 3 years in college how much better prepared they would have been."

"The 100's that failed—you never hear about them anymore, and the NBA and NCAA said you can now leave after your freshmen year. When it should be your sophomore year. I look at one thing, if I would have came out my freshmen year, I would have not been ready mentally and I wouldn't have been a hall of famer."

AF- "What is one life lesson you love teaching the younger kids?"

KM- "Well what I always try to tell them is "leave life better then you found it." You know it's like, your an athlete and your playing on the football team— try to leave better then you were as a freshmen, And for life I have this little quote ,"What good is success if you don't share it". "Meaning we are all blessed and fortunate to have opportunities to do stuff with people, but we choose not too. But why? Expectations."

"If we created our foundation for kids being my wife and family and friends, we did it because we wanted other people to experience positive things in life. It came with a commitment, good bad or ugly but we did it. Some people won't do some things because the expectations are so high."

AF- "How important is family too you?"

KM-"Family is everything. Family is one of those unconditional things no matter how good or how bad it is you can always depend on it. If you didnt't have a family and went home every night to a empty house it would get stale very quick. One of these days though our children are going to have children, and that just makes the family that much bigger and that much more love to go around."

AF- "Thank you Uncle Karl for your time and have fun in Africa."

KM-"No, thank you son for this great interview and keep it up."

AF-"Yes Sir."

Thank you for reading my article, I feel honored to been able to have this interview. 

Adam Fisher

Growing up in the south, I always felt a little out of place when the topic of hunting or fishing was breached.  I had caught my fair share of sunfish on my Grandfather’s dock growing up, but I never shot a gun until my sophomore year in college.  And even then, it was only for a skeet shooting contest with a few buddies.

So, when I had the opportunity to hunt turkeys the day before Thanksgiving with my girlfriend’s father, I knew it would be the experience of a lifetime. 

I don’t pretend to really know too much about hunting. I had never been before—never had the opportunity.  It was a new world to me.  It reminded me in some ways of making my first tackle in a football game, riding my first mile on a road bike, and making my first big hit in little league.  I was…beside myself.

It turned out to be a rather rainy Wednesday morning in central Florida.  I was supposed to meet Mike at noon in order to head 20 miles south of St. Cloud to hunt for the different varmints on the property.  And the weather, by all accounts, didn’t look too promising.

The deluge of rain was much needed in the usual dry fall and winters in that part of Florida.  However, I was more caught up in my thoughts of what animals do in the rain.  Do turkeys walk around in the rain and dig for grubs?  What would I do if I were a turkey in the rain?

I asked a lot of questions on the way about the guns, the ammunition, the animals, where to shoot them and how to shoot them.  After all, I was a hunting greenhorn.  I even packed a peanut butter sandwich even though turkey and cheese was an option.  I figured it to be a good hunting omen.  I’d bring home the bacon then, right?

The forty-five minute drive with Mike was full of plenty of conversation.  From life to work to what shotgun shells are made of, we didn’t stop talking until the scenery started to abruptly change.  Fewer and fewer signs of civilization were around as the light grey skies met with green pastures and small groves of trees at the horizon.

As we entered the property, I knew I would exit with either a turkey, smaller varmint, or a slight bit of disappointment.  Mike was driving and knew the spread well.  He’d been hunting this property for years and seemingly knew all the nooks and crannies of the place.  He killed his first turkey when he was 13.  He knew how to hunt.

We stopped as we pulled in and he pulled out his two shotguns, a pair of 12 gauges.  “Remember how to shoot it?” he asked.  The last time I had shot a gun had been a good few months ago at the same place.  He had tossed an old plastic bottle in the air a few times for me to shoot that first time since we couldn’t find any varmints on the property in the middle of the summer time.

“I remember most of it,” I answered. 

“How about hitting that bean then,” as he pointed to two beans dangling down from a plant a few yards away.

Ka-pow!   “I didn’t hit…did I?” I muttered.  I had aimed a little south of the actual bean by lining up the top of the notch on the end of the barrel with the center of my target.  A rookie mistake I suppose. 

“Yeah…you missed it,” he laughed.  Oh boy, I was thinking.  How could I ever hit a turkey if I couldn’t even hit the stinkin’ bean plant?

I really wasn’t dressed for the occasion as I guess I should’ve been.  Mike let me borrow his camouflage rain jacket to conceal my light blue shirt and we pulled up on the property looking for the small critters that run around on the large piece of land.  For acres and acres heads of cattle sat on the ground or stood in small droves watching us move by with a puzzled look on their face.  After all, from their point of view I guess we humans seemed a bit silly making this "hunting" thing harder than it had to be.  If it was food we were looking for, they were seemingly big targets.

But hunting isn’t just about the food.  Food is a part of it, but the art of hunting seems to tap into the primal instincts of every man.  Maybe it’s the sneaking up on the prey part that we like, or outsmarting the critters.  It could even be that we like to test our accuracy and the steadiness of our hands.  For me, it was all of the above.

I’ve always loved the outdoors.  I go hiking for the smell of the woods just as much as for the visual appeal.  And, there was a certain smell to the place.  A smell that penetrated and that was foreign to the civilized world. 

I followed Mike into the slough of trees that surrounded a feeder.  The property had multiple feeders on its hundreds of acres and the animals had grown accustomed to knowing the exact time of day when the food would be dispensed.  Dinnertime for the critters was at 5pm every day…and it was only 1 o’clock.

We waded through the brush, aiming to make as little noise as possible when Mike turned around at the edge of the tree line and motioned to get lower to the ground.  As I looked through the palm fronds, I could see two large sand hill cranes socializing next to the feeder. 

“Do you see it?” he asked.

“Turkeys?” I responded.

Then he pointed straight off in the distance to the tall grass about twenty yards away. 

“Hens,” he spoke softly, “about four of them.”

As I lowered my body to get a better look I had cracked a dried out palm frond on the ground making a louder noise than I had expected.  I slowly lowered myself to see the hens turn about face and slowly jog off into the tall grass. 

Crap!  I just blew my opportunity.   The sand hill cranes started squawking as we walked parallel to the tree line and exited back to the vehicle. 

“Don’t worry, there will be plenty more opportunities later,” he replied as we stepped back in and drove away. 

Driving across the property seemed to be the most logical thing to do, especially considering that the terrain was vast and rugged and the land so spread out.  We continued to take small sand paths through the fields that connected the lines of trees and brush.  In places, there was little underbrush while it appeared rather swampy in other locales. 

The drizzle continued from the sky as we looked through binoculars from the left to the right.  Then, straight ahead, we spotted a pack of ten or twelve hens walking in the middle of the sand path like a group of kids walking home from school.  As we approached, the large birds took to the air and flew over the trees to our right. 

“We’ll catch ‘em on the back side.  Don’t worry, we’ll see them again later today,” replied Mike.

We continued to drive in the gentle drizzle until we saw a flock of doves congregating on some power lines above.  It was target practice time.

Doves, as I quickly found out, are much harder to kill than your average animal.  It not only flies left and right, but also up and down and in and out.  Target practice was harder than I thought.  Three shots and nothing to show for it.  Mike even went behind the birds in one drove of trees in an attempt to flush them out for me to take a few good shots.  They flew the opposite way and he nailed two as a clump of feathers slowly fell to the ground.

He’s a good shot and it showed.  On my first trip to the property he had shot a dove driving along a path near the tree line.  He was driving and the dove was flying the other way.  And he still hit it square enough to drop it out of the sky. 

I was able to see my first hog, though.  It was a medium sized, stubby little critter with coarse, black hair.  It ran off before Mike had a chance to bring his shotgun up, but he estimated it to weight about 130 lbs. 

We kept traveling to different areas on the property but no to avail.  No animals anywhere.  As we entered a field about three hours into our ordeal we saw a pack of hens off in the distance.  There were about 15 or 20.  They were hard to count through the lens of the binoculars, but they were congregating and having a big party.  Maybe it was a rainy day grub party.

Whatever the case, we edged closer and closer to get a peak.  All hens.  This was the opportunity. 

“We’re going to corral them,” he said as we approached from the left.  We did a semicircle until we got within about 40 yards of the hens.  They were loud and having a big time. 

“Your shot,” he added.  “Pick one out and aim for its head.”

I looked down the barrel of the 12 gauge, slick and wet from the constant rain.  I looked up as I took the safety off.  There’s so many!  Which one do I shoot?

I paused for a brief second before I shut my left eye and peered down the barrel again.  I turned to the left as I found a group of hens mingling.  All of a sudden, one hen extended its neck as if to say to its neighbor, “Hey! Stay out of my space!  This is my ground to roost and dig for grubs!”

That’s the one!   I waited until the hen brought its extended neck back up before I fired.

Ka-pow!   Feathers flew up into the air, the flock of hens scattered off in all directions.  Some flew and some bolted across the pasture like Olympic sprinters.  I followed the trail of smoke and found not one but two hens ruffling their feathers and sprawled out on the backs on the ground.

TWO TURKEYS!  I was beside myself.  Mike finished off the paralyzed turkeys for good measure and then I let out some sort of yell.  I don’t exactly remember how it went, but I can only imagine it was the type of yell that comes with killing one’s first turkey…or two in my case.

Upon further examination, I had nicked them both in the neck, right on target.  Mike and I gutted the birds and cut off the legs and necks.  It was a different experience, but I really didn’t mind the warm entrails of the hens I had just killed.  I had just killed a Thanksgiving turkey after all.  And two at that. 

We drove home and shared our story with everyone else as we de-feathered the fowls and prepared them for the deep fryer the next day.  It was an un-paralleled experience.  As we enjoyed dinner, I then remembered my peanut butter sandwich in the car.  It had been hours since breakfast, but in our pursuit for a turkey I had didn’t eat a thing.  I wasn’t really that hungry, though, for lunch.

Looking back though, I didn’t have time nor a need for a sandwich.  The hunt for a Thanksgiving turkey requires too much attention for one to get caught up in the details of what’s for lunch.  Although I had never been hunting before, I felt like a forager of food that day before Thanksgiving. 

And every time I will tell the story, I’ll make sure to say, “Not one turkey…TWO turkeys with the same shot!”   A Thanksgiving to remember for sure.

The best thing about that cool, yet sunny autumn morning was the shots that weren’t fired.

My then-17-year-old adopted son, Peito, a family friend and I had gone on a dove hunt at the State Game Lands near Mifflinburg, PA. It was an ordinary day in the field ... except that Peito had just passed his hunters safety course and was hunting for the first time.

Taking a youth on his/her first official hunt is nerve-wracking for any parent—but especially for one of an adopted child. Only so much of hunting ethics can be taught in a classroom setting—many more lessons need to be taught in live-action situations, where life-and-death decisions are based on a solid foundation of ethics, common sense and respect for the outdoors, wildlife and other hunters.

That is why the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s mentored hunts are so valuable ... they encourage parents and children to get into the woods and spend quality time together—for children to see their parents making responsible and respectful outdoor decisions while hunting, and to develop those skills early...To make them second-nature well before the child takes his first gun into the woods. 

I didn’t have that extra time with Peito. Seventeen years worth of experience and learning had to be condensed into two (he started living with us at age 15).

So, when that first dove rocketed out of a standing corn row and circled between Peito and myself, I was curious on how Peito would respond. I was ready to tell him to keep his gun down until the dove was in a safe shooting range—and if that didn’t happen, to pass up on the shot altogether and wait for the next find.

I didn’t have to say anything. He waited patiently. When the dove was in a safe shooting direction, his 20-gauge shotgun came to life and he bagged the bird with one shot.

Farther down the same corn row, near the edge of Route 104, two more doves sprung out into the crisp autumn air. They were between Peito and the road. Knowing it wasn’t a safe shot, Peito watched the doves circle and fly off into the distance. Not a shot was fired.

Two months later, we were hunting deer with high-powered rifles. I felt much more at ease considering Peito’s track record to that point with responsible hunting. On the first day, when a nice-sized doe stood on the crest of a ridge, he avoided the temptation to shoot since he couldn’t safely tell where his bullet would go.

As I think back to those moments, I can’t help but feel pride in our son for his responsible decision making in what could have been life-and-death situations.

What if we hadn’t adopted him? Would he have those lessons with another, possibly non-hunting, family?

It’s impossible to say. However, there is no doubt that our outdoor resources in Pennsylvania's Susquehanna Valley provide great opportunities to help a young person develop character, responsibility and self-value.

These traits don’t just come from hunting opportunities, but can also be easily taught via a canoeing expedition, family hike, horseback trail ride, or weekend camping trip.

This past Labor Day, my wife and I had twin ten-year-old foster girls in our home. We decided to spend the long weekend on a family camping trip. It turned out to be the first camping experience for the girls, along with their first time setting up a tent, going on a nature hike, and fishing.

Seeing the twins beaming with pride after catching bluegills was a moment I won’t soon forget. However, more importantly, it was a moment that they’ll cherish for a lifetime and can draw upon when faced with new challenges in day-to-day living.

There are currently hundreds of profiles for children on the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN) Web site. Children of all ages, sizes, colors and backgrounds —all needing the same thing: a family that will love them for who they are and challenge them to become the best, most responsible adults possible.

To be a good adoptive (or foster) parent, you don’t need to catch the biggest fish, run the roughest rapids or hike the farthest with your trail pack. You just need to get involved, get outdoors and spend time with children who are craving love, guidance and opportunities to grow.

For more about adoption in the state of Pennsylvania, go to the SWAN Web site (www.adoptpakids.org ) or contact an independent child care agency, such as Families United Network (570-651-9016 or www.families4kids.org ).

It’s that time of years, forsythia is blooming, apple trees are blooming, and the grass and trees are beginning to green. The warm temperatures are finally here to stay, well for a few months at least.

With the knee jerk reaction to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shut down baiting last year in Michigan.

A few guys were still found munching on an apple or two on stand, some had a hard time explaining the Sugar Beet they were gnawing at, but for the most part baiting shut down. Deer patterns were altered significantly and many hunters had to adjust if they wanted to fill a tag.

With the new regulations food plots have become even more popular. A certain TV Show, with a certain comedian, displaying big southern bucks taken on ranches that survive thanks to good land management using food plots, hasn’t hurt either.

The truth is, these days most of us do not have the time or resources to spend weeks in the woods. Many of us are lucky to be able to hunt on the weekend at a friends, instead having to find the nearest pumpkin patch to try our luck at a Swiss cheese deer.

If you have a spot of land where you can hunt and make some minor adjustments, then you need to take a close look at food plot hunting. It is truly superior to baiting at drawing in deer. Food plots have several advantages over traditional baiting tactics.

First, plots are always there and the deer know it. Deer will establish a regular feeding pattern often times. They become a natural part of the environment and a place where deer can feed with little pressure. You can establish a pattern for many deer. Noting when they visit and which routes they use.

Second, deer are far less wary on a plot, causing them to act more freely. There’s nothing more irritating than drawing on a deer only to see it get spooked by the wind before you shoot.

Third, plots provide year round nutrition. This impacts the overall health of the herd and can result in bigger bodies, increased antler growth, healthier fawns, and less “die-off” in winter.

Fourth, plots are easier to work with. Food plots can take a lot of effort to establish depending on the size and quality to want to achieve. They can also be as simple as throwing seed onto the ground a few times.

The quality is up to you. Even more important is that once established, they are there. You don’t have to throw a wet bag over your shoulder or carry a pail by your side.

There is nothing to worry about in the fall, unless you want to do some fall plantings to enhance the plot. Instead, the work is all done in the spring, under ideal weather conditions, and at your leisure.

Basic food plot set-up requires mainly a few hand tools but power equipment and even a tractor or ATV with the right implements can be used. For small, simple food plots you can get away with a few items from your garage.

First step, pick a spot. This requires only a shovel and maybe some pruning shears. Food plots should be placed in a place that receives over four hours of direct sunlight. The vast majority of the plants used for plots prefer sun.

You can put them right out in the open for full sun or in a wooded spot with partial sun. Shade is not recommended. There are some specialty seeds that allow for minimal light but the general rule should be more than four hours of direct light.

Once you have found some areas that fit the light requirements, it’s time to check the soil. Take your shovel and turn the dirt over in a few spots where the food plot would be. You looking for dark, moist earth if possible. Trying to plant on hard packed clay or bare, dry sand takes a lot of effort and offers poor results in most cases.

If the spot has ground that you can work with and gets adequate sunlight, then it’s time for the final test. Can you hunt nearby. Plots will draw deer, plain and simple. You have to be able to take advantage of that fact. Being able to hang a tree stand or setup a hunting blind nearby is imperative.

If you have all three requirements met than you have found your spot and can begin preparation. This is the most labor intensive part of the process. You’ll want to clear vegetation.

Pruning shears, a gas powered weed trimmer, a leaf rake, a steel rake, a chainsaw, a tractor, and round-up are all items that can get the job done. It all depends on the size of the plot and how much clearing is needed.

I think it’s important to remember that clear cutting an area for a food plot is not the most responsible thing to do. Leaving a few small trees or pieces of brush will provide security for the deer.

Clear the land and till up the soil if needed. You want bare dirt or close to it for larger plots. For small woodland plots, having grass or other small, natural plants mixed in is a good idea. Check back for more information regarding plot seed choices and final ground preparations.

For many of us spring means it's time to go fishing or perhaps lock for a big tom. For the die hard white tail hunter, though, spring has a whole different meaning. It means that it's time to lay the ground work for success this fall.

There are five sure fire things you can do in the spring to help you have a better fall. So lets get right into it:

1. Find the right spot...

In order to be successful hunting deer of any kind, you have to be where the deer are. The spring is a great time to find that new location you've been dreaming of. Do some research and find some quality locations.

Next, go to the owners and ask for permission. Don't be discouraged if they don't permit. Instead, keep looking and asking. You may even offer to help a little around the place.

I once put in a food plot that was heavy in clovers and some other flowering plants at a house near my home in Michigan. The purpose was to feed the deer, keeping them away from the garden plants, and also to increase the looks of the wood edge of the property.

I was able to install a food plot, which I like to do anyways, in exchange for rights to hunt that year.

Ultimately I was able to harvest a nice eight point buck with my bow!

2. After you found a spot...add some nutrition.

Spring can be, perhaps, the most vital time for deer development. As the temperatures rise and new plants emerge, most bucks begin to develop their antlers for the fall. Diet is much a factor in the development of large racks as genetics.

Young deer that have just been born are in the most critical stages of development in their life and the more nutrition, the better quality of deer that you will see in the following years.

Check out the property and determine a good location for a food plot, preferably a safe location with ample sunlight and moisture. Make sure you match the crop to the location and plant a crop that's meant to be planted in the spring.

3. Go hunting for bones...antlers that is.

Early spring is the best time to find sheds. Once the snow has melted away and the bucks have dropped their antlers you should get out looking for them. Finding antlers is the best way to know what survived the winter and what you should be looking for in the fall.

Keep shed antlers in a safe place. You can actually track a deer's individual growth year after year by finding sheds. This can give you vital information about the development of the antler's and the age of the deer.

4. Check for sign...

Finding trails and sign from last fall can give you a general idea of how the deer use the land. Inspecting areas that you should avoid in the fall can be done in the spring with no impact on fall hunting.

You can look for fall bedding areas and areas that larger bucks may frequent. Finding locations that saw increased activity during the rut in the previous year can help you locate areas you can concentrate on in the upcoming season.

Try getting a map of the area if it's large and mark sign and locations of interest. You can later assess this information you gathered. You may be surprised at what you learn. Deer often do the unexpected so the more prepared you are the better!

5. Practice makes perfect...

The best thing any hunter can do is be sighted in. Sometimes luck plays a major role in the opportunity to harvest a deer. However, if you are unable to hit the broad side of a barn, your probably not going to be successful. regular trips to the range will increase accuracy and confidence.

For bow hunters, try siting in your bow the first time. Then, a few times a week during the spring and summer, go out and take just one shot. Make it count. This simulates the real hunting experience.

Many people can adjust and hit a bulls-eye by the second or third shot. Unfortunately, you don't get that option when hunting. make your shots count and be ready when the time comes!

Although white tail hunting is considered a fall sport, it takes year round commitment to be highly successful. Enjoy some time outdoors this spring preparing for fall hunting and you'll be sure to enjoy the rewards!

David McClure can be contacted at DaveMc883@yahoo.com

For more you can visit: http://bleacherreport.com/users/85709-David-McClure

Or: http://bleacherreport.com/outdoor-sports