Deer Hunt Strategies For My Maine Stand Buck Hunt |

It is the first hours of light in morning, and the last hours of light in the late afternoon, that provide the most opportunity to see deer movement. Below, with so much brown it is tough to see deer. Use your binoculars!

With a guided hunt, ask your guide why he placed this stand e.g., food/bedding, cover etc., and where he expects to see a buck. If the wind is wrong, blowing into bedding or feeding from your elevated stand, then you will see very little.

So ask yourself, are you facing bedding? Expect morning to be best. If you are facing feeding then afternoon or evening to be best. What are the deer eating?

If it is a deer movement corridor, then all day stands would be best as long as wind is in your favor. Know when to be most ready, dawn and dusk and mid day sometimes. Have your rifle at the ready!

Remember that boredom is a hunt killer. If you get bored, then get down and move around quietly to change your mental state, munch a piece of candy, find some tracks to see what was here in the past. Or try tine ticking with rattling antlers after say 9 AM, or a few grunts or bleats off your grunt tube. Less is more, he will hear it! You may have a bedded buck come check you out and may be facing you? Do you have the skill to make a facing rifle shot? Did you practice? Don’t expect lots of blood as the brisket has fat that will close the entrance wound.

Think like the predator that you are. If your not focused, then take a break or get back to camp for food and a pick-me-up. Good self talk is important for your hunt attitude. There is a big buck with your name on him. You just have to find him and get him to show himself!

Avoid messing up your stands view by walking in it and leaving your scent. Wind can be your friend or a potent enemy. Carry wind powder or watch your breath steam move.

Have a scent strategy if your guide doesn’t. If the wind is no longer in your favor then plan to move to better take advantage of wind. If your guide comes at 10 or 11 am to check on you and the wind is wrong then ask to move to a different stand.

Move or still hunt into the wind or crosswind.

If you need to go take a number 2 then move from your stand and create a divot with your boot heel near a tree. Cover it with leaves or snow. I have orange toilet paper. Avoid white underwear and white TP. Keep your rifle close by.

If you are going to hunt in snow, then cover your barrel muzzle opening with a single piece of electrical tape to prevent snow falling in it. It won’t affect your shot. Air will force the tape away before the bullet even gets there. See https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/live-hunt/2011/11/three-ways-weatherproof-your-rifle/

I had a sling swivel that sometimes squeaks, I rub my nose for a bit of oil and place it on the swivel bar. It works! Or use some chap-stick to lube it.

If I am not seeing game for a few days of my stand hunt, then I may sleep in the morning and hunt the midday and afternoon. The idea is to be focused and ready! Remember the hunt rules for your hunt. Mine is bucks only. Or rather big bucks only!

Good Hunting!