WHITETAILS 101
I can still clearly recall my first whitetail. It was an unseasonably hot October afternoon. The leaves on the oak trees were vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows, and squirrels frantically gathered nuts for winter. I climbed up into my perch 20 feet above the forest floor, anticipating the afternoon. Mentally playing out every imaginable scenario, I felt prepared.
As the sun began to drop, I noticed movement a mere 20 yards away — it was a buck. I froze, fearing that he had seen me, and surprised he’d snuck to that range without me at least hearing him. As I gathered my thoughts, I knew it was now or never. I slowly drew my bow, settled my pin right behind his shoulder, and let my arrow fly. It hit the mark, my heart was racing, and I was so focused on where the buck ran that I dropped my bow to the ground below. In that moment, I knew that deer hunting topped my list of favorite hobbies.
Hunting whitetail deer can be a hobby that lasts all year long, or just a few short months, depending on your time and obsession. With a few tips, you too can place a tag on this smart, majestic animal of the North American countryside.
Scouting
A key element to being successful in the whitetail woods is to do your homework. Scouting is just as important — I’d even say more important — than the actual hunt itself.
My favorite time to scout is in the winter, after all seasons have closed: The temperature is cool, and that
