1. You need to know here the beds are. Something I really never did.
2. Quit hunting the mainland where all the sign is made and where everyone else is Most is made at night. Look for sign near cover
3. Bucks face down wind in bed
4. Bucks travel into wind to bed but their travel leaving bed is usually not wind dependent
5. Milkweed
6. Trust the wind always and do not rely on scentlok as the ultimate answer. I will still use it and try to reduce scent but will not ignore wind.
7. If possible trying to access stand into the wind to have one scent stream
8. Scout more than you hunt. ABS "Always be Scouting"
9. If you are hunting to far from beds you are not in the game. It is possible to hang a stand within 50-75 yards of bed. This is probably #2 after knowing where the bed is. Have not done it yet
10. Slow down and be quiet when approaching tree. I used to try to get from point a to b as fast as possible
11. Water is your friend.
12. Dont take everything into woods. Yes I was the one thinking it was a picnic.
13. Crosswinds can be your best winds when trying to intercept a bed out of his bed
14. Scout transitions and fingers into marshes or swamps for best bedding
15. Best sit is first. Be mobile. This is one thing I did pick up but this site confirmed.
16. Deer will bed 1/3 down leeward side of hill.
17. Jumping deer on occasion is better than not seeing or knowing where the deer are. Instead of thinking I just jumped a buck go over there and figure out why and what the wind was etc.
18. Can kill big deer near roads
19. How to read topo maps. Can get a lot scouting done from Google Earth, HillMaps, etc
20. I need to put more time into this otherwise I am wasting my time. I am amazed on how much time and effort a lot of guys on this site put in.
I am sure I am missing more but you get the point. I really didnt know crap about hunting
. Thanks to Dan and his videos and all the members here I feel like I am in a much better position and have a more confident mindset.
