Deer can smell you and run if you don't take precautions to get rid of the human scent. These are some great scent control products that will help you keep your human scent down and your bag limit up!...

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With the exception of those hunters that nailed some 2x4's to a tree and added a pallet to make a tree stand or used some other self-made platform. Still Hunting know-how was a must. And that's the way you had to hunt before the advent of screw in steps, climbing deer stands, and other such products came along and changed deer hunting forever. Sometimes I like to get back to basics though. Maybe I'm getting old, but sometimes I just don't feel like dragging that bulky deer stand into the woods to deer hunt. And they take away the pleasure of just walking through the woods. Plus my knees have never been the best for climbing into deer stands to begin with. And while tree stands are effective, deer stands are not a sure bet for producing deer kills, and often can be counterproductive for bow hunting. There are a lot of areas where working a climbing deer stand or other such tree stands and remaining un-noticed by the deer is near impossible. So what's left? How can you hunt deer without a stand and not run dogs? The answer is still hunting from the ground. This is when we need to get back to basics and hunt like our fathers and grandfathers did. On foot. It can be done, or we likely wouldn't be here to carry on the hunting traditions of our forefathers as many of them would have starved out long ago. You have to be quit and even more aware of your sent and which way the wind is carrying it. But many a deer have been taken by this method of deer hunting. First, you'll need to think of protection from the insects while still hunting. You'll be standing still and not moving for periods of time, swatting mosquitos and flies, and picking ticks off of yourself can be very annoying and counterproductive to a deer hunter. Luckily we have products to reduce if not eliminate this problem that the old timers didn't have. You'll want to spray your clothing with Permethrin Spray Tick Repellent . This product is odorless, and bonds to the fabric retaining it's effectiveness through several washings. Then there is your scent that you must minimize. And even more important when still hunting on the ground than it is when hunting from a tree stand. There are several products for this such as the Scent-A-Way MAX Fresh Earth Scent Control Kit by Hunter's Specialties . But you will never completely eliminate the human scent. So when you're Still Hunting from the ground, make sure to stay downwind from the deer. And never cross any trails that the deer are using on your way to your natural blind. Avoid getting attracting scents on your feet. This will lead the deer right to you. The deer are too alert when following these scent trails and will spot the slightest movement you make. So as soon as you start drawing back to take a shot, it's likely the deer will spot you and take off before you get to half draw. Avoid using deer attractants near your blind for the same reason. Now you'll need to conceal yourself and defeat the deer's vision. This can be another difficult task while Still-Hunting on the ground. Deer are likely to spot a broken tree branch that was not broken before and bolt far out of bow range. You should avoid making any fast movements. Simply turning your head can alert a deer to your presence. It's a good idea to avoid caffeine for a day or so before you ground hunt as any nervous impatient movements will cost you a deer. A turkey hunter can easily tell you how still you have to be. A person that can't stay still for hours on end may want to think about a fabric blind instead of trying to hide yourself in the brush around you while Still Hunting on the ground. But these have draw backs. I find them much less effective than using natural surrounding cover. The fabric may shine and flap in the wind, and the poles often make un-natural noises. So it is necessary to set these blinds up before you Still Hunt on the ground several weeks before hunting them. The deer will have to get use to them and accept them as part of their environment. Some other tips for Still Hunting on the ground are to make sure you cover your face with a camo net as well as cover your hands with camo as well as your body. A pocket sized pruning sheer will come in handy for making a ground blind from the natural cover in some circumstances. And wait to draw your bow when the deer are looking the other way. I hope these tips help you have a successful experience Still-Hunting on the ground. And please visit my sponsors, all of which carry great products to make your hunt better.

If you're acquainted with preparing wild game meat such as deer, elk, squirrel, rabbit, or other so called exotic meats, then you are aware that these meats can have a bit of a Gamey flavor. For wild game that is gamey and tough in taste and texture try soaking in a ziplock bag with: Mountain Dew (works great for wild hog if BBQing, tenderizes meat) Coke (gives meat a sweet taste and tenderizes) Beer Red wine Pineapple juice Buttermilk ( In the buttermilk soak, add minced garlic, black pepper, paprika, cardamom, or other spices to suit your taste.) This is called a soak or marinade. Many of the meats mentioned above are far more prone to being tough and dry if not properly soaked before cooking your recipe. One thing you do not want to do is add extra salt to whatever your soak maybe. This will turn your wild game meat into jerky; tuff and dry as leather.Some salt is good, but avoid excesive amounts. In the good old days of pioneering the country, before refrigeration; Deer, elk, and other wild game meat as well as beef were salted to preserve the meat and keep it from spoiling. The idea being to dehydrate the meat, because dry meat won't rot as quickly as fresh meat with all the moisture in it; and it does not require refrigeration. This was the origins of beef jerky, deer jerky, and other meat jerkies. This worked great for the trails and lifestyles of the frontier, but not so good if you want a nice tender and juicy piece of deer. Anyone that has ever tasted jerky knows that while tasty, it's quite dry and tuff. So, unless you want deer jerky; avoid the extra salt before cooking, it WILL dry your wild game meat out.

Yes, the rut is mating season, and the bucks senses are at their weakest. Bucks tend to be more active and venture out more often looking for does, and competing with other bucks for the doe's attention. Similar to human males, bucks seem to forget about anything else when the rut is on. The buck has love in its heart, and bootie on his mind. This makes for prime hunting time, as the prize deer is more likely to be seen by hunters and huntresses. And this is the part of the hunting season when stalking your deer is more productive. Find areas where there are a lot of does, these areas are great for hunting prize bucks. Make sure you place yourself where you have good viability. The more hunting ground you see, the more likely you are to see a trophy buck. If he's out of range, work your way to him. The use of grunt calls (which is discussed in part IV), is less effective during the rut, it just doesn't get the bucks attention. You know how it is, when you're trying to hook up with a pretty girl, your own mama could call you all day long and you'll never hear a word. Try to put yourself in a position to intercept a rutting buck as he travels to his "blueberry hill". Find the rub and scruff lines and put yourself there along them. Find out the areas where the doe hang out, feeding areas in open terrain where you would normally not find a buck during daylight hours. Pay attention to well-traveled deer trails relentlessly during the rut.

The very first thing one should consider when hunting is safety. Before you even think about going into the woods, consider taking a hunters safety course from your local wildlife agency. And even if you are just scouting your hunting area, you should take some basics with you. ~A flashlight (be sure the batteries are fresh and the flashlight is in good working order) ~A compass , matches or lighter (These will come in very handy should you get lost in the forest. A good portable GPS system is handy too.) ~A good first-aid kit (It should include bandages, snake bite kit, turn-a-kit, antiseptic, etc) Deer are usually more active around dawn and dusk and tend to sleep in the middle of the day and late at night. This is thought to enable the digestion process and be a defense against predators which are less active during these times. Venison do feed during mid-day sometimes, but this is a quirk that not likely to be repeated by that deer often. Before hunting season begins, right after the bucks have rubbed the velvet from their antlers, scout the woods which you are going to hunt. Look for food sources and signs of deer such as tracks, bedding areas and funnels. A buck won't rub the larger tree and brush except during the rut. He will, however leave signs of himself by rubbing his antler velvet on smaller trees and bushes in the forest.

But most important is the hunters scent. Scent control is one of the most important issues to cover in deer hunting basics. The scent is what, more often than not, gives the hunter away. You have very little control of your scent, and no control of the wind, so it is necessary to try to stay downwind from any possible venison activity. The most valuable weapon nature has put the defensive arsenal of a whitetail buck is its ability to pick up the slightest scent. Because man has a very distinct odor, a whitetail can pick up on a hunter presence very easily. Therefore, scent control is very important!