Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “There are as many opinions as there are experts”. This certainly rings true in the deer hunting sphere. Axioms, theories, and strongly-held mindsets are rampant in the deer woods and hunting camps throughout North America. Some came from wise old grandpa, while others reflect the reigning opinion of the day on social media and hunting forums – and a whole slew of them are misconceptions.
Devout hunting insights are often flaunted as fact. A spike will always be a spike or buck scrapes are only a rut thing. One thing to consider is that virtually any belief pertaining to whitetails and their behavior has to take into account a ton of variables – and often the opinion holder hasn’t done their due diligence. That’s okay. In most cases, due diligence is virtually unattainable or would take an incredibly long-long time to achieve.
Many deer and deer hunting opinions are a result of one’s experience, not just what was read repeatedly in Facebook deer hunting groups. In these cases, they often hold some truth. I grew up thinking that if the cows were laying down, the rain was coming. The notion was cultivated in me early. Is it true? Heck, I don’t know. All I do know is that, based on my experience, it’s proven to be accurate on many occasions. Or, maybe said cattle were just tired…
Yes, there are many popular (and in my opinion erroneous) deer and deer hunting opinions and theories that are thrown around like corn at a baiting site. There are too many of them to count. Here are just a few random ones that come to mind.
More Hunts Equals More Success
While putting your butt in a blind or tree stand seat means you at least have a chance to take a buck, it can be taken too far. So far that zones of hunting grounds can be compromised. Pounding your favorite stand (or favorite area) relentlessly is the kiss of death – particularly for those hunting mature bucks. I ride the fence on this one because you can always hunt or scout somewhere. Still, the “just hunt” mentality is often misguided.
Culling Bucks
I’m in a hunting club in Texas organized for whitetail and habitat management over a large area of free-range properties. This group employs a rule that you can shoot bucks that are less than 6-points, regardless of age. Put differently, you can shoot a buck if it’s less that 6-points and/or 4-years or older. The theory isn’t that these deer can’t sprout into an impressive buck, rather that, percentage-wise they probably won’t. It’s a dumbed-down rule made to be easy to follow. I don’t agree with it, but I understand the rationale.
The “once a spike, always a spike” misconception is still alive today.
More often than not, phrases like “I shot a cull” or “he needed to be taken out of the gene pool” are an excuse to shoot a buck or, at a minimum, make some hunters feel like they’re hunting “responsibly”.
The infamous and exhaustive study done in Texas at the Comanche ranch conclusively showed that culling doesn’t work, at least not if you’re managing for bigger racks and basing it on antler size and traits. It has much more to do with managing for age structure.
Similarly, while it’s certainly okay to shoot spikes, studies have shown that spikes can go on to be fine bucks.
Hunting Deer with a Rifle is Easy
While I cut my teeth deer hunting with a rifle, I prefer bowhunting. I still do the former though. Further, I enjoy it and consider it a challenge. These days, you hear a ton of chatter about how much easier hunting with a centerfire rifle is. In fact, many bowhunters refer to the rifle with such terms as “cheater pipe”. Sure, the basic 75 to 100-yard shot at a deer with 180-grains of 30.06 power can be much easier than using a bow at 30-yards. But, like with a bow, there are variables to account for, including making sure it’s sighted in properly, good shot placement, and the dreaded buck fever. And what about the hunters that have honed their skills at long-distance shots? That’s a whole other challenge with additional variables to contend with.
Put another way, as many things can go wrong with a 200-yard rifle shot as with a 20-yard bow shot.
Most hunters, if being honest will tell you, there are no slam dunks when gun hunting. I’ve got my own axiom; “Everyone thinks rifle hunting is easy until they miss”.
If It’s “XXXXX”, Stay Home
While I manage how often and when I visit certain stands, I’ve always felt there is always a good reason to go out and hunt. After all, time in the whitetail woods is precious. Still, you always hear reasons to stay in the house. Warm fronts, full moons, high winds – the list is long. While not ideal, I’ve enjoyed success during hot days and all moon cycles. It’s not because I’m an awesome hunter. On the contrary, it’s largely because I strived to control the things I could and tended to the basics. Plus, you never know what may decide to stroll by your stand.
For that matter, some supposedly poor conditions can be used to your advantage. For example, I find that windy days mask my sound and can be ideal for getting off a successful bow shot. Similarly, short of a heavy rainstorm or blizzard, most days can at least be dedicated to scouting trips.
Hunting Scents are Gimmicky
I’m the first to admit there is a slew of useless gimmicky gear out there. I also believe when it comes to scent control, managing for wind direction is the top priority. While not all cover scents are created equal, I’ve found a couple that flat-out work in the worst of conditions. I’ve had hunts where the wind shifted and a good cover scent saved the day. However, to repeat, it’s important to situate yourself downwind of whitetails.
There are cover scents and lures on the market that are effective in the field.
The same goes for hunting lures. Deer behavior has much to do with communication. Well placed doe urine or preorbital scent is very effective for enhancing a hunting area. From mock scrapes to scent wicks, it’s hard to beat the glandular attraction. Plus, unless it’s illegal in your area, what have you got to lose?
Only Public Land Hunting is Real Hunting
Okay, this is a big one for me and first, I’ll qualify my opinion. First, I’m pro-public land hunting and think it’s a fantastic part of deer hunting – past, present, and future. Secondly, all hunters are entitled to their favorite legal hunting methods. Some shoot bucks for the meat, while others seek the biggest antlers around. Some prefer a bow over a long gun.
It’s when the opinion turns into a superiority complex that it becomes problematic.
Public land hunting is unique and challenging, there is no doubt. The attraction is undeniable. It often requires skills and due diligence in the field that’s unmatched. However, free-range private land hunting is often equally challenging. While you can exert more control, it has some of the very same challenges, including undue pressure from other hunters and, in some cases, small deer populations. Of course, you typically don’t have to worry about stolen trail cams or uncomfortable confrontations with other hunters.
No different than the bow-only mentality, the public land hunter that puffs out his chest can become divisive. Plus, the theory is short-sighted and, well inaccurate.
Final Thoughts
I have to admit, I’ve changed my position on some of my most ardent hunting theories over the years – usually based on personal experience or, evidence if you will. Maybe that’s just it. I’ve learned to base my hunting theories more on what I’ve consistently experienced instead of solely on advice from others. It can be a fluid journey for sure.
For the record, I stand by the idea that lounging cattle means likely rainfall. This is, of course, just my opinion.
