Newsletter

Hunting Michigan Public Land for Whitetails
By Wayne McGregor – Operations Manager for www.huntingwildlife.net

Well it all starts with a little bit of scouting, by that I mean a few things on what to do and what not to do. I strongly believe that scouting in the spring or early summer is best.
What do to list:

• Check the wind always try to keep it in your face
• If you can scout in the rain – this limits your scent, noise and visibility
• Always be quiet not to disrupt big bucks
• Always walk and act like a deer if deer spot you act like you are browsing or grazing and back off wait for them to move away slowly
• Do not disturb known bedding areas this is the deer’s safety zone sometimes if you push these areas a big buck will leave and sometimes never come back
• Look for run ways and active deer trails
• When you find an active runway walk it slowly until you come to another take the most worn of the 2 trails follow this until you come to 3 or more trails coming together the trails may be 5-10 yards apart I refer to this as the wagon wheel of deer trails
• Check the wind ( reference a weather map for that area to find out what the dominant wind direction)
• With the wind in your face or dominant wind direction pick a good tree for a tree stand or climber.
• If you use a climber then mark the tree you want to use if you brought your climber than set it up in the tree so you do not have to disturb the area again for setup. Same thing with climbing steps and hanging a stand. Remove problem branches now so you don’t have to do it later
• Then back out and don’t touch it until hunting season
• For public land it is a good idea not to mark your trails because it will alert hunters of your spot and you may find someone there when you show up to hunt not fun.
• If you can not find the spot again then take a compass or GPS with you so you can mark the points on the GPS when the trail turns. I use a compass sometimes. I have used a GPS in other states.
• It is a great idea to befriend people who have property that butts up to state land so a lot of times you can walk through their property to get to areas that are hard to reach from public access points
• Do not ask for permission right off the bat. Do not show up in hunting clothes. I have noticed that if you show up with a gift or offer to help out on their farm or a special interest like a fellow church member etc. You will find that just being a genuine person they will give you permission and it will be their idea. After you develop a relationship with them they will know you are a hunter and it will give them pleasure knowing they are helping you. Next thing you know their neighbors will be asking for you to help out then you are in the group and have made great friends. The hunting is just a bonus.

What not to do:

• Do not run through the woods cutting down branches and small trees remove only what is necessary to get a good shot or film. I have been witness to big bucks seeing a tree missing and taking off. Remember when you do this stuff it is like someone taking a chair out of your house.
• Do not touch rub or scrape on deer sign. Deer sign like scrapes and rubs are scent markers and if you touch it you are telling the deer you are in the area.
• I recommend not smoking in the hunting area, if you are; you should be on fire or lighting a doe scent stick or similar object
• Do not over scent the area with attractants I have found that sometimes scent will deter other does which in turn deters the bucks following them. During peak rut times I have used a doe scent drag successfully and other scents and buck dominant lures not successfully but it may work in other areas.
• Sometimes grunting and rattling are good but it can be over done. I recommend still and quiet hunting with little or no noise. During certain times I have rattled and grunted with success but it has been less success than just being quiet and still.
• Sometimes when using a climber I use rattling to disguise the noise of going up the tree so near by deer think the noise is deer fighting I have an electronic call for that I hook it on my backpack then go up the tree.

Now it is time to get your weapon of choice ready. I use a Fred Bear Element Bow and have had this bow for 4 years. I practice at ranges from 15 yards to 70 yards. If I can not hit the target in a baseball-softball size grouping then I do not shoot at that distance always closer. It is a good idea to take your bow in to a bow shop and check your bearings strings and other parts for wear. I have been a witness to a buddies bow bearing breaking and left a massive welt on his arm not to mention a few choice words.

Ok now you have scouted. Check
Now you have practiced. Check and keep practicing to stay sharp

Now here’s the gear!
Bow – check
Arrows all in good shape check fletching etc
Broad heads – I use rage
Range finder – check- range your areas and possible shot locations when you get in the stand and then put it away to limit your movement
Roscoby bow mounted camera – check great for hunt footage
Bow rest belt great for holding bow and stabilizing bow mounted camera for steady footage – check
Safety harness by mountaineer sports this is a great product because if you fall it has a built in repelling system so you can lower yourself to safety and then get back up there and do it again. This product will save your life.
Then I strap my backpack on my climber and put that on my back keeping my hands free with bow in one hand.
Then I put on a doe scent drag in rut season only which in Michigan is great around October 20th through December.
On one hunt it was over before I even climbed in the stand. I heard some walked coming down the trail behind me a nice 9 point buck was walking head down I gave him a soft grunt and let the arrow fly.
I strongly believe in the BLIND SQUIREL THEORY. Sometimes you can do everything right and not see anything or do some things wrong and see a lot of deer. That’s why they call it hunting!
In conclusion, using the find the wagon wheel method has worked every time I have had deer or great opportunities within 3-5 sets at that stand. Sometimes the hunt was successful in the midday but usually in the morning or in the evening.

Thanks for choosing huntingwildlife.net