Five Great Tips for a New Whitetail Hunter

Being warm, dry, and comfortable allows you to stay in the field longer and gives you a better chance to encounter that trophy you have been chasing. In one single day, you can encounter conditions that range from needing a heated jacket all the way to needing almost no layers. Fall is an amazing time of the year, but we need to be ready for it all. TideWe offers amazing hunting clothing that will not only keep you dry but also has heating elements integrated throughout so that you will remain warm even in the bitter cold that the rut often brings. My favorite piece in my kit is the Heated Vest. This allows me to ensure my core is warm without adding bulk around my arms. The Heated Vest is an item that comes into the field with me for every single hunt.  

Whitetails have a keen sense of smell. So much so that it is estimated to be 500-1000 times more acute than a human's is; imagine what the world would be like if you could smell that well! That is why knowing where your scent is blowing is so important. Make sure the wind is right so that it is not blowing over their suspected travel path or their bedding area. A couple of steps I take to mitigate my gear having all the human odor is to air it out on the clothesline outside. I also spray it down with a scent-eliminating spray. Airing my gear out with the spray helps eliminate the human odor. Once I am done airing out the clothing, I store it in an airtight container. This ensures it will not smell like my house, truck, or garage but rather keeps the outside smell. 

Learning deer behavior and movements is an incredibly important step in being successful in the field. I have found that the preparation piece and planning are just as much fun as the hunt itself. There is something that is so self-fulfilling when you sit down to plan, and it plays out exactly how you were hoping. It truly is a moment you can be proud of yourself for. In tip number three, I mentioned it is important to make sure you know where your scent is blowing to; scouting your hunting area beforehand lets you know what the deer are doing, where they move to and from, and allows you to know when it is a good time to sit your selected location, or when to choose another spot because the wind isn't perfect. Be picky when you sit at your top spots.  

Being able to enjoy the gifts Mother Nature has put in front of us is one of the greatest aspects of hunting. Remember these tips for anew whitetail hunter. Enjoy the little things. Enjoy every sunrise and sunset, every sip of coffee on a cold fall morning, every animal encounter you can witness, and every loved one you are able to spend time in the field with. Hunting is much more than just harvesting an animal. It is all one big adventure. Gear up, soak it in, and have fun! These are memories that you will cherish.