The Whitetail Weakness

Whitetails are by nature energy conservative, which means they waste as little effort as possible as they make their way through a day. This is an offset for the amount they expend being in a constant hypervigilant state and on the move. It also creates situations that hunters can exploit.

Let’s talk about how this works in big woods hunting for a moment. 

Narrow down the options when locating stand sites in the timber to see more deer at close range. For bow hunters this is critical given that shots need to be close. Gun hunters can cover a larger area. But who really has a problem with short yardage?

When it all looks the same, there may be some subtle differences which are easily overlooked. The put your money down, deer will walk here spots. You need to recognize the ambush areas. And you might be able to tip the odds a little further your way too, by making a few adjustments.

As you walk through brush, you tend to pick the easiest route, right? So do deer. But they will also walk around logs that you step over.

Fallen trees steer them, and so does thick brush. They go around these spots every time unless they are spooked. Both can help you get your target closer.

Don’t overlook the option to place limbs and brush to guide a deer toward a tree. Completely blocking trails is also a great technique if there are too many paths.

A deep ditch is a real barrier, as is a ravine. Walk until you find the end of one, and it will likely be a prime ambush point. If you find yourself naturally headed to an area, you are doing it right.

Old, barbed wire fences are often found in the woods. Look for fallen trees that are pushing the strands down or have broken them. Fence crossings can be dynamite. And if you need to make one, a couple of zip ties can do the trick. 

Ponds can serve as watering areas, but deer will walk around them rather than swim. Beaver dams are often used to cross waterways.

There are more. But now the seed is planted. Think about it like this. Where would a deer walk? And how can I make that natural instinct put him in front of my stand?

If you find a deep ravine, headed up by a downed tree, that runs almost into an overgrown fence you might want to put a stand there overlooking the gap. It may take time, but the payoff when you locate a prime ambush area is so worth it!

Scouting and setting up in the right area is the name of the game. Get better at both, and you will fill more tags.

 Author: Clifford Neames