What's that one thing that's been a difference maker?

[comeback_kid]

I was reflecting on how much I have learned from the Beast. Sometimes there are these hidden nuggets of knowledge here on the beast that turn out to be difference makers. For example, on my buck this year placing the stand facing away from where I thought the deer would be coming turned out to be key. I was set up in a tri-trunk and had one of the trunks hiding my body and therefore was much harder to pick out and the trunk somewhat shielded my drawing movement.

So what has that one thing been for you?

[Boogieman1]

Monkeys but powder! Game changer early season for jungle rott on the feet and swamp ace! Take care of the feet and crotch that takes care of you. That's my motto

[mheichelbech]

Different for different people. I went from hunting by myself to hunting with my brother on a new (to me) property and it has really messed me up.

[Crazinamatese]

If you aren't totally confident in your set up then pick up and move to a different spot. I don't know why it took me this long to figure that out but this year it has paid off for me.

[Hawthorne]

Mapping

[EllieTheChubb]

paying more attention to a deers POV on thier approach.

[hunter_mike]

Picking the "spot within the spot" to setup the treestand or ground seat. Seeing the trails and predicting how a buck will move through has more than once been the difference between seeing a buck and killing a buck.

[Bogle]

It’s hard for me to say just one thing but for me it’s been knowing where they generally bed, where they feed and the routes they take to get back and forth. I feel like if I know theses three things I can at least be in the game.

[Dewey]

Milkweed by a long shot. If you don’t understand air currents and how they carry your scent you are really limiting yourself. Most times this will make or break a hunt. Sometimes you have to thread the needle and give a buck a slight advantage if you want to see him in daylight. Just off winds on a known bed have worked well for me.

I was gonna say in-season scouting but this is something I have always done since my early years of hunting. Sure it's been refined some but the basics have been there for a long time.

[funderburk]

I was reflecting on how much I have learned from the Beast. Sometimes there are these hidden nuggets of knowledge here on the beast that turn out to be difference makers. For example, on my buck this year placing the stand facing away from where I thought the deer would be coming turned out to be key. I was set up in a tri-trunk and had one of the trunks hiding my body and therefore was much harder to pick out and the trunk somewhat shielded my drawing movement.

So what has that one thing been for you?

Understanding the wind and trusting it to be my only form of scent control. And it has worked extremely well!

Great topic. Looking forward to this one developing. Lots to learn!

[Edcyclopedia]

More scouting = more sightings/opportunities!
Hunt fresh sign

[Lockdown]

Hands down: IN SEASON SCOUTING.

Great fisherman use their locator to find fish before the start fishing. Great hunters find hot sign before they start hunting.

[Jdw]

Moving slow when I need to and using the correct access to catch them by surprise.

[JAK]

In season scouting. I've hunted plenty of spots that looked like a slam dunk in spring. But when I went in to hunt it was dry.

[mheichelbech]

Looking for and finding buck beds...and when I see a buck, thinking about why he is doing what he is doing.

Also, realizing just how sensitive they can be to human/hunter presence.