© By Othmar Vohringer
Q. I have permission to hunt on about 40-acre property in a suburb. It is a small block consisting mainly of hardwoods and a small open grassy area. It’s got houses on two sides and a highway on the other end. I’ve never hunted such a small place in close proximity to houses and people but I’ve seen lots of deer in that area. My question is how do I hunt these deer without putting too much pressure on them?
A. Don’t worry about pressuring these deer too much. Suburban deer are used to seeing and hearing people close up everyday. In other words, suburban deer are accustomed to humans, vehicles and human noise.
To hunt these deer successfully forget everything you have ever read, heard or seen about hunting tactics. You even can forget everything about human odour control. Forget about sneaking in before daylight.
Instead try to match your coming and going to the activity of the people living around the area, children going to school, people going and coming from work and so on. That’s what the deer are used to and if you try to sneak around they will know you’re different and get scared.
Match your movement to what the deer are used too.
Leave all your calls, rattling antlers and scent at home. Just find the active trails leading in and out of the woodlot and hang stands accordingly.
I have killed a nice buck on a small 30-acre property just sitting behind a tree near an active trail intersection. I shot the deer about 50 yards next to a schoolyard. The deer didn’t mind the noise from the children because they were used to it. I used the time when the children went to school to walk into my stand. A half hour later the buck walked down the trail right in front of my arrow. Don't rely on your normal hunting tactics on small lots. It will cost you deer.
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Tags: Hunting On A Small Property, Deer Hunting tips, Ask Othmar, Suburban Deer
Monday, November 09, 2009
The Rut Is Soon Here - Any Day Now
© By Othmar Vohringer
This past Sunday my wife and I went for a drive up north to the small logging town of Barrier. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed every minute of it. It might be the last sunshine we get before the long winter arrives.
In the way home we drove along a cattle pasture when I spotted about 25 deer. We stopped and started to take pictures.
Observing the deer we discovered several smaller and medium sized bucks among the does and fawns. These images are taken with a 600mm lens. In reality the deer are about 300 yards of off the road. We discovered the bucks when we looked through the photo lens.
Two bucks approached each other and after sniffing and dancing around each other they started to fight. The latest for well over twenty minutes. As you can see in the next image the does don’t pay any attention to the fighting. The fight attracted other bucks, 7 in all out if view staying just inside the tree line. The bucks showed no interest in the does whatsoever. The fighting is a sign that the rut soon will be upon us. Maybe in a matter of days even.
Now is a good time to pack your rattling antlers or rattling bag along on your hunting trips.
Related articles:
Early Season Antler Rattling
Deer Scent and Calling Tactics Trough the Seasons
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Tags: Antler Rattling, Bucks Fighting, Deer Hunting
This past Sunday my wife and I went for a drive up north to the small logging town of Barrier. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed every minute of it. It might be the last sunshine we get before the long winter arrives.
In the way home we drove along a cattle pasture when I spotted about 25 deer. We stopped and started to take pictures.
Observing the deer we discovered several smaller and medium sized bucks among the does and fawns. These images are taken with a 600mm lens. In reality the deer are about 300 yards of off the road. We discovered the bucks when we looked through the photo lens.
Two bucks approached each other and after sniffing and dancing around each other they started to fight. The latest for well over twenty minutes. As you can see in the next image the does don’t pay any attention to the fighting. The fight attracted other bucks, 7 in all out if view staying just inside the tree line. The bucks showed no interest in the does whatsoever. The fighting is a sign that the rut soon will be upon us. Maybe in a matter of days even.
Now is a good time to pack your rattling antlers or rattling bag along on your hunting trips.
Related articles:
Early Season Antler Rattling
Deer Scent and Calling Tactics Trough the Seasons
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Tags: Antler Rattling, Bucks Fighting, Deer Hunting
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Wisconsin Browhunter Shoots Big Ten Point Buck
© By Othmar Vohringer
I am particularly proud of this young Wisconsin bowhunters first buck kill because I had a small part to play in his success.
When Shawn contacted me he didn’t sound to happy. Like most novice hunters he failed to kill a deer and had nobody to turn to, to ask for advice. After he gave me a detailed description of his hunting area I was able to give him a few starting point. We stayed in contact during which he kept me up-to-date on what he’s observed and I recommended what to do next. About a week into the consulting he called me to tell me enthusiastically that he shot a doe.
He also had seen a large mature buck but had no way, so he thought, to get close to him. More detailed descriptions followed, which I followed up with advice and tops on what to do. A week later the phone rang very early in the morning. Shawn was on the other end. Almost out of breath and very exited he told me that he just came home just to call and let me know that he shot the giant ten point buck. In an email he sent me that afternoon he wrote; "This buck was shot because of you. Thanks so much for your advice."
I’ll not give to much away because Shawn will soon tell you all about his very special hunt in his own words here at Whitetail Deer Passion.
As a hunting strategy & hunting property evaluation consultant I am fortunate to help many hunters to improve their success but it always is a special thrill me to play a small part in a novice hunters success.
In addition to make an already good week even better, I received an email from a hunting club that booked my consulting service and it seems they are happy too. Here is an excerpt of the email sent to me by the president of hunting club.
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Tags: Hunting Strategy Consultant, Hunting Property Evaluation, Trophy Buck, Deer Hunting
I am particularly proud of this young Wisconsin bowhunters first buck kill because I had a small part to play in his success.When Shawn contacted me he didn’t sound to happy. Like most novice hunters he failed to kill a deer and had nobody to turn to, to ask for advice. After he gave me a detailed description of his hunting area I was able to give him a few starting point. We stayed in contact during which he kept me up-to-date on what he’s observed and I recommended what to do next. About a week into the consulting he called me to tell me enthusiastically that he shot a doe.
He also had seen a large mature buck but had no way, so he thought, to get close to him. More detailed descriptions followed, which I followed up with advice and tops on what to do. A week later the phone rang very early in the morning. Shawn was on the other end. Almost out of breath and very exited he told me that he just came home just to call and let me know that he shot the giant ten point buck. In an email he sent me that afternoon he wrote; "This buck was shot because of you. Thanks so much for your advice."
I’ll not give to much away because Shawn will soon tell you all about his very special hunt in his own words here at Whitetail Deer Passion.
As a hunting strategy & hunting property evaluation consultant I am fortunate to help many hunters to improve their success but it always is a special thrill me to play a small part in a novice hunters success.
In addition to make an already good week even better, I received an email from a hunting club that booked my consulting service and it seems they are happy too. Here is an excerpt of the email sent to me by the president of hunting club.
"...This is a short note to express our gratitude and sincere thanks to you for the consultant service you provided. We implemented your recommendations and advice on hunting strategies and stand locations and are happy to report that the average hunting success of our members in this past season has increased to 67%, compared to 43% last season...As I said earlier I feel very fortunate to be able to help other hunters. For me that is all part of our great and unique North American hunting heritage and I am proud to be part of it. If you're interested in my consulting service is available to outfitters, clubs and individual hunters owning their own hunting land. To learn more about this unique service follow this link: HUNTING STRATEGY CONSULTANT & HUNTING PROPERTY EVALUATION
Hiring you as our hunting strategy consultant to evaluate our clubs hunting land and leases has been worth every dollar and more. The board of directors and the membership would like to extend an open invitation to you, as a show of our gratitude, to hunt on our club properties any time you wish... Once again thank you very much."
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Tags: Hunting Strategy Consultant, Hunting Property Evaluation, Trophy Buck, Deer Hunting
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ask Othmar: Cattle and Deer
By Othmar Vohringer
Question: "Is it true that deer do not like to be around cattle?"
My Answer: Yes and no. I've hunted in areas where the deer didn't mind sharing the land with cattle. In fact I hunted on a property where the deer mingled with cattle and we always had to make sure that no cow was in the line of sight when we shot a deer.
When I moved to British Columbia I found a place that had a large deer population. Every time i scouted the area I saw lots of deer. Then when bowhunting season opened I didn't see a single deer. On the way out of the area I saw a herd of free ranging cattle but it didn't dawn at me that these cattle had anything to do with the vanishing deer until the day when the rancher herded the cows to a different place. Within two days of the cattle gone the deer came back.
I never have found an answer why in some areas deer and cattle seem to get along and in other areas deer move away when cattle are present. The only reasonable conclusion I can come up with is that perhaps in some areas food is plentiful available for both, while in others cattle may be in competition with the deer.
The only thing I can say for sure is that you need to observe deer and how they behave around cattle. Do they stay in the area or move off? And then adjust your tactics according to your observations.
Visit my website:
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Deer Hunting Tips, Ask Othmar, Deer and Cattle
Question: "Is it true that deer do not like to be around cattle?"
My Answer: Yes and no. I've hunted in areas where the deer didn't mind sharing the land with cattle. In fact I hunted on a property where the deer mingled with cattle and we always had to make sure that no cow was in the line of sight when we shot a deer.
When I moved to British Columbia I found a place that had a large deer population. Every time i scouted the area I saw lots of deer. Then when bowhunting season opened I didn't see a single deer. On the way out of the area I saw a herd of free ranging cattle but it didn't dawn at me that these cattle had anything to do with the vanishing deer until the day when the rancher herded the cows to a different place. Within two days of the cattle gone the deer came back.
I never have found an answer why in some areas deer and cattle seem to get along and in other areas deer move away when cattle are present. The only reasonable conclusion I can come up with is that perhaps in some areas food is plentiful available for both, while in others cattle may be in competition with the deer.
The only thing I can say for sure is that you need to observe deer and how they behave around cattle. Do they stay in the area or move off? And then adjust your tactics according to your observations.
Visit my website:
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Deer Hunting Tips, Ask Othmar, Deer and Cattle
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Do we get an early rut this year?
© By Othmar Vohringer
In the third week of September I observed something very strange that I have never seen before. While scouting a new area I discovered fresh and re-freshened scrapes. Usually scraping activity does not start around here until the first to second week of October. Did the deer know something I didn’t?
When on October first the weather changed drastically overnight from a mild Indian summer to subzero temperatures and the first snowfall occurred I thought that this early cold snap might have something to do with the early scraping activity and may have triggered a false rut.
But then reports came in from as far south as Tennessee and Florida where hunters too observed scraping activity. I even got some reports from hunters that have seen bucks chasing does in the first week of October. Now I could understand that the cold front we had up here in the southern interior of British Columbia may have deer fooled into early rutting activity, but in the south of America where the temperatures are still in the mid and upper 50’s?
I am still puzzled about this early rutting activity and asked some deer biologists if they had any idea what could have happened but thy are not sure either.
If that keeps up I may have to hunt the rut in mid October. Wouldn’t that be crazy? For me the bigger question is. If the deer are indeed beginning to breed that early they also will give early birth when weather conditions are not favorable to raise offspring. Indeed there might be still snow on the ground in many areas of North America. This in turn could lead to heavy fawn mortality. Whatever it is I sure don’t like it.
I would like to know what you guys observed in your hunting area and what your opinion is on this very unusual phenomenon.
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Founding Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
Tags: Deer Rut, Early Rut, Unusual Deer Behavior
In the third week of September I observed something very strange that I have never seen before. While scouting a new area I discovered fresh and re-freshened scrapes. Usually scraping activity does not start around here until the first to second week of October. Did the deer know something I didn’t?
When on October first the weather changed drastically overnight from a mild Indian summer to subzero temperatures and the first snowfall occurred I thought that this early cold snap might have something to do with the early scraping activity and may have triggered a false rut.
But then reports came in from as far south as Tennessee and Florida where hunters too observed scraping activity. I even got some reports from hunters that have seen bucks chasing does in the first week of October. Now I could understand that the cold front we had up here in the southern interior of British Columbia may have deer fooled into early rutting activity, but in the south of America where the temperatures are still in the mid and upper 50’s?
I am still puzzled about this early rutting activity and asked some deer biologists if they had any idea what could have happened but thy are not sure either.
If that keeps up I may have to hunt the rut in mid October. Wouldn’t that be crazy? For me the bigger question is. If the deer are indeed beginning to breed that early they also will give early birth when weather conditions are not favorable to raise offspring. Indeed there might be still snow on the ground in many areas of North America. This in turn could lead to heavy fawn mortality. Whatever it is I sure don’t like it.
I would like to know what you guys observed in your hunting area and what your opinion is on this very unusual phenomenon.
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Founding Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
Tags: Deer Rut, Early Rut, Unusual Deer Behavior
Ask Othmar : Hunting Cornfields
© By Othmar Vohringer
Hi Othmar. A few friends and I have permission to hunt a farm. It’s the perfect piece of whitetail deer habitat with a small river bottom, hardwood ridges, pastures and several corn and bean fields. The farmer gave us permission to set up anywhere on his property except near the livestock and equipment barns and his house of course. In addition we only have permission to bowhunt, no firearms, not even slug guns or muzzleloader.
The problem I'am having is how to hunt cornfields. I've never hunted cornfields before. I could hunt the hardwood ridges but from what I observed it seems that most deer stay in the cornfields so I would like to give it a try. How do you go about hunting cornfields?
Ken from Illinois
Hunting cornfields can be a very productive way to kill a big buck. There are several options to hunt a cornfield and they all depend on the condition of the fields. What I mean by that, it depends if the corn is still standing or has been cut.
A standing cornfield is food and shelter to deer and thus they spend a lot of time in there, but not all of their time. If deer spend most of their time in the standing cornfield it can be though to hunt. The easiest way is to figure out where the deer move in and out of the field. Try to observe deer movement from a distance with a pair of good binoculars. Also check the hardwood ridge tops for available mast crop such as oaks. If there are oaks dropping then I am convinced the deer will travel from the field to the ridge top to feed on the oaks. Your job will be to figure out at what time the deer head to the oaks.
If the deer feed on the oaks during legal shooting light set up somewhere along the route the deer take from the field to the ridge top. Where that somewhere is will be revealed through scouting. It should be a narrow spot where several trails merge and funnel deer through a narrow gap past your stand.
Should your scouting reveal that the deer spend all the time, during legal shooting light, in the standing cornfield then you have no other option but to go after them. In my article Cirnfield Bucks I describe how to hunt bucks inside a cornfield.
If the cornfield is cut the game plan changes because the cover is gone. However, a cut cornfield is a deer magnet. Deer love a cut corn or bean field because they do not have to work the corn or bean out of the husk. The food is readily “pre-processed” available to them. Think of easy food intake without having to work for it. If the field has just been cut you will find that deer are difficult to pattern for a day or two. Don’t worry about it. It all will go back to normal again as soon as the deer figured out a new bedding to feeding travel pattern after their familiar pattern has suddenly been disturbed. Deer are masters at adapting to new situations.
Again, scout from a distance where and at what time the deer travel to and from the cut field. When the new travel pattern emerges find the travel routes the deer take from their bedding areas to the field and hang stands accordingly. My preference is to hang stands always a bit back in the woods where several trails merge into one, as opposed to directly at the food source. It's hard, if not downright impossible, to kill a deer with a bow directly at the food source. I recommend, as always, to hang several stands to accommodate different wind directions and entry/exit routes for you.
If anybody would like to add anything to this tip feel free and do so in the comment sections. The season has just started and if you get one with the bow let me know. Good luck and have a great time out there.
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Founding Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
To see more Questions & Answers read “Ask Othmar”
Tags: Bowhunting, Cornfields, Early Bowhunting Season
Hi Othmar. A few friends and I have permission to hunt a farm. It’s the perfect piece of whitetail deer habitat with a small river bottom, hardwood ridges, pastures and several corn and bean fields. The farmer gave us permission to set up anywhere on his property except near the livestock and equipment barns and his house of course. In addition we only have permission to bowhunt, no firearms, not even slug guns or muzzleloader.
The problem I'am having is how to hunt cornfields. I've never hunted cornfields before. I could hunt the hardwood ridges but from what I observed it seems that most deer stay in the cornfields so I would like to give it a try. How do you go about hunting cornfields?
Ken from Illinois
Hunting cornfields can be a very productive way to kill a big buck. There are several options to hunt a cornfield and they all depend on the condition of the fields. What I mean by that, it depends if the corn is still standing or has been cut.
A standing cornfield is food and shelter to deer and thus they spend a lot of time in there, but not all of their time. If deer spend most of their time in the standing cornfield it can be though to hunt. The easiest way is to figure out where the deer move in and out of the field. Try to observe deer movement from a distance with a pair of good binoculars. Also check the hardwood ridge tops for available mast crop such as oaks. If there are oaks dropping then I am convinced the deer will travel from the field to the ridge top to feed on the oaks. Your job will be to figure out at what time the deer head to the oaks.
If the deer feed on the oaks during legal shooting light set up somewhere along the route the deer take from the field to the ridge top. Where that somewhere is will be revealed through scouting. It should be a narrow spot where several trails merge and funnel deer through a narrow gap past your stand.
Should your scouting reveal that the deer spend all the time, during legal shooting light, in the standing cornfield then you have no other option but to go after them. In my article Cirnfield Bucks I describe how to hunt bucks inside a cornfield.
If the cornfield is cut the game plan changes because the cover is gone. However, a cut cornfield is a deer magnet. Deer love a cut corn or bean field because they do not have to work the corn or bean out of the husk. The food is readily “pre-processed” available to them. Think of easy food intake without having to work for it. If the field has just been cut you will find that deer are difficult to pattern for a day or two. Don’t worry about it. It all will go back to normal again as soon as the deer figured out a new bedding to feeding travel pattern after their familiar pattern has suddenly been disturbed. Deer are masters at adapting to new situations.
Again, scout from a distance where and at what time the deer travel to and from the cut field. When the new travel pattern emerges find the travel routes the deer take from their bedding areas to the field and hang stands accordingly. My preference is to hang stands always a bit back in the woods where several trails merge into one, as opposed to directly at the food source. It's hard, if not downright impossible, to kill a deer with a bow directly at the food source. I recommend, as always, to hang several stands to accommodate different wind directions and entry/exit routes for you.
If anybody would like to add anything to this tip feel free and do so in the comment sections. The season has just started and if you get one with the bow let me know. Good luck and have a great time out there.
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Founding Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
To see more Questions & Answers read “Ask Othmar”
Tags: Bowhunting, Cornfields, Early Bowhunting Season
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Early Season Antler Rattling
© By Othmar Vohringer
Yesterday I received an email from a hunter in Illinois. He had been wondering if rattling in the early season would work. Here is his question and my answer.
Q. I am wondering if antler rattling does work in the early season. When I asked hunters around here they each seem to have a different opinion. Some say it doesn't work, others say it works and still others say it scares deer that early in the season. What is your opinion based on experience?
A. It would take up several book pages to explain your question in detail. Rattling does not work. Tine tickling on the other hand does work quite well.
During the early part of the season female deer are not in heat and bucks do not engage in full blown out breeding rights and territorial fights. However, in the early season bucks do engage in sparring to test each others strength. In the early season I mimic sparring using a rattler bag. By gently clicking and grinding I have attracted consistently early season bucks.
But there is a whole lot more to it then just sit down and click antlers together in hopes of attracting a buck. Location is very important and so is the antler clicking sequence. Be on the wrong place or to aggressive and click for to long and you're liable to scare more deer off then you will see.
The important thing to remember is not to think of it as fighting but rather a friendly sparring competition among bucks and then match that with your rattling antlers or rattling bag. My average sparring imitations last up to 20 minutes but not continuously.
Like I said antler rattling and clicking is a very complex issue that would fill up many pages. Antler clicking is the least understood in terms of why it attracts deer of both sexes and all ages to the hunter. I have been studying this subject for many years and still have more questions than answers. Save to say that antler clicking is so effective that it is my number one early season deer attractant tool. In the early season I leave all the deer calls at home but I will not leave home on a hunt without my rattling bag.
On my website I have a new section called “Ask Othmar” where I post questions from hunters and my answers to it.
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Founding Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
Antler Rattling, Early Hunting Season, Deer HuntingTEXT
Yesterday I received an email from a hunter in Illinois. He had been wondering if rattling in the early season would work. Here is his question and my answer.Q. I am wondering if antler rattling does work in the early season. When I asked hunters around here they each seem to have a different opinion. Some say it doesn't work, others say it works and still others say it scares deer that early in the season. What is your opinion based on experience?
A. It would take up several book pages to explain your question in detail. Rattling does not work. Tine tickling on the other hand does work quite well.
During the early part of the season female deer are not in heat and bucks do not engage in full blown out breeding rights and territorial fights. However, in the early season bucks do engage in sparring to test each others strength. In the early season I mimic sparring using a rattler bag. By gently clicking and grinding I have attracted consistently early season bucks.
But there is a whole lot more to it then just sit down and click antlers together in hopes of attracting a buck. Location is very important and so is the antler clicking sequence. Be on the wrong place or to aggressive and click for to long and you're liable to scare more deer off then you will see.
The important thing to remember is not to think of it as fighting but rather a friendly sparring competition among bucks and then match that with your rattling antlers or rattling bag. My average sparring imitations last up to 20 minutes but not continuously.
Like I said antler rattling and clicking is a very complex issue that would fill up many pages. Antler clicking is the least understood in terms of why it attracts deer of both sexes and all ages to the hunter. I have been studying this subject for many years and still have more questions than answers. Save to say that antler clicking is so effective that it is my number one early season deer attractant tool. In the early season I leave all the deer calls at home but I will not leave home on a hunt without my rattling bag.
On my website I have a new section called “Ask Othmar” where I post questions from hunters and my answers to it.
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Founding Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
Antler Rattling, Early Hunting Season, Deer HuntingTEXT
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