Whitetail Deer Hunting: Big Bucks and Subtle Adjustments

Posted on: 5 May 2021

If you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime hunting adventure this fall, whitetail deer hunting can be just what you're looking for. When you book a whitetail deer hunting trip at a safari ranch, making subtle adjustments to your gear and techniques can allow you to harvest a trophy buck.

Here are some hunting adjustments you can make to increase your odds of success on your whitetail deer hunting excursion.

Scent and Silence

Whitetail deer have millions of scent receptors and finely tuned auditory physiology to both smell and hear their surroundings. If a whitetail deer detects your presence, your odds of getting a great shot drastically decrease.

Going Scentless

In the days leading up to your whitetail hunting trip, it's important to avoid all types of synthetic scents. To help you stick to this commitment, it's important to create a checklist and get your gear in order. Your checklist should include your gear and personal grooming. For instance, you will want to wash everything you wear during your whitetail hunting trip (including your underwear) with scentless detergent. Once your gear is washed, you will want to hang dry it (preferably outside) to avoid picking up lingering scent chemicals in your dryer. You should take a similar approach to your personal hygiene and grooming. Avoid using body wash, cologne, or deodorant in the days leading up to your trip.

Going Silent

Even the faintest of sounds can be heard by a trophy whitetail deer. From the swish of your pant legs rubbing together to the slight crinkling of your jacket when you bend your elbows, one inadvertent sound at the wrong time can ruin your whitetail deer hunting trip. You can make your gear quieter by adding a few strips of duct or packaging tape. Place the tape on your inseams or places where your hunting clothing flexes (elbows, knees, etc.).

Sighting Your Scope

Trophy whitetail deer aren't likely to give you a second shot. In the days leading up to your whitetail hunting trip, sighting your scope can be the difference between harvesting a trophy or watching it prance into the distance.

Whitetail hunting trips aren't conducted at rifle ranges. It's important to be able to adjust your scope to account for variables like wind and slope. In the days, weeks, and even months leading up to your trip, practice adjusting your scope to account for both slope and wind.

To learn more about hunting deer, visit a hunting lodge like Port Sullivan Ranch.

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