Do you wonder how some hunters take home many wild game animals during the hunting season? Would you like to know what they do to be highly successful when hunting? DO you want to learn what to do in order to be more successful when hunting? In this article, we will discuss how to be highly successful when hunting wild game animals.
1. Utilize Technology
When you want to hunt an area, one of the first things to do is to thoroughly scout the area for signs of activity of the game animals you want to hunt. You want to find possible bedding areas, travel routes, food and water sources, funnels, access points, transition zones, the topography of the area, etc.
Google Earth can be used to study the area you want to hunt and identify possible areas of interest for hunting. Additionally, you can also use Google Earth to study the landscape of the area. Look for valleys, hills, creeks, rivers, inaccessible areas that the animals my retreat to when the hunting pressure is high, etc.
With this information, when you physically get to the area, you can confirm or disregard the information you collected from Google Earth and this will help you plan your hunting strategies before the season begins.
Additionally, hunting apps like HuntStand, HuntWise, and onX can also be used to collect this information.
2. Become a Pro at Scouting
If you learn only one skill for hunting, let it be scouting. Be obsessed with scouting. Spend time and your energy improving your scouting skills. It will pay you richly in time. Learn to scout the area you want to hunt; it can’t be overstated.
Learn to look for animals tracks. Learn the tracks of different animals to the extent that you can quickly determine which animal’s track you are looking at. You can also learn from the tracks which direction it is headed in, if it was in a hurry or not, how big is the animal, if it is a male, female, or young one. From learning to read tracks, you can quickly gather a lot of information.
Learn to look for other animals signs like scat, fur droppings, tree rubbings, animal beds, animals sounds, cover areas, etc.
3. Control Human Odor
One of the most important disciplines of hunting that is often overlooked is scent control. Commit to mastering scent control and you will be a more successful hunter. Most animals have a very good sense of smell. It is part of their defense system as well as part of their predatory system to find food.
Many hunters take scent control for granted to their detriment. Before you go out to hunt, you should practice scent control at the highest level. The clothes that you will wear when hunting must be washed with scent-free soap and stored in a scent-free sealed bag before the day of the hunt.
Similarly, the footwear you will wear must be stored and kept away from the scent in your home, especially food, perfume, and cigarette scent. Make it a habit to keep the footwear sealed up until you arrive at the hunting ground. Then take it out and put it on when you are about to go into the woods to hunt. It may seem very extreme, but the results will prove this is the right approach.
If an animal picks up your scent, it will immediately leave the area before you realize it. You will spend many hours looking for it, not knowing that it picked up your scent many hours ago and is no longer in the area.
Additionally, also learn to determine the wind direction and move downwind of the area you expect the animal to be in that you are hunting. You don’t want the wind taking your odor to the animals.
4. Learn State Hunting Laws
Make it a habit of learning the hunting laws in the state that you want to hunt, and especially the laws regarding the game animals you want to hunt. There are laws regarding bag limits, types of baits that can be used, permits, the beginning and ending of the hunting season, types of weapons allowed, etc.
Learn the hunting laws, follow them and constantly update yourself of any changes to the laws. You can find this information from the internet or the app of the state wildlife agencies. For example, you may want to know if the state allows hunters to use deer feeders when hunting animals or if it is allowed to hunt beavers.
5. Wildlife Biologists
Many hunters simply take this for granted or don’t know how resourceful these professionals are for their hunting careers. Make it a habit to locate the local area authorities or wildlife biologists for the area that you want to hunt.
They are experts in their field and have spent their lives studying the animals in the area. They know the age range of the animals, and their migratory, mating, and eating habits.
These authorities possibly know the areas where the animals are often located, food sources, bedding areas, and much more information. You can find these authorities on the state’s department of natural resources website.
Find their contact information and give them a call. Inform them of your research via satellites and on- the-ground scouting and then listen to how much valuable information they will gladly give you.
Build friendships with them as you will learn so much in an hour of conversation that would have taken you years to learn by experience.
6. Trail Cameras
Trail cameras have become a must-have information gathering device for not only hunters, but many other outdoors enthusiasts and professionals. You are limited by how many hours you can spend scouting or hunting. However, a trail camera can collect information on your target animal 24 hours, 7 days a week. Additionally, you can set up multiple trail cameras in different directions to capture the movements, behaviors, and patterns of animals that may help you plan your hunting strategy.
7. Learn to Conceal Yourself
To be successful when hunting, you must learn to conceal your movements and position at all times. Most animals don’t only have a good sense of smell, but good eyesight and sense of hearing as well. They know the sounds of other animals and the sounds of hunters and other predators.
When they hear sounds that indicate danger, they will leave the area before you realize it. Learn to walk on your front toes and avoid as much noise as possible. Discipline yourself to take a few steps, and stand still for a while before moving.
Additionally, learn to move your eyes and not your head and entire body. When animals pick up your body movement, you can just pack up for the day and return home.
8. Safety Protocols
Safety should always be one of the most important aspects of hunting. Always adhere to all the safety protocols when you are hunting. Wear the safety clothing, safely handle your weapon, and be mindful of other hunters or individuals that may be in the vicinity of the area that you are hunting in.
By adhering to these safety procedures, you will not minimize the possibility of injury to others, but also to yourself.
Conclusion
Hunting is a great outdoor activity that allows you to escape the demands of modern living and connect on a different level with nature. It also provides rich and organic protein as a source of food.
In this article, we shared information to enhance your hunting skills and help you become a more successful hunter. You can get more information about how to hunt from the hunting terrain.
