Jeff Murray

Look For Community Scrapes to Find Post-Rut Pay Dirt

Online Editors — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:04:34 -0400

by Jeff Murray

Catch Bucks Changing Beds When The Wind Changes Direction

fieldandstream-editor — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:00:00 -0400

During the early season, a cold front can coax bucks to feed during shooting light. But if you hunt hilly terrain, there's another type of buck movement you should be exploiting. All fronts are accompanied by a change in wind direction, which forces many bucks to change their beds-and you can catch them in the act.

Hill-country bucks tend to bed at higher elevations, usually along the sides of ridges, about a third of the way down from the top. By facing in the opposite direction of the wind, a buck can watch for predators in front while his nose sniffs for them coming from behind. When the wind shifts, however, these bucks must make a move to enjoy the same advantage. This diagram at right shows you how to intercept them.

This buck begins bedding near a bench along the east side of the ridge, with the prevailing northwest wind at his back.

When a front rolls in and the wind switches from the northwest to the northeast, the buck begins to move to the other side of the hill.

To get there, the deer isn't going to climb the steep peak. Instead, he'll parallel the hillside along a bench until he reaches a saddle, or even a subtle dip, where he can sneak across.

Whether you hunt from the ground or slip in and put up a quiet climbing stand, this is a great place to set up an ambush. Moreover, if you know that a certain wind shift is common in your area, you can find great spots for permanent stands. Just check the weather, then go catch your buck crossing over.

How to Approach Your Tree Stand Without Spooking Nearby Deer

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:00:00 -0400

BRANCH OUT As you remove branches to create shooting lanes or a clearer path, place some along your trail, pointing in the direction of your stand. These discreet markers keep you from bumbling around noisily in the predawn. Light-colored birch and aspen work best.

SMOOTH YOUR TRAIL Few blunders will give you away more quickly than the sound of your feet falling on crunchy leaves or brittle twigs. Before the season starts, use a lawn rake to groom a trail along the last 50 to 100 yards leading to your stand.

Four Mistakes to Avoid When a Buck Approaches Your Stand

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:00:00 -0400

THE WHITETAIL THAT'S APPROACHING YOUR STAND has Pope and Young record book written all over it. All you need now is a good, clear shot—and a way to avoid the fistful of blunders bowhunters are prone to make at these critical moments.

Here are the four most common gaffes, and how you can keep them from spoiling your hunt:

[1] GRUNTING TOO SOON

On Target: The Right Arrows, Tuned-In, Make for Straighter Shots

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:00:00 -0400

[1] BUY QUALITY SHAFTS

Do a little prepurchase research and you'll find that premium shafts typically have tighter tolerances than economy-grade models. A good benchmark is a straightness tolerance of .003 inch or less and weight variance of 3 grains or less. If you can find such figures at a low price, great. But if not, it's worth spending a little more, because tighter tolerances usually mean straighter flight.

[2] SPIN YOUR ARROWS

Three Hot Broadheads from 2007

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:00:00 -0400

YES, IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT to hunt with a high-quality, deadly effective broadhead. But that doesn't make choosing among the myriad offerings a whole lot easier. We're here to help. Among the latest 2007 models, we've narrowed the list down to the three most promising.

Surprise Big Bucks With a Backup Stand

fieldandstream-editor — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:00:00 -0400

It's often said that first impressions are more accurate than second guesses. But 30 years of deer hunting notes tell me the opposite is true: My backup stands have outproduced my primary ones by a margin of roughly 3 to 1. A recent telemetry study conducted by Connecticut wildlife biologist Howard Kilpatrick may explain why—and it could also help you situate your backup stands for better success during the upcoming season.

Collect Tarsal Glands to Attract Whitetail Bucks

fieldandstream-editor — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:00:00 -0400

SOME COMMERCiAL SCENTS CLAIM to contain or approximate the real thing. A whitetail's tarsal or "hock" gland is the real thing, and it can be especially effective for that reason. But you won't find any hanging from display racks alongside the hottest bottled scents. Getting your (gloved) hands on tarsals and keeping them potent requires a little extra work. Here are the basics:

Take a Stand: Choosing Where to Setup in Bow Season

fieldandstream-editor — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:00:00 -0400

BOWHUNTERS HAVE VERY LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM when it comes to tree-stand location. You need to plan your shots precisely in this game, and a stand that's even slightly in the wrong spot—a little too high or low, or a tad too close to or far from the hottest sign—can cost you your deer. The perfect setup is shown here. Study it carefully, and try to re-create it when you hang your own stands this fall.

Adjust the height of the tether on your safety harness so you can't fall below the stand, making it easier for you to get back in if you do slip.