Deer and Moose

White tail deer hunting, mule deer hunting and Canada moose hunting are activities enjoyed by thousands of outdoor enthusiasts. Learning the ropes of deer and moose hunting takes time, but a few good hunting tips make the chances of bagging a prize on your deer hunting expedition much more likely.

Deer and Moose Hunting Seasons

Before you start stalking that white tail or mule deer, you need to buy a hunting license. Deer and moose hunting seasons vary from one region to the next, but in general fall somewhere between October and the end of January.

There are usually several separate deer hunting seasons in a given region during the hunting months. Be sure you know not only what you can hunt during a particular season, but how you can hunt it. Hunting seasons often have restrictions on how you can hunt: For instance, one white tail deer hunting season may be for bow hunters, while the season immediately following it may be rifle hunting.

Deer Hunting Tips

Whether you''re mule deer hunting or white tail deer hunting, how you hunt will affect your chances of bagging your prey. Here are some basic, but effective, deer hunting tips:

• Don''t Smell:One of the most important deer and moose hunting tips is simple: Don''t smell like a human. Avoid perfume, cologne, strong deodorants, cigarette smoke or any other scent that deer will recognize as human.
  
  Before deer and moose hunting, shower with a non-perfumed soap, or don''t shower until after hunting to be sure you''re not emitting any unnatural odors.
  
  
• Get a Mentor:This is probably the most important of all the deer and moose hunting tips: Find an experienced hunter who can teach you. By learning from experienced hunters you can avoid many of the mistakes they made when they learned to hunt and also collect tried-and-true hunting tips.
  
  
• Get up Early, Stay Late: For everyone''s safety, hunters are prohibited from firing weapons before sunrise and after sunset. This doesn''t mean, however, that you can''t get an early start. Get to your hunting spot early. This way, you''ll be ready when the first deer start moving after sunrise.
  
  White tail and mule deer are most active at dawn and sunset, when they feel safest. Stick around for sunset.
  
  
• Stay Quiet: Whether you''re mule deer hunting, hunting moose or stalking white tail deer, silence is your friend. Deer and moose have exceptional hearing and the slightest sound can alert them.
  
  
• Go Scouting, or Hire a Guide:Deer hunting or moose hunting in an unfamiliar area greatly reduces your chance of finding your prey. Experienced hunters scout new hunting grounds before deer and moose hunting season starts.
  
  As you familiarize yourself with a hunting ground, look for areas where deer or moose might rest, feed or congregate. Finding feeding areas and water holes greatly increases your chance of finding white tail or mule deer.
  
  A reputable guide can be a great help when deer hunting in unfamiliar regions. He likely not only knows the lay of the land but also the habits of the deer and moose in the area.

Canada Moose Hunting

Canada moose hunting is an especially popular sport. Moose hunting differs slightly from white tail deer hunting or mule deer hunting. For one thing, you''re hunting the largest member of the deer family: A buck moose can weight in at 1,200 to 1,400 pounds! Due to a moose''s size, heavier bullets are recommended for moose hunting.

Moose live in a wide range of habitats, including forest and swamps. Hunting moose is often most successful in environments with swampy lakes and young forest growth.

During the mating season (September to October), a bull moose can be attracted using a moose call, which mimics the call of a receptive cow. Hunters may choose to remain still in an area moose are known to frequent, or may engage in ""still hunting,"" or walking quietly in an area where there are signs of moose.

Deer and Moose Hunting Supplies

Proper equipment and preparation are important aspects of deer and moose hunting. While it''s obvious you need a gun and ammunition (or hunting bow and arrows), some necessary items may not be quite so obvious to a novice hunter. Here''s a quick checklist of essential hunting items:

• compass
• first aid kit
• flashlight
• meat saw
• moose call (if moose hunting)
• rope
• thermos
• topographical maps
• weather-resistant binoculars.

One last item: Make sure you take a camera to record your hunting trip!

Resources

McCarthy, K. (July 11 2007). Successful Deer Hunting for Beginners. Retrieved December 5, 2007, from the SearchWarp Web site: searchwarp.com/swa231981.htm.

Propeller.com (November 17 2007). How to become a Top Deer Hunter and Avoid the Mistakes Most Beginners Make. Retrieved December 5, 2007, from the Propeller Web site: www.propeller.com/viewstory/2007/11/17/how-to-become-a-top-
deer-hunter-and-avoid-the-mistakes-most-beginners-make/
?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deer-stands.com%2Fpages%2F
how-to-become-a-top-deer-hunter-and-avoid-the-mistakes-
most-beginners-make%2F&frame=true.

Toth, M. (n.d.). Moose Hunting Tips. Retrieved December 5, 2007, from the North Superior Charters, Inc. Web site: www.northsuperior.ca/moosetips.htm.

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