Answer:
Try this experiment, and see for yourself. The next time you are on level ground at the practice range, try hitting the bull’s-eye while canting your bow. You will notice that your arrows will fly well off their mark. A similar result occurs when bowhunting from uneven terrain. We think we are shooting from a level platform when in reality we are canting the bow downhill. To compensate, some archers use a bubble level while others consciously cant their bow INTO the hill to make the shot.

The author took this buck in October from a stand located along the bank of a creek. In addition to funneling deer travel, the creek provided the perfect low-impact access for the stand.

It was late October and a cool west wind blew gently in my face as I approached the creek early the next morning, slipped on my waders and carefully retraced my tracks to the base of the tree. I traded the waders for a pair of insulated boots and climbed into the stand. Because of the remoteness of the wheat field, deer fed late into the morning before drifting back into the timber to bed. I sat for at least two hours, questioning my choices, before a big, old doe led the parade.

Once they started coming it seemed like a river of deer. During the next half-hour, seven bucks and at least as many does crossed the old pasture in front of me, but only one was close enough for a shot. But, one’s enough when he’s the biggest! The arrow hit him a little far back as he walked slowly past, so I stayed on stand for a couple of hours before climbing down to head back to my vehicle and then to town for help in tracking. I was so focused on each careful step as I side-hilled back to the creek’s only wadable crossing that I nearly stepped on the buck before I saw him. He lay stone dead right at the edge of my crossing.

I’m sure that stand will produce big buck sightings every year. The creek eliminates all ground scent while keeping me out of sight at the same time. And when the wind is from the west, southwest or northwest it takes my scent out over the creek and away from all the deer using the cover on the inside bend. It’s a great stand, but not because it covers a well used trail – a lot of stands do that. It’s a great stand because you can hunt it day after day without the fear of spooking a single deer.

Most hunters never realize how many deer see them, smell them or hear them as they go to and from their stands. And then there’s the ground scent that continues to alert deer long after the hunter leaves the woods. When deer find evidence of human activity they start looking for other places to live, or at the least, they’ll change their patterns in the area. Either way, the easy pickings are over: you’re looking at some tough hunting. Think about it. You’d take it seriously too if you found a stranger walking through your living room.

This season, remember that regardless of how much sign it overlooks, a stand is not a great stand (or even a good stand) if you can’t get to and from it without being detected.

It doesn't matter how much sign your stand overlooks, or how deeply the trails have been pounded into the ground, if you can't get to and from the area without spooking deer it is not a great stand location.

Where deer find our scent is also a significant factor in how much impact we have on their behavior. In the fringes of their core areas they have come to accept human scent, and don’t react as negatively to it. If your scent shows up in these places it will be noted, but the deer aren’t nearly as prone to change their patterns as a result. On the other hand, sign of human activity found right in their “living room” is another story. When deer smell our scent close to the center of their core areas, they don’t tolerate it. In short order they’ll move on, or become extremely cautious – both of which will make them much harder to tag.

In my experience, the real chess match in hunting trophy whitetails is not what scrape or what funnel you’ll watch. Unless you have a particular buck patterned, one travel funnel is basically as good as the next. The real chess match is planning how you’ll get to and from your stands without ruining them.

Beat the deer at their own game. We’ve all seen big bucks traveling. They take advantage of terrain and cover to keep out of sight as much as possible. Do the same thing as you enter and leave your stands. Take advantage of anything possible to keep you from being sky-lined. Even in the dark, deer can see a sky-lined hunter.

Look for ravines, deep ditches, folds in the terrain, draws and fence lines to keep you out of sight. If you plan to hunt the stand again, the exit route is just as important as the entry route so don’t overlook this important element of the hunt. And, when considering deer movement, the exit route will often be completely different from the entry route.

I’ve started relying heavily on creeks to gain access to my hunting areas. In fact, last season I took three nice whitetails and creeks factored heavily into each successful hunt. I’ll go out of my way to find stands near wadable creeks not only because they tend to be good travel routes, but also because they cover my scent and noise and keep me out of sight while enroute.

The elite 10% of the hunters that take 90% of the trophies have learned one lesson very well: the route you take to and from your stand is more important than the stand location itself. If there is a secret in whitetail hunting, this is it.

Winke set up stand just off a wheat field which the deer traveled through. By keeping his scent down, Winke kept the deer confident and was thus able to arrow a beautiful buck.

Remember that regardless of how much sign it overlooks, a stand is not a great stand (or even a good stand) if you can’t get to and from it without being detected.

It’s become obvious to me why so many bowhunters will continue to fail in their efforts. You see, achieving an enviable level of big buck success means paying some hefty dues. Personally, I’ve taken great pains throughout the 30-plus years I’ve been bowhunting to learn as much as I possibly can about my quarry. You’d think most “dedicated” hunters would take this same approach to the sport. But that’s just not the case.

Keep A Low Profile

Many bowhunters fail in their efforts to kill big deer simply because they’re unable to hit what they’re shooting at - which leads to the most important part of hunting - PRACTICE.

Every one of the many successful trophy whitetail bowhunters I know agree on one point. Keeping a low profile is key to achieving a consistent success rate on mature bucks. Trust me, the best in the business go to extremes to keep the deer in their hunting areas from catching on that a bowhunter is routinely invading their domain.once the bucks catch on to your game plan.

A Case Study

My good friend, Doug Below, has taken nearly a dozen Pope & Young class bucks over the years. Doug told me that the key to his success is the fact that he avoids deer on his walks into and out of his hunting areas. “Years ago I’d take the shortest and quickest routes into my stand sites,” he stated. “Almost without fail I’d jump some deer. Those deer would then blow loudly, sometimes for several minutes. Of course, every big buck within hearing range knew something was up. It soon became obvious that I had to try something different.”

In attempt to overcome his problem, Doug logged a bunch of hours during the off-season figuring out “deerless” walking routes to his stand sites. The end results have been nothing short of amazing. Even though he bowhunts in areas that receive intense amounts of pressure, Doug routinely arrows large-racked bucks. No doubt it’s his cautious approach to the sport that’s the difference.

Another Common Mistake
Just about all bowhunters, from novices to the most experienced, are aware of the negatives associated with having big bucks smell you. Amazingly though, a lot of these same hunters don’t understand the potential harm that can be done by having big bucks see you. I personally believe that this lack of understanding can be attributed to a common misconception regarding the whitetails sense of sight. Put simply, a lot of bowhunters are under the impression that deer don’t see all that well. But let me assure you, whitetails see very well!

I think everyone reading this will agree that humans are the number-one predator of whitetails. Lest you think otherwise, the deer are aware of this fact as well. With the way they’ve been pressured in recent years, mature bucks have become especially adept at visually recognizing the human form. Contrary to what some hunters believe, they don’t need to substantiate these sightings with one of their other senses either. Remember that humans are the only one of the whitetail’s predators that walks upright on two legs. Really, how difficult can it be to recognize this posture?

No Such Thing As “Instant Hunters”

I’m always amazed at the number of people who suddenly become “bowhunters” on a certain day of the year. They spend absolutely no time during the rest of the year preparing for the upcoming season. Yet when opening day rolls around, these are some of the first people to hit the woods.

Although there are many negatives associated with the “instant bowhunter” syndrome, one is especially disturbing. Simply put, these “bowhunters” lack an acceptable level of proficiency with their weapons. Each year I talk with numerous people who have blown golden opportunities at big bucks. Tragically, the vast majority of these people lost out simply because they weren’t able to hit what they were aiming at. I personally find it hard to feel sorry for people who don’t practice.

Long-time bowhunter, Wendell Johnson, agrees with me on the importance of attaining good marksmanship. This 67 year-old native of Centuria, Wisconsin has four bucks in the Pope & Young record book and another that misses the minimum entry score by less than an inch. Interestingly, Wendell’s most recent record book buck was taken during the late archery season.

“I was using a recurve with no sights,” Wendell recalls. “A doe walked by me first. The buck came following along about 100 feet behind her. I would have had a chip shot at him had he continued on, but when he was 35 yards from me, the doe caught my wind. Well, she snorted and took off at a dead run. The buck was just turning to go when I raised my bow, drew and shot. Although I didn’t see the arrow hit, the shot felt good.” Wendell found the big nine pointer laying dead just 150 yards away.

“There’s no doubt that poor marksmanship is the number-one reason most hunters fail to bring home a buck,” Wendell stated. “And that goes for gun hunters as well as bowhunters. It’s hard to believe, but people will neglect to fire their weapons until the day before season. If it hits somewhere close to where they’re pointing, they figure that’s good enough.”

The “Feeling”
There’s another negative associated with being an instant hunter. Simply put, you’re not going to have that unexplainable “feel” that’s so important in this sport. As I’ve learned after many years of first-hand dealings with it, this “feel” often is all you have to go on when doing things like selecting stand sites or rating the potential of a given area. Many times, I’ve placed a stand in a certain spot or had confidence in an area simply because it “felt”right. By the way, you can’t pass this “feel”on to others. You acquire it purely from spending time in the outdoors.

Personally, I spend an enormous amount of time in the woods throughout the entire year. Even at that, though, I still spend the first couple weeks of the season trying to get into the flow of things. I can’t imagine how someone who spends virtually no time in the woods must feel.

Make The Most Of Your Time

Most bowhunters are afforded only a limited amount of time to hunt each year. Just about all of the bowhunters from my neck of the woods fall into this category.

Amazingly, as precious as this time has got to be, darn few bowhunters I know use it the way they should. These individuals spend a few hours hunting in the morning and a couple of hours hunting in the evening. That’s it! What’s even more unbelievable is that they don’t spend the hours in between doing anything to increas their chances for some big buck success. They don’t study topo maps, they don’t scout and they don’t talk to other bowhunters.

If your hunting time is limited, doesn’t it make sense that you should spend as much of that time as possible in the woods? I realize that your chances of arrowing a buck during the mid-day hours aren’t as good as they are early in the morning or late in the afternoon. But that doesn’t mean you should never hunt at this time of day.

Also, if you’re spending the middle part of the day sitting in front of the T.V. or taking a nap, then you’re doing nothing to improve your chances on future hunts. As I stated earlier in this article, achieving an enviable level of big buck success means paying some hefty dues. None of the highly successful bowhunters I know got where they are by watching T.V. or taking naps. Like me, these individuals are constantly scouting and striving to learn more about their quarry.

Develop The Proper Attitude

Finally, one of the biggest reasons that a lot of bowhunters fail in their efforts is because they go into the woods with the wrong attitude. Killing a big buck has somehow become more important to them than the quality of the hunt. Granted, we’re all out there for the same reason, However, some bowhunters want so desperately to kill a big buck so badly that when the opportunity finally presents itself, they blow it.

The key to lifting this burden from your shoulders is to remember that it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t connect. Even the best deer hunters suffer through seasons when they don’t tag an animal.

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Answer:
Two-blade heads are an excellent choice. Models such as the Zwickey and Magnus are good choices. If you plan to shoot fast arrows, say, something over about 250 fps, you may find that some two- blade designs (due to difficulty of maintaining straightness during manufacturing) have a tendency to wind-plane. Before heading west, make sure to practice thoroughly with each arrow/broadhead combination in your quiver.

Several good boots will fill the bill. You need three qualities in spades: light weight, excellent foot protection and ankle support. Some of the best elk hunting boots are actually hiking boots because hikers demand the same qualities.

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I figured this was a once of, or at most very rare occasion, but after searching a bit on the Internet we found a bunch of cases of bird-eating deer.

Deer have also been known to eat mice and there have been more than a few sightings of deer eating off carcasses.

It’s not breaking news, but we found the following video pretty interesting and hope you do too.

Some of today’s top performing stabilizers are filled with rubber- coated silica and will vibrate freely to soak up shock. These will make your bow a little quieter.

One of the most popular stabilizers on the market right now is an 8.5 inch stablizer from B-Stinger SportHunter Stabilizer. This is a good balance of utility, effectiveness and comfort. The Bstinger Stabilizer is fabricated with high performance carbon fiber tubing designed to be both lightweight and extremely rigid. Vibration dampening Sorbothane inserts are added to minimize residual noise and vibrations. A stainless steel disc weight is specifically designed to get the maximum rotational inertia (i.e. stabilization) for the given length of the stabilizer.

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Craig Belknap, 24 year old graduate student in the agricultural field at Iowa State University hadn’t ever taken a buck with his bow until this past season. However he got it right the first time when he shot a 20 point non-typical.

Native to Des Moines County, he hunts near the family farm where small wood lots, draws and big timber are most common. Craig’s stand was placed strategically in a big elm tree along a fenceline bordering a 100 acres of timber. Deer droppings, tracks, small rubs and scrapes revealed a fenceline crossing they used to a corn and bean field to feed.

On October 16th, he made his second trip back home for a weekend of hunting. Craig recalls, “The skies were cloudy that morning and it rained most of the night. Nevertheless, I cut across the muddy bean field to my stand. The battleship gray colored sky didn’t give way to first light until around 7:15 and I was beginning to wonder why I’d ever left the comfort of my bed. Only minutes later all my thoughts changed when I glanced down the fenceline and spotted a large drop tine buck a mere 50 yards away.”

“As he relaxed and started walking my way, I rose slowly and readied an arrow. Approaching my 20-yard shooting lane, I drew and steadied the pin and triggered the release. The 125-grain Pro-Series Thunderhead penetrated both lungs, causing the buck to dash 150 yards before stopping. Disoriented, the buck stumbled back my way. Ready with a second arrow if needed, he fell only 50 yards away. I was relieved and ecstatic to see the buck go down and not require a second shot.”

Greg Andrews

Greg Andrews of Corning, Iowa shot this massive 20 point non-typical buck on November 28, 1998 in Adams County. The typical 5x5 frame nets 176 1/8\

He knew of one small 60-acre plot that harbored good bucks in the past, but still hadn’t hunted it. The narrow gnarly ridge consisting primarily of thorny honey locust trees had a sparse scattering of hardwoods and cedar. In addition, the ridge runs parallel to a creek bottom with a mix of small saplings, hedge and dense buck brush. The landowner had spotted a big buck on more than one occasion entering a standing cornfield nearby. The corn came out only a week prior and Greg figured the bucks had been holding up in the cornfield, which explains why the deer sightings picked up shortly thereafter.

Greg explains, ” I have three stands setup based on the main travel paths to and from the primary food source. One on both the north and south ends of the ridge and one about dead center along the edge of the timber near the creek. I made plans to hunt the center stand first because there’s always an active scrape line along the timber.”

“When you consider the tricky winds in the bottom, it isn’t always possible to hunt the stand. On the Friday morning after Thanksgiving, the winds prevailed out of the west, which was ideal for the north treestand. I hadn’t seen any deer that morning, but minutes before climbing down I could hear what sounded like a sparring match between two big bucks in the bottom.”

“Before first light the following morning, I made my way toward the middle stand toting a set of rattling antlers and a grunt call, using a thick blanket of fog to camouflage my approach. Shortly after sunrise I rattled for about 30 seconds, but didn’t get a response,” said Greg.

“However, almost immediately after the second sequence, I spotted a big buck running across the bottom from the south. Things were happening so fast, I barely had time to hang up the antlers and grab my bow. The buck came to a halt on the opposite side of the creek, white puffs of steam shot from his flared nostrils as he scanned the area for the intruder. It wasn’t until that moment did I realize just how big the buck truly was. As the non-typical stepped into the 10 yard shooting lane, I released the string. Upon impact the big buck barrel raced through the timber for only 50 yards before the woods fell silent.”

Merle Allen

Merle Allen, a 44-year old Project Manager for a local general contractor in Norwalk, Iowa spotted a large non-typical for the first time in early November while hunting in Madison, County. Merle and his brother, Bud hunt several tracts of land consisting of primarily agricultural crops and a few scattered wood lots, hedgerows, and brushy draws leading to surrounding big timber. Merle relates that he concentrates most his efforts on hunting the outer fringes of small wood lots, funnels and draws during the season and seldom hunts big timber.

Bud was actually the first to spot the buck on his way to work the week before. He studied the big buck through a spotting scope standing in a bean field with a doe he suspected was in estrous. Bud called Merle at work that morning excited, suggesting that he better get out and hunt while the buck was still in the area trolling for hot does.

Merle recalls, “The following morning I hunted a stand near the river bottom on a sidehill where the does were known to bed during mid-day. Even though the hillside is nearly a mile away from where Bud glassed the buck, I was gambling it would be the most likely travel route the buck would take to the doe bedding area.”

“Shortly after daybreak a group of does cut across the hillside, but a lone doe with a nice buck hung back in the thick brush. It wasn’t until they meandered within 40 yards did I realize it was the same buck seen by my brother. Unfortunately, they continued to linger in the thick stuff before heading back the same way they came,” explained Merle.

“The following morning I hunted the same stand, but hadn’t seen or heard anything until around 10:30, when the sound of a dog barking in the distance caught my attention. Not long after the big buck busted out of the bottom, crossing in the same place as the previous morning. I’d now watched the buck cross in the same place two days in a row and felt fairly confident I stood a good chance of getting a crack at the buck if I only setup near his escape route. I hung a new stand there but the wind was never favorable.”

“Therefore, I decided to hunt a small 25-acre woods on the opposite side of the road that’s proved productive in the past. I like to refer to this place as a “loafing area” where the deer congregated in the mornings before heading to a bedding area nearby. I moved in quietly and setup a stand for the following morning.”

On Sunday, the 15th of November I found my way to the stand at first light. A few does meandered through early, and then I caught a glimpse of big antlers further back in the brush. Although I couldn’t see the buck entirely, as he turned his head sideways, I was able to confirm he was definitely a thumper. Pulling out a grunt call, I grunted softly, hoping to draw the big buck into the open. The does had now moved directly in front of the stand, milling around in a small clear-cut. Nothing happened right away, so I grunted again. Only a short time later the buck started working through a wooly thicket heading in my direction. As he continued to close the gap, I stood with an arrow ready. Not wanting to get hung up staring at the antlers, I only concentrated on making the shot.”

Shane Helmich of Dickens, Iowa arrowed this dandy 14 point buck on the 27th of November in Clay County. The 12 normal points and a 17\

Shane Helmich
Shane Helmich, a 28 year old Electrical Field Technician from Dickens, Iowa has only been bowhunting 4 years. Nevertheless, he managed to shoot one of the bigger non- typical bucks of the 1998 season. The first time he spotted the 14 point was November 20th. Hunting mostly river bottom ground, Helmich sticks mainly to a public hunting area near the Little Sioux River in Clay County. The small tract of timber is only 50 to 100 yards wide at most points, but stretches over a mile in length. It’s only a small part of the 600 acres of grass fields, narrow bands of timber, small wood lots and coulees.

Shane’s wife, Patricia is not only his devoted hunting partner, but also became his eyes and ears this past season after shooting her buck in early November. On one occasion she spotted two big 10 pointers that led Shane to the woods where he had his first encounter with the large 14 point.

Shane recalled, “I slipped into the small 50 acre wood lot with a decoy late one afternoon. A half-hour after wedging a crotch board in a tree, a big non-typical sporting a drop tine appeared 70 yards away. I grunted softly bringing the buck within twenty yards, but when the bruiser spotted the decoy he spooked and left without offering a shot. Hoping for a second chance, I hunted the same area two more days, but my efforts were fruitless.”

“Later that week, Patricia called me at work and reported spotting two more big bucks in a bean field about a half mile away chasing does. I didn’t waste time getting to the area and approached carefully from the downwind side toward an inside corner of the bean field.”

“Reaching the corner I climbed into a ancient oak tree and stood on a branch 8 feet off the ground. Shortly thereafter, the big 14 point started working down the fenceline pursuing an obvious hot doe. About 4:15 the buck made a beeline toward my perch 150 yards away chasing the doe, closing the gap rather quickly. With an arrow knocked and ready, the buck stopped momentarily at 35 yards. Steadying the pin, a speeding arrow from my Martin Scepter hit the buck squarely behind the shoulder. After a short sprint for dear life, the buck dropped within eyesight.”

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